Old Town
About
Also known as Alstadt, Zurich's historical center is a cool mix of old and new. It's home to iconic churches like the twin towers of Grossmunster as well as Fraumunster, which is famous for its stained glass windows. You can also climb up Lindenhof Hill for a bird's eye view of the town and walk the pedestrianized streets of Niederdorf and Limmatquai—they are lively with shops by day and packed with nightlife as the sun goes down. Join a walking tour to explore the medieval alleyways or hop on a cruise along River Limmat for a different view of the picturesque Old Town. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 2-3 hours
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listing
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Top ways to experience Old Town

The area

Neighborhood: Hochschulen
How to get there
  • Zurich Central Station • 10 min walk

See what travelers are saying

  • ShaverNancy
    Shaver Lake, California78 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great walking area
    Just getting off planes we needed to walk and see the sights. Streets are so clean, wonderful stores and even an Aldi where you can get a bottle of water for a really low price. Found a bank to change some dollars into Francs and so enjoyed the whole area.
    Visited September 2023
    Written September 23, 2023
  • retiredhaha
    New Jersey2,056 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must do while in Zurich
    We stayed at Central Plaza hotel, which is only steps away from this historical site. The winding road, beautiful canal, tram and historical clock tower, endless shops and restaurants/bar are memorizing, especially during the early evening hours. Vibrant yet very safe area, which everyone could enjoy with ease.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 25, 2023
  • Arthur M
    Hamilton, Canada1,621 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great, compact city to explore who has a short time in the area
    I had a short, 2-hour stint in Zurich but it was such a blessing for this city to be compact, which made everything in 90 minutes. Walked on the east bank, occasionally crossing the bridges for view from the other side, then down to the Opera House, then back up via the west bank. And I enjoyed all of them! Too bad, I wasn't able to absorb the city since I was short in time, but was grateful to have seen it regardless!
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled solo
    Written November 19, 2023
  • 2CAtravelers
    Brattleboro, Vermont835 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Public transit into the area for a pleasant day on foot
    The old town is quite walkable, but best to use the transit system to get into the area as parking is quite expensive if it is available. The views from the top of the Seilbahn Rigiblick are worth the ride up in a unique train, although there really isn't anyplace to spend much time once at the top. For a longer stop the overlook from the Lindenhof is cool and shady with seating areas.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written November 28, 2023
  • Elizabeth D
    177 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Zurich Old Town "Aldstadt"
    Fun to take a stroll around Old Town, Alstadt. Beautiful streets, buildings, cafes, shopping and churches. Well preserved area with old and new mix. Enjoyed our time.
    Visited March 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written March 13, 2024
  • Snowball's adventure
    Barnet, United Kingdom7,093 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A peaceful & historic old town
    We went to Zurich twice and everytime when we were there, we would always spend a day exploring the city. Started walking from the Altstadt, we crossed the Bahnhofstrasse, before crossing the River Limmat to Grossmunster. Whenever we went, the streets were always so peaceful, beautiful & easy to walk. We loved the cobbled streets and never got tired with the look of so many historic medieval fine buildings. Always loved to get an ice cream or 2 on the way! Zurich is the only city in Europe that we keep coming back as we are loving it!
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written May 12, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles5,265 reviews
Excellent
3,187
Very good
1,737
Average
302
Poor
28
Terrible
11

duck8to
Montville, NJ6,824 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2020
The archaeological evidence suggest that there were settlement around Lake Zurich some 6,000 years ago. Neolithic and Bronze age artifacts have been discovered in the Zurich area. In more recent times the Roman Empire included a fortress on what is now the Limmat river which runs through Zurich in 15 BC. At that time the Romans called Zurich "Turicum".It is also note worthy that Zurich was the primary center of the Protestant Reformation in Europe in 1519. The Old Town (Altstadt) reflects the Medieval and Renaissance period were well with housing, contorted cobble stone streets, it's guilds and Rathaus (Town Hall).

The three notable churches in Old Town are Grossmuster, a 12th century church and site of the Reformation in Switzerland, Fraumunster, a church originally built in 874 AD and today boasts stain glass windows by Giacometi and Marc Chagall, and finally Peterskirche which has the largest clockface in Europe.

