Zurich: Old Town Walking Tour & Lake Cruise

Medieval Streets & a Ferry Ride: What Zurich Looks Like From the Water

You walk the Old Town's cobblestone streets and parks with a local guide, ride a funicular to a viewpoint above the Alps, visit Fraumünster Church to see Marc Chagall's stained glass windows, then board a 90-minute ferry cruise on Lake Zurich past the Lindt factory and the lakeside villas of the Golden Coast. The funicular ticket and ferry ticket are included, so you don't buy them separately at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Paradeplatz15m
2. Zurich Old Town1h
3. Lake Zurich1h 30m · entry included
4. Fraumünster Church10m

Zurich city tour and lake cruise

• Take funicular to Polyterasse
• Enjoy views of Old Town and Alps
• Visit Lindenhof for city views
• Walk through financial district and Bahnhofstrasse
• Explore Zurich Old Town with guide
• Visit Fraumünster Church stained glass
• Take ferry cruise on Lake Zurich
• Admire Lindt Factory and Golden Coast

The experience

You don't expect a city this polished to have 1,200 public fountains, or that you'd actually want to stop at them. The tour starts with a short funicular ride up to Polyterasse (a viewpoint that sits above the Old Town and the Alps), and from there the guide walks you through the medieval streets, past Lindenhof (a quiet park in the middle of everything that overlooks the Limmat river and the Grossmünster), and down to Bahnhofstrasse, where the Swiss banking headquarters line the avenue like a financial monument. It's the kind of Zurich walking tour that doesn't rush the small things: the cobblestones, the way the light hits the church facades, the sound of the bells.

The Fraumünster Church is the stop where the stained glass actually stops you. Marc Chagall designed the windows in the chancel and the south transept (blues and reds that fill the whole interior with color), and Augusto Giacometti did the north transept. Your guide will explain what you're looking at, which makes the difference between seeing glass and understanding why it matters. After the Old Town, you head to Burkliplatz to board the ferry for the 90-minute Lake Zurich cruise, which takes you past the Lindt Chocolate Factory and along the "Golden Coast," where the lakeside villas sit behind gates and gardens.

The whole experience runs about four to five hours depending on the season. Summer tours start at 9:45 AM from the Landesmuseum. Winter tours depart at 11:45 AM from the Limmathof Hotel. Small groups mean you're not herded through the streets, and the local licensed guide brings the history without the script. The kind of person who knows which fountain has the best water and why the city still feels medieval even though it's one of the world's most expensive places to live.

What’s included

• Local licensed guide leading the walking tour.
• funicular ride ticket to Polyterasse.
• ferry cruise ticket for the 90-minute Lake Zurich journey.
• access to Zurich Old Town, Lindenhof park, Bahnhofstrasse, and Fraumünster Church with its Marc Chagall and Augusto Giacometti stained glass windows.

Before you book

Days and timesSaturday and SundayDeparts at 09:45Last departure this season: 18 Oct

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Under 6: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 18 · max 4 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 refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by WOW ZURICH TOURS

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want to see the main landmarks of Zurich's Old Town and Lake Zurich in one morning or late-morning outing without arranging separate tickets or transport: the guide, the funicular, and the ferry are all coordinated into a single itinerary.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years). Under 6: they can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What time does the Zurich walking tour start?

Summer tours (April–October) start at 9:45 AM at the Landesmuseum. Winter tours (November–March) start at 11:45 AM at the Limmathof Hotel on Limmatquai.

How long is the Lake Zurich ferry cruise?

The ferry cruise lasts 90 minutes and departs from Burkliplatz after the walking portion of the tour.

What is included in the tour?

The tour includes a local licensed guide, a funicular ride ticket, a ferry cruise ticket on Lake Zurich, and access to the Old Town, Lindenhof, Bahnhofstrasse, and Fraumünster Church.

What are the main stops on the walking tour?

The tour includes Polyterasse (viewpoint), Lindenhof park, Bahnhofstrasse (the financial district), the Old Town, and Fraumünster Church before ending with the ferry cruise on Lake Zurich.

Can I bring my dog on the tour?

Service animals are allowed on the tour.

What will I see on the Lake Zurich ferry cruise?

The ferry passes the Lindt Chocolate Factory and the Golden Coast, where expensive lakeside villas and gardens line the shore.