Zurich Today

Though Zurich isn’t the capital of Switzerland, it is the country’s largest and most important city.  It is the economic hub of Switzerland and a center of international banking and finance.  The friendly business climate has also attracted many of the world’s top corporations and lots of high-tech industries.  Consequently, Zurich is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but it is also consistently ranked as the most livable.

Zurich sits at the northern end of the Lake Zurich along the banks of the Limmat River.  Most of the city’s tourist attractions are located in the center of the city, right at the confluence of the river and the lake.  Two of the city’s most famous landmarks are Fraumünster and Grossmünster, both churches.  Bahnhofstrasse is one of the most luxurious shopping streets in the world.  The surrounding mountains and countryside are beautiful too.

Getting around Zurich is easy, thanks to the excellent system of buses and trams.  There is always something going on here.  There are countless art galleries, museums, opera houses, and festivals.  The official language is German, though just about everyone speaks French and English.  The population of Zurich city proper is approximately 372,000, with around 1.1 million in the metro area.