Zurich West

Zürich, Switzerland's largest city, lies at the northern end of Lake Zurich, where the Limmat flows from the lake. Its medieval Old Town on both sides of the river, lakeside promenades, and a wide array of museums make it a great starting point for any Swiss journey.On the right bank, you'll find the Grossmünster and the Rathaus; on the left, the Fraumünster with Marc Chagall's stained-glass windows, and St. Peter's Church with Europe's largest clock face. Bahnhofstrasse leads from the Hauptbahnhof, the country's largest railway station, to the lake. For a panorama of the city, lake, and, on clear days, the Alps, take the train from Hauptbahnhof up the 870-meter-high Uetliberg.

The Old Town lies on both sides of the Limmat, between Hauptbahnhof and Lake Zurich. Left of the river are Lindenhof, St. Peter and Fraumünster; on the right, Niederdorf with its narrow lanes, bars and guild houses around Grossmünster. The largest part is pedestrian zone and can be easily explored in one day.

The residential district on the right bank of Lake Zurich stretches from Bellevue to Zürichhorn. Along the lakeside promenade are parks, lidos, and sunbathing lawns, which are well-visited on summer evenings. From the city center, you can reach Seefeld on foot or by tram.

The Zurich Region in northern Switzerland stretches from Lake Zurich to the High Rhine. It is home to the country's largest city, featuring its most important airport and largest train station, as well as the Rhine Falls, whose left bank belongs to the Canton of Zurich.For many travelers, Switzerland begins here: From Zurich, you can reach Lucerne, Bern, and the Alps quickly by train.

The Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen in northern Switzerland is considered, by volume of water, Europe's largest waterfall. Over a width of around 150 meters, the Rhine plunges 23 meters into the depths. From Zurich, you can reach it by S-Bahn.The right bank belongs to Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Canton Schaffhausen; the left, with Laufen Castle, to Canton Zurich. From the castle, a panoramic path leads to platforms Belvedere, Känzeli, and Fischetz directly over the water, with a panoramic lift for return. Boats run from the north bank into the basin and to the middle rock. The Rhine Falls itself is freely accessible year-round; Laufen Castle and its platforms require admission.