Zurich, Switzerland (Point of interest)

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 →

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 →

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 →

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 →

The Altstadt's medieval heart is Schipfe, a former fishing quarter on the banks of the Limmat River which takes its name from the nautical term schupfen (push). Roam its picturesque cobbled lanes to find art workshops, boutiques and bohemian-style ... Continue reading →

With its fairy-tale turrets, the Swiss National Museum has become a recognised symbol of the Altstadt. The 1898 museum building houses Switzerland's largest collection of cultural and historical artefacts. Items date from early history right throug... Continue reading →

Close to Limmat River in Zurich's Altstadt stands the Zunfthaus zur Meisen, a sublime baroque guildhall opening onto cobbled Münsterhof. Its stuccoed rooms on the first floor showcase the Swiss National Museum's rich collection of 18th-century por... Continue reading →

Located near the lakefront in the Riesbach district, Zurich Opera House hides a lavish interior behind its neoclassical facade. Since 1891, the venue has staged a varied repertoire of opera, ballet, concerts and recitals, including numerous world p... Continue reading →

Located in the Tobelhof district, conservation-conscious Zurich Zoo is home to 250 different species including endangered snow leopards and red pandas. Spacious enclosures recreate ecosystems from exotic Madagascar, playground of red-ruffed lemurs,... Continue reading →