It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern end of Lake Zurich.

In January 2020, the municipality had 434,335 inhabitants, the urban area (agglomeration) 1.315 million (2009) and the Zurich metropolitan area 1.83 million (2011). Zurich is a hub for rail, road and air traffic. Zurich Airport and Zurich Main Station are the largest and busiest in the country. They have been permanently installed for over 2,000 years,

Zurich was founded by the Romans who, in 15 BC, called it Turicum. However, the first settlements dating back more than 6,400 years have been discovered (although this only indicates human presence in the area and not the presence of a city that early). In the Middle Ages, Zurich acquired the independent and privileged status of imperial immediacy and, in 1519, became a leading center of the Protestant Reformation in Europe under the leadership of Huldrych Zwingli. The official language of Zurich is German, but the main language spoken is Zurich German, the local variant of the Swiss Germanic dialect.

Many museums and art galleries are located in the city, including the Swiss National Museum and the Kunsthaus. Schauspielhaus Zurich is considered one of the most important theaters in the German-speaking world.Zurich is one of the largest financial centers in the world despite a relatively small population. The city is home to many financial institutions and banking companies.