Zürich (Swiss Canton)

Zurich and its canton will appeal above all to urban tourists, but its location and the quality of its transport links also make it an ideal starting point for visiting the whole of eastern Switzerland.

With over 1.5 million inhabitants, it is the most populous Swiss canton and the country's economic capital, with Zurich-Kloten intercontinental airport as the main air gateway to eastern Switzerland.

Its capital is the city of Zurich, on the shores of Lake Zurich, and the main cities are Bülach, Winterthur, Dietikon and Uster.

The Lake Zurich region is primarily a residential and recreational area with a high potential for tourism.

In the east of the canton, the Zurich Oberland is specialised in forestry and textiles, while in the west and north, the Unterland extends the large industrial area of the Zurich conurbation.

The canton is mainly devoted to industry, concentrating almost half of the headquarters of the top 100 Swiss companies.

However, agricultural activities have been preserved in the vineyards in the north of the canton and in the pre-Alpine regions, where fruit, cereals and vines are grown and livestock is still raised.

The city of Zurich, with some 50 museums, 100 art galleries, an opera house and numerous theatres, is one of the country's cultural capitals, and is also a gastronomic Mecca.

Zurich and its canton will appeal primarily to city tourists, but its location and good transport links also make it an ideal starting point for visiting the whole of eastern Switzerland.