Zurich Old Town (Altstadt) Tours and Tickets

Zurich Old Town (Altstadt) is a historic part of Zurich that's filled with cobblestoned lanes and old buildings, including the Fraumünster Church and the Grossmünster Church. Although many of the Old Town's buildings are from the 19th century, the area has plenty of medieval structures still intact, too.

Zurich's Old Town is in the center of the city, making it easy to get to from other parts of town using public transportation. Zurich Hauptbahnhof—the city's main railway station—is located at one end of Bahnhofstrasse, which runs along the western end of the neighborhood.

Zurich Old Town is full of historic buildings. Highlights include famous churches, such as Grossmünster and Fraumünster, the latter of which is famed for its stained-glass windows designed by Marc Chagall. Other highlights include the Rathaus (Town Hall) and the much older Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), which dates back to medieval times.

Yes, there are lots of guided walking tours available to explore Zurich Old Town. Options range from city highlights tours, which may include a cruise on Lake Zurich or a ride on a cable car, to specialist tours that focus on Zurich's role in the Swiss chocolate industry.

There's really no better or worse time of day to visit Zurich's Old Town, though you will certainly encounter more crowds if you come during one of the city's many annual events. Popular events include the Zurich Street Parade in August and the Christmas markets in December.

Yes, there are lots of shops in Zurich’s Old Town where you can buy typical Swiss products. Chocolate shops abound, as do souvenir shops selling everything from cow bells to Bernese mountain dogs plush toys. The Niederdorf area has a particularly dense concentration of shopping options.