The best way to cool down is by plunging into the clear, refreshing water. All the better if you don't even need to leave the city centre to do it. Zurich offers sandy beaches and grassy area to sunbathe, diving towers, panoramic views of the Alps. Read a book in the shade of the trees, swim in the lake or the river — Zürich has a bathing spot for every taste. The public bathing traditions on Zürich stem from the Romans. Today, you can find more than 15 open-air baths. Many locations are equipped with showers and changing room.

The Flamingo Beach is one of Costa Rica's most popular beaches with fine white sand, clear blue waters, lagoons, vegetation and lots of activities on offer. The coastline is dotted with secluded beaches, with mountains jutting out into the sea and creating quiet and secluded lagoons. The area is possibly best known for its scuba diving opportunities. There are several dive shops in town which provide service to the Catalina Islands and the Bat Islands. The waters around these islands are teeming with marine life, including the majestic giant Pacific manta.

Uetliberg is called Zurich’s very own mountain. The 870 m (2,850 feet) summit gives you views of the city and lake, plus a glimpse of the Alps. You can quickly and easily get to the mountain with the S10 line. There is lots to discover: well-marked hiking and bike routes, the Planet Trail walk that takes you on a tour through a model of our solar system. In the winter, the hiking trail becomes a toboggan run. Uetliberg is especially popular in November, when the Uto Kulm summit is often above the blanket of fog.

This national historical monument has a strategic location which was settled in the Celtic and Great Moravian periods. The architecture of the massive rectangular castle with four corner towers was mostly influenced by reconstruction works during the Gothic and Renaissance periods and during the reign of Maria Theresa. In 1811, it burned down and was then reconstructed in the 1960s.