Zurich

Zurich used to be known as the hub of international banking, but the city has acquired a new, edgier image over the past decade. The industrial area of Zurich-West has become a centre of modern art, avant-garde theatre and lively nightlife, and Zurich has been dubbed the "New Berlin". Old warehouses host galleries, bars and gourmet restaurants and the new soundscape of old factory workshops varies from jazz to electronic music.

The natural appeal and beauty of Zurich is still there, too. Paddle steamers cruise the Lake Zurich, and a walking path on the shore takes you from park to park. The Kunsthaus Zurich museum hosts the world’s largest collection of works by the Swiss sculptor Giacometti, and the Fraumünster abbey has beautiful stained glass windows designed by Marc Chagall. If you want to do a bit of shopping, remember to visit the small shops of Niederdorf in the old town and the luxury boutiques in Bahnhofstrasse.