Zurich Old Town Walking Tour





The most popular tour through Zurich´s historic old town offers fascinating insights into the city´s colorful history.
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.
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.
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE: As members of ABTA and ATAS we are 100% financially bonded. You can book your day trip with us in absolute confidence, no matter where in the world you are.
In Brief
Location:
Zürich, Switzerland
Country:
Switzerland
Duration:
2 hours
Operates:
April to October
Daily
November to March
Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday
Daily
November to March
Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday
Highlights:
Choice of morning or afternoon departure
Explore the local streets on a walking tour of the city
Informative, friendly and professional guide
Perfect introduction for first-time visitors
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Zürich Tourist Information, Hauptbahnhof, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Anyone who has questions about Zurich, requires information about city tours and excursions, or would like some insider tips is at the right address at the Tourist Information in the main concourse of Zurich Main Station.
Pass By: Bahnhofstrasse, Runs North-South West of Limmat River, Zurich 8001 Switzerland
You can find everything that your heart desires in Bahnhofstrasse: fashion, art and Zurich specialties attract local residents as well as visitors.
Stop At: Lindenhofplatz, Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich 8001 Switzerland
Lindenhof is an oasis at the heart of the city that looks back on a moving history.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Fraumunster Church, Munsterhof 2, Zurich 8001 Switzerland
Fraumünster – a Church in the Old Town With Windows by Chagall and Giacometti
Stop At: Niederdorf, Right bank of Limmat river, Zurich 8001 Switzerland
Niederdorf is part of Zurich's old town – and the locals fondly refer to it as "Dörfli", meaning the entire Niederdorf and Oberdorf area that extends as far as Bellevue. Niederdorf is a pedestrian zone the same as Limmatquai, which runs parallel. During the day, the pedestrian zone and many stores, which are almost hidden in alleyways, entice you to shop. In the evening, Niederdorf changes into a nightlife district for a very varied public with its bars and street artists.
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Grossmunsterplatz, Zurich 8001 Switzerland
The Grossmünster church is a landmark of Zurich. Legend has it that the church was built on the graves of the city's patron saints, Felix and Regula.
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Zürich Tourist Information, Hauptbahnhof, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Anyone who has questions about Zurich, requires information about city tours and excursions, or would like some insider tips is at the right address at the Tourist Information in the main concourse of Zurich Main Station.
Pass By: Bahnhofstrasse, Runs North-South West of Limmat River, Zurich 8001 Switzerland
You can find everything that your heart desires in Bahnhofstrasse: fashion, art and Zurich specialties attract local residents as well as visitors.
Stop At: Lindenhofplatz, Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich 8001 Switzerland
Lindenhof is an oasis at the heart of the city that looks back on a moving history.
Duration: 10 minutes
Pass By: Fraumunster Church, Munsterhof 2, Zurich 8001 Switzerland
Fraumünster – a Church in the Old Town With Windows by Chagall and Giacometti
Stop At: Niederdorf, Right bank of Limmat river, Zurich 8001 Switzerland
Niederdorf is part of Zurich's old town – and the locals fondly refer to it as "Dörfli", meaning the entire Niederdorf and Oberdorf area that extends as far as Bellevue. Niederdorf is a pedestrian zone the same as Limmatquai, which runs parallel. During the day, the pedestrian zone and many stores, which are almost hidden in alleyways, entice you to shop. In the evening, Niederdorf changes into a nightlife district for a very varied public with its bars and street artists.
Duration: 1 hour
Pass By: Grossmunsterplatz, Zurich 8001 Switzerland
The Grossmünster church is a landmark of Zurich. Legend has it that the church was built on the graves of the city's patron saints, Felix and Regula.
Inclusions
- Sightseeing in Zurich´s impressive old town
- Explore quaint alleyways and discover hidden gems
- Tour guide with extensive knowledge
Exclusions
- Gratuities
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- No entry to the Fraumünster Church
Departure Point
Zürich Tourist Information, Hauptbahnhof, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Returns To
Münsterhof, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
Additional Information
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 1 day of travel. In this case confirmation will be received as soon as possible, subject to availability
- Not wheelchair accessible
- May be operated by a multi-lingual guide (German & English)
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Booking Information
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation Terms
This trip is fully refundable up to 96 hours prior to the commencement of your trip.
Booking Terms and Conditions
When you book this trip, you need to read and accept the terms and conditions for booking our day trips in excursions.
Scoring an average traveller rating of 4.67 out of 5 based on the last 24 recent reviews
“
What a lovely tour! Barbara was one of the best and more enthusiastic tour guides I've ever had. 100% recommendable to do at the beginning of your trip, so you can lear a bit more about the history of the city + learn the trips from the local guide.”
Andres V • Submitted 09 Sep 2019





“
The Old Town Zürich walking tour was a great experience ! Our guide, Ity was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and personable. She managed the large group efficiently while maintaining a fast pace. We covered a lot of ground in two hours it was a memorable experience. I recommend it highly!”
Michael L • Submitted 27 Mar 2018





“
The Old Town Zürich walking tour was a great experience ! Our guide, Ity was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and personable. She managed the large group efficiently while maintaining a fast pace. We covered a lot of ground in two hours it was a memorable experience. I recommend it highly!”
Michael L • Submitted 27 Mar 2018





