Best things to do in Zürich

Even though its population doesn’t even hit half a million, Zürich is a forerunner in Switzerland when it comes to business, banking, nightlife and gastronomy. If it’s happening in Switzerland, it’s happening in Zürich first.

Highly walkable yet with a chocolate-smooth transport system, Züri – as the locals affectionately call it – has world-class museums, a diverse social scene and a lakeside culture that’s hard to beat. Here are the best things to do in Switzerland’s largest city.

1. Study up on Switzerland at the Landesmuseum

Get a sense of the country at the Schweizerisches Landesmuseum (Swiss National Museum), housed in a 19th-century stone building near the train station. The permanent collection takes visitors through the country’s eclectic history from the Middle Ages to the present day.

The exhibits detailing Switzerland’s attitude to banking secrecy, neutrality, foreign migration and women’s rights (women obtained the right to vote only in 1971) illuminate recent history, while a formidable display of pikes and halberds from the Middle Ages shows how far it’s come.

Don’t miss the original 1862 edition of Henry Dunant’s account of the battle of Solférino, which inspired his humanitarian ideology and led to the formation of the International Committee of the Red Cross a year later.

2. Admire Chagall’s modernist windows at the Fraumünster

Standing tall on the left bank of the Limmat River, the Fraumünster is one of Zürich’s oldest religious buildings, founded as a convent way back in 853 CE. But its major draw these days is something much more recent: a set of stained glass windows created by modernist artist Marc Chagall in 1967.

The five panels depict biblical stories through bold use of color and abstract imagery. Apparently Picasso was a fan, and it’s easy to see why. Chagall was 83 when the windows were inaugurated, but he wasn’t done yet. He created the Fraumünster’s equally striking rose window at the grand old age of 90.

Detour: Walk over the Münsterbrücke to the Grossmünster on the opposite side of the Limmat, whose twin bell towers are a distinctive landmark in the city. Modern stained glass windows by German artist Sigmar Polke liven up an otherwise plain interior. This lack of adornment is due in part to…