History · Zurich · Switzerland
6 historic sites to see in Zurich
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Start with Niederdorf and the right-bank Old Town, Grossmünster and Fraumünster. Together the 6 picks below take roughly 6–6 hours across 3 areas; 2 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 6
- Free entry
- 2
- Time to see them all
- 6–6 hours
- Areas
- Niederdorf, City and Lindenhof and Main station
Historic sites in Zurich
Neighbourhood · Niederdorf
1.Niederdorf and the right-bank Old Town
Walk the car-free Niederdorfstrasse from Central towards the Grossmünster and branch into the lanes that climb the hill: Spiegelgasse, where the Cabaret Voltaire hosted the first Dada evenings in 1916 and Lenin lived at number 14, Rindermarkt and Neumarkt with their guild houses and fountains.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Food
- After dark
Religious site · Niederdorf
2.Grossmünster
Its plain interior has stained-glass windows by Augusto Giacometti and agate-and-glass windows by Sigmar Polke, and the Karlsturm tower can be climbed for a view over the rooftops and the lake.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Views
- Architecture
.jpg){kind=link}
Religious site · City and Lindenhof
3.Fraumünster
A large window by Augusto Giacometti fills the north transept. A small entry fee applies.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Viewpoint · City and Lindenhof
4.Lindenhof hill
Locals play on the giant chessboards, and the nearby St. Peter's church has the largest church clock face in Europe, 8.7 metres across.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Views
- History
- Couples
- Photo spot
Museum · Main station
5.Swiss National Museum
Housed in a turreted 1898 building beside the main station with a modern wing added in 2016, the Landesmuseum tells Swiss history from prehistoric times through the Middle Ages and the Reformation to the present, with period rooms, armour, furniture and well-designed temporary exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Kids
Viewpoint · Niederdorf
6.Polybahn and Polyterrasse
The Polyterrasse gives a broad view over the Old Town, the Limmat and the lake.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Niederdorf | Niederdorf and the right-bank Old Town, Grossmünster and Polybahn and Polyterrasse | 2 hours + 45 minutes + 30 minutes |
| City and Lindenhof | Fraumünster and Lindenhof hill | 30 minutes + 30 minutes |
| Main station | Swiss National Museum | 2 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 6, 2 free, 3 low cost, 1 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Niederdorf and the right-bank Old Town; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Niederdorf and City and Lindenhof): Niederdorf and the right-bank Old Town → Grossmünster → Polybahn and Polyterrasse → Fraumünster → Lindenhof hill, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Main station): Swiss National Museum, at least 2 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 5°C (41°F), about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds. Still cold, with ski season in full swing a train ride away.
- January: highs of 3°C (37°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cold and often grey under low cloud, with occasional snow; good for museums and day trips up into the sunny mountains.
- November: highs of 8°C (46°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Grey and foggy, but Christmas markets and lights arrive late in the month.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Niederdorf — Pedestrian lanes of the right-bank Old Town with bars, guild houses and small hotels
- City and Lindenhof — Left-bank Old Town, banks and luxury shops along Bahnhofstrasse
More of Zurich
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Zurich?
Niederdorf and the right-bank Old Town. Walk the car-free Niederdorfstrasse from Central towards the Grossmünster and branch into the lanes that climb the hill: Spiegelgasse, where the Cabaret Voltaire hosted the first Dada evenings in 1916 and Lenin lived at number 14, Rindermarkt and Neumarkt with their guild houses and fountains.
+Which of these are free in Zurich?
Niederdorf and the right-bank Old Town and Lindenhof hill.