Zurich: Neighborhoods

Left (West) Bank The main banking and commercial centre, the Left Bank boasts wide boulevards, upscale shops, department stores, and a charming quarter with cobbled streets and shops.

Right (East) Bank The cobblestone lanes of the Right Bank’s medieval Aldstadt (Old Town) are home to bookstores, bohemian shops, hip boutiques, and gourmet food stores. At night the area’s restaurants, cafés, and bars buzz.

Langstrasse Named after its main street, this neighborhood is Zürich’s most multicultural with unique shops, ethnic eateries, bars, and clubs in its gritty backstreets. It’s also Zürich’s red light district (being Switzerland, however, it’s still pretty safe).

Zürich West Adjoining Langstrasse, this vibrant, former industrial area is one of Zürich’s liveliest and most youthful with hip boutiques, bars, and restaurants, alternative theatres, and contemporary art galleries all crammed together.

Enge and Wollishofen These low-key Zürichsee, or Lake Zürich, neighbourhoods in district 2 start where the city centre ends and stretch around western shores. They’re ideal for walking, swimming, and sailing.

Seefeld Seefeld is part of the sprawling 8th district on the eastern shores of the lake. It’s the place to head for a lakeside stroll, to feed the ducks, swim, or indulge in gastronomic specialties at Michelin-starred restaurants.