Yes, it’s big on banking and watches but don’t imagine the Swiss city is entirely straitlaced – this year it’s going gaga over Dada for starters
Although it’s routinely placed at the top of lifestyle rankings, Zurich is rarely, if ever, rated as one of Europe’s cultural capitals. There’s a perception that it’s a bankers’ city – a Swiss Square Mile without any West End to escape into. While it is true that high salaries and a strong currency mean Switzerland’s biggest city is expensive for visitors, with some planning, and a focus on culture instead of cuisine, it makes for an enjoyable break, whether or not it is made part of a skiing holiday.
The city boasts cultural big-hitters including the Kunsthaus (see below), one of Europe’s great modern art museums, and Museum Haus Konstruktiv (hauskonstruktiv.ch), which showcases “concrete, constructive and conceptual art” in a former electricity substation. Zurich-West, a former industrial district, is a hub for contemporary art, design, food and architecture. The whole city is relatively car-free and bike-friendly.
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