Zurich City Guide

Old Town, Limmat & Lake

From the elegant Bahnhofstrasse up to the peaceful Lindenhof with its old-town view, to St. Peter's church with Europe's largest clock face and into the Fraumünster for Chagall's glowing windows. Over the Münster bridge to the twin-towered Grossmünster, through the lanes of the Niederdorf to the Kunsthaus and down to Lake Zurich with its Alpine view.

1. Bahnhofstrasse – The walk begins at the main station and heads onto Bahnhofstrasse, one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world: a ruler-straight, car-free boulevard of department stores, watch and jewellery shops and the great banks at Paradeplatz, running straight down to the lake.
2. Lindenhof – Above the old town lies the Lindenhof, a shady square with old lime trees on the hill where the Romans and later an imperial palace once stood. From the parapet the view sweeps over the roofs of the Niederdorf, the Limmat and across to the towers of the Grossmünster - a calm lookout cherished by locals.
3. Schipfe – From the Lindenhof a stairway leads down to the Schipfe, Zurich's oldest artisan quarter right on the Limmat. In the narrow lanes of old guild and craftsmen's houses, silk weavers and tanners once worked; today small studios, workshops and cafés line the water – a quiet contrast to the busy old town.
4. St. Peter's Church – St. Peter's is Zurich's oldest parish church, and its tower holds a record: the largest church clock face in Europe, over eight metres across. For centuries the fire watchman sat here, scanning the city. The plain interior is worth a brief look.
5. Fraumünster – The Fraumünster, once a women's abbey, is today famous above all for one artwork: the five glowing choir windows Marc Chagall created in 1970 in his old age. In deep blue, red and green they tell biblical scenes and bathe the choir in a magical play of colour against the light - the walk's most striking moment.
6. Münster Bridge – The Münster bridge links the Fraumünster and Grossmünster across the Limmat and offers the walk's finest view: upstream the lake, downstream the old town, and opposite rise the striking twin towers of the Grossmünster. On the bridge stands the equestrian statue of Mayor Waldmann.
7. Grossmünster – The Grossmünster with its two characteristic towers is Zurich's landmark and the cradle of the German-Swiss Reformation: from here Huldrych Zwingli preached from 1519 and changed the country. The interior is austere and plain, with modern windows by Sigmar Polke adding accents. Climb the Karlsturm for a sweeping view of the old town.
8. Niederdorf – The Niederdorf, affectionately called "Dörfli" by locals, is the lively heart of the right-bank old town: a tangle of narrow, cobbled lanes full of boutiques, cafés, taverns and craft shops. By day for browsing, by night it turns into one of the city's going-out strips.
9. Kunsthaus Zürich – The Kunsthaus Zürich is one of Switzerland's most important art museums. From the Impressionists Monet and van Gogh through Munch, Picasso and classical Modernism to contemporary art, the collection spans wide, extended by the Chipperfield annexe opened in 2021. A rewarding stop for all art lovers - closed on Mondays, though.
10. Bürkliplatz & Lake Zurich – At Bürkliplatz the Bahnhofstrasse ends and the view opens onto Lake Zurich: a broad promenade, sailing boats, swans and, on clear days, the Alpine chain beyond. From the pier the ZSG scheduled boats set off on cruises across the lake - a lovely, relaxed way to let the day wind down. At weekends a flea market draws crowds here too.