Despite being best known as Switzerland's financial center, Zurich actually has a strong cultural and historical side. Short Term Stay Zurich can help you find a place to stay in one of Zurich's twelve districts (Kreise), each of which has a unique feel. The city itself spans the River Limmat and is located at the northern end of Lake Zurich; this means that water and water sports are a large part of Zurich's draw. The city is a wonderful mix of old and new; the Old Town still feels medieval in many ways, while other parts of the city have been built up and modernized.

Zurich Center (Downtown):
Zurich's downtown, also called District 1, consists of three parts that span the River Limmat: Niederdorf, Lindenhof, and Altstadt. Lindenhof is located on the western side of the river on a small hill; if you want to be close to shopping on Bahnhofstrasse and have a great view of the city, consider looking for serviced apartments in Zurich in Lindenhof. This neighborhood has many narrow medieval streets to explore, though it also is not far from Paradeplatz and Zurich's financial district.

Niederdorf lies across the river from Lindenhof and is a largely pedestrian area. Few cars are allowed on this neighborhood's medieval alleyways, which gives Niederdorf a quaint, historical feel. Stroll around this area if you want to find some great restaurants and shopping areas.

Altstadt (District 1):
The third part of Zurich's medieval city center is the Altstadt, or Old Town. You will find plenty of Zurich short term rentals here, along with over 40 affordable hotels. If you look hard enough, you will see some modern touches amidst the historical charm: Mark Chagall's stained-glass windows adorn the Grossmunster and Fraumunster churches, and there are plenty of other museums in this area.

Wollishofen & Leimbach (District 2):
Wollishofen and Leimbach, along with Enge, make up Zurich's District 2. These eclectic neighborhoods are on the western shore of Lake Zurich, attracting a good many tourists to the lakefront. You will also find historic castles intermixing with a lively nightlife scene. Wollishofen and Leimbach are the location of the huge Street Parade techno music festival that the city hosts every year.

Enge:
Completing District 2, Enge is where you will go if you want to take the ferry across Lake Zurich. This can make Enge a bit touristy, though it is still less touristy than the eastern side of the lake. Enge's location close to the center of Zurich makes it ideal to find affordable serviced apartments Zurich. If you like strolling in gardens, you will love Enge's Belvoirpark and Rieterpark.

Langstrasse & Aussersihl (District 4):
District 4 consists of two neighborhoods in South Zurich, Langstrasse and Aussersihl. Langstrasse, once a popular red-light district, has been built up recently and now attracts many young people to its urban bars and lively nightlife. You can also get to District 5 via Langstrasse's tunnel under the railroad tracks. Aussersihl is the home of most of Zurich's foreign citizens, lending the area a diverse, cosmopolitan feel. Aussersihl hosts Zurich's annual Gay Pride Christopher Street Day as well as other eclectic events and festivals. Those who want to live in a diverse area with many cultures and a young feel should look for short term rentals in Zurich in District 4.

Oberstrasse & Unterstrasse (District 6):
District 6 is located north of the Alstadt and is made up of Oberstrasse and Unterstrasse. This district is the location of the Zoologisches Museum, a popular attraction for families with children. Part of the Zurich University campus lies in District 6, along with a large park with a duck pond. Art lovers should check out one of Zurich's oldest art spaces here, which now shows contemporary art by young artists.

Hirslanden & Witikon (District 7):
Hirslanden and Witikon, along with Flutern and Hottingen, are part of eastern Zurich's District 7. Hop on one of the classic trolleys for a tour of this affluent area, or take an afternoon to visit the Zurich Zoo which is also located here.

Flutern:
Flutern, a swank upper-class area, is part of District 7 in eastern Zurich. Those who are looking for upscale short term rentals Zurich may want to consider in Flutern. This area is also the location of the Friedhof, the cemetery where Swiss Nobel Prize winner Elias Canetti and Irish author James Joyce are buried.

Hottingen:
Hottingen is one of District 7's less expensive areas. Though it is towards the edge of town, it is still well-connected to the city center via Zurich's excellent public transport. It feels like a small village, thanks to its cute cottages, cafes, and markets.

