Zurich city walk route details

How to get there and back

The city of Zurich can be easily reached by train. This walking tour starts at the main train station, Zürich HB. Be sure to look into passes that cover trains, and also trams and boats within the city.

Section 1: from the train station via Niederdorf to the lake

You can find the route on the map on this page. We offer detailed street by street directions as well:

• Leave Zurich main station on street level and take the exit that (if you have your back to the trains) is in front of you. Outside you are looking at the Bahnhofquai tram stop with the Limmat river behind that.
• Turn right and walk along the tram stop and then turn left to cross Bahnhofbrücke (a bridge) and you are now at ‘Central’ tram stop.
• Cross the tram stop and walk towards the UBS Polybahn funicular. Optional: you can take the funicular (2-minute ride) up to the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology for great views over Zurich. Take the funicular back down and turn left.
• Walk along Niederdorfstrasse: a cobblestone street that is full of art galleries, shops, and cafes.
• Follow the street for 850 meters until it turns into Münstergasse (alley). You'' then reach the famous Grossmünster cathedral.
• Immediately after Grossmünster turn right onto Kirchgasse and take your first left onto Oberdorfstrasse. Follow along for 300 meters until you need to cross Rämistrasse.
• Continue along this street (now called Stadelhoferstrasse) for 270 meters until you reach Stadelhofen train station. Turn right towards Lake Zurich.
• Just before reaching the river you will come to Sechseläutenplatz – Zurich’s largest public square that sits in front of the Zurich opera house.
• On the far side of Sechseläutenplatz is Lake Zurich. Walk along the lakefront for 1.3 km (turn left) to the China garden (open from March to October). Also located near the China Garden is Zurich’s open-air cinema (summer only) and Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen (a public bath).
• From here, you can either catch a boat at the ‘Zürichhorn, See’ boat dock to take a short boat trip back to town (‘Bürkliplatz’ boat dock) or walk back through the park to the ‘Bellevue’ tram stop just past Sechseläutenplatz and the Zurich Opera House.
• From the ‘Bellevue’ tram stop turn left and cross Quaibrücke (bridge).
• On the other side of the bridge you arrive at the Bürkliplatz boat dock and the end of the Bahnhofstrasse (Zurich’s main shopping street).

Section 2: from the lake via the Bahnhofstrasse to the train station

• Walk up Bahnhofstrasse to Paradeplatz (550 meters from Bürkliplatz). It is the location of Zurich’s busiest tram stop, headquarters of UBS and Credit Suisse banks and the first location of a Confiserie Sprüngli chocolate shop in 1859. It boasts one of the most expensive real estate areas in Europe!
• From Paradeplatz, cross Bahnhofstrasse and walk along in front of the Savoy Hotel and onto Waaggasse. Turn right on Münsterhof, following this street until you reach the Fraumünster church (110 meters).
• Cross the plaza beside Fraumünster and walk along Storchengasse for 130 meters where you turn left on Stegengasse.
• After 20 meters turn right on Schlüsselgasse and follow for 60 meters before arriving at St. Peters Church with Europe’s largest clock face (yes, bigger than Big Ben!).
• From St. Peter’s Church, continue walking on Schlüsselgasse for 60 meters and keep right to walk up Pfalzgasse. After 50 meters you will be on the Lindenhof hill with a park and observation deck overlooking the Limmat River and the other side of the Limmat river.
• Now turn and walk back down Pfalzgasse and make a right on Strehlgasse and another quick right onto Rennweg.
• After 250 meters you are back onto Bahnhofstrasse which you can follow back to Zurich train station (350 meters) where you started.