Experience
Zürich offers so many sights to see. A relaxed stroll through the city reveals something amazing at every corner: architectural highlights, historic squares, streets and districts, churches, works of art and much more.
Attractions in Zürich
Augustinergasse
Augustinergasse is one of Zürich’s most beautiful old, narrow streets with its many colorfully… more
Augustinergasse
8001 Zürich
8001 Zürich
Augustinergasse
Augustinergasse is one of Zürich’s most beautiful old, narrow streets with its many colorfully painted oriel windows. Among other things, the oriels were a way to keep an eye on who came to the door and so they were never situated directly over the front door, but rather built just to the side.
Augustinergasse connects bustling Bahnhofstrasse with the St. Peterhofstatt “oasis” in the picturesque Old Town.
Augustinergasse connects bustling Bahnhofstrasse with the St. Peterhofstatt “oasis” in the picturesque Old Town.
Bahnhofstrasse Zürich
The world-famous shopping precinct was created following the construction of Zürich Main Station… more
Bahnhofstrasse Zürich
The world-famous shopping precinct was created following the construction of Zürich Main Station on the very site where 150 years ago the city’s fortified moat was located. 1.4 kilometers in length, it connects Zürich Main Station to Lake Zürich. Department stores, boutiques and jewelry shops are strung together like pearls on a chain.
The further along Bahnhofstrasse you go in the direction of Lake Zürich, the more exclusive the shops become.
From Bahnhofstrasse, Rennweg and Augustinergasse lead to the picturesque old town.
The further along Bahnhofstrasse you go in the direction of Lake Zürich, the more exclusive the shops become.
From Bahnhofstrasse, Rennweg and Augustinergasse lead to the picturesque old town.
Bahnhofstrasse
8001 Zürich
+41 (0)43 243 90 00
info@bahnhofstrasse-zuerich.ch
www.bahnhofstrasse-zuerich.ch
Station: Bahnhofstrasse/Hauptbahnhof
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8001 Zürich
+41 (0)43 243 90 00
info@bahnhofstrasse-zuerich.ch
www.bahnhofstrasse-zuerich.ch
Station: Bahnhofstrasse/Hauptbahnhof
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ETH/Polyterrasse/University
The imposing Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) building was constructed in 1864 from plans… more
Rämistrasse 101
8092 Zürich
8092 Zürich
ETH/Polyterrasse/University
The imposing Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) building was constructed in 1864 from plans drawn up by Gottfried Semper.
The Polybahn will take you up from Central to the panorama terrace in front of the main building of the Federal Institute of Technology in just three minutes. Enjoy superb views of the city.
The University of Zurich was established 50 years later in an adjacent and no less impressive edifice, visited by over 30,000 students daily.
The Polybahn will take you up from Central to the panorama terrace in front of the main building of the Federal Institute of Technology in just three minutes. Enjoy superb views of the city.
The University of Zurich was established 50 years later in an adjacent and no less impressive edifice, visited by over 30,000 students daily.
Fraumünster
Founded in 853 by King Louis the German, this church with its convent was inhabited by the female… more
Fraumünster
Founded in 853 by King Louis the German, this church with its convent was inhabited by the female members of the aristocracy of Europe. The convent enjoyed the patronage of kings and the right to mint coins in Zürich until well into the 13th century. Ownership of the church and convent passed to the city of Zürich after the Reformation.
Important architectural features include the Romanesque choir and the high vaulted transept. The nave was last renovated in 1911, following on from work to heighten the north tower and remove the south tower in the 18th century.
In addition to the largest organ in the canton of Zürich (5,793 pipes), its most stunning jewels are the stained glass windows: those in the north transept are by Alberto Giacometti's cousin, Augusto (1945), the five-part cycle in the choir (1970) and the rosette in teh southern transept (1978) are by Marc Chagall. There is a series of frescos by Paul Bodmer in the cloister to mark the founding of the Fraumünster.
