Zurich Open-Top Bus Tour: Lake Views & Historic Landmarks

The red bus climbs through Zurich's layers: old town churches, lakeside parks, and the modern skyline.

An open-top bus sightseeing tour of Zurich with a 1-hour audio-guided route through the old town, Lake Zurich shores, and major landmarks including the Fraumünster Church, Rietberg Museum, and Swiss National Museum. The audio guide plays in English, Spanish, French, German and two additional languages. You can add a boat cruise on Lake Zurich (May through September) at checkout. If you choose it, tell the driver when you board and he'll hand you your cruise ticket.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Lake Zurich5m
2. Rietberg Museumpassing by
3. Fraumünster Churchpassing by
4. National Museum Zurichpassing by

Zurich open-top bus sightseeing tour

• Meet driver at Zurich Bus Station
• Board red open-top bus
• Enjoy 1-hour audio-guided city tour
• Pass by Zurich station and ShopVille
• Pass by Urania Observatory
• Admire lakeside views of Lake Zurich
• Pass by Schweizerische Kreditanstalt bank
• Pass by Rietberg Museum and villas
• Pass by FIFA Headquarters
• Pass by neoclassical mansion and park
• Pass by Fraumünster Church
• Pass by Swiss National Museum
• Conclude tour at Zurich Bus Station

The experience

The tour starts at Zurich Bus Station, where you board the red open-top bus and settle in for a 1-hour audio-guided loop through the city. The bus moves through the old town past the Fraumünster Church, a Protestant landmark in Zurich's historic core, then follows the shores of Lake Zurich where the water and surrounding landscapes fill the view. You pass the Rietberg Museum, a cluster of three historic villas set in one of the city's oldest parks: the composer Richard Wagner lived there in the 19th century and finished Tristan und Isolde while staying on the estate. The route also takes in the Swiss National Museum, an architectural landmark that blends historic and modern design, and the Urania Observatory, the city's first concrete structure, built in 1907.

The audio guide narrates in English, Spanish, French, German and two more languages, so you control what you learn about each stop. You'll pass the Zurich railway station, the largest in Switzerland and a junction for trains to Italy, France, Austria and Germany, and see the headquarters of FIFA and a museum dedicated to football that opened in 2016. The bus also passes through the financial district, where the Schweizerische Kreditanstalt (Switzerland's first major bank, founded in 1856) played a role in financing the Swiss railway network and later became Credit Suisse. The tour ends back at Zurich Bus Station.

If you add the boat cruise option at checkout, let the driver know when you board the bus and he'll give you your cruise ticket and details. The lake cruise runs from May through September and lets you see Zurich's waterfront and surrounding landscapes from the water. Children from age 4 are welcome on both the bus and the boat.

What’s included

• 1-hour open-top bus sightseeing tour with audio guide and headphones.
• boat cruise on Lake Zurich (if selected at checkout, available May through September).

Options for this experience

2 options

Zurich Sightseeing Tour5 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:30Only the Zurich City Tour, without the boat cruise (KTZ202)

Zurich Sightseeing Tour and BoatAvailable from 1 May 2027Zurich City Tour that includes a boat cruise on Lake Zurich (KTZ207)

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day5 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 16:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 40

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Chinese and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Keytours (Switzerland)

Is this one for you?Choose the bus-only option if you want a quick overview of Zurich's landmarks and neighborhoods in a single morning loop. Add the boat cruise if you're visiting between May and September and want to see the lakeside and surrounding landscapes from the water as well.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 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. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I take the boat cruise on Lake Zurich with this tour?

The boat cruise is available as an add-on option at checkout, running from May through September. When you board the bus, tell the driver you've selected the boat option and he'll provide your cruise ticket and information about timing and boarding.

What languages does the audio guide offer?

The audio guide is available in English, Spanish, French, German and two additional languages, so you can follow along at your own pace as the bus moves through the city.

What is the Rietberg Museum and why is it on this tour?

The Rietberg Museum occupies three historic villas and a modern building set in a large landscaped park. The composer Richard Wagner lived there for several months and completed his opera Tristan und Isolde while staying on the estate. The museum now houses collections of artworks from China, Japan, Africa, Oceania, the Near East and Tibet.

How long does the bus tour take?

The open-top bus sightseeing tour runs for 1 hour and covers Zurich's main highlights from the old town through the lakeside and financial district, returning to Zurich Bus Station where you started.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes the 1-hour open-top bus ride with audio guide and headphones. If you select the boat cruise option, that is added separately. Food, drinks and entrance fees to museums are not included.