Zurich Old Town Self Guided Tour of Saints and Sausages

Overview

Somewhere in this old town, a printer served sausage during Lent and accidentally launched a revolution. A princess was offered a kingdom and chose a convent instead, then used it to rule the city for five centuries. And two saints were beheaded by the Romans, picked up their own heads, and walked away. This self guided audio tour takes you through seventeen stops across Zurich's old town, from Roman bathhouse ruins hidden beneath a toy shop to the financial square that was once a swine market. Stand on the hilltop where women in armor bluffed an army into retreat. See Chagall's stained glass at Fraumünster. Learn why Swiss clocks pause for exactly one second, and end with fondue rules, chocolate history, and the Luxemburgerli. Over 20,000 travelers have used our self guided tours. Download the app, follow the map at your own pace, and pause whenever you like. The tour comes with a full refund guarantee.

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1

   Stop 1

   Passing by

   Discover why Swiss clocks pause for exactly one second and how a pastry named an entire railway line.

2. 2

   Hedwig Fountain

   Passing by

   Meet the armored woman who led Zurich's defense when the city's fighting men were away.

3. 3

   Lindenhof Hill

   Passing by

   Survey the city's oldest hilltop and spot two universities that produced 21 Nobel Prize winners

4. 4

   Stop 4

   Passing by

   Read the gravestone that preserves the very first written record of the name Zurich.

5. 5

   St. Peter's Church

   Passing by

   Look up at Europe's largest church clock face and learn why a watchman rang the bell every fifteen minutes.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   Passing by

   Peer through glass at Roman bathhouse ruins discovered beneath a toy shop nearly two thousand years later.

7. 7

   Paradeplatz

   Passing by

   Stand where a swine market became the headquarters of Swiss global banking.

8. 8

   Fraumunster Church

   Passing by

   Learn how a princess chose a convent over a kingdom and ruled Zurich for five centuries.

9. 9

   Fraumunster Church

   Passing by

   Admire five towering stained glass windows by Marc Chagall depicting biblical stories in radiant color.

10. 10

    Hans Waldmann Statue

    Passing by

    Face the bronze statue reminding politicians that Zurich once executed a mayor for raising taxes.

11. 11

    Munsterbrucke

    Passing by

    Cross a bridge designed by the Suez Canal engineer and spot a bathhouse turned barefoot bar.

12. 12

    Stop 12

    Passing by

    Hear the legend of two beheaded saints who picked up their heads and walked away.

13. 13

    Grossmunster

    Passing by

    Count your steps to the church where a sausage dinner launched the Swiss Reformation.

14. 14

    Limmatquai

    Passing by

    Walk past the former guild houses that governed Zurich before modern democracy replaced them.

15. 15

    Stop 15

    Passing by

    Step inside a building over the river where direct democracy gives every citizen a voice.

Meeting point and pickup

Good to know

• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Know before you go : •⁠ ⁠You will need to download the "Tourific self guided tours" app from the Google play store or App store •⁠ ⁠Right after booking, you’ll receive an email from Tourific or the tour booking platform with instructions to access the tour. •⁠ ⁠Having trouble finding the email? Just search for “Tourific” in your inbox or spam folder. •⁠ ⁠The tour is valid for 1 year and can be listened to any number of times. So feel free to download tour and experience a few stops before going on the tour. •⁠ ⁠Fully charge your phone and carry your headphones for the best experience •⁠ ⁠It is recommended to wear modest clothing if you wish to enter the religious sites on the tour •⁠ ⁠The tour follows a set route that we recommend that you follow. Once the tour is downloaded, the introduction will guide you to your starting point •⁠ ⁠Change of plans? Enjoy the tour on a different day or from home

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.