With impressive architecture, fabulous lake views, and countless historic landmarks, it’s easy to understand why Zurich is one of Switzerland’s most popular tourist destinations. Visiting the city for the first time can be overwhelming, especially if you want to visit all the most famous landmarks and attractions, but don’t even know where to begin.
It can be challenging to organize your own city tour with so many fun things to do in Zurich, so why not leave the planning to someone else and just go along for the ride? I’ll tell you all about the best city tours in Zurich, which include everything from a classic walking tour to sightseeing on a Segway!
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Zurich Old Town Walking Tour
A classic walking tour of Zurich’s old town is the best option for anyone who is new to this city. Experienced guides will take you to all the most famous landmarks in the old town, tell you a little bit about their history, and cover any fun and unusual facts. You could also do a walking tour on your own if you’d rather not pay for guides; the top sights are all easy to find, but you won’t get the benefit of learning about the history of the buildings.
Public tours are usually done in English or German, but it’s possible to book a private tour in many other languages. The tours usually last for 2 hours, and they include all the city’s top sights such as
- Bahnhofstrasse
- Grossmunster
- St. Peter’s Kirche
- Fraunmuster (Europe’s largest city clock)
The standard price of a walking tour for adults is around 25 CHF.
Zurich City Tour with Felsenegg Cable Car
A tour of Zurich that includes a ride in the Felsenegg cable car is probably the most comprehensive tour of Zurich city. This Zurich tour includes a bus ride through the most popular city areas outside the old town and a walk through the historic city center.
The bus stops for a little while at all the famous landmarks, so you will have plenty of time to take photos of the
- Opera House
- the Swiss National Museum
- the Kunsthaus, and more.
After a walk through the Old Town of Zurich, tour-goers are taken on a ride down the lake to Meilen, where they then board a ferry to cruise across Lake Zurich to the Adliswil cable car station.
The Felsenegg Cable Car transports you to a viewpoint at an altitude of 800 meters above sea level, so you can experience some astonishing scenic views of Lake Zurich and its shore. This tour can be done any day of the week and it’s only around 85 CHF per person, which is an excellent deal since it lasts for more than 4 hours.
Zurich City Tour with Lake Cruise & Lindt Home of Chocolate
Switzerland is famous for its chocolates and a tour that includes a visit to the Lindt Home of Chocolate is without a doubt one of the best ways to explore the city. It starts as a classic city tour on an air-conditioned bus. You’ll first be taken on a tour of the most famous landmarks in the heart of Zurich, including Bahnhofstrasse, the Opera House, Enge Harbor, and more.
Then the bus takes you to the fabulous Dolder Grand Hotel at Zurichberg, where you can discover the vistas from one of the city’s most scenic viewpoints. Following a short stop at the viewpoint, the bus goes back into the city of Zurich and the guides take passengers on a walk through the Zurich Old Town.
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You’ll walk all the way to Limmatquai where you get on a jetty that will take you to Bürkliplatz. You board a boat and cruise the lake for about half an hour until you reach Kilchberg, where the Lindt Home of Chocolate is situated. The tour takes approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes, and it’s 74 CHF for adults.
Zurich City Tour by E-bike
An e-bike tour is perfectly appropriate for Zurich, and it’s an excellent way of discovering the city and its best attractions. This tour is especially a good idea for people who have already been to Zurich, are familiar with the city’s most famous landmarks, and would now like to discover more of the city’s hidden gems.
Instead of circling the city center, an e-bike tour will take you to areas further away from the historic center. Also, it’s important to note that you can choose between several different kinds of e-bike tours, which range from a tour of the city’s best viewpoints to discovering street art and graffiti in the streets of Zurich.
The average cost of an e-bike tour is 25 CHF per person, with the option to book a private tour for up to 9 people for 290 CHF. These tours usually take place on the weekend and last more than 2 hours.
Zurich City Tour by Segway
Touring the city on a Segway is undoubtedly an interesting approach to city tours, and something you should try if you enjoy doing new things. You don’t need a driving license for the tour, and you don’t have to have any previous experience on a Segway because each tour allocates some 20 minutes for instructions on how to get around.
This is an excellent tour for people who can’t be bothered to do any more walking. You will discover all the best attractions in the city center of Zurich, and you’ll do it a lot quicker than it would be possible on foot. The Segway tours include stops at all the most famous landmarks in Zurich, so you will have plenty of time to take photographs and take in the sights.
The Segway tour is a bit pricier than the more basic tours of Zurich, but it is worth the money for the special experience. It’s 109 CHF per adult participant, and you must be at least 16 to participate in this tour. These tours are available in German and English, and they take place every day except Monday and Tuesday.
Zurich City Tour by Bus
A sitting-down tour of Zurich is another way to explore the city, and it’s a great option for people tired of walking and biking around. Board a comfortable bus with AC, take your seat, and let the professionals drive you around the city and tell you the stories of all its best sights.
Bus tours of Zurich take tourists through Bahnhofstrasse, the Old Town, to the University of Zurich, the Opera House, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH, and Zurichberg. The bus stops at several points in the Old Town and at the shore of Lake Zurich, so you have plenty of time to take photographs.
The trip to Zürichberg is easily the highlight of this tour and something that would take you forever on a standard walking tour. The hilly neighborhood outside the city center offers magnificent panoramic views of Zurich’s rooftops and some of the best photo opportunities on this tour. You can take part in the Zurich City tour by bus for just 34 CHF per person, and there’s a 10% discount for all travelers possessing the Zurich City Card.
Fondue and Wine Tuk Tuk Tour in Zurich
What would you say to be driven around Zurich in a tuk-tuk with up to three of your closest friends? You’ll get a pot of fondue to share amongst yourselves and a bottle of wine (or two) to enjoy while discovering the city’s most famous sights.
It’s certainly a unique way of discovering Zurich, and worth considering if you’re not looking only for budget tours of Zurich. Multiple operators can do tuk-tuk tours, so the price varies, but it’s generally around 120-150 CHF per person or 419 CHF for a group of four adults. It’s worth noting that groups of 2-3 adults get one bottle of wine, while an additional bottle is included for groups of four people.
This is also an excellent option for winter tours since you will be provided with blankets to make you cozy. Tuk-tuk tours can be done on most days of the week except for Sundays, and you can usually choose the time slot for the tour. These tours typically last for 90 minutes, and you’re free to ask the drivers any questions about the landmarks you see.
