Located in the heart of Switzerland, Zurich is a picturesque city which is also the largest in the country. Though Zurich is the name that comes to you first when you think of Switzerland, it is not the country’s capital. Yet it is much more important than a mere tourist location.

Being one of the largest cities in the country it forms an important centre with respect to trade and commerce. The stock exchange and the headquarters of a large number of national and international companies reside here. Not only this, it also houses National and international media agencies as well as most of the national TV channels.

It is also the nerve centre of Switzerland’s transport. The Zurich airport is the biggest and busiest international airport in the country. This may be one reason why Switzerland generally means Zurich for most tourists. It is also the closest city to the Alps and hence landing here makes it easier for the tourists to reach the Alps.

German and Swiss German are the most frequently used languages here. However you can find your way around even if you know English and French.

Having received the ranking of being the city with the highest standard of living, worldwide, Zurich is a place which is never dirty. You can breathe in fresh air and walk on clean roads. The crime rates are also extremely low. Zurich is thus, the perfect destination for those tourists who are looking for a break from the daily hustle bustle of urban life.

Situated in Switzerland’s largest city, Zurich, the Swiss National Museum is one of the most important museums of art in the whole of Europe.

The museum lies in Zurich’s old city district and the museum is the most major part of its heritage. Its tall towers are seen from far and the beautiful park built on an island between the rivers Sihl and Limmat is a nice place to take an evening stroll.

The architect Gustav Gull built the museum’s building in a historicist fashion in 1898. Its façade is fascinating and resembles the French chateaus of the French Renaissance period.

The exhibition displays art from prehistory through ancient times and the Middle Ages to the 20th century. However paintings are not the only art products present here. The display also features a comprehensive collection of liturgical wooden sculptures, panel paintings, gothic art, chivalry and carved altars. The Swiss collector René Braginsky has accrued one of the most amazing collections of Hebrew documents in the entire world and that too is up on display.

A fantastic porcelain and faience collection is also there in Zunfthaus zur Meisen near Fraumünster church. Trips along the Limmat River through the city of Zürich are also available at the Swiss National Museum.