Zurich may not be the capital of Switzerland, but it is clearly the most important business metropolis. Modern conference facilities, hotels of the highest quality and venues for every occasion make the city the perfect place for any event.
Besides strenuous business meetings, Zurich has plenty of room for relaxing activities thanks to Switzerland’s best bar and club scene. Moreover, there are countless opportunities to celebrate with the whole group. How about an after-work drink near Lake Zurich, culinary experiences at a trendy pop-up restaurant or a visit to a city vineyard overlooking Lake Zurich?
Zurich is full of contrasts and surprising experiences that event planners are looking for.
Proximity to nature versus city life
Proximity to nature versus city life
The water city
Zurich’s Mediterranean summer takes place outdoors, when locals, tourists and business people gather on the pleasant lakeside promenades, in cosy garden restaurants.
Or take a dip in the clear waters of the lake or city river. How about a reception at one of the many Lidos?
Group activities:
By the way, the water is so pure that you can drink from any fountain in the city, and there are more than 1,200 drinking fountains!
Vineyards
In the city and along the lake, wine production is experiencing a renaissance and innovative young winemakers are making an appearance.
Mountain sensation
Zurich has its own modest mountain, the Uetliberg, which offers great views over the city, and plenty of group activities in the city forest.
Nightlife
The melting pot of Switzerland, where different cultures, young energy and visions meet, also celebrates the night.
Langstrasseis Zurich’s most colourful and diverse district. One bar after another, clubs and trendy restaurants.
Founded in 1992 as a demonstration of love, peace, freedom and tolerance, the Street Parade is now the largest techno parade in the world.
Nothing better than having an afterwork drink on a balmy summer evening in one of the many open-air bars.
Zurich-West
Here, in days gone by, machines rattled and soot hung in the air. Today, a lively entertainment district breathes new life into the former industrial area.
Traditional heritage and progressive modernity
Historic sites
- Historic sites, such as guild houses;
- Traditional spring festival.
Gastronomic establishments
- Cultbars
- Cult restaurants, enjoy a ‘Zurcher Gschnetzeltes’ (sliced veal) sitting next to an original work by Picasso or Miro in the Kronenhalle.
Cheese, chocolate and watches
- Make your own cheese at the city cheese factory;
- Farm Challenge: visit the adventure farms just outside Zurich;
- Zurich is indeed a chocolate paradise: in an impressive new building, the ‘Lindt Home of Chocolate’ welcomes groups for an interactive exhibition, chocolate workshops and show production;
- Visit the workshop.
Modern high-tech facilities
- Zurich’s new congress centre is right on the lake.
- The Circle Convention Center Zurich Airport, is just 10 minutes from the city centre. This area is like a small town in itself, with bars, restaurants and a park.
Artistic event venues
- Event venues that exude an artistic atmosphere;
- Le Corbusier pavilion for private affairs;
- Reception in Zurich’s Gallery Mile.
Innovative startups
ETH Zurich is the best university of Europe. Every year, it creates successful spin-offs. Some can also be visited.
- Umami, microgreens;
- Planted, currently one of the most successful plant products in Europe;
- Climeworks: the CleanTech company sucks CO2 out of the air.
Why Zurich
The compact metropolis is the ‘Smart Meeting City’: relaxed, knowledgeable and packed with exciting experiences. Here, guests will find it all!
Relax.
Its central location in the middle of Europe makes Zurich easily accessible to everyone. Swiss precision is a cliché for a reason. Zurich’s transport network borders on perfection and even when organising events, local partners ensure that everything runs like clockwork.
- Connected to the world: with direct flights from more than 170 destinations and fast connections to the city, Zurich Airport makes your arrival and onward journey pleasant and comfortable. From baggage collection to the city centre takes just 15 minutes by train.
- Efficient airport: ranked No 1 in Europe according to Airport Ranking (2019).
- From the traditional guildhall to the modern business centre with all its cutting-edge technology, Zurich has the perfect venue for any type of event, be it for 10 or even more than 1,500 guests.
- An excellent transport network, short distances and a strong commitment to a valuable future: Zurich is the ideal place to organise sustainable events: don’t worry, we’ll take care of it.
Expert.
Zurich is the engine of the Swiss economy, a hub for science and home to many international companies.
- Zurich is known as a banking and finance city, but it is also one of Europe’s leading centres for science, clean technology and ICT.
- Google, Microsoft, IBM, Disney Research Lab are some of the many international companies that have established their headquarters in Zurich for reasons such as its high quality of life and the talent pool of its renowned universities (University of Zurich and ETH).
Vibrant.
The perfect mix of leisure and business, with a varied cultural agenda, nature and the Alps nearby, an urban atmosphere with excellent gastronomy and a vibrant nightlife.
- High quality of life: Zurich is the second most liveable city in the world (Mercer 2019);
- Melting pot of cultures: almost 30% of residents come from abroad, which is more than in Berlin or London, making for culinary diversities and a wide event calendar;
- From here, the breathtaking Swiss mountains are just an hour’s drive away, consequently guests will find everything in Zurich: city life with its wide cultural offerings and the picturesque landscape atop a mountain.
- We offer more than 150 social programmes to experience the city’s lifestyle closer and with a different perspective: in addition to traditional experiences, our network allows us to offer exclusive site visits to startups, market leaders or institutions;
- Very close to nature: Zurich is a city by the water. In summer, people always bring their swimsuits for a dip in the lake or Limmat river. You also have time to cool off in the crystal-clear water between or after a meeting!
In Zurich, everything is easy to reach, it is easy to move around the city.
Zurich Convention Bureau
The Zurich Convention Bureau is the first point of contact for congresses in the city of Zurich and the surrounding region, and is responsible for congress marketing to the Zurich destination, both in Switzerland and abroad. As your local partner, the Zurich Convention Bureau accompanies you from the initial tendering phase to the realisation of your congress, meeting or event.
In doing so, our experienced team takes into account values such as environmental friendliness, economic efficiency and fair working conditions.
Zurich: facts & figures
- > 12.000 hotelrooms;
- > 2.000 bars/restaurants;
- > 1.200 fountains with potable water;
- > 40 museums;
- > 50 galleries;
- 18 outdoor pools;
- Numerous shops;
- and everything within walking distance or a short distance.
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Want to discover even more about MICE opportunities in Switzerland? Contact the Convention Bureau of Switzerland.