Seefeld & Riesbach (District 8):
The eastern shore of Lake Zurich is one of the most touristy in the city, thanks to its waterfront location that encourages people to swim, sunbathe, promenade, and rent boats. This is Zurich's District 8, which consists of Seefeld and Riesbach. This area has become a popular place to live in the past decade, which has driven up the rent rates. Seefeld has been part of the gentrification, as is evident by its trendy bars and restaurants, but it also still hosts the largest flea market in Zurich.

You will see few people driving cars in Zurich because the city has one of the safest, cleanest, and most efficient networks of public transportation in the world. Those who enjoy walking will find themselves at home in the city center, and there is even a group in Zurich that promotes pedestrian transportation. Cycling is also popular; Zurich has well-maintained bike lanes and even a free bicycle rental program in the summer. Wherever your short term rental in Zurich happens to be located, you will certainly be well-connected via public transport.

Public Transportation:
Zurich's public transportation network is managed by the Zurcher Verkehrsverbund (ZVV). The network extends throughout Zurich and into some of its bordering cantons. The ZVV network consists of suburban trains (S-Bahn), regular trains (SBB), buses, trams, cable cars, and boats. You can view schedules all over the city and, in true Swiss fashion, the system is known to be accurate to the minute. If you want to cross the River Limmat or Lake Zurich, you will have a choice of both river buses and lake steamers.

Zurich's public transport is divided into fare zones: fares are higher if you want to go farther from the city center. For those staying in any of our short term rentals Zurich, you should know that the most economical choice for public transport payment is to buy a monthly or annual public transport card called a ZVV NetworkPass; this makes the most sense if you will be in Zurich for more than a few weeks. Single tickets can also be purchased from multi-lingual ticket vending machines at all public transport stops. Do not forget to buy tickets before you board the public transport; if you do not buy a ticket first, you may be fined.

Taxis:
Taxis abound in Zurich, though they are much more expensive than the public transport, in part because a mandatory 15% service charge is included in every taxi fare. Taxis can be hailed at the curb or ordered by phone. There are many taxi companies serving Zurich, such as Taxi 444 AG, Mega Taxi Zurich, Hallo Taxi-Reisen "Excalibur", and Zuritaxi 7x2.

Driving:
The best advice you can heed about getting around Zurich is: do not drive. Swiss roads are known for being excellent, but driving in Zurich is stressful due to the hard-to-navigate narrow streets. Importing and insuring cars is also quite expensive, and finding parking in Zurich is near-impossible. Also, in most cases you will find that taking Zurich's public transport will get you from any of our serviced apartments in Zurich to your destination more quickly than driving would.

Airports:
Zurich's only airport is the Zurich Airport (ZRH), and it is the 12th busiest airport in Europe. It is ideally located less than seven miles north of the city center. You can get to the airport via tram, bus, or Swiss Federal Railways train from the Zurich Hauptbahnhof (main train station) in the city center.

On the surface, Zurich may just seem like a rich banking city. But look closer and you will find an inspiring and innovative drive. The city's proximity to the Alps and location on the River Limmat and Lake Zurich provide clean air and plenty of natural surroundings. You will find many things to do, both indoors and outdoors, in this medieval city. Short Term Stay Zurich will be happy to try to find you a place to stay near your preferred attractions. If you are a hardcore sightseer, you might want to consider buying a ZurichCARD to get some good deals on public transport, restaurants, and museums.

Outdoor Activities:
Do not miss walking around the Altstadt in District 1 and visiting Zurich's medieval churches, the Fraumunster and Grossmunster, and other religious monuments. Then get outside and enjoy the fresh air in one of Zurich's many parks and gardens, like Zurich's Old Botanical Garden (Zurich University Botanical Gardens), or on a quay such as Limmatquai along the river or Uto-Quai on the lake. If you have children, you should know that most Zurich serviced apartments are not far from one of the city's many playgrounds. For a 360-degree view of the city, take the Polybahn funicular - or hike - up the Uetliberg; up here, you can also access more hiking trails. There is also the Lindenhof for views of the city.

Zurich also hosts many outdoor festivals, musical and non-musical, throughout the year. One of the most famous is the Zurich Street Parade (Streetparade) every August, though April's pagan Sechselauten festival is also a large draw. There is also the Zurich Pride Festival, which has become very popular in recent years, especially amongst gays and lesbians.

