This international financial hub has one of the best quality-of-life rankings in the world, which makes it a very safe and fun place to visit. Even though the city is smaller than you might think, there’s plenty to do. You can explore the gilded cocoon of the Altstadt (Old Town), which is lined with private banks, chocolate houses with long histories, and watch and jewelry shops. Or, you can enjoy the lively and edgy scene in Zurich West, which has art galleries, design shops, and hip places to eat and drink. The natural beauty that tops it all off is unmatched. The calm Limmat River flows through the middle of the city and opens up into the huge, sparkling Lake Zurich.

The mountains in Switzerland may be what you think of when you think of the country, but Zurich doesn’t get much snow. There are many microclimates in Switzerland, and Zurich has a mild one. Winter is a great time to visit because the weather almost never gets below freezing, there is Europe’s biggest indoor Christmas market, and you can shop on Bahnhofstrasse even on December Sundays. It can be cool and bright in the spring, but it usually rains, especially in the later months. One thing that makes people feel better is that the city is full of beautiful cherry blossoms. Summer and early fall are without a doubt the best times to go because the lake is warm enough for swimming.

The Flughafen Zürich, which is made of concrete, steel, and glass, is also known as Zurich Kloten Airport. It’s a small version of the city you’re about to enter: Everything is spotless, and there are ads for watches everywhere. Hauptbahnhof, Zurich’s main train stop, is only eight miles south. Several trains run every hour and take as little as 12 minutes to get there. If you’re going somewhere on the northern edges of town, the number 10 bus might be more handy. It takes 35 minutes. Taxis are crazy expensive—about 50 Swiss francs, or $55, to get to the center of town—so don’t take them unless you have a lot of stuff to carry.

There’s no doubt that Zurich’s public transportation is the most timely and dependable in the world. A one-hour ticket costs 4.20 Swiss francs, which is pretty much the same price as everything else in this city. But a day pass, which costs 8.60 Swiss francs, is a pretty good deal since it lets you ride any of the city’s public transit systems for 24 hours straight, including the train, bus, tram, funicular, cable car, or boat. The city’s famous blue bus is the most popular and best way to get around. You could also use Züri rollt, the city’s famous and free bike-share program, to see the sights on two wheels. Also, because Zurich isn’t very big and its Altstadt is very pedestrian-friendly, you can easily walk to many of the city’s most interesting places.

Things you must do in Zurich

Many people who were born and raised in the area love taking walks along the lake, but they are split between the right and left banks. With its beautiful tree-lined avenue, the first one might seem like the clear winner, but the second one also has its charms. Keep going south until you reach Saffa Island, which has a straight-line view of the Alps and is probably the most charming place on the lake. You can get there by crossing an arched bridge for pedestrians.

Zurich food and drinks to try

Swiss food is filling and tastes great when you treat yourself. You could eat fondue and sausages for every meal here, but you should also try some of the less well-known traditional dishes, like raclette, rosti, and Zürcher Geschnetzeltes, which is pan-fried veal with a creamy white wine sauce and is a classic Zurich dish. But Zurich’s food scene isn’t just meat, cheese, and potatoes. There’s creative fine dining, veggie food with a global flavor, and fresh fish meals made with fish caught in Lake Zurich. Also, chocolate seems to come in a huge variety, whether you like thick cake, cakes filled with champagne, or bars made from just one ingredient. Zurich is known for its beer—try a TurbinenBraü—but while you’re here, you should also try some of the wines made from grapes grown in and around the city. Many of them are hard to find outside of Zurich, let alone in other countries.