Zurich: Lake Cruise, Old Town & Optional FIFA Museum

Zurich's Lake & Medieval Streets in One Morning

You ride a coach through Zurich's landmarks (the Swiss National Museum, Bahnhofstrasse, the financial district), then walk the medieval Old Town on foot with a guide who points out St. Peter Church and the Fraumünster's Chagall windows. After that, you're on your own for a one-hour lake cruise with an audio guide, watching villas and lidos drift past. Add the FIFA Museum if you want to stay longer and explore football history independently. The whole thing takes a half day, transport is handled, and you don't have to figure out the boat schedule yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Bahnhofstrassepass by
2. Zurich Old Town25m

Zurich city tour and lake cruise

• Meet guide at Sihlquai Bus Station
• See Swiss National Museum and Bahnhofstrasse
• View Zurich financial district
• Photo stop at Lake Zurich
• Drive past Zürichberg mansions and university
• Guided walking tour of Old Town
• Visit St. Peter Church and Fraumünster
• Board one-hour Lake Zurich cruise
• Optional visit to FIFA Museum

The experience

There's something about standing at the edge of Lake Zurich that makes you want to stay longer than the itinerary allows. The water is so clear you can see straight through it, and the villas on the far shore sit like they've been there since money was invented. You start the day at Sihlquai Bus Station, board a coach, and roll past the Swiss National Museum (all castle turrets and stone), then down Bahnhofstrasse, where the shop windows alone cost more than most apartments. Your guide talks through the financial district and the university quarter, pointing out the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology where Einstein taught. It's the kind of detail that sticks with you: not just a building, but the weight of who stood there.

The Old Town walk is where the day gets personal. Medieval guild houses crowd the narrow streets, and St. Peter Church rises up with Europe's largest clock face. You'll see why people stop to look at it. The Fraumünster is smaller, quieter, but the stained glass windows by Marc Chagall pull your eye up and hold it. Your guide walks you through, explains the history, then steps back and lets you breathe. After that, you head to Bürkliplatz and board a boat for the lake cruise. It's independent, which means no more talking. Just you, the audio guide (download it beforehand if your data plan doesn't cover Switzerland), and an hour watching the shoreline slide past. The lidos are busy even in shoulder season, and the villas get bigger the farther you go.

If you've added the FIFA Museum ticket, you walk straight from the boat into football history. Interactive exhibits, original artifacts, the whole story of the sport laid out so you can move at your own pace. Last admission is 5:30 p.m., so timing matters if you're catching a train later. The tour itself ends at Bürkliplatz, but the museum keeps you in the city a bit longer if you want it to.

What’s included

• Guided walking tour through Zurich's Old Town with views of St. Peter Church and the Fraumünster.
• one-hour independent lake cruise on Lake Zurich with audio guide.
• coach transport through the city with stops at the Swiss National Museum, Bahnhofstrasse, and the university quarter.
• FIFA Museum ticket with audio guide (when selected as an option).
• carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate.

Options for this experience

2 options

Standard tourGuide in English · 10:00Take in Zurich's main sights on a scenic coach tour, then unwind during a one-hour cruise on Lake Zurich.

Includes entry to the FIFA MuseumGuide in English · 10:00Add admission to the FIFA Museum to enrich your visit, and browse the interactive exhibits at your own speed.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesSundayDeparts at 10:00Last departure this season: 18 Oct

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 48 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Best of Switzerland Tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if you want to see Zurich's main sights (the lake, the medieval streets, the financial heart) without renting a car or buying separate tickets. The coach and guide handle the routing, and the lake cruise is timed so you're not rushing between stops.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the whole tour?

The coach and walking portions take most of the morning, then the one-hour lake cruise happens after. If you add the FIFA Museum, plan another 1.5 to 2 hours there. The tour ends at Bürkliplatz. The museum is optional and you explore it on your own time.

Is the lake cruise guided or independent?

It's independent. You get a ticket and an audio guide to download on your own device before boarding. If you don't have unlimited data in Switzerland, download the ZSG Tour App in advance.

What's included in the price?

Coach transport, the guided walking tour of the Old Town, the lake cruise ticket with audio guide, and carbon-balanced operations. The FIFA Museum ticket is optional and costs extra.

Can I skip the FIFA Museum and just do the lake cruise?

Yes. The lake cruise is included in the base tour. The FIFA Museum is an add-on option you select when booking.

Where does the tour start and end?

You meet your guide at Sihlquai Bus Station. The tour ends at Bürkliplatz square, where you board the lake cruise boat.

What time is the last admission to the FIFA Museum?

Last admission is 5:30 p.m. Opening hours on public holidays may vary, so check before you book if you're traveling on a holiday.

What if I don't want to download the audio guide app?

You'll receive detailed written information about the lake cruise at check-in, so you can follow along without the app if you prefer.