Zurich, Zermatt, Murren & Geneva

ABOUT THE DESTINATION: Zurich labours under the misconception that it is nothing more than a sterile banking city – don't believe a word of it. True, Zurich plays home to one of the largest stock exchanges in the world and is the financial motor of Switzerland itself, but step back from the markets and share prices and you'll find an arty, trend-conscious and vibrant city. Just hang in Zurich West for a while. Its former warehouses, viaducts and ship building caverns have been converted into art centres, funky bars and quirky boutiques. Along Langstrasse, the city’s notorious red light district, you’re now as likely to take home a chic handbag crafted by an emerging designer as you are a piece of skirt. Zurich’s character booms from the speakers of the annual Street Parade, a mammoth techno festival that weaves through the city with DJs and minimally-clad dancers on floats. There isn’t a banker’s tie in sight. If there is in the pretty east bank quarter of Niederdorf, it’s loosened. These medieval streets are abuzz with cafés on corners, trendy taprooms and world-class restaurants. It’s easy to while away an afternoon just absorbing its laidback atmosphere, especially in summer when the riverside take on a beach vibe. Winter is special too. Under the spell of snow, the cobbled alleyways, fountains, lakeside promenades and stunning architecture of the Old Town were made for the stroke of an artist’s brush. This is when one of Europe’s best Christmas markets rolls into town and the warming citruses and cinnamons of the glühwein (mulled wine) stalls fill the air. Shoppers will be in their element here at any time of year. Zurich’s flashy side is evident in the upmarket designer boutiques of Bahnhofstrasse, the city’s main shopping drag. But this is no longer a city for the smart set alone; there are plenty of unusual shops to be discovered down hidden streets. Sitting astride the River Limmat and the northern tip of Lake Zurich, Mother Nature certainly smiles down on Switzerland’s biggest city. Architects were courteous in their additions too - just check out the Fraumünster and Grossmünster churches, which face each other across the river. Then, when you’ve had enough of the city’s diverse array of restaurants, first-rate museums and pulsing nightlife, there’s always the nearby Uetliberg mountain or a boat trip on Lake Zurich to enjoy – if only to catch your breath before diving back into the city’s delights again.

ABOUT THE DESTINATION: Zermatt is a scenic ski resort, located at the northern base of the mighty Matterhorn. Skiing, hiking and mountaineering are the main attractions in this resort, nonetheless there is so much more to see in this flower bedecked village. Hinterdorf is the oldest part of Zermatt where you can still find a few of the old traditional Swiss wooden houses dating back to the 17th and 16th century. The St. Mauritius Church dominates the skyline of Zermatt. It is located at the Church Square, Kirchplatz, in the heart of Zermatt's busy city centre. Next to the Catholic Church, the Matterhorn Museum houses the remains and preserves Zermatt's history. Located close to St. Mauritius Church is the town's cemetery, the Mountaineers' Cemetery. There, the headstones tell some amazing stories of the climbers who met with destiny during their attempt to climb the Matterhorn. The main street is a hive of activity and has restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, gift shops and many shops retailing Swiss Watches. Beautiful Swiss style buildings adorn each side of the street. The English Church is a lovely little church set high on the hill overlooking Zermatt. It is a very heavily timbered building inside and, whilst not as big or as ornate as the Catholic Church, it has a charm all of its own. Well worth the walk up the hill. Bustling, crowded, busy and beautiful all at the same time, Zermatt is the epitome of Swiss atmosphere. Although busy with visitors and holidaymakers, this town has retained that lovely Swiss ambience and feel about it.

ABOUT THE DESTINATION: Mürren – a former settlement of people from the Lötschen valley in the Valais, which still remains recognisable today from the design of the houses and the pronunciation of the Mürren dialect – is the highest, continually inhabited village settlement in the canton of Bern and lies on a terrace at 1650 metres, high above the Lauterbrunnen valley. A double-cable ropeway leads up onto the plateau from Lauterbrunnen, while a cableway runs from Stechelberg, past turbulent waterfalls and craggy rock faces, into the centre of the car-free village of Mürren, and further to the Schilthorn at 2970 metres. At the end of the 1960s, the makers of the Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” were immediately taken by the futuristic revolving restaurant on the Schilthorn: the scenes involving the imaginary ‘Piz Gloria’ had to be shot here… The film became a great success, the Schilthorn cableway and the revolving restaurant equally so. The magnificent 360° panorama from the summit takes in the world-renowned Alpine triumvirate of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, reaching right to Mont Blanc and into the Black Forest.

ABOUT THE DESTINATION: The city of Geneva has a population of 200,000 inhabitants and is one of largest in Switzerland, is the capital of the canton and is situated on the Lac Leman, also named Lake of Geneva, it is divided by Rhône River, which emerges from the lake. It is a nice and charming city with numerous bridges. The Gothic Cathédrale de St-Pierre towers over the vieille ville, Geneva’s old section of narrow, winding streets and flower-bedecked homes. Climb the north tower for a spectacular view of the old town. Most of the city’s museums are in the vieille ville. The Musée d’Art et d’Histoire prides itself on its eclecticisms. Exhibits range from ancient Greek vases to Dadaism art. The Petit Palais houses a wonderful collection of modern art in an intimate 19th century palace. Geneva’s lakefront is beautiful. The audacious Jet d’Eau is one of the world’s tallest fountain. Don’t miss the manicured Jardin Anglais with its famous Horloge Fleurie, a large clock adorned with flowers, erected in homage to Geneva’s clock industry. Geneva remains the international city it has been for centuries, epitomizing the Swiss neutrality which has welcomed such diverse visitors as Lenin and Borges. Today, diplomats and the executives of innumerable corporations fill Geneva’s offices, though seldom its spotless streets. Sedate and picturesque, Geneva is the most pleasant city in Switzerland.