Altstadt & Niederdorf
The Altstadt and the Niederdorf: the back story
Area guide
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Ank Kumar · CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsAbout The Altstadt and the Niederdorf: the back story
Zurich’s Old Town lies on both banks of the Limmat where it leaves the lake. On the left bank, the Lindenhof, St Peter and the Fraumünster; on the right, the Grossmünster, the Rathaus in the river and the lanes of the Niederdorf, rising to the Kunsthaus, the Schauspielhaus and the university.
Sights
The Grossmünster, the Fraumünster and its Chagall windows, the Lindenhof, the Rathaus, the Kunsthaus, the Cabaret Voltaire and the Polybahn to the ETH.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Jakub Hałun · CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia CommonsEating
IGNIV and the Widder Restaurant (Two MICHELIN Stars, 2025), La Rôtisserie, Shin and Neue Taverne (One Star), the Kronenhalle and the guild house Haus zum Rüden, with Café & Conditorei 1842 for cake.
Climb the Lindenhof first, for the lie of the land.
Staying
The Widder, the Storchen and the Marktgasse Hotel.
Drinking
The Widder Bar, the Kronenhalle Bar, the Splendid Piano Bar and Café Odeon.
Our advice: the Limmat boats show the Old Town from the water in summer.
Why it's on our list
- Sights
- Eating
- Staying
- Drinking
Opening hours, prices and seasonal openings change, so please check with The Altstadt and the Niederdorf: the back story before you go.
What’s nearby
Distances from The Altstadt and the Niederdorf: the back story are approximate, measured in a straight line (as the crow flies). Times are approximate too: walking at about 80 metres a minute, cycling at about 14 km/h and driving at typical city-traffic speeds. Traffic and routes vary.
Nearest stations and tram stops
- HelmhausTram50 m1 min walk
- RathausTram200 m3 min walk
- BellevueTram350 m4 min walk
Key sights
- Fraumünster200 mWalk 3 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Kunsthaus Zürich300 mWalk 4 minCycle 1 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Bahnhofstrasse450 mWalk 6 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Lake promenade450 mWalk 6 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Opera House650 mWalk 8 minCycle 3 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Zurich Airport9.0 kmCycle 39 minCar or taxi 27 min
Main railway stations
- Zürich Stadelhofen500 mWalk 6 minCycle 2 minCar or taxi 6 min
- Zürich HB950 mWalk 12 minCycle 4 minCar or taxi 7 min
- Zürich Enge1.2 kmWalk 15 minCycle 5 minCar or taxi 8 min
- Zürich Hardbrücke2.6 kmWalk 33 minCycle 11 minCar or taxi 11 min
- Zürich Oerlikon4.6 kmCycle 20 minCar or taxi 16 min
- Zürich Flughafen9.0 kmCycle 39 minCar or taxi 27 min