BETWEEN MEETINGS
ART FIX Kunsthaus Zürich (kunsthaus.ch) owns one of the best fine-art collections in Switzerland. There’s a lot to see, with all the big names represented, including Gauguin, Klee, Chagall, Monet and Cézanne. Start with the Impressionists and Old Masters and don’t leave until you’ve seen the Giacometti paintings and sculptures – this art museum has the world’s largest collection of his work.
SWEET OBSESSION
Beyond the well-known Lindt is a centuries-old tradition of making chocolate that lives on in small
confiseries (confectionery stores) all around the country. In Zürich, book the 2.5-hour Sweet Zürich Tour (mykugelhopf.ch) – you’ll not only discover the delicious history of chocolate, you’ll also visit many of the chocolate shops in the Old Town and sample a lot of sweet treats along the way. If you don’t have much time, duck into Max Chocolatier (maxchocolatier.com).
HIGH FIVE
Zürich is made for walking – and wandering the streets around the Limmat is a great way to take in the historic architecture. Don’t miss Chagall’s stained-glass windows in the Fraumünster church and the views of the city from Lindenhof park. For something edgier, take a taxi to Kreis 5 and hit Im Viadukt (im-viadukt.ch), a pedestrianised street in an old railway viaduct that now houses boutiques and cafés; Kunsthalle (kunsthallezurich.ch), a free contemporary art gallery; and Frau Gerolds Garten (fraugerold. ch), a cheap and cheerful shippingcontainer restaurant and shopping space. Clouds (clouds.ch), opposite the Garten, is a cool rooftop bar with views over the industrial parts of the city you never see from the Old Town.
PRECIOUS TIME
Virtually every major Swiss watch brand, from IWC Schaffhausen to Piaget, has its flagship store on the well-heeled Bahnhofstrasse and it’s easy to spend an hour or two trying on the world’s most exclusive timepieces. To buy yourself some time, Bucherer (bucherer.com) has a wide selection of brands in the one place.
CLOSE SHAVE
Tucked away at the end of a side lane, The Barber Paradox (thebarberparadox.ch) is a slick, modern take on an old-school barber shop. This stylish men’s salon specialises in haircuts, wet shaves and facial-hair grooming. The hot and cold towel treatments make for a relaxing experience.