A distinctly Germanic city, Switzerland's most populous city is reputed to be the intellectual and cultural capital of the nation. Concentrated around the northern end of Lake Zurich, and straddling the Limmat River as it leaves, the pedestrian streets of the old town contain most of the major sights, including winding alleyways, 16th and 17th-century houses, guildhalls and courtyards. Strolling down the elegant Bahnhofstrasse, built on the site of the city walls, it is comforting to know that the world's single biggest bank-vault booty lies underfoot. For the clock-watchers (you're in Switzerland afterall), the 13th-century tower of St Peter's Church has the largest clock face in Europe and the Fraumünster Church nearby is noted for the distinctive stained-glass windows, created in 1970 by Chagall during his twilight years. The Museum of Fine Arts has a large permanent collection dating from the 15th-century and the Swiss National Museum, housed in a pseudo-castle north of the city centre, provides the ultimate rundown on the life and times of the Swiss nation . All along Lake Zürich are picnic, sunbathing and swimming spots, popular on summer evenings with the locals.

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