walking tour zurich old town

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Zurich Old Town Walking Tour

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from CHF 25

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Description

What do Einstein, James Joyce and Wagner have in common? All three were residents of Zurich. But it´s not only great minds who are captivated by this lakeside city with its well-preserved old town – people from all over the world have always flocked to the thriving metropolis. On a two-hour walk through the old town, we go searching for clues to the city´s past in its hidden alleyways and picturesque squares. Together, we uncover the secrets of Bahnhofstrasse, find out what a ‘procession axis´ is, and visit a church with a minute-hand that jumps a record-breaking half meter every minute. This popular tour is filled with numerous astonishing and amusing anecdotes and has plenty to offer both visitors and locals alike.

Sightseeing in Zurich´s impressive old town Explore quaint alleyways and discover hidden gems Tour guide with extensive knowledge

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• 03 November 2024
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Zürich Tourismus public tours Im Hauptbahhof 8001 Zürich

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Zurich Old Town Walking & Bus Tour

• Bus tour through Zurich´s outer districts 
• Stroll through the old town 
• Both parts of the tour are led by a knowledgeable tour guide 

Experience Zurich's past and present first-hand, starting with a tour of Zurich's outer districts to find out how the locals live today. This is followed by a stroll through the quaint alleyways and historical squares of Zurich's old town, where you will gain insights into Zurich of yesteryear. Together, we uncover the secrets of Bahnhofstrasse, find out what a "procession axis" is, and visit a church with a minute-hand that jumps a record-breaking half meter every minute. This popular tour has plenty to entertain visitors and locals alike. If you do not have your own bus, we will gladly reserve one for you.

Time and Duration

Contact & starting point.

A Walking Tour of Zurich’s Old Town

A walking tour of Zurich’s Old Town feels like a journey through a living history museum, full of Renaissance-era structures and narrow, twisting lanes that seem frozen in time. Even if you have just 24 hours in Zurich , you can discover so much on a self-guided walking tour .

Once every few weeks, the citizens of Zurich are privy to a new piece of ‘art’. Without warning, oddly shaped statues, installations or concepts that defy definition spring up on unsuspecting street corners. The citizens tend to detest the upstart at first but over time, every work of art becomes an indistinguishable part of the city, much like the churches, guilds and town hall of yore. Zurich’s Altstadt (German for ‘Old Town’) encompasses Kreis 1 (District 1), parts of which are on the banks of the lovely Limmat River. My plunge into three century old history begins the moment my guide Annemarie pulls out a map dating back to the 1860s.

Bahnhofstrasse and Burkliplatz

We begin our walking tour at Bahnhofstrasse, where I’m staying. This posh area is the best luxury shopping destination in Zurich and its streets are lined with banks and boutique shops including Bucherer, the famous watchmaker and the adjoining Uhrenmuseum Beyer, dedicated to the world of horology. At Café Sprungli in Paradeplatz, we spot beetle-shaped chocolates and Annemarie tells me that these insects once plagued the city of Zurich until they were almost eradicated by offering citizens incentives to trap them. At the end of the street, we see the lake-side Burkliplatz, dotted with plump swans in an area that was once a swamp. An arresting statue of Prince Ganymed pleading with Zeus to take him to Mount Olympus occupies centre-stage. Frauenbad Stadthausquai

We turn into a quiet street called Stadhausquai, home to the Frauenbad bath house for women, which turns into a bar at night. Opened in 1885 to allow women to wash themselves as they didn’t have bathrooms at home, today it’s a popular public pool often frequented by sunbathers. Zurich’s bars cater to all kinds and this one is called Bar Fuss Bar, translating to ‘Bare-foot Bar’. Opposite the bath house is the Renaissance-era city hall Stadthaus, where Swiss citizens come to be joined in holy matrimony. At the quay, a wedding party sails away on a boat, waving goodbye to cheering onlookers. Annemarie tells me that this is a Swiss tradition for good luck. In the distance, we can see the double towers of the Grossmunster, a Romanesque-style Protestant church built by Charlemagne at the graves of the city saints Felix and Regula, as per local legend. Fraumunster

In 853, King Louis the German had two unmarried daughters and it was for them that he built the Fraumunster Church on the remains of a former abbey. Led by Hildegard, the Benedictine Convent ruled over Zurich, Uri and the Albis Forest. The church is worth a visit for its beautiful Chagall windows, each depicting a different story from the Bible. According to Annemarie, a white stag was often seen protecting the King’s daughters and its image forms a leitmotif in most of the paintings. Munsterhof and Lindenhof

We emerge on to a beautiful town square full of medieval buildings in the Lindenhof quarter called Munsterhof. My attention is drawn to the blue coloured Restaurant Zunfthaus Zur Waag, which used to be a guild house for wine merchants. The walk from the square to Lindenhof Park is littered with road signs in interesting shapes like keys and dragons. Annemarie informs me that this was to indicate the name of the road to folks who couldn’t read in the olden days. We come face to face with the clock of Peter’s Church, which is Europe’s largest clock-face, beautiful murals, water fountains and flags atop most homes. The climb to Lindenhof Park takes us across hills shaped by the Ice Age, now turned into cobble-stoned paths. From the park, I get a spectacular view of Zurich city, with its ancient buildings and the glittering Lake Zurich.

We end the tour with a peaceful walk by the Limmat River and a stroll through the streets of Augustinergasse, famed for its carved wooden bay windows and colourful coffee shops. Things To Do in Zurich’s Old Town

• Buy: Authentic Swiss crafts from Schweizer Heimatwerk and truffle of the day from Café Sprungli, both on Bahnhofstrasse
• See: The wedding celebrations at Stadthaus (the city hall) and on the boats on Lake Zurich
• Do: A boat cruise down the Limmat River, which takes you past the city’s grandest landmarks
• Stay : The four star Hotel Glockenhof offers affordable comfort and is centrally located at Bahnhofstrasse, a stone’s throw away from Rennweg tram station.
• Eat: The world famous Hiltl Restaurant for cutting-edge vegetarian and vegan cuisine, Restaurant Zum Kropf for the authentic Swiss experience and Quai 61 for a mesmerising view of the lake.
• Visit : Zurich is bright and sunny in the summer months (June to September) but witnessing its snow-laden streets at Christmas is also delightful.

Free Walking Tour Map

This self-guided walking tour map of Zurich covers ten attractions with a total distance of 2km. The total point-to-point walking time is 27 minutes but you’ll need at least three hours to do the tour, accounting for time taken for photography and sightseeing.

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7 thoughts on “A Walking Tour of Zurich’s Old Town”

Quite informative and well-curated journey of yours 🙂

Oh, I need to go to Switzerland again… Been far too long…

I feel the same way. 🙂 This was last year.

It`s just a stunning, stunning country… We used to drive through it every year when we went on holiday to Italy from Germany…

best place to travel….

Well,, Now i know where i planned my next trip.

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