An elegant neo-baroque building near the lake, the Zürich Opera House has been keeping crowds enthralled since its first performance of Wagner’s Lohengrin in 1891. With an annual tally of over 270 performances per season, the program is classic opera at its best, from Verdi to Rossini, Wagner, Mozart and Beethoven, featuring some of the world’s most renowned singers.

Also home to the Zürich Ballet, the director, Heinz Spoerli, is one of today’s most internationally renowned choreographers.