Car Hire in Zurich

• Zuerich Gartenhofstrasse 17    
• Zuerich Kloten Airport    
• Zuerich Letzipark

The Fraumünster and the Grossmünster are the city’s landmark churches. Romanesque Grossmünster church with its twin spires dates back to 1100 and was the starting point of the Swiss-German Reformation. Climb to the top of the tower for great views of the city. Fraumünster church is a former convent in Gothic style. It is also famous for its stained glass windows designed by Marc Chagall. As you’re wandering through the charming old town, make sure you take in Augustinergasse. This is one of the city’s most beautiful narrow streets and is famous for its colourfully painted oriel windows.

Zurich West is the young, modern face of the city. It is a hive of stylish gastronomic treats. What were once industrial sites have now been taken over by art, design, dance, culture and shopping. Many of the city’s more high profile nightclubs can be found in this district.

During the summer months, the lakeside promenade on the banks of Lake Zurich is the perfect spot for sunbathing, inline skating or swimming. The Limmat river is also great for bathing. Oberer Letten is the most popular. A little calmer and further up the river is Unterer Letten, which is a great place for kids.

There are a lot of cultural and music events going on throughout the year. Street Parade takes place in August and is the biggest open-air techno rave in Europe. Each year nearly a million visitors dance in the streets to the music blasting out from the Love Mobiles. The open-air parties last until midnight, after which the clubs take over. Mid-April brings Sechseläuten, a unique Swiss festival to celebrate the coming of spring. Hundreds of people in historical guild costumes proceed through the streets. Accompanied by rousing marching music, it all culminates in the burning of a giant snowman – symbolic of the end of winter.


Travel further afield with Avis car rental

There are plenty of interesting places to visit near Zurich.

Just 20 minutes’ drive away is Winterthur, affectionately known as the City of Museums. There are 17 of them in total, including the Oskar Reinhart collection of European art, and Technorama, the Swiss science centre. Other than museums, the city also has a delightful old town with restaurants and shops. Not to mention a twin-towered church and a range of gardens and parks. From here it’s just a short drive to the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe. Observation decks offer spectacular vistas of the falls. Take a boat trip on the Rhine to get even closer.

Lucerne is also less than an hour’s drive away. Its centrepiece is a medieval Chapel Bridge considered the oldest wooden bridge in Europe. Situated on the banks of Lake Lucerne, it makes for great boat tours. The music and fireworks of the Summer Night Festival in August attract tens of thousands of visitors from all over Switzerland. From Lucerne you can climb one of the nearby peaks, Mount Rigi, Pilatus, or Titlis. Mount Titlis is the most dramatic, and comes complete with glaciers. Pilatus and Rigi are also breathtaking.

No visit would be complete without a trip to Baden. This historic spa resort dates back 2000 years, when it was a retreat for the Roman legion. Today it has been awarded the official “Wellness Destination” seal of approval. You can relax in the thermal spring waters at one of the many spas and fitness centres. Rich in minerals, it is thought to be helpful in treating a range of rheumatic, neurological and cardiovascular conditions. The town itself is worth a visit too. Stroll through the old town and the castle ruins and imagine how life might have been in the Middle Ages.