“
This is a great tour, you get to briefly see all the main attractions, so you'll find out the best places to visit on the following days. I highly recommend you do this when you first arrive, because you'll get a very good idea of the city of Zurich, which is truly beautiful! You are also given a lot of information on the history and the various aspects of the city. Our guide Rose was very nice and friendly and made the experience thoroughly enjoyable!!”
Elsa A • Submitted 12 Dec 2017





“
Sabine was excellent. We had a group of mostly English speakers with one German couple so she used walking time to tell them what they were about to see and mostly gave the on-sight lecture in English. She took extra time at the end to finish things up and was very helpful. This was an excellent tour well presented.”
Philip H • Submitted 03 Sep 2017





“
This was a small group that left from the Zurich train station. It was a perfect introduction to the city's old town. It lasted about two hours and helped us know where to go. The guide was smart and knowledgable. This is a tour that is worth your time, and Zurich's old town is gorgeous.”
Mary O • Submitted 06 Aug 2017





“
This was an amazing tour! Barbara was very informative, helpful and full of life. I would highly recommend this this tour to anyone exploring Zurich!”
Deonte Y • Submitted 27 Mar 2017





“
Highly recommended. Tour guides are very informative and friendly. Buses are very spacious and comfortable.”
Dr. ANUP B • Submitted 27 Oct 2016





“
Excellent tour- very informative guide.”
Denise P • Submitted 14 Aug 2016





“
Lovely guide to a lovely city!”
Pam S • Submitted 13 Jul 2016





“
Thoroughly enjoyed myself! Guide was very informative, providing a nice background to the history of the town. Also brought us into many interesting nooks and corners in the old town.
Highly recommended!”
Moses K • Submitted 18 Jun 2016





“
Good tour with some unexpected gems. Guide very knowledgeable. Well worth it for a quick tour of the 'highlights'”
Vanessa B • Submitted 06 Feb 2016





“
Very nice, knowlegible tour guide. The tour itself was very well organized and pleasant.”
Irina O • Submitted 09 Dec 2015





“
If you are in Zurich for 1 or 10 days this should be first on your list. The tour is a two hour, educational walking tour the shows you the beautiful city and its amazing views while providing insight on places to dine, wine and explore throughout the city. Our tour guide Sabine was excellent! We were only in the city for one day but I felt like I really got to see the city because of this tour. I also would have loved a few more days to explore all of the historic sights and amazing restaurants we saw on our tour if we could have stayed longer. Definitely a great way to get acquainted with the city and a good deal for the price!”
Patricia K • Submitted 06 Oct 2015





“
Interesting tour and our good was extremely very informative. Definitely recommend and good with just a small group.”
jip • Submitted 18 Sep 2015





“
despite the rain the tour was full of interesting background on Zurich its history and now”
John M • Submitted 17 Aug 2015





“
Thank you to Anne-maria for showing us Zurich. We really enjoyed this walking tour and the fact that we were not too many in the group made it very special! We loved our guide, the places she showed us and the many things she told us. I could really recommend this walking tour if you have limited time and want to make the most of Zurich!”
Maresa M • Submitted 03 Oct 2019





“
We enjoyed this tour after a rocky start. We were a group of about 20 people and started the tour at the train station. It was very difficult to hear our guide in the train station and on the busy streets due to noise and traffic. We really weren't able to hear her until we reached the quieter streets of Old Town. We saw several churches, buildings and sites but didn't go into any of them. That would have been a nice addition to the tour. We also could have benefitted from headsets and a microphone so we could have more easily heard our guide at all times. Even in Old Town it was a strain at times.”
Erin B • Submitted 22 Jul 2019





“
Our guide was excellent. Zurich is beautiful, the only problem was that is was in both German and English so we spent half of the tour standing around while the guide talked to the other group.”
Dwight B • Submitted 23 Apr 2018





“
The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. I saw more of the city than I would have on my own and the history lesson was very interesting and informative. Two hours well spent getting to see the highlights of Zurich.”
Karen M • Submitted 08 Oct 2017





“
We only had a short amount of time in Zurich and this tour was perfect, recommended as a great way to see the old parts of the city.”
Nigel T • Submitted 25 Sep 2017





“
Good tour and knowledgable guide. Great intro to Zurich and get to see all the highlights of the old town. Only drawback was the guide had both English and German speaking customers so she had to cover everything twice which took a little longer. Well worth doing the walk”
Alex Bowler • Submitted 22 Aug 2017





“
very good tour, friendly and knowledgable tour guide. takes you through Old Town as advertised. The tour is not overly comprehensive, but provides a nice introduction to the city/Old Town and can provide ideas for further exploration later. The stop for a refreshment was a very nice addition.”
Sitaramesh E • Submitted 21 Jun 2016





“
great city to walk, guide fairly knowledgeable”
Rick W • Submitted 23 May 2016





In Brief
Location:
Zürich, Switzerland
Country:
Switzerland
Duration:
2 hours
Operates:
April to October
Daily
November to March
Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday
Daily
November to March
Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday
Highlights:
Choice of morning or afternoon departure
Explore the local streets on a walking tour of the city
Informative, friendly and professional guide
Perfect introduction for first-time visitors
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