Zurich

Zurich is so clean and so functional it feels almost unreal-trams to the second, lake water clear enough to drink.

The medieval old town tumbles down to a river crossed by guild houses, while Bahnhofstrasse glitters with banks and watches. It sits at the foot of the Alps as the perfect, slightly expensive base camp for everything Swiss.

Beneath the order runs a quiet creative streak-Dada was born in a bar here-and a lake the whole city swims in come summer.

Eat veal in cream sauce, then queue with locals for chocolate that justifies the price.