With the Euro 2008 soccer championships kicking off this summer in Austria and Switzerland, travel companies are facing a flurry of requests for last minute accommodation and transportation, as well as car hire requests. The city of Zurich where a number of crucial ties are due to be hosted is by far one of the most popular travel destinations in Switzerland. Think Zurich and you usually conjure up images of a clockwork city with everything in its place and a place for everything. Dig a little deeper though and you'll discover there's a whole lot more to the city than its clich'd media image. Zurich is a lively, vibrant city that offers visitors a fantastic travel experience. Throw Zurich car hire into the mix and you've got yourself an adventure. For a real flavour of what's on offer this summer, check out the following guide to Zurich and its surrounding countryside.

Zurich Airport Mini Guide:

Zurich Airport is located close to the canton of Kloten in Switzerland and is the country's main airport. Zurich International Airport is a major base for some of the world's top airlines including Swiss International Airlines, Air Berlin, Eidelweiss Air and Helvetic Airways.

Things To See/Do in Zurich:

For a city often stereotyped as being wealthy, strait-laced and conservative with a preoccupation with precision and neatness, visitors to Zurich will find a surprisingly liberal city, where people of every walk of life are made to feel tight at home.

Visitors could easily spend days wandering around the city's cobbled streets, studying its magnificent architecture and browsing its many delightful shops. If you've hired a car though, your travel options increase manifold. Hiring a car in Zurich means it's possible to have breakfast in the city, lunch by a lake and dinner at a restaurant with a spectacular setting in the Alps.

Eating Out in Zurich:

Zurich is a wonderfully cosmopolitan city where flavours from all over the world can be found on the dinner tables of local eateries. Whether you're craving cheap and hearty pasta or fine French cuisine, you'll find dining out in Zurich offers something for everyone. Swiss cuisine is also available throughout the city at reasonable prices. While eating out in Zurich, make a special effort to sample classic Swiss favourites such as crisp r'sti, creamy fondue and wholesome muesli.

Day Trips/Events in Zurich:

Zurich is an excellent base from which to explore the spectacular Alpine beauty of the Swiss countryside. With Zurich Airport car hire, you're free to make exciting day-trips to a wide range of exciting destinations. Take full advantage of your car hire by packing your skis and snowboards and hitting the slopes of Interlaken, Grindelwald and the Jungfraujoch. For a taste of old-world charm, be sure to make a day trip to nearby Einsiedeln, Switzerland's oldest pilgrimage site.

Anyone who visits Zurich will testify that the locals love a good party. Fortunately they have an events calendar to match their appetite for fun and enjoyment. Special events worth pencilling into your diary include March's Sechsel?uten, June/July's Festspiele and August's vibrant Street Parade techno party.