On your first trip to Zurich, discover the charm of Switzerland's largest city from the plush boutiques of the cobbled Altstadt (Old Town) to the picture-postcard views of Lake Zurich. Before long you'll be drawn back to Zurich to learn about the history of Dadaism art at the Cabaret Voltaire exhibition centre and to party in lively Zurich-West.
From Lake Zurich where you can see the snow-dusted Swiss Alps on a clear day, follow the Limmat River north as it splits Zurich in two. Head to Zurich's Left Bank for outdoor cafes and galleries in the medieval Altstadt, and designer boutiques along Bahnhofstrasse. You'll find artists' workshops in former fishing quarter Schipfe. Step across to the Right Bank to glimpse 12th-century Grossmünster church's spires or to relax on cobbled Neumarkt square. Edge south-east for botanical gardens and lakefront restaurants in Riesbach. Or head north-west to up-and-coming Zurich-West for world cuisine and Zurich's hottest nightlife.
Get your bearings from Lindenhof terrace, where locals play chess under the linden trees. Then squeeze through the cobblestone lanes of the Altstadt, pausing to buy hand-decorated chocolates. Soon you'll reach the Limmat River and Schipfe, the medieval fishing district now home to arty boutiques and workshops. Marvel at Fraumünster Church's intricate stained-glass windows, or Giacometti masterpieces at the vast Kunsthaus Zurich art gallery. Feast on Swiss rösti potatoes at a traditional wood-beamed beer hall.
If you love Impressionist art, see Cézanne and Renoir originals at the Foundation E G Bührle Collection, housed in a vine-clad villa. Admire controversial works at former brewery Kunsthalle Zurich or pioneering graphic art at the cuboid Museum of Design Zurich. Explore the roots of the anti-war Dada movement that influenced Surrealism, at the Cabaret Voltaire exhibition centre in Zurich's Altstadt. Buy Swiss cheeses at Bürkliplatz market for a lazy picnic on the banks of Lake Zurich then spend the evening with Zurich's trendsetters in Zurich-West's lively lounge bars.
Switzerland's intercontinental air hub is a favourite of shoppers and plane-spotters alike. More than 20 million passengers pass through the stylishly revamped airport each year. Central Zurich is only 12km (8 miles) away, a 10-minute train ride.
