Comprehensive guide to Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich is an ideal destination for those who would like to combine culture with nature, i.e. the main sights of the city as well as its beautiful surroundings. Zurich is situated perfectly, in the core of Europe, beside Lake Zurich, presenting the breathtaking view of the Swiss Alps. An additional convenience is that the city is just 10 minutes away from the international airport. This allows your easy access to it, as there are regular scheduled flights from every continent and most countries and larger cities of the world, which land there. You can reach Zurich also by train, which is the cheaper way, having in mind that over a thousand trains halt daily at Zurich's central railway station.
No matter whether you prefer local Swiss or international cuisine, Zurich has got eating and drinking establishments, suitable for everyone's taste. The city offers plenty of restaurants, featuring top quality service and a superb choice of wines. Bars and typical street cafes - many places where you can sit and enjoy the Swiss lifestyle.
Shopping in Zurich is a genuine experience. Visiting one of the most beautiful shopping areas in Europe - the famous Bahnhofstrasse, where are located many elegant fashion stores and boutiques for shoes, firs, accessories, jewellery and watches is a must, which proves Zurich to be a trendsetting city. This main shopping zone is situated in the core of the city, which makes it ideal for pedestrians. Many boutiques and antique shops can also be found in the beautiful Altstadt (old town) of Zurich, situated on the left bank of the Limmat. Another pedestrian zone and shoppers' paradise is the Niederdorf - offering plenty of boutiques, night - clubs, bars, restaurants and street artists turning the Niederdorf into an exciting entertainment centre. Another place where anything can be found on a reasonable price is the Langstrasse - a home to people from over 80 different countries.
Zurich and the surrounding region is a host to a great number of museums and exhibitions. Moreover - The Zurich Opera House and the Tonhalle concert house attract celebrities of a high class and world statute on the classical music scene. Night birds will find plenty of entertainment places in the hours after midnight. At weekends over 300 venues stay open in the early hours of the morning, offering a wide variety of parties and clubs, where DJs from all over the world perform everything from House, Techno and Jazz. One of the open - air bars is an excellent choice for the summer, for those who prefer to "take it easy". Zurich is also famous all around the world with its Streetparade, along the lake of Zurich. This annual summer event brings over 300,000 techno freaks to the town.