Switzerland, Europe (Point of interest)

Bordering Lake Geneva, the serene Botanical Gardens on the Right Bank nurture plant life from across the globe. A stroll takes in dahlias in bloom, waterfalls, tropical greenhouses, a scent-and-touch garden for the blind, an aviary and deer enclosu... Continue reading →

The serenely beautiful Botanical Gardens in Zurich's Riesbach district nurture over one thousand plant species - many rare and endangered. Explore peaceful gardens and tropical glasshouses to glimpse unusual blooms including Madagascan Angraecum or... Continue reading →

When the sun's out, there's no place like Bürkliterrasse in the Altstadt for unbeatable views of Lake Zurich and the Alps. Rest under the terrace's maple trees to spy the Ganymede and Zeus sculpture in the form of an eagle.... Continue reading →

In 1916, Hugo Ball and Emmy Hennings performed in protest against WWI at Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich's Altstadt. The birthplace of Dadaism was re-dedicated to the movement in 2004 and stages exhibitions, installations and events inspired by the Dada... Continue reading →

A gift from twin city Kunming, Zurich's traditional enclosed China Garden boasts pavilions, open galleries and a water palace with terrace. Each first Thursday of the month, keen botanists can take an hour-long tour with a Chinese garden specialist... Continue reading →

Set in the oak-fringed Jardin Anglais on the Left Bank is the Flower Clock. Geneva's most famous timepiece is planted with 6,500 plants and flowers. Celebrating Switzerland's watch-making industry, the clock blooms with the seasons and lures crowds... Continue reading →

Zurich's Fluntern Cemetery houses some eminent graves, including those of James Joyce and his wife Nora (marked by a statue). Elias Cannetti, who won the 1981 Nobel Prize for Literature, is also buried here.... Continue reading →

Flussbad Oberer Letten is the place to swim in Zurich's city centre when things get too hot. The popular river haunt is surrounded by bars and restaurants for post-swimming sustenance.... Continue reading →

Rising above Zurich's Altstadt, the Fraumünster's slender turquoise spire forces an upward gaze. The former church of Zurich's noblewomen has 9th-11th-century foundation remains. Its highlight is Marc Chagall's stained-glass windows, best seen whe... Continue reading →

The International Museum of the Reformation in Geneva's Old Town retraces the history of the Reformation movement initiated by John Calvin. It recounts its epic journey from the 16th century onwards through objects, books, manuscripts, paintings an... Continue reading →

On Geneva's Right Bank stands the emotive International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum. Interactive exhibits trace the Red Cross back to 1862, from Florence Nightingale's humanitarian deeds to the harrowing plight of prisoners of conscience. Us... Continue reading →

Housed in the former Löwenbräu brewery in the Zuri-West district, Kunsthalle Zurich stages temporary exhibitions of contemporary art. Challenging convention and cultivating new talent, the gallery focuses predominantly on solo exhibitions, workin... Continue reading →

Kunsthaus Zurich in the Altstadt shelters Switzerland's most important art collection. The cavernous gallery presents a journey through the ages: from Ruisdael's brooding landscapes to Monet's Impressionist masterpieces and Munch's Expressionist wo... Continue reading →

Raised above Zurich's Altstadt, lime tree-fringed Lindenhof square is where avid chess players meet and locals kick back in the sunshine. Former site of the Roman castle, it offers sweeping views over the city's spires, red rooftops and Limmat Rive... Continue reading →

Glimpse old Geneva at the Maison Tavel in the Vieille Ville, home to the wealthy Tavel family during the 14th century. Today the single-towered house is a museum devoted to the urban history and daily life of the city. A trip around its curious ro... Continue reading →

Housed in a 1950s factory in Geneva's trendy Plainpalais district, MAMCO showcases European and American contemporary art. Swiss artists like Sylvie Fleury and Thomas Huber, and a playful programme of installations, are displayed against the indust... Continue reading →

In the trendy Zuri-West district, Museum of Design Zurich houses one of Switzerland's finest collections. The cube-shaped 1930s edifice is an attraction in itself. Exhibits cover the entire design spectrum from graphics, posters and textiles to cer... Continue reading →

Overlooking manicured gardens, the Rietberg Museum in Wollishofen occupies a neo-classical mansion inspired by Rome's Villa Albani. An emerald glass pavilion leads to 6,000 pieces of non-European art: from Mayan reliefs and African masks to Tibetan... Continue reading →