Important architectural features include the Romanesque choir and the high vaulted transept. The nave was last renovated in 1911, following on from work to heighten the north tower and remove the south tower in the 18th century.
In addition to the largest organ in the canton of Zürich (5,793 pipes), its most stunning jewels are the stained glass windows: those in the north transept are by Alberto Giacometti's cousin, Augusto (1945), the five-part cycle in the choir (1970) and the rosette in teh southern transept (1978) are by Marc Chagall. There is a series of frescos by Paul Bodmer in the cloister to mark the founding of the Fraumünster.
Stadthausquai 19
8001 Zürich
+41 (0)44 211 41 00
fraumuenster@zh.ref.ch
www.fraumuenster.ch
Station: Paradeplatz
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8001 Zürich
+41 (0)44 211 41 00
fraumuenster@zh.ref.ch
www.fraumuenster.ch
Station: Paradeplatz
Timetable
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Grossmünster
According to legend, Charlemagne discovered the graves of the city's martyrs Felix and Regula and… more
Grossmünster
According to legend, Charlemagne discovered the graves of the city's martyrs Felix and Regula and had a church built as a choristers' cloister on the spot. Construction work on the present building began around 1100.
In the first half of the 16th century, Grossmünster Church was the starting point of the Swiss-German Reformation led by Huldrych Zwingli and Heinrich Bullinger. The theological college then annexed to the cloister became the germinal cell of what is now the University of Zürich.
Worth visiting:
Church windows of Sigmar Polke
Romanesque crypt, Romanesque capitals in the church and cloister.
Choir window by Augusto Giacometti (1932),
bronze doors by Otto Münch (1935 and 1950),
Reformation Museum in the cloister (open Mon-Fri 9 am -6 pm, closed on weekends).
Opening hours of Grossmünster Church
March-October, 9 am -6 pm (Mon-Sat)
November-February, 10 am - 5 pm (Mon-Sat)
Sundays after the church service
Changes due to current events possible, so please call ahead to confirm.
Opening hours of the Karlsturm tower
March-October, 10 am -5 pm (Mon-Sat), Sundays 12:30 pm-5:30 pm
November-February, 10 am -4:30 pm (Mon-Sat), Sundays 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Changes due to current events possible, so please call ahead to confirm.
Tours
In the first half of the 16th century, Grossmünster Church was the starting point of the Swiss-German Reformation led by Huldrych Zwingli and Heinrich Bullinger. The theological college then annexed to the cloister became the germinal cell of what is now the University of Zürich.
Worth visiting:
Church windows of Sigmar Polke
Romanesque crypt, Romanesque capitals in the church and cloister.
Choir window by Augusto Giacometti (1932),
bronze doors by Otto Münch (1935 and 1950),
Reformation Museum in the cloister (open Mon-Fri 9 am -6 pm, closed on weekends).
Opening hours of Grossmünster Church
March-October, 9 am -6 pm (Mon-Sat)
November-February, 10 am - 5 pm (Mon-Sat)
Sundays after the church service
Changes due to current events possible, so please call ahead to confirm.
Opening hours of the Karlsturm tower
March-October, 10 am -5 pm (Mon-Sat), Sundays 12:30 pm-5:30 pm
November-February, 10 am -4:30 pm (Mon-Sat), Sundays 12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Changes due to current events possible, so please call ahead to confirm.
Tours
- Public tours of the Grossmünster: At 11:30 am on the second Sunday of the month, there is a one-hour public tour of Grossmünster Church, including a visit to the cloister, starting at the main entrance. Language: German. The tour costs CHF 5.00 per person.
- Spiritual night-time tours of Grossmünster Church: At 10 pm on the last Friday of the month, there is a one-hour public tour of Grossmünster Church, during which visitors, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, will have an opportunity not only to discover the unique atmosphere of the church interior, but also to enjoy panoramic views of Zürich at night from the church tower.
The tour starts at the main entrance and is free of charge.
