Zürich is well-known for its large number of financial institutions and banks, it´s a leading city among the world´s largest financial centres. Due to low tax rates the city attract overseas companies to set up their headquarters there.

It is also a cultural mecca and one the most desirable cities in the world to live in. Many writers, artists and composers were attracted by this city in the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1916 in Zurich´s Cabaret Voltaire was born the anarchic Dada Art Movement. Today it boasts not only theatres, concert halls, more than 50 museums and 100 art galleries, but also by 500 bars, nightclubs and discos. Zurich is the city with the highest density of clubs in Switzerland - you can have fun at any time of day or night (and in summer nightlife isn´t limited only to clubs –  you can see a lot of people in the streets at three in the morning). The Bahnhofstrasse is one of Switzerland's prime shopping streets.

Zurich is also world-known for its Swiss watches, chocolate and Swiss cheese. Apart from the finance and banking, Switzerland is a country of farmers, so the Swiss cuisine was affected in this way. Dishes are made from simple ingredients, such as potatoes and cheese. Traditional Swiss cuisine was influenced by the French, Italian and German Cuisine and includes e.g. Zürcher-Geschnetzeltes (thin strips of veal and cream, mushroom sauce), Fondue (eaten by dipping small pieces of bread or potatoes in the melted cheese) or Tirggel (Christmas biscuit).

Must-see attractions:

• Kunsthaus (Zürich Museum of Art) – one of the most interesting museum in Switzerland, it holds one of the largest collections of Classic Modern art in the world (Picasso, Munch, Giacometti, etc.).
• Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum) – the biggest museum in the country, it displays many objecst that illustrates the culture and the historical background of Switzerland.
• Grossmünster (Great Minster) – the Romanesque-style Protestant Church, inaugurated in the 13th century, one of the major churches in the city.
• Fraumünster (Womens´s Minster) – founded in 825, a former abbey for aristocratical women from southern Germany.
• St. Peter – is a Romanesque-gothic-baroque church with the largest church clock face in Europe, built in 1538.
• Üetliberg – is the highest hill with altitude of 2,667 ft and offers views over the city.
• Chinese Garden – is a gift from the city´s Chinese partner town of Kunming. It´s classed a temple garden.
• Lake Zurich – is a favourite destination for tourists, the beaches are very popular during the summer. The prehistoric settlements in the lower Zürichsee area, among them mountains Kleiner Hafner (3.017 m) and Grosser Hafner (3.076 m), are part of the Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps which belongs to the UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011.

Maybe you didn´t know:

• Zürich central station is one of Europe´s main railway intersection with over 1,900 connections every day.
• Zürich Stock Exchange was founded in 1877.
• The city was accidentally bombed during World War II.
• Zürich regularly occupies the top spots in rankings of cities based on quality of life.
• The city is the world´s largest gold trading center.
• Every year Zürich hosts International Film Festival.
• Several international sport federation are located in the city (FIFA, IIHF).

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