24 hours in Zurich: what to see

The twin towers of the Grossmünster, the Romanesque church that dominates the skyline of the old city, linked to the reformer Huldrych Zwingli, who preached there in the sixteenth century, are the first point of reference for the day.

Crossing the river you reach the Fraumünster, known for the polychrome stained glass realized by Marc Chagall in the seventies, which colors the otherwise sober interior of the church.

From here a walk along the Bahnhofstrasse, one of the world's most expensive shopping avenues, leads toward Lake Zurich, where the lakefront offers an open view of the Alps on clear days.

For lunch, the Niederdorf quarter, on the opposite bank of the river, with its narrow streets and small restaurants, offers a more intimate atmosphere compared to the financial center.

In the afternoon a short lake cruise on Lake Zurich offers a different way to see the city from its shores.

The Zürich West quarter, the former industrial area converted into a creative hub with galleries and venues, has in the Prime Tower panoramic tower the symbol of the urban transformation of the city.

Returning toward the center in the evening, the Niederdorf quarter returns as a protagonist with its bars and restaurants, the natural point for dinner before closing the day.

The Grossmünster, the Fraumünster, and Bahnhofstrasse already tell Zurich's historic soul; the afternoon choice between Lake Zurich and Zürich West shows its more creative side.

A trip to the nearby Rhine Falls and the residential Seefeld neighborhood remain to explore on a second visit. Seeing the Alps outline themselves beyond the lake's waters, viewed from the waterfront promenade, is perhaps the image that best tells Zurich.