Zurich

Zürich is often mistakenly cast as a sterile playground for bankers and fine watches, but this city pulses with underground energy, art-fuelled rebellion, and sharp-edged design. Set against a shimmering lake, and the razor-sharp Alps, Zürich is a place where the past collides spectacularly with the future.

Once a Roman outpost, Zürich evolved from a medieval trading hub into a global powerhouse. Its cobbled Old Town still hums with history, but today, it’s a creative hub where medieval towers share the skyline with contemporary architectural feats. The Grossmünster’s imposing twin towers nod to the past, while Santiago Calatrava’s sleek, curving Stadelhofen station is pure futurism.

Zürich’s culinary scene reflects its fusion of old and new. Michelin-starred restaurants elevate Swiss gastronomy to high art, while historic taverns serve up rustic rösti and raclette. Coffee is serious business here, with indie roasters crafting blends that turn caffeine into an experience.

Bahnhofstrasse is Zürich’s glittering temple of luxury, where Cartier and Rolex reign supreme. Zürich’s Gold Coast in Küsnacht exudes exclusivity, where lakeside villas gleam under the sun and the elite sip espresso, watching sailboats glide across the water. But it’s not all polished privilege—venture to Zürich West, where repurposed industrial spaces house avant-garde galleries, concept stores, and underground music venues.

When the sun sets, the city transforms. Langstrasse, once a red-light district, is now an electrified stretch of bars, late-night eateries, and clubs like Zukunft, where electronic beats pulse until dawn. The rebellious spirit of Dada is alive and well at Cabaret Voltaire, where surrealist energy still crackles through the air.

Art reigns supreme at the Kunsthaus Zürich, its new Jura limestone-clad wing a monument to creative ambition. Even Zürich’s police station is a masterpiece—the Blüemlihalle, adorned in a riot of colour by Augusto Giacometti, makes bureaucracy feel almost hallucinatory. The Pavilion Le Corbusier stands as a shrine to modernism, it’s bold primary colours and geometric precision proving that Zürich doesn’t just follow the future—it builds it. 

Meanwhile, the River Limmat winds through the city, mirroring its contradictions: medieval churches beside glassy high-rises, history colliding with the avant-garde. Zürich’s Badhäuser, historic bathhouses along the river, offer a unique fusion of wellness and tradition, where locals unwind in waters that have soothed generations. Botanical gardens offer a breath of fresh air, from the traditional to the wildly futuristic. Wander among rare herbs, step into the surreal ‘Teletubby ’-style domes of the University’s tropical greenhouses, or bask in the exotic flora of the Chinese Garden.

Home to global icons such as Monocle Magazine –the hub of global journalism, design, and culture, reflecting the city’s cosmopolitan energy, to the world-famous Sprüngli chocolates are Zürich’s legendary indulgence—handcrafted Swiss perfection since 1836 and famous for their melt-in-your-mouth truffles and iconic Luxemburgerli. The city fosters an edgy, creative class;Zürich is the birthplace of iconic brands like Freitag’s sustainable bags, On Running’s cutting-edge footwear, and the precision of Victorinox Swiss Army knives. A gateway to the Alps and a playground for disruptors and designers alike, it’s where Bally’s craftsmanship, Caran d’Ache’s luxury writing tools, and Turicum Gin’s Swiss-distilled flavours shape a city where radical ideas thrive under a high-gloss finish.

Forget the spreadsheets—Zürich is a visceral experience. It shatters expectations and rebuilds them in vivid colour.