Zurich is a global business centre, university city and cultural destination all in one. You can look forward to ideal conditions for your event here. Your guests will benefit from a high-quality stay in the city, extending beyond the time they spend at Messe Zürich itself. And, to ensure that the visitors to your event are satisfied on all counts, Zurich Tourism and the Zurich Convention Bureau will be pleased to provide you with information on potential activities and programme items.
A global city on only 87.8 km2.
With around 400,000 inhabitants, Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city. Its residents appreciate everything being within easy reach, due to the city’s compact and manageable size and its efficient public transport system. And you can easily get from A to B by bike too in Switzerland.
At home in Switzerland, connected to the world
Zurich International Airport is frequently referred to as the gateway to Switzerland. Direct flights from more than 60 countries make Switzerland easy to reach. Upon arrival, rapid train, bus and tram connections ensure travellers a 15-minute, stress-free journey into the city centre.
30’000 m2 surface area and at least as many options.
Organisers will find an almost endless range of options in Zurich. The flexibly configurable premises at Messe Zürich will suitably accommodate medium-sized, large and XL events of all kinds. Whether for trade fairs, exhibitions, shareholder meetings, corporate occasions or other events, the right infrastructure will be available at Messe Zürich. Our seven compact exhibition halls, located one above the other, can be combined as required, with drive-in vehicle access for efficient logistics. We will be happy to advise you.
Banking on good business.
Alongside chocolate and cheese, Switzerland is also renowned for its banks. And most of these are located in Zurich, making this city on the Limmat a stronghold of Swiss business acumen. Zurich also ranks among the most important centres for information, communication and finance technology in a European comparison. A broad university portfolio and a creative cultural scene make the city an innovative breeding ground for start-ups. Trends are tested for their business viability here, while Swiss down-to-earthness is shaken up with a pinch of “Dada”. It’s thus no wonder that Zurich is not only a good place to live but also an excellent location for working.
Pioneering and full of ideas.
ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich are renowned for their groundbreaking research and development – pioneers like Albert Einstein and Conrad Röntgen studied and made an impact here. Revolutionary inventions, such as the heart catheter, the pressure cooker and Bircher muesli, all have their origins in Zurich.
Fresh air and panoramic views.
Zurich is the ideal destination for anyone wishing to combine their business trip with a hiking holiday or other outdoor activities. The breathtaking Swiss mountains can be conveniently explored on day trips – the dramatic Churfirsten peaks, mountain bike trails on Flumserberg, a spectacular five-lake hike and rope-park and mountain-coaster activities. Zurich’s local mountain, the Uetliberg, offers delightful panoramic views. Chur, the gateway to the Graubünden Alps, can be reached in just over an hour while, for those who love waterfalls, a trip to the impressive Rhine Falls north of Zurich is warmly recommended.
A green light for the environmentally aware!
Zurich as a congress destination achieved the third-highest point count in the 2019 Global Destination Sustainability Index. It can thus pride itself on being one of the most sustainable destinations of its kind. Organisers and guests alike benefit from countless green spaces, climate-neutral excursion options, ecological hotels and an efficient public transport network. Programmes for minimising waste and cutting energy consumption, plus the promotion of renewable energies, are just some of the efforts being undertaken to make Zurich climate-neutral by 2040. Alongside environmental sustainability, social and economic sustainability also play a key role in ensuring the quality of life and the quality of time spent in this city on the Limmat over the long term.
A sea of opportunities.
Just as big as the city itself is the lake on which it is situated. On a balmy summer evening, it feels like being on holiday at the beach here. Countless bars and bathing spots on the shores of the lake and on the river Limmat entice you to linger, while the old town enchants with its mysterious alleyways and delightful squares. A wide range of activities, culinary highlights and cultural discoveries await the visitor.
Trial by fire for the summer.
Every spring, the people of Zurich burn the “Böögg” – a snowman figure with a head packed full of fireworks. This fiery spectacle, known as “Sechseläuten” reveals what the summer weather will be like. If the Böögg explodes within just a few minutes, fine weather is predicted. If it takes longer, however, then rain is on the cards. Once the main attraction is over, people use what remains of the bonfire to cook the sausages they have brought with them.
Everyone is a bit Dada here.
Dadaism, one of the most influential artistic movements of modern times, has its origins in Zurich’s Cabaret Voltaire. More than 100 years ago, a collective of creative artists compiled sensational and avantgarde works in the heart of the old town. Their repertoire also included disruptive actions in restaurants, unusual dance interludes and incomprehensible poems.
More information about Zurich as a congress city is available here.