Tours

The history of Zurich began about 2000 years ago when the Roman customs station Turicum (Zurich) was founded. With its population of 360,000 in the city and almost one million in the suburbs, Zurich is Switzerland's biggest city. As the city center is relatively small, most of the attractions are within walking distance. There is also a very convenient bus and tram system allowing you to get around quickly and relatively cheaply. Day tickets are available at the main railway station or at most tram stops.

Old Town A walk through the city's unique Old Town, which is extremely picturesque, is always to be recommended. There are also guided tours through the Old Town. Some time should also be set aside for a visit to the Niederdorf district in the evening. The many bars and restaurants here give the area a lively, welcoming atmosphere.

University & Uetliberg People who want to observe the city from a height should visit the Uetliberg. The view from its summit is excellent, and on a clear day, you can see the Alps to the south and the city with its lake to the north. The Uetliberg (871m above sea level) is only a short train ride away from the Main Train Station. You can also climb the mountain yourself. Many of the routes stop at the Triemli (trams 9 or 14 to Triemli). The walk is easy and takes about one and a half hours, depending on how fit you are. It should, however be noted that the route can be rather steep at times. The university is also a good place to go for views of the city (trams 6, 9 or 10 to ETH/Universitätsspital or Polybahn from the Main Train Station). Yet another place from which to admire the city is the Old Town - take trams 4 and 15 to the Rudolf Brun-Brücke and then it's a short walk to the Lindenhofstraße via the Uraniastraße.

Zurich Lake During the summer, a relaxing boat cruise on Zürich Lake will compliment any visit, and you can enjoy splendid views of the surrounding mountains. Most of the boats have restaurants which serve excellent food. The city's port is at the Bürkliplatz and can be reached in about 15 minutes by foot from the railway station or by tram (2, 5, 8, 9 or 11 to the Bürkliplatz).

Zurich's Surroundings There are also a number of guided tours for visitors. One of the most popular is the one that goes to the Rigi, which sits 1798m above sea level. Because of its unique location and the magnificent surrounding landscape, this has been a popular destination for more than a century. From the top of the Rigi, you can see the Alps in all their splendor, Germany's Black Forest (Schwarzwald) and the Jura. Many of the locals take advantage of the mountain in their spare time, not least because it is a good place to hike and roam. Its entire area has about 60 miles of marked walkways and you can also play mini-golf and tennis, go trout fishing in the summer, and ski in the winter. There are also a healthy number of restaurants on the mountain, most of which have terraces and extremely good food. If you don't feel like walking then you can take the cogwheel railway from Viznau or Arth-Golday. Some walking tours will take you to the Titlis or the Pilatus, which are nearby. You can also get to Luzern in less than an hour from Zurich.

Guided Tours Tourist Service (+41 44 215 40 00 / http://www.zurichtourism.ch/)