The Japan Times WORLD EYE REPORTS SWITZERLAND
©THE JAPAN TIMES	Thursday, August 2, 2001

Zurich: bustling crossroads of world-class business, culture and entertainment
Quiet and unassuming, this northern Swiss city has proven to be one of the most pleasant, culturally invigorating and delightful of European urban centers.

When you come to Switzerland be sure not to miss out on one of the most underrated places in the whole country - the city of Zurich. Far from being a forbidding city of dour bankers and accountants, the city has a stunningly diverse character, activities to do and unique places to see.

A good place to start an exploration of Zurich would be where the Hauptbahnhof (the main train station) meets the Bahnhofstrasse, a leisure and shopping street. The station itself is an interesting place. Here you are at the true crossroads of Europe - just as Zurich was in Roman times when it was a trading outpost on the way to the north. Trains come in and leave again on their way to Milan, Paris, Berlin, and Prague as well as to Swiss cities such as Lugano, Davos, St Moritz, Basel, Montreux and Geneva.

As you move through the busy intercourse of platforms and cross the street to the Bahnhofstrasse you will get your first indirect glimpse of Zurich through its people: international, cosmopolitan and diverse.

Leaving the station, you finally arrive at the Bahnhofstrasse. This is the unofficial city centre and it is here that you will find shops containing the widest variety of Swiss watches that you will ever see - as well as the latest fashions from all over the world, outdoor street cafes, hotels and restaurants. Across the river next to the station is the "altstadt" or old city. A warren of cobblestone alleyways wind in-between medieval churches and cosy Swiss pubs, bars and boutiques. At night this area livens up and fills with students, tourists and locals who come for the fine dining and post-dinner fun.

Walking from the altstadt south along the river for no more than 10 minutes will take you to Lake Zurich, with its fantastic views. Across the lake the mountains tower in the distance. If the 15th century guild halls along the river, the stained glass on the churches or the clocks in the towers have not made you realize it yet, the Alps, not so far away in the distance, give you the certain realization that you have arrived in Switzerland. From here many boats cruise down the long and narrow lake from Zurich to Rapperswil on its southern end. The trip there takes two hours and is an extremely enjoyable way to see the surrounding hills, mountains and villages. On the way back, you can take a 45-minute train and arrive at the hauptbahnhof near your hotel.

Another place that should not be missed is Zurich's own mountain, Uetliberg. Take the suburban S-Bahn line from the hauptbahnhof for a couple of swiss franks and in 23 minutes you will reach the top at 2500 feet. The wooded mountain gives you a commanding view over all of Zurich - including the lake and all the major mountains within kilometers. At the top are a couple of restaurants and a tower you can climb for an even better view, though this is not suggested for those with vertigo.

From the Bahnhofstrasse, with its watchmakers, fashion and cafes, to the festive life of Alstadt, Zurich offers visitors much more than meets the eye.

Going back to the city, Zurich is a modern city amid beautiful surroundings with an international flavour as well. Pick up the local tourist brochure for all the main cultural listings. There is a tremendous variety of things to do - from opera to ethnic restaurants. If you want Russian cooking for example, you will find the real thing. Longing for Japanese Food? The problem would be to choose among a fine selection. Tibetan or Mongolian? Zurich has it.

Finally, when you are ready to leave the city for more Swiss exploration in Zermat, Davos or Geneva, it is not going to be a chore to get to your next destination. The station is central, and trains are the most punctual in Europe (users of the Japanese system will feel at home). Hop on and relax, and in no time you will be on the slopes of the Alps, having just enjoyed some of the best that European urban life has to offer.

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