The Old Town has a walkway which takes you along the Limmat river, There are museums, public parks, restaurants and cafes, public markets and cruise offerings to Lake Zurich. Switzerland is probably the most expensive country in Europe and if you are a tourist from the USA, the prices are going to shock you. Hamburgers start at $28 dollars
Written May 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

stantp1916
Farakka, India1,291 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2019
This was one of our last days leisurely activities after we have covered all the snow clad famous tourist locations. Good thing about the Swiss are they enjoy their weekends. But this is to such an extent that they don't care enough to work overtime during peak seasons. Take for example this hilarious incident that my wife faced. We were approaching a big showroom and it was around 4 local time. The door won't open. So we kept trying to pull the door open. Seeing this a lady staff inside quickly came to us and started tugging the door from the other end. We thought she was to help, but in reality she was ensuring whether the door was securely closed or not. She politely signalled us to leave as the shop was closed. Felt uneasy at first and then we both laughed out.
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Darlyne J
Granby, CT319 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Friends
After taking the red-eye from the US, we literally hit the ground running and went straight to Old Town. Besides quaint little squares, sidewalk cafes and beautiful architecture , the were also small hidden courtyards and playgrounds. Live like the locals and have a coffee at an outdoor cafe (including use of their free blankets to keep warm).
Written March 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lazaro M
Miami Beach, FL115 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023
I was only in Zurich for one day, it was quaint and charming, but really just an average city. Easily walkable to most attractions. The thing I found most unusual was I only found 1 tourist store. I walked and walked and only found one right in front of the tram stop Rudolf Brun Brucke. So unusual to not see many. The town is quaint and picturesque and not far from this tram stop is a great view of Lake Zurich. Most of the stores on the Bahnhofstrasse (tourist avenue) are very high end. You don't need more than one day to see this city.
Written April 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

barryj830
Durban, South Africa23 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Friends
Wow we arrived in Zurich on the 20th December in time for the Christmas markets of which the whole of old town seemed to have throughout. Enjoyed the Gluvein and roasted chestnuts as well as walking around the wonderful old cobbled streets pedestrian area. Lots of window shopping as well as visiting the other side of the river to Bahnhoffstrasse and Bahnhoff station where the where even more Christmas stalls and goings on. The whole of Zurich centre was alive and buzzing with the Christmas spirit which made for a wonderful start to our first ever white Christmas as a family.
Written January 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ploaco
Austin, TX104 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Family
It might be a quick one day stop at best. The locals seemed nice but the place is absolutely outrageously priced. They get you on everything! We paid $800 for sushi one night for a family of 6 people & we have two kids under 10 years old. It’s better to just eat at a local Sandwich shop and Grab and go. Also, the city was nice but not unique enough to spend more than one night there. We left with a lot less money in our wallets with just an average experience. We felt taken with nothing to show for it. I hope to one day check out the small, sweet towns.
Written June 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

more_gelato
Austin, TX149 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
The streets of Zurich have something for every wanderer. There are wide 19th-century avenues lined with upscale shops, and narrow winding alleys straight out of medieval fairy tales. Everything is clean and safe and very inviting.
Written July 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Delnyon
Nyon, Switzerland3,670 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2021 • Couples
Zurich is clean and pretty! Beautiful churches, houses and fountains, bridges ans narrow streets, don’t miss the walk along the river Limmat up to the lake.
Go for a boat trip during Summer.
No restaurants nor bars open during this Covid time, but nice meals at our hotel.
Written February 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AmyTravels
Lehighton, PA125 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Friends
Old town is beautiful especially at night with the streets and buildings lit with Christmas lights. So many shops and restaurants on every corner. Public transportation is easy and can pick it up on every block or so. Old Town is clean with cobblestone streets. Highly recommend to visit to have some chocolates, dinner and drinks. We ate at Zeughauskeller in Old Town and was best dinner ever in a bier hall, see my review for this restaurant.
Written January 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Randy C
4 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019 • Couples
Walking through Zurich Old Town was terrific. Morschach has a nice resort & Grindelwald is a MUST SEE. We rented a car so we could take an easy road trip to Grindelwald and beyond. We drove 2+ hours to spend New Years Eve & New Years Day in Milan, where we saw the major attractions including The Last Supper. We went castle-hopping in Verduz, Liechtenstein & Feldkirch, Austria which were both beautiful — always surrounded by the majestic, snowy Alps. We ended up at Lucerne which is very beautiful for strolling around the lake. Renting a car made the trip much more eventful and we could change plans & come and go as we pleased. It was a great trip!
***do NOT fly American Airlines.....they suck!
Written February 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 3,014
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Old Town - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

All Zurich HotelsZurich Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in Zurich
All things to do in Zurich
Day Trips in Zurich
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars