Zürich
City in Switzerland
The city of Zurich, a global center for banking and finance, lies at the north end of Lake Zurich in northern Switzerland. The picturesque lanes of the central Altstadt (Old Town), on either side of the Limmat River, reflect its pre-medieval history. Waterfront promenades like the Limmatquai follow the river toward the 17th-century Rathaus (town hall).
Zurich is an upmarket banking city and the financial capital of Switzerland. It, therefore, comes as no surprise that it's often labelled as the most expensive city in the world. Zurich is famous for luxurious lifestyles, high-end shopping, and fancy chocolates.
Switzerland is known to be one of the most expensive countries in the world and that's true. The prices are significantly higher than in the neighbouring states - especially the cost of transportation and accommodation. For example, a one way tram journey in Zurich will cost around 6 CHF (5 EUR/6 USD).
As a whole, Swiss cities are generally very safe to visit. Zurich sees very little tourist-directed crime; however, pickpocketing is common on public transportation and at airports, so keep an eye on your belongings at all times. For more safety tips, check out the U.S. State Department's website.