Hike /Stadt Zürich
Along the Waterways
Zürich
- Distance
- 5.2 km
- Duration
- 2:00 h
- Ascent
- 45 m
- Descent
- 48 m
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Fitness
- Easy
- Route type
- One way
01/ Overview
The route
This city walk follows Zurich’s waterways from the Schanzengraben to the lake and along the Limmat and Sihl. Fountains, bathing spots and traces of flood protection line the route.
From the Zürich HB SZU stop, the roughly five-kilometre city walk initially leads through the city centre to the Schanzengraben. The water sets the course: the Sihl carried Alpine rock into the heart of the city, and its deposits created new areas for settlement. Lake Zurich opens out at Bürkliplatz; the Frauenbadi and fish ladder lie close to the shore.
The route then turns back towards the city centre. It passes the Fraumünster and the Zunfthaus zur Meisen on Münsterhof before a short climb leads to the highest point at around 430 m. The Amazonenbrunnen stands nearby. The route continues through the Old Town and across Lindenhof back to the Limmat, with Rathausbrücke, Limmatquai and Mühlesteg as notable landmarks.
Towards the end, the Sihl once again takes centre stage. The Platzspitzwehr serves as a reminder that flood protection remains a key task in Zurich. After just over two hours, the city walk ends at Platzspitz; the Zürich, Sihlquai/HB stop is only a few steps away.
Route data: Stadt Zürich, Züri z Fuess · opendata.swiss OPEN · Source
02/ Along the route
What's along the way
Where the route climbs and where it descends. Hover the profile to find the spot on the map.
03/ Conditions
Current conditions
What to know before you set off. Closures and snow are re-checked every day.
How we check: Every night we match the route against the official closures and detours from the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO). Any reported closure that touches the route shows up here.
How we check: We look up a live public transport connection from your starting point to the stop closest to the trailhead. If it ends further away, the nearest stop may be a cable car or bus that isn't running right now.
How we check: Snow depth estimated daily at the lowest and the highest point of the route. Estimates: check the situation on site.
04/ Getting there
Getting there
From your door to the trailhead and home again, by train and bus or by car. Computed live from the timetable.
Or from
Outbound
Return
05/ Weather
Weather on the way
Forecast for the lowest and the highest point of the route.
Weather
06/ Trail & landscape
Trail & landscape
Which paths you walk on and the landscape they lead through.
Larches count as conifer forest here.
07/ Export
Take the route with you
Load the track onto your GPS device, print a route sheet for the trail or send the route to your hiking group.
Share
Send the link to friends or your hiking group.
Export GPX File
For hiking apps, GPS watches and navigation devices.
Print Route Sheet
A4 with map, elevation profile, waypoints and emergency numbers.
