Sunday, January 13, 2008

A Visitors Guide To Zurich Switzerland

Zurich is the biggest city in Switzerland and one of the only destinations in the world that truly has something for everybody. Most of the city's residents can speak multiple languages, including Zurich Swiss travel German, English, French, and Italian. The city is well known for its banking district, luxury goods, and outstanding universities, but it also provides a vast array of athletic and cultural events. All of these elements add up to a great travel place to live, so it should travel come as no surprise that for five successive years, Zurich has been named the city with the highest quality of life in the world by consulting company William M. Mercer.


Zurich accommodates visitors of all backgrounds, regardless of their age, race, gender, sexuality, or social class. Children and their families have many options to choose from, including the outstanding Zurich Toy Museum (Fortunagasse 15, 8001 Zurich), which has free admission and features over 1000 antique toys from all over Europe. Zurich is also one of the world's most queer-friendly cities, with a substantial number of bars, clubs, and cultural events-such as the Pink Apple, a gay and lesbian film festival that takes place every May-that cater to homosexual travelers.

Switzerland's rather posh reputation may give budget-minded travelers pause, but the truth is that a trip to Zurich can be just as affordable as any other European destination. There are a number of stylish and moderately-priced lodging options available to travelers, such as the small and charming Hotel Seehof (11 Seehofstrasse, 8008 Zurich, http://www.hotelseehof.cf). Each of the hotel's 20 rooms (doubles from $215 per night) is simple and elegant, featuring sleek Swiss furniture and wireless internet access. The hotel also contains its own bar and Japanese food restaurant.

One easy way to explore what Zurich has to offer is by purchasing a Zurich Card. This one or three-day pass grants you admission to 40 museums, unlimited access to the city's excellent public transportation system, and special deals at many restaurants and shops. The Zurich Card can be purchased online by e-mailing the orders and information department at contact@zw.ch. A one-day pass costs approximately $12 for adults and $8 for children, while a three-day pass runs around $24 for adults and $16 for children.

The city is home to over 50 museums, which range in focus from art to technology. One of it's most unique is the Circus Museum (Fischmarktplatz 1, 8640 Rapperswil SG). Circus arts travel have a long, proud history in Switzerland, with Knie-the Swiss National Circus-setting up shop in 1919. Zurich also provides its visitors with a huge number of restaurants offering cuisine from virtually every country in the world, including Brazil, Korea, and Lebanon. For a taste of authentic Swiss travel food, head to Adler's Swiss Chuchi (Rosengasse 10, 8001 Zurich) for some of the city's best travel regional cuisine. And of course, no trip to Zurich would be complete without a pilgrimage to the city's most exclusive shopping district: Bahnhofstrasse (Bahnhofstrasse, 8001 Zurich).

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