Sights

Bahnhofstrasse
The elegant Bahnhofstrasse was built on the site of the city walls which were torn down 150 years ago. Underfoot are bank vaults full of gold and silver. You aren't allowed into the vaults but the famous street's large department stores and speciality shops are happy to offer you a peek at their goods.

Buerkliplatz Flohmarkt
This established flea market is the perfect place to hunt for that cuckoo clock for the folks back home. The stalls offer a range of goods, mostly antiques; antique fondue pots, antique mountain climbing gear. If all this rummaging makes you hungry, fear not, the variety of food stalls will keep you energised for more shopping.

Fraumünster
The Fraumünster Church is noted for the distinctive stained glass windows in its choir section, created by Marc Chagall in 1970 and completed when he was 83 years old. Those familiar with Chagall's vibrant art will understand why they are one of the highlights of Zürich. The building itself dates from the 13th century. It's closed at lunchtime.

Predigerkirche
Dominican monks founded this monastery and church in 1230. Additions and alterations were made over the centuries, and the current interior dates primarily from the early 1600s. The high choir and massive organ are quite impressive.

Museum of Fine Arts
The Museum of Fine Arts is a behemoth of 19th- and 20th-century art, with works by Dali, Arp, Man Ray, Bacon, Cézanne, Renoir, Hockney, Manet, Monet and Gauguin all on display. There's a fair sprinkling of Picassos, a room devoted to Marc Chagall, and an Edvard Munch collection that will make you scream.

Swiss National Museum
The Swiss Museum, set in an imitation castle, is a great big cream cake of a place; try to digest it all in one go and you could come away feeling bloated. The permanent collection gives the ultimate rundown on Swiss life and times from the prehistoric to the present. The special exhibitions are usually enticing.
There's a good selection of church art, plus weapons, coins, room interiors, costumes and utensils. The fresco in the Hall of Arms, the Retreat of the Swiss Confederates at Marignano, is by Ferdinand Hodler. In the basement there's an interesting section on book-inscribing in the Middle Ages (you'll discover that the colour purple was extracted from snails), including some fine facsimiles of 14th-century books to leaf through.

Zoo Dolder
Zoo Dolder is one of Europe's leading zoos. The expansive location gives its 1800 animals plenty of room to breathe, and the zoo has built a Madagascan rainforest environment. If you come at certain times you can see elephants being washed, bats feeding, and emperor penguins strolling free around the grounds.
There are 350 animal species from all around the world, in all about 2500 animals. Two of the more famous residents are Asian elephant Ceyla-Himali and her son, whose birth in June 2000 was broadcast live on the Internet. The pleasant zoo backs on to Zürichberg woods, ideal for walks away from the noise of the city.

Uetliberg
One of the best panoramic views of the city and its surroundings is from Uetliberg, the tallest mountain near Zurich (2,856 ft/871 m). If you prefer to go there on your own rather than with a guided tour, take the Uetlibergbahn (S-Bahn 10) from the Hauptbahnhof. In addition to the observation terrace, there are hiking trails and restaurants.