Grossmünsterplatz
8001 Zürich
+41 (0)44 252 59 49
www.grossmuenster.ch
Station: Rathaus
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8001 Zürich
+41 (0)44 252 59 49
www.grossmuenster.ch
Station: Rathaus
Timetable
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Lakeside Promenade
The grassy park areas along the lakeshore are a hive of activity during the summer months. A… more
Bellevue
8001 Zürich
8001 Zürich
Lakeside Promenade
The grassy park areas along the lakeshore are a hive of activity during the summer months. A popular meeting place for inline skaters, sunbathers, jewelry vendors and street artists.
Lindenhof
This spot provides a glorious view of the Old Town, Grossmünster Church, City Hall, the Limmat… more
Lindenhof
8001 Zürich
8001 Zürich
Lindenhof
This spot provides a glorious view of the Old Town, Grossmünster Church, City Hall, the Limmat river, the university and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. Lindenhof was also the scene of numerous historical events.
In the 4th century, a Roman fort stood on Lindenhof. It served as protection for the occupying Roman forces as well as the local population in the event of attacks by the Alemanni.
In the 9th century, the grandson of Charlemagne built a regal palace as a residence on this site.
This area continued to be a place for gatherings for Zürich’s inhabitants right up to the beginning of the modern era. For example, the oath sealing the Helvetic Constitution was taken on Lindenhof in 1798.
Today, Lindenhof is a haven of peace and tranquility in the heart of the city and a meeting point for passionate chess players.
In the 4th century, a Roman fort stood on Lindenhof. It served as protection for the occupying Roman forces as well as the local population in the event of attacks by the Alemanni.
In the 9th century, the grandson of Charlemagne built a regal palace as a residence on this site.
This area continued to be a place for gatherings for Zürich’s inhabitants right up to the beginning of the modern era. For example, the oath sealing the Helvetic Constitution was taken on Lindenhof in 1798.
Today, Lindenhof is a haven of peace and tranquility in the heart of the city and a meeting point for passionate chess players.
Niederdorf
During the day this is a pedestrian zone and a shopper's paradise with lots of boutiques hidden… more
Niederdorf
During the day this is a pedestrian zone and a shopper's paradise with lots of boutiques hidden away in a patchwork of alleys. At night the many bars, restaurants and street artists turn the Niederdorf into an exciting center of entertainment for a colorful public.
Rathaus
This baroque construction dating from 1694/98 is full of character. It juts out into the Limmat on the site of an earlier parliament building, and was erected under the supervision of J.H. Holzhalb, councillor and master builder.
Limmatquai 55
8001 Zürich
+41 (0)43 259 68 11
www.gemeinderat-zuerich.ch
Station: Rathaus
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8001 Zürich
+41 (0)43 259 68 11
www.gemeinderat-zuerich.ch
Station: Rathaus
Timetable
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Schipfe
"Schipfe" is one of the oldest quarters of the city of Zurich. The name originates from the nautical term "schupfen" (push) used by the fishermen to describe how they pushed their boats to and from the river bank. During the Middle Ages the Schipfe was the transfer point for essential merchandise, and from the 16th century became the headquarters of the silk industry, and the location of bathhouses and boatbuilding. Even today, the Schipfe is still the street of artisans where the craftspeople take the necessary time for their customers, providing expert advice and suggestions. Quality and custom-made pruducts are available in the small, romantic shops and workshops along the Limmat River. The Schipfe is an idyllic location to linger, shop and enjoy some good food.
St. Peter
St. Peter’s Church is adorned with the largest clock face in Europe. Its circumference measures 28.5 feet. There are five bells dating from 1880 in the tower - the largest one weighs over six tons without its clapper.
From the Middle Ages until 1911, the church tower served as a fire lookout point.
St. Peter's is the oldest church in Zürich, and its origins go back to pre-900.
