Things to see in Zurich

The twin towers of this attractive cathedral have become something of a symbol for the city, while the building itself comprises a vast set of design influences, from an 11th-century crypt to a stained glass window by avant-garde artist Sigmar Polke. The cathedral played an integral role in the Protestant Reformation, and the movement's legacy accounts for the relatively unostentatious interior. Recent archaeological discoveries suggest the existence of a Roman cemetery underneath the church. There are also remains of a Romanesque cloister, 12th-century statuary and a stained glass work in the choir by Augusto Giacometti (Alberto's cousin). The Karlsturm tower has 187 steps; there is no lift.

The collection of the Rietberg Museum of Non-European Art is fully dedicated to non-European cultures and stands as one of the city’s most absorbing attractions. The museum is housed within two buildings dating from the 1850s, both of which are set within the centrally located Rieterpark. The Villa Wesendonck has special exhibitions in addition to its collection of Indian, Chinese and African art (the core of which is the sculpture collection donated by Baron Eduard von der Heydt), while the Park-Villa Rieter has a diverse display of paintings from China, Japan and India. The latter also holds occasional world music concerts.

At 871m (2,858 ft), Zurich’s nearest mini-mountain, the Uetliberg, is where the city’s residents go to get away from it all. Its peak is easily accessible by train from Zurich main station, on Europe’s steepest normal-gauge railway, but more energetic visitors may prefer to make the hour’s walk up to the summit. The mountain offers impressive views of the city and Lake Zurich, and there are plenty of outdoor activities available too, including mountain biking, paragliding and hiking as well as sledding in winter. In spring, the mountain blooms with wild flowers, while in autumn the summit rises above the fog that often blankets the city below. There are also several restaurants offering Swiss specialities.

The open, park-like enclosures of Zurich Zoo house some 1,500 animals in areas that replicate the animals' natural environments. Some of the zoo's most popular residents, particularly apes, seals and penguins, draw crowds during feeding times, while its rarer inhabitants include snow leopards and Andean bears. One particular complex duplicates Madagascar's Masoala rainforest, while a newly opened elephant park aims to recreate the conditions its residents would find in the wild. The zoo prides itself on its breeding programme, and at any one time there are pups and young animals to observe, varying from anteaters to orangutans. There are also several restaurants at the zoo.

In the 1950s, Gottlieg Duttweiler (the founder of ubiquitous Swiss supermarket Migros), started collecting modern art. Set up in 1996, this museum is devoted to exhibiting his collection and building upon it. There are core works by Swiss and German contemporary artists, many from the 1990s. These stand alongside spaces dedicated to rotating exhibitions and special installations. There are both solo and group exhibitions, and the museum grants free admission on Thursday evenings from 1700 onwards. It’s worth a visit for the building alone – located in the regenerated Escher-Wyss area in Zurich West, the museum is housed in a former Löwenbrau brewery.