Sport for Spectators:
While Zurich is not a center for traditional professional sports, it is home to many active people who love the outdoors. Zurich hosts the Zurich Marathon, the Ironman Switzerland triathlon, and a beach volleyball tournament in April; if you want to watch any of these, book your visit for the springtime. For those of you who may be staying with us in one of our short term rentals in Zurich, if you're one who enjoys watching athletics, you won't be disappointed by the Freestyle.ch Festival which takes place every year in September at Landiwiese. Winter sports, unsurprisingly, are also popular in Zurich: you will have plenty of opportunities to watch ice hockey and snow skiing. The Zurcher Schlittschuh Club Lions (ZSC Lions) are Zurich's professional ice hockey team, and they play their home games at the Hallenstadion in Oerlikon. Skiing events are, of course, held all over the area. Also, as in the rest of Europe, soccer is very popular and most Swiss support the national soccer team, Schweizer Nati. Tennis enthusiasts are sure to find some tennis to watch, as Switzerland is home to top tennis players Roger Federer and Martina Hingis.

Arts&Culture:
Zurich's small size does not mean there is a lack of cultural attractions; the city has more than 20 museums and countless galleries. Head to Museumstrasse to visit the Zurich Landesmuseum, the largest Swiss history museum, to learn about Swiss traditions all over the country. The Kunsthaus Zurich is a must-visit for art lovers who wish to see some of Giacometti's sculptures or Monet's paintings. Those interested in architecture will enjoy the Le Corbusier House at the Heidi Weber Museum, a modern villa that was designed by its namesake. The Foundation E.G. Buhrle Collection is sometimes hard to get into, but has a rich private art collection well worth seeing. If you have kids, you may want to look for serviced apartments in Zurich near the Zurich Toy Museum so you can make multiple trips to check out all the historical Swiss toys.

Along with its great selection of museums, Zurich cultural life is further bolstered by its excellent music scene. Opera lovers should not miss a performance by the world-famous Zurich Opera at the Opernhaus Zurich. Theatre lovers will equally enjoy taking in a play at the important Schauspielhaus Zurich. The Tonhalle Zurich's excellent acoustics showcase classical music played by the Tonhalle Orchestra and Zurich Chamber Orchestra (Zurcher Kammerorchester). The Cinema Arthouse Le Paris is a great place to take in an Arthouse movie or two.

Dining:
Traditional Swiss food is well-known around the world: this country is where muesli, fondue, raclette, and rosti (fried potato pancakes) originated. Other Swiss specialties include Zurigschnatzlets, a dish consisting of veal in a cream and wine sauce, and chnopfil, noodle dumplings. You will find great traditional Swiss food at restaurants such as Zeughauskeller, Lindenhofkeller, or Restaurant Gambrinus on Langstrasse. Your Zurich short term rental will never be far from a Swiss restaurant.

You will find good Indian food from Ravis Indian Cuisine, Cheti's Curry, and Indian Restaurant Kerala. Great Italian fare is served at The Commihalle as well as at Restaurant Accademia del Gusto. Get some good Asian food from Tiffins Asia Kitchen, Tibetasia, or Restaurant Nooba, or assemble your own gourmet picnic lunch from a Migros-Gourmessa take away food counter. Vegetarians will find themselves with plenty of options in Zurich and should not miss visiting Haus Hiltl, Europe's oldest vegetarian restaurant. For a unique dining experience, book a table at Blindekuh Restaurant on Muhlebachstrasse, which is kept completely dark and all servers are blind people.

Nightlife:
Despite its small size, Zurich has a pretty good nightlife scene. Beer and wine are the drinks of choice for most Zurich locals, though there are plenty of bars that serve great cocktails, too. If you want to be near as many bars as possible, look for short term rentals in Zurich in the Altstadt. Try Bierhalle Wolf to enjoy a great beer selection and live music. Nachtflug Cafe Bar is a stylish place that serves coffee during the day and has a large selection of drinks at night. Wine lovers should visit opfelchammere, which only serves wine and water but will grant you a free glass of wine if you can climb over the roof beams. If you prefer whisky to wine, visit Widder Bar, which has a menu of 250 different malts. The hip younger crowd frequent Blaue Ente, which has a hopping night scene. Some other good places you could check out are Xenix Bar, Riffraff Kino Bar Bistro, and 2 Akt.

