Zürich is a welcoming city for tourists – and residents – from around the world. It’s a rich, walkable city with the warmth of a small town. And a great place to begin exploring this city is the City Centre, which is surrounded on both sides by Old Town, built in the 13th and 14th centuries.

Throughout Old Town, you will find beautifully crafted Zunfthäuser, or guild houses. Zürich’s guilds were political, economic, and social institutions built around city hall. They elected representatives to serve in government, and as such, their memberships were very important to those seeking political office. Many guild houses are still in use today, though they generally serve as event venues or museums with fantastic restaurants. I spoke with Michael Baur, a tour guide for more than a decade, about Sechseläuten, a spring festival that traditionally celebrated the extension of the work day – how quintessentially Swiss! Today, the festival welcomes the new season and even predicts how good the coming summer will be.

Signs are a vital lifeline for travelers navigating unfamiliar cities and foreign languages. How else are you going to find a bathroom outside of your hotel? Inside the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, amongst Switzerland’s largest design collection, there is a fascinating and original collection of pictograms that were made in Zürich. Most pictograms were developed in the 1960s and 70s and were born from Europe’s desire for simplicity and unity after World War II.

While some may say they are rational and boring, others argue that’s exactly what makes them invaluable. As someone who loves typography, I was thrilled to talk to Christian Brändle, the museum’s Director, about all things font, including the safe, structured standard of Helvetica and how it exemplifies its namesake.

Blessed with two bodies of water, Zürich sits on the north end of Lake Zürich, which flows into the Limmat River. When wandering through Zürich, the Limmat is never far away – and trust me when I say that the city looks even more beautiful from the water! Many of the boats you see are rentable for a leisurely afternoon seeing the city from a different perspective, and some are even taxis. I was taken around by Carmen Willi in her Taxiboot, and despite some unexpected weather, it was smooth sailing all the way to my next destination.

Frauenbad am Stadthausquai is the only bath house solely for women during its daytime operating hours. But like most other bath houses, it transforms at night! Introducing Barfussbar: a bar inside the bath house with fantastic drinks and live music for everyone. I had a chance to reunite with my Swiss friend Micheala and we discussed that while the Swiss are known for their work ethic and no nonsense attitude, these bath houses are a good example of how they take time to relax and enjoy the nature that surrounds them.

Zürich has a local mountain and you take public transportation to get to the top. It’s an easy, beautiful, five minute ride courtesy of the  Felsenegg cable car. And, bonus, it’s included with the Zürich card if you purchase one to use during your trip to Zürich. While there are several different hikes at varying skill levels and distance, the views are breathtaking no matter how you get there! From the Felsenegg viewpoint over the Albis ridge, you have a panoramic view of Zürich and the Alps. It is the perfect spot to take in everything Zürich has to offer, including a crisp glass of wine and a delicious meal.

The famous Hiltl Restaurant, run by the Hiltl family, redefined Zürich’s culinary identity for generations – a legacy that began in the late 1800s with Ambrosius Hiltl. After falling ill from a diet rich in meat and beer, Ambrosius was advised by his doctor to adopt a vegetarian lifestyle.  Doctor’s orders helped create a restaurant that, for 125 years, has served vegetarian cuisine from all over the world in what is now a stunningly modern space.

For casual dining and take out, the 100-dish buffet is on the main floor, and the second floor dining room has  full service and views of the city. I sat down with Léna Hiltl, 5th-generation Hiltl, over a delicious meal, including vegan Geschnetzeltes, the most famous and traditional dish in Zürich.

Nestled amongst the factories and manufacturing plants is a facility called Werkstadt, which roughly translates to “factory city.” That’s exactly what’s at its heart – a place where small manufacturers design, create, and store their goods. It’s even open to the public for a few hours on the last Friday of every month. I spoke with Merit Casagrande at La Flor Chocolate, a bold company taking on the challenge of innovating chocolate in a place like Switzerland; and Christian Kägi, Founder of Qwstion, who spoke with me about how they’re rethinking the entire creation and life cycle of bags with their product line made from banana plant fibers.

After a full day of sightseeing, there’s nothing better than spending time somewhere locals love. But what happens when that local place feels like a Nashville honky tonk bar – and you aren’t anywhere near Tennessee!? Then you must be at Yonex Badminton Halle. Yes, you read that right – a badminton court with a honky tonk bar attached!  Owner Phillip Kurz co-founded this unique combo in the late 90s and compares it to the bowling alleys of the United States.  It’s open to the public and anyone can play, then mosey on over to the bar for something to drink. I was joined on the court by Vera Appenzeller, who just happens to be a Swiss National Badminton Team member.