Kreis 5: Zurich West

Zürich West is one of the city's most happening districts. Empty warehouses from the city's machine-industry days have been renovated, while others were torn down to make room for new glass-and-steel creations. The area is now chock-full of lofts, galleries, bars, restaurants, and dance clubs. The result is a swinging cultural center with a throbbing nightlife. The area is loosely bordered by Hardstrasse, Hardturmstrasse, and Pfingstweidstrasse; to get here by public transportation, take Tram 4, 13, or 17 to Escher Wyss Platz, or Tram 4 farther on to Schiffbau or Technopark. It's roughly a 10-minute trip from the Hauptbahnhof.