The back story
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Area guide
The Altstadt and the Niederdorf: the back story
Both banks of the Old Town: the Grossmünster and the Fraumünster, the Lindenhof, the Niederdorf, the guild houses and the Kunsthaus.
Area guide · Zurich
Altstadt & Niederdorf: Our Favourites
Both banks of the Limmat: the Grossmünster and the Fraumünster, the Lindenhof, the Niederdorf, the Widder and the Storchen.
What's onThis week in Zurich
What to see and do
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Polke and Giacometti windows
Grossmünster
Zurich’s landmark church, built over the graves of Felix and Regula: Sigmar Polke’s agate windows, the Karlsturm’s 187 steps and the crypt.
Zwingliplatz 7, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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Chagall windows
Fraumünster
The church founded in 853, with Marc Chagall’s five chancel windows and Augusto Giacometti’s window in the north transept.
Münsterhof 2, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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A Roman fort above the Limmat
Lindenhof
The tree-shaded square above the Limmat, once a Roman fort, with the finest view of the Old Town.
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The “Dörfli”
The Niederdorf
The pedestrian lanes of the right-bank Old Town, the locals’ “Dörfli”, of shops by day and bars by night.
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Largest Munch collection outside Norway
Kunsthaus Zürich
Switzerland’s largest art museum, from the Old Masters to Warhol and Rothko, in the Moser building and David Chipperfield’s 2021 extension.
Heimplatz 1, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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At the Pfauen since 1901
Schauspielhaus Zürich
One of the great theatres of the German-speaking world, at the Pfauen since 1901, with English surtitles on every performance.
Rämistrasse 34, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
Where to eat
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Two MICHELIN Stars
IGNIV Zürich by Andreas Caminada
Andreas Caminada’s sharing-menu restaurant at the Marktgasse Hotel. Two MICHELIN Stars in the 2025 guide.
Marktgasse 17, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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Two MICHELIN Stars
Widder Restaurant
The restaurant of the Widder Hotel on the Rennweg. Two MICHELIN Stars in the 2025 guide.
Rennweg 7, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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One MICHELIN Star
La Rôtisserie
The Storchen’s restaurant on the Limmat, facing the Grossmünster. One MICHELIN Star in the 2025 guide.
Weinplatz 2, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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One MICHELIN Star
Shin
Japanese cooking in the Old Town. One MICHELIN Star in the 2025 guide.
Zinnengasse 7, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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One MICHELIN Star
Neue Taverne
Vegetarian cooking in the Old Town. One MICHELIN Star in the 2025 guide.
Glockengasse 8, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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Bib Gourmand
AuGust
The Widder Hotel’s Boucherie, for meat and grills. Bib Gourmand (2025).
Rennweg 7, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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Bib Gourmand
Bauernschänke
Modern French cooking in the Old Town. Bib Gourmand (2025).
Rindermarkt 24, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Kronenhalle
The Bellevue institution, open since 1924, with its own art collection and its Zürcher Geschnetzeltes. In the MICHELIN Guide (2025).
Rämistrasse 4, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Haus zum Rüden
International cooking in a guild house on the Limmat. In the MICHELIN Guide (2025).
Limmatquai 42, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Kindli
Classic French cooking in the Old Town. In the MICHELIN Guide (2025).
Strehlgasse 24, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Lindenhofkeller
Seasonal cooking below the Lindenhof. In the MICHELIN Guide (2025).
Pfalzgasse 4, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Bianchi
Fish and seafood on the Limmatquai. In the MICHELIN Guide (2025).
Limmatquai 82, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Rechberg 1837
Innovative cooking on the Chorgasse, near the university. In the MICHELIN Guide (2025).
Chorgasse 20, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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In the MICHELIN Guide
Soi 28 by Heilemann
Asian cooking at the Widder Hotel. In the MICHELIN Guide (2025).
Rennweg 7, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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Since 1842
Café & Conditorei 1842
A neo-baroque patisserie on four floors on the Napfgasse, in business since 1842, known for its hot chocolate.
Napfgasse 4, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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Teuscher’s café
Café Felix am Bellevue
The café of the Confiserie Teuscher on the Bellevue, with Teuscher’s pastries and chocolates in a riot of flowers.
Bellevueplatz 5, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
Bars
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Since 1911
Café Odeon
The Art Nouveau grand café at Bellevue, open since 1 July 1911, where the Dadaists, Einstein and Lenin once sat.
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Live jazz and 1,000 spirits
Widder Bar
The Widder Hotel’s legendary bar: live jazz, cocktail classics and a Library of Spirits of more than 1,000 bottles.
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Since 1924
Kronenhalle Bar
The bar of the Kronenhalle at Bellevue, with the house’s art on the walls.
Rämistrasse 4, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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Jazz and blues for 40 years
Splendid Piano Bar
The Old Town piano bar that has served cocktails to jazz and blues for almost 40 years.
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Birthplace of Dada, 1916
Cabaret Voltaire
The birthplace of Dada, founded in 1916 by Hugo Ball and Emmy Hennings, with an artists’ bar and a bar in the Historical Hall.
Spiegelgasse 1, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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On the Limmat
Barchetta Bar and Cigar Bar at the Storchen
The bars of the Storchen on the Limmat: the Barchetta and the Cigar Bar.
Where to stay
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Nine historic buildings
Widder Hotel
The Old Town hotel spread over nine historic buildings off the Rennweg, with the Widder Restaurant’s Two MICHELIN Stars and the Widder Bar.
Rennweg 7, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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On the Limmat for 660 years
Storchen Zürich
The hotel on the Limmat by the Weinplatz, welcoming guests for more than 660 years, with La Rôtisserie, One MICHELIN Star.
Weinplatz 2, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
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Home of IGNIV
Marktgasse Hotel
A boutique hotel in the lanes of the Old Town, home of IGNIV Zürich by Andreas Caminada, Two MICHELIN Stars.
Marktgasse 17, 8001 ZurichExplore View on map
Health and wellness
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Hospital
University Hospital Zurich (USZ)
The university hospital on the Rämistrasse.
Rämistrasse 100, 8091 ZurichExplore View on map
Share your Altstadt & Niederdorf tips
Been there? Share your experience and tips with other visitors.
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