Zurich Historic Old Town Audio Self Guided Tour
Description
Explore the Old Town through its churches, fountains, monuments, and guild houses at your own pace, anytime. This tour is self guided, hands free and plays automatically as you walk, and it's all powered by the technology on your walking tour app. You’ll see where civic life took shape, learn about the Reformation that transformed the city, and visit landmarks that continue to define Zurich today. And you’ll see some of the best places to eat. We’ll move from quiet courtyards to lively squares and riverside views, stopping at historic sites that reveal how Zurich grew into Switzerland’s cultural and financial center. Many of the sites are hidden gems and not to be missed. The tour is smartphone guided, hands free and location aware. Go at your own pace, anytime.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Today, the original can be seen at the Landesmuseum Zürich, while a faithful reproduction of the inscription is displayed here, near the archaeological exhibit at Lindenhof, making it accessible for public education.
Thge tour starts in front of the historic Christkatholische Augustinerkirche where you'll hear the church and the area's history then be guided step by step through Zurich.
Who is Klima-Zwingli? Discover this hidden gem and hear his historic story.
Historic restaurant with a historic story.
Junobrunnen’s inauguration in 1872 represented more than just the unveiling of a fountain; it symbolized Zurich’s wider push for civic renewal during a transformative century.
Beyond its historic governance role, Fraumünster Church is renowned for its evolving architecture and artistic treasures. Its foundations date back to the 9th century, showing Romanesque roots that evolved into a primarily Gothic style over time.
Waldmann’s rapid rise in his career quickly unraveled as accusations against him grew. His acceptance of pensions from foreign rulers, including the Duke of Milan and Louis XI of France, was seen as a betrayal of Swiss independence, which diminished public support.
The unveiling of the Ganymede sculpture in 1952 held historical significance well beyond its classical subject. Discover the statue's story on the tour.
The Wasserkirche in Zürich stands out as one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, celebrated for its unique location, rich history, and important role in religious and cultural life.
Not to be missed, this church as a big story, learn it on the tour.
Situated at Rindermarkt in the old town, the fountain was built in 1911 by architect Hermann Fietz to commemorate Stüssi, who defended Zurich during the Old Zürich War from 1440 to 1446 and was killed in battle at the Sihl Bridge in 1443.
In Zürich's evolving history, David Brunnen plays a significant role, serving as more than just decorative architecture; it’s a lasting symbol of the city’s cultural shifts. Located in Weinplatz, once a bustling medieval market, the fountain represented a 19th-century effort to honor community heritage as modern infrastructure transformed the city.
The tour ends at a lookout of the city and the statue Brunnenfigur. It's a bit of a hidden site and not to be missed.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(1)
My wife and I love traveling to European old towns, and normally use a Rick Steves book to guide us through an old town walking tour. That's a bit inconvenient because we have to stop and read the description, so I figured I'd try an audio tour. We did the WalknTours self-guided Zurich old town tour, and really enjoyed it. The descriptions of the sights are detailed, and I especially liked the fact that there were "talks" while walking from one sight to another -- it's hard to read a book while walking. We did mess up several times by turning the wrong way or not recognizing the corner where we should have turned, and had trouble finding one of the sights (turned out we walked right past it). With the app, we did get back on track pretty quickly and the arrow on the screen that points out the direction is accurate. One nice thing is, with an iPhone, you can run two sets of AirPods at once, so the two of us were able to share the commentary from one iPhone and hear the same descriptions at the same time -- no need to buy two tours, or try to synchronize the audio descriptions. Overall, the price is very reasonable and I believe there is an option to subscribe to the app as well if you're visiting a bunch of cities like we did (I didn't find out about this until our last stop). Overall, highly recommended if you enjoy city walks.
