Thinking of a city break in Zurich?

Read our brief city guide to Zurich below to help you decide if a weekend getaway or short break in Zurich is what you want, then click on Zurich short break packages to view our short break packages to Zurich.

Zurich is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and it is well worth your time to spend a day or two taking in its pleasures. The city of Zurich was established as a Roman customs post (called "Turicum") in 15 B.C. It is situated some 400 metres (1,340 ft) above sea level at the northern end of the 27 km (17 miles) long Lake of Zurich.

Its well-preserved Old Town is to be found on both banks of the River Limmat, which flows out of the lake in a northerly direction. With a population of some 336,000 inhabitants, Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland. It is surprisingly compact, though, with a wealth of old churches, fountains, and cobbled streets with buildings, some of them more than 700 years old, housing charming galleries and small shops. Zurich's reputation as a shopping paradise and an art centre which is home to highly renowned auction houses has done much to make the city known throughout the world.