Zürich circles the northern end of Lake Zurich, from which the Limmat River flows, bisecting the city. In the distance, magnificent snow-clad peaks overlook the waters of the lake, and the shores are dotted with stately 19th century mansions. The Lindenhof square is the architectural center of historic Zurich. The city is crisscrossed by lovely, low bridges. Its charming Old Town is filled with beautifully restored historic buildings and narrow, hilly alleys. State-operated "Heimatwerk" shops present a high-quality selection of 'cottage industry' goods including wooden, hand carved objects and lace.
Getting around is likely to be as much an attraction as the destination. Zurich has steam trains, steam ships, and mountain lifts of all sorts: large cable cars, four person cable cars as in Disneyland, chairlifts, and many ancient funiculars. Or visitors can borrow a bike from Zürich’s free bicycle rental program. Swiss cooking deserves its reputation of being delicious, clean and wholesome. The Swiss National Dish is Rösti: a sort of Swiss-style hash browned potatoes. The city is both large enough to offer all amenities to its visitors and small enough to make the visitor feel at home.