The city’s first mayor, Rudolf Brun, who was buried in 1360 in the choir of the church, acquired St. Peter's in 1345 with all the associated privileges (church tax) and obligations. He now has a grave and monument by the outer tower wall. The first reformed pastor, Leo Jud (1523-1542), was a friend of Zwingli and contributed to the first translation of the Bible in Zürich. J.C. Lavater (writer, physiognomist, friend of the young Goethe) was pastor from 1778-1801. His gravestone can be seen in the church wall, and there is a memorial to him in the church choir.
Architectural features
Tower: late Romanesque-Gothic
Choir: early 13th century
Nave: Baroque
From the Middle Ages until 1911, the church tower served as a fire lookout point.
St. Peter's is the oldest church in Zürich, and its origins go back to pre-900.
The city’s first mayor, Rudolf Brun, who was buried in 1360 in the choir of the church, acquired St. Peter's in 1345 with all the associated privileges (church tax) and obligations. He now has a grave and monument by the outer tower wall. The first reformed pastor, Leo Jud (1523-1542), was a friend of Zwingli and contributed to the first translation of the Bible in Zürich. J.C. Lavater (writer, physiognomist, friend of the young Goethe) was pastor from 1778-1801. His gravestone can be seen in the church wall, and there is a memorial to him in the church choir.
Architectural features
Tower: late Romanesque-Gothic
Choir: early 13th century
Nave: Baroque
Zoo Zurich & Masoala Rainforest
Elephants, rhinos, penguins and 20 species of monkeys are just some of the animals on the… more
Zoo Zurich & Masoala Rainforest
Elephants, rhinos, penguins and 20 species of monkeys are just some of the animals on the Zürichberg that will transport you into an exotic world – with all your senses.
Enjoy the sight of the snow leopards in their rocky Himalaya landscape, watch the Andean bears as they go climbing in search of food in their misty mountain world, and admire the giant turtles swimming in the Masoala Rainforest, where it is warm and humid all year round – a fragrant, tropical green oasis, a piece of Madagascar live on 13,000 square yards.
Enjoy the sight of the snow leopards in their rocky Himalaya landscape, watch the Andean bears as they go climbing in search of food in their misty mountain world, and admire the giant turtles swimming in the Masoala Rainforest, where it is warm and humid all year round – a fragrant, tropical green oasis, a piece of Madagascar live on 13,000 square yards.
Explore the rainforest along a twisting path and gain insight into a typical rainforest dense with palms and inhabited by lemurs and turtles and discover sparse swamp areas with a myriad of brightly-colored frogs.
Possibility to hold events in the adjacent restaurant with a stunning view of the rainforest.
Book your Zoo Zurich entry ticket online or at the Tourist Service at the Main Railway Station:
Possibility to hold events in the adjacent restaurant with a stunning view of the rainforest.
Book your Zoo Zurich entry ticket online or at the Tourist Service at the Main Railway Station:
- Adults: CHF 22
- Children (aged 6 - 16) / disabled: CHF 11
- Youth (aged 16 - 25): CHF 16
- Families (partner with own children, aged 6 - 16): CHF 60
- Special tickets for owners of a ZürichCARD (10 % discount)
Zürichbergstrasse 221
8044 Zürich
+41 (0)44 254 25 05
zoo@zoo.ch
www.zoo.ch
Station: Zoo
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8044 Zürich
+41 (0)44 254 25 05
zoo@zoo.ch
www.zoo.ch
Station: Zoo
Timetable
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Zürich West
The district that once witnessed the industrial revolution is today a focal point for gastronomy,… more
Zürich West
The district that once witnessed the industrial revolution is today a focal point for gastronomy, art, design, dance, culture, shopping and architecture. The factories have long since moved away, leaving behind them extensive industrial sites that still bear their names and vast expanses of space that creative minds have put to good use. Zürich West evokes a metropolitan feeling, linking worlds that could scarcely be more different. It is founded on the old, which in turn bears and shapes the new. It has retained the earthiness of its industrial background and merges it with the elegance of the modern-day leisure society. The city of Zürich tells its own, unique West Side Story.
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