Famed for alpine vistas, smooth chocolate, pocket knives, holey cheese and unflappably efficient watches, the Swiss are rightly proud of their famous exports. And for every stereotype about this landlocked European beauty, there’s something that will surprise and delight. Take Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland, which sprawls elegantly around the head of Lake Zurich in the north of the country. It’s a financial powerhouse by the water, known for banking, trading and success. It’s also crowned by magnificent churches, criss-crossed by streets laden with cafés and lined in time-worn cobbles, and a truly excellent destination for those who like to let their hair down and party in cool bars and clubs. The quality of life is second only to a select band of other global cities and, while it’s an expensive place to visit, tourists feel richly rewarded with incredible views, great food, captivating museums and a clutch of world-class shopping opportunities.

The Old Town, in particular the car-free streets of Niederdorf, is the place to stroll from street artist to boutique to café, admiring the architecture and soaking up the ambience. Hop across the River Zammat and tour the age-old streets and Roman Castle in Lindenhof. Zurich West is a district bubbling over with upcoming nightclubs, cool art galleries and hip restaurants.

Zurich Airport is a 20-minute drive from the central areas of the city, so having a car makes it easy to transfer between your hotel and the airport, for getting around the city, and for discovering more of Zurich’s surroundings.

Book Zurich car hire in advance to secure the best price. You can then collect your pre-booked vehicle at the airport or at a convenient location in downtown Zurich. Compare deals now by using TravelSupermarket’s search tool.

Renting a car in Zurich pays huge dividends if you have an interest in hiking and discovering the great outdoors. Numerous walking trails can be found within minutes of the city. Step into a world away from the buzz of urban life and spend some time at a slower pace amid this spectacular landscape.  From alpine meadow to lakeshore and from traditional chalets to graceful waterfalls, the mountains form an ever-present backdrop in this part of Switzerland and remind visitors of a winter pleasure a little further afield: skiing. There are hundreds of ski runs within two hours of Zurich. Flumserberg is just over an hour away by road, while destinations such as Davos can be reached in around two hours.

Baden is a pleasing destination during any season and only a 30-minute drive to the north west of Zurich. This beautiful spa town offers plenty in the way of amenities and attractions for tourists. Many choose to stay here and drive into Zurich instead of lodging in the big city. At only a half-hour drive, this is a reasonable option and there are excellent hotels in Baden to choose from.

The Alpamare water park in Pfaffikon is only 30 minutes by road from Zurich and sits on the southern shores of the lake. Water slides and pools create hours of family fun.

With roads hugging almost the entire length of Lake Zurich, having a car makes staying beside the water and seeing Zurich on day trips another viable option. In summer, this also opens up the possibility of enjoying water sports and sailing on the lake, or jumping aboard an historic paddle-steamer for a unique look at the landscape.