Switzerland is generally portrayed as a cold and snow-swept country that receives little sun; however, this is far from the truth. In reality, Switzerland enjoys a mild climate due to the warm winds that blow in from the Atlantic Ocean.  Zurich’s mild climate means it is popular with visitors throughout the year, with the summer months of June to September being the busiest, as temperatures during these months average around 25°C, with little rain. The winter season begins around November and continues through to April, when the snows melt, although throughout the winter temperatures rarely drop far below 0°C in Zurich. Visitors to the Swiss mountains are continually surprised by the winter weather, with long days of warm sunshine and blue skies being far from unusual.

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For shopping in Zürich there are three different areas in the centre: 
• Bahnhofstrasse, which runs from the Zürich Train Main station "Hauptbahnhof" right down to the lake. Bahnhofsstrasse is famous for being one of the most exclusive and expensive shopping streets in the world. Here you can get anything from diamond rings to chocolate and fur coats. Globus and Jelmoli are two fiercely competitive department stores, both of whom carry items from many high-end brands. 
• Niederdorf, which is the Old Part of Zurich and expands from "Bellevue" by the Lake right to "Central" which is just over the River from the train station. The Niederdorf is more for young people. Aside from a lot of fast food places you will find a lot of trendy clothes stores here. 
• Löwenstrasse, which runs west of Bahnhofstrasse from the main train station, has lower range shops and a large branch of Migros, a department store chain.

Unlike many of its European neighbours, Switzerland does not have a long tradition of non-European migration, a fact that is noticeable by the lack of ethnic restaurants on Switzerland’s streets. However, what the country lacks in this field, it more than makes up for with the abundance of European-influenced restaurants from every corner of the continent. 
Visitors to Zurich will find good quality cafés and restaurants in every corner of the city, with the two areas with the widest choice being Niederdorf and Bahnhofstrasse. Niederdorf is the liveliest area in the evenings, with literally dozens of bars, cafés and restaurants, which spread out onto the pavements in the summer months, while Bahnhofstrasse is more popular with the lunchtime crowd. One slightly unusual restaurant to look out for is ‘Blinde Kuh’; this restaurant was the first in the world to be owned and run purely by blind people and the food here is highly recommended, but be aware that meals are served in darkness.

Traditional Swiss food varies from region to region, depending on its proximity to other surrounding countries, with the cuisine of Zurich taking its main influence from the Germanic culture. This influence is evident on the city’s menus, where you will find dishes such as sauerkraut (fermented white cabbage), wurstsalat (sausage salad) and bratwurst (cooked sausage) in abundant supply. Other Swiss favourites include grated and fried potatoes known as rosti, creamy meat and mushroom pies called pastetli and of course the gorgeous melted cheese dips known the world over as fondue.

Visitors to Zurich will find the city is a shopper’s paradise, with the main cluster of shops centred on Bahnhofstrasse in the old town area. A good place to start any shopping trip is the area around Central Train Station. From here, head along Bahnhofstrasse, where you will find elegant boutiques, department stores and specialty shops at every turn. Another shopping street worth a visit is Limmatquai, on the right bank of the river. Here you will find fashionable boutiques and independent shops lining the small and winding side streets.