Zurich guided walking tours: Uncover the stories behind the city
You may already know where to find the best coffee in Zurich, which tram gets you home the fastest and where to go when friends come to visit. Still, there is always more to discover when living in Switzerland, from stories hidden in familiar streets to the people and ideas that have shaped the city.
Explore Zurich's history through specialised themed tours
With its programme of Themed Tours, Zürich Tourism, the city's official tourism organisation, offers a rotating series of guided history tours. Each tour covers a different topic that digs into a piece of Zurich's identity, from the city’s rise as a global financial hub to the turbulent past that shaped one of Zurich's most vibrant neighbourhoods.
Popular Zurich tour topics: From finance to powerful women
Every week, a new topic takes centre stage in the excursion. One tour traces the history of money in Zurich and the role finance has played in shaping the city over the centuries. Another shines a light on Zurich's Powerful Women, the female figures who influenced the city's politics, business and culture, yet whose contributions have often been overlooked in the historical narrative.
History buffs and night owls can join the Langstrasse nightlife and history tour (the Zurich Milieu Tour) to learn how the once-gritty working-class quarter has transformed into one of Zurich's most authentic and multicultural neighbourhoods.
There is also a walk dedicated to the Reformation in Zurich, as well as one on archaeology or Zurich’s architecture. As the seasons change, the schedule follows suit, with a dedicated Christmas tour appearing on the calendar from late November.
Tours offered in English & German
Professional guides lead all of the tours, combining deep local knowledge with genuine enthusiasm for their subject. English-language tours run every Wednesday at 5pm or you can join on Saturdays at 4pm if you prefer to listen in German. Each tour lasts two hours and costs 25 Swiss francs per adult (39 Swiss francs for the E-Bike Tour).
You do not need to book far in advance, but reserving a spot online is recommended as group sizes are kept small enough to leave room for questions and discussion along the way.
Find the tour that fits
As one of the top things to do in Zurich for expats, Zürich Tourism recommends starting with the Zurich Old Town Walking Tour, which covers the essential history and landmarks of Switzerland’s biggest city. The tour gives newcomers a useful foundation and overview before diving into a more specialised topic.
Groups, companies and expat clubs can also arrange a private themed tour, fitting for both team outings and welcoming new colleagues. Explore the available options on the Zürich Tourism website and submit a request for a private tour.
If you would like to join a public tour, then there are plenty of options to choose from - just pick your favourite. For two hours, let someone who has spent years down that particular rabbit hole take you along the route. You will walk past buildings you have probably passed a hundred times and suddenly see them differently: not just facades, but the backdrop to fortunes made, movements started and rules broken.
Full details on dates, languages and topics of the upcoming public tours are available via the Zürich Tourism public tour schedule. Book your spot and give yourself one more reason to fall in love with Zurich all over again.