Zurich is a leading global city and among the world’s largest financial centres despite having a relatively low population. The city is home to a large number of financial institutions and banking giants. Most of Switzerland’s research and development centres are concentrated in Zürich and the low tax rates attract overseas companies to set up their headquarters there. Many museums and art galleries can be found in the city, including the Swiss National Museum and the Kunsthaus. According to several surveys from 2006 to 2008, Zurich was named the city with the best quality of life in the world as well as the wealthiest city in Europe.

 

The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Global Live ability Ranking sees Zürich rank among the top ten most live able cities in the world. Zürich has, depending on the definition used, an oceanic climate (Koppen Cfb), with four distinct seasons. Decisive for the climate of Zürich are both the winds from westerly directions, which often result in precipitation and, on the other hand, the Bise (east or north-east wind), which is usually associated with high-pressure situations, but cooler weather phases with temperatures lower than the average. The Foehn wind, which plays an important role in the northern alpine valleys also has some impact on Zurich.

 

The city of Zürich is among the world-leaders in protecting the climate by following a manifold approach. Public transport is extremely popular in Zürich, and its inhabitants use public transport in large numbers. Zurich city highlights are The nation’s biggest lakes—Geneva, Constance (Bodensee), and Maggiore—straddle the French, German-Austrian, and Italian outskirts, individually. The Rhine, safe from Basel toward the North Sea, is the key inland waterway, National Museum Zurich, Platzspitz – a Historic Park at the Heart of Zurich, Hans Waldmann – a Military Leader and Mayor of Zurich in the Late Middle Ages. About 70% of the visitors to the city use the tram or bus, and about half of the journeys within the municipality take place on public transport. Within Zürich and throughout the canton of Zurich, the ZVV network of public transport has traffic density ratings among the highest worldwide.