For those of you staying in serviced apartments Zurich who would rather dance than drink, you will not be alone in this city. Clubs in the city range from fancy to chill, and you can find somewhere to go out every night if you want. X-Tra Club offers free admission every Monday, while Hive Club features Swiss DJs and many rooms to choose from. Some upscale clubs are Kaufleuten and Palais X-tra, while the alternative crowd generally flocks to Adagio in the Kongresshaus and the Abart Music Club. Zurich's gay and lesbian population has a large choice of LGBT-friendly clubs, such as the Rathaus Cafe, the T&M Disco Club, and Club Aaah!

Shopping:
Zurich has infinite options for shopping, from malls to markets to boutiques. If you want to be as close to the best shopping as possible, consider living in one of our Zurich furnished apartments in District 1, near ShopVille on Bahnhofstrasse, where they specialize in luxury goods like watches from Beyer and Swatch or Victorinox Swiss army knives. The Jelmoli and Globus department stores are in constant competition and both carry high-end brands. Niederdorf has some trendy clothes shops and attracts many young shoppers. If you want an all-in-one shopping experience, visit the Sihlcity shopping and leisure center.

The Swiss are also known for their excellent chocolate and other sweet confections, so be sure to pick some up during your stay. You can get popular Frey chocolate from Migros supermarkets, though if you would like lower prices, head to the Lindt & Sprungli Chocolate Factory store to scoop up some sale items. Sprungli should not be missed; this Zurich institution offers hand-made chocolates, macaroons that look like hamburgers, and innovative truffles. For traditional Swiss and German handicrafts like cuckoo clocks and hand-carved wood items, head to Schweizer Heimatwerk on the river. The Flohmarkt Burkliplatz is a huge flea market with many stalls to keep you busy.

Wherever your preferred serviced apartments Zurich are, they will not be far from one of Zurich's many hospitals and healthcare centers. Zurich also has many schools and religious institutions in all parts of the city to meet your educational and spiritual needs.

Hospitals:

• Zuercher Hoehenklinik Wald
• University Hospital Zurich
• Stadtspital Waid
• Stadtspital Triemli
• Staedtisches Krankenheim Seeblick
• Swiss Cancer Resources
• Im Park Clinic
• Hirslanden Clinic
• Psychiatrische Poliklinik Zuerich
• Alterszentrum im Geeren

Schools:
If your children will need to go to school during your stay in Zurich, you may want to look at short term rentals Zurich that are located in an area with a good international school. There are many of these throughout the city. The international schools all instruct in English, though many feature a second language as well. Here is a list of some K-12 international schools in the city.

K-12 Schools:
Swiss International School
Tandem International Multilingual School
Taz Horgen Bilingual Day School
Bilingual Montessori School Zurichsee
Lakeside School: Bilingual Day School
International School Zurich North
International School Zurich West
TASIS - The American School in Switzerland
Zurich International School

If you need higher education rather than secondary education, you have a variety of choices if you're staying at one of our furnished apartments Zurich. Many Master's programs at various universities throughout the city are taught in English.

• University of Zurich
• Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich
• Zurcher Fachhochschule, ZFH
• Padagogische Hochschule Zurich (Teilschule der ZFH)
• Interkantonale Hochschule fur Heilpadagogik Zurich
• Zurcher Hochschule der Kunste
• ETH Zurich (Eidgenossische Technische Hochschule Zurich)

Places of Worship:

Churches:
Agape Christian Center Zurich
International Baptist Church Zurich
International Protestant Church Zurich
International Christian Fellowship Zurich
St. Andrew's Anglican-Episcopal Church Zurich
The Path of Life International Church Zurich
English Speaking Catholic Mission Zurich
St. Peter Church of Zurich
Fraumunster Church
Grossmunster Church

Synagogues:
Agudas Achim Zurich Synagogue
Chabad Switzerland
Chabad Esra Zurich
Hugo-Mendel-Stufung
Israelitische Religionsgesellschaft Zurich
ICZ - Israelitische Cultusgemeinde Zurich
Minjan Bels

Mosques & Islamic Centers:
Verband der Islamischen Kulturzentren (Moschee)
Foderation Islamischer Gemeinshaften in der Schweiz
Stiftung Islamische Gemeinschaft Zurich
Vereinigung Islamische Organisationen Zurich - VIOZ