From the summit Zurich looks like a model town; down below it is one of Europe’s most liveable cities. The Old Town (Altstadt) lies on both banks of the Limmat where the river leaves the lake, and almost everything a first-time visitor wants to see is within a twenty-minute walk of the main station.
On the left bank are the Lindenhof, the hill where the Romans had their fort, St Peter’s church with its huge clock face, and the Fraumünster with stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall. Across the river stand the twin towers of the Grossmünster, where Zwingli launched the Swiss Reformation, and the narrow lanes of the Niederdorf.
Top things to do: Zurich Old Town
Start at the Lindenhof
This lime-shaded terrace above the river is free, open at all hours and gives the best view of the Old Town from within it.
Climb a Grossmünster tower
For a small fee you can climb one of the cathedral towers for a rooftop view of the city, the lake — and the Uetliberg on the skyline.
See the Chagall windows
The five tall choir windows in the Fraumünster are among Zurich’s finest works of art. There is a modest entry charge.
Join a guided walk
A two-hour walking tour gives the history that the buildings alone do not — guilds, reformers, bankers and Dadaists.
Getting there: Zurich Old Town
- From the S10: the trains from the Uetliberg end at Zürich HB; Bahnhofstrasse and the Lindenhof begin just outside.
- On foot: the whole Old Town is walkable. Trams run along Bahnhofstrasse and Limmatquai.
- With the Zürich Card: trams are included, and several museums are free or reduced.
Insider tips
- Most shops are closed on Sundays; museums and churches stay open, with restricted visiting during services.
- Zurich’s public fountains run with drinking water — refill your bottle.
- Eating out is expensive. Lunch menus and the food halls of the department stores are easier on the budget.
- Combine the two: Old Town in the morning, Uetliberg for the late-afternoon light.
Best tours & tickets for Zurich Old Town
These top-rated experiences pair well with a visit to Zurich Old Town:
Walking tour from €13 Zurich Old Town Walking Tour: 2 Hours
A well-reviewed, inexpensive two-hour walk through the historic centre. It pairs naturally with the Uetliberg: see the Old Town up close in the morning, then look down on it from the summit in the afternoon.
- Lanes and squares on both banks of the Limmat
- Stories of the guilds, the Reformation and the banks
- A local guide and a very low price
Coach tour + cruise from €80 Zurich: Guided Tour, Lake Cruise & Lindt Home of Chocolate
Zurich’s best-selling combination tour, with more than 5,600 reviews: a guided drive through the city, a boat trip on the lake and a visit to the Lindt chocolate museum. It fills the half of the day you are not spending on the mountain.
- Guided coach tour past Zurich’s main sights
- Short cruise on Lake Zurich
- Entry to the Lindt Home of Chocolate in Kilchberg
City pass from €31 Zürich Card: Save on Attractions, Transport and Dining
Not a tour but the most useful booking for a Uetliberg day: the pass covers public transport in Zurich and the surrounding zones, including the train to the Uetliberg and the airport transfer, plus museum discounts. Check the current list of inclusions before you buy.
- Unlimited 2nd-class travel on trams, buses, trains and boats in the city region
- Includes the S10 ride up the Uetliberg
- Free or reduced entry to many Zurich museums
