When to visit - climate
Summers in Switzerland are generally warm, but wet. The warmest months are July & August, and the coldest December – February. Thankfully, the Swiss Alps provide much space for winter activities.

Shopping
The most famous shopping street in Zurich is the Bahnhoffstrasse which houses big department stores, fashion stores, accessories, Swiss watches and almost anything else you desire!
The Langstrasse area contains a very cosmopolitan selection of shops and people, and the pedestrianised
alleyways around Niederdorf are excellent for finding small boutique shops.
 
Alongside the River Lammat is the Old Town, which is also a very attractive shopping area. It is also in thist area that you will find the smaller and more unconventional shops. Schipfe is the place to find the craftspeople who sell their handmade products along the river.

Recommended for shopping:
- Schwarzenbach Kolonialwaren: Zurich's most beautiful grocery, or rather, colonial goods store. Old-fashioned shelves with 1,000 drawers bring about a flashback to the 19th century.
- Time Tunnel: This is the ultimate store for design from the 1960s and 1970s. Avant-garde chairs, coffee tables, second-hand sunglasses, jewellery and chinaware are part of the supply. In the back of the store, three hairdressers create the matching look, with their specialty being hair extensions.

Cuisine
Wining and dining in Zurich is particularly special between spring and autumn, when you can eat at one of the many open-air restaurants. In the cooler months, enjoy meals and drinks in one of the approximately 2,000 bars and restaurants.
One restaurant that has made international headlines is Blinde Kuh, a restaurant run by blind people and in almost complete darkness. This is your chance to experience first hand what it is like to be blind. (It is necessary to book several weeks in advance).

Festivals
Probably the best-known festival in Zurich is the Sechseläuten in April, where the guilds dating from the 14th century once again make an appearance and walk through the town attired in traditional dress. In a spectacle reminiscent of the Middle Ages, a rag doll effigy of a snowman is burnt to symbolise the end of winter.
The Zurich Festival is held in June/July and offers a combination of operas, concerts, drama, dance and open-air theatre.

Nightlife
Zurich has around 500 nightclubs and bars that provide a range of entertainment for every taste until the early morning hours. Choose from a wide variety of parties and clubs where DJs from all over the world play everything from House to Acid Jazz. 

Did you know?
- Zurich houses Europe’s largest indoor Christmas market at the main train station
- Zurich is home to ‘Expovina’, the world’s largest public wine-tasting fair to be held on board twelve ships
- It is also home to the headquarters and/or research centres of international companies such as Google, IBM and Microsoft

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