Hydrology in Zurich: A Guide to Water in the City Centre
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Switzerland is known as the Water Tower of Europe due to its natural reservoirs in the Alps. On this walking tour, you'll find out about the history of Zurich, one of Switzerland's major cities, and how intertwined it is with its waterways. As we walk along Zurich’s pristine canals, you’ll take in the beautiful old city’s major landmarks. And, of course, you’ll also see a lot of water, including the rivers Sihl and Limmat, the city’s many water fountains, and Lake Zurich.
Our tour starts near Lake Zurich and the river Limmat. From there, you’ll discover the many different opportunities and challenges water creates in the city, from hydropower production to water management and flood risk. We'll explore how water shaped the city, tracing its impact back to the Roman baths in Zurich.
You'll walk along the Schanzengraben, a water channel in Zurich. You'll learn how hydrologists make use of data collected by citizen scientists on mobile app. The tour ends at Lindenhof park, which has always had a fountain in it since 1667. From this central point in the city, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Zurich’s old city.
Along the way, you’ll have a chance to:
- Enjoy magnificent views of Lake Zurich and the rivers Sihl and Limmat
- Understand the role of the historical emergency fountains found across Zurich
- Walk alongside the Sihl as it flows through the city and learn about its flood risk
- Hear the historical channel Schanzengraben’s past and find out why there have been multiple plans to fill it
- Find out how marine wildlife in Zurich use a fish ladder
- Stroll through Platzspitz park and see where the Sihl flows into the Limmat
- Take photos of the colorful historical houses and narrow paths in the old city
This tour introduces you to Zurich’s city centre and is fun for first-time visitors as well as water enthusiasts. It takes about one hour to walk the tour, but there are many beautiful locations and lots of cafes and restaurants where you can take a break.
If you want to learn more about water in Switzerland, you might be interested in these excursions and courses:
- CrowdWater app
- MOOC CrowdWater
- Actionbound
- Excursion «Wasser in der Stadt Zürich». More information on the excursion can be found here
- Online course through MOOC «Water in Switzerland»
Credits: Meret Vogler, Franziska Clerc-Schwarzenbach, Jan Seibert, Ilja van Meerveld, Rieke Goebel, Gina Orlando
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
We are the hydrology and climate group of the University of Zurich. Our main research interest is catchment hydrology and climate impacts on water resources. We do experimental field studies as well as hydrological modelling for our research. In our teaching, we give lectures and seminars, we go on field trips, and do hands-on exercises.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 20
Flood Risk
On the pathway to the train station, you can see well how the Sihl flows through the main station. The Sihl is a risk for Zurich. A risk depends on the potential damage and the potential danger. The potential damage in a city like Zurich is very high and the pot... Read More
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Limmat
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Sihl
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Rudolf-Brun-Brücke
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Roman Heater System
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Lindenhof
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Platzspitz: Zusammenfluss von Sihl und Limmat
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Swiss National Museum
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Schanzengraben Promenade
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Flower Clock
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Viewpoint Kopf Hoch - Zürichsee
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Lake Zurich
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start location9G8R+JW, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
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Total distance5km
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Final locationLindenhof, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
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Distance back to start location716.09m
Directions to Starting Point
This tour starts near the Bürkliplatz. The starting point is near Lake Zurich at the beginning of the Quaibrücke. Make sure that you stand next to the three flagpoles near the railing to the lake.
By public transport: You reach the starting point by taking the tram from the main station or from train station Stadelhofen. The closest tram station is called Bürkliplatz and is right next to the starting point.
By car: It can be difficult to find a parking spot nearby, so we recommend coming by public transport. If you come by car, you can look for a parking spot in the parking garages “Parkhaus Opéra” near the starting point or “Parkhaus Urania” near the final location of our tour.
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Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
We would recommend a short break in the botanic garden and if you are interested in Swiss history, a visit to the national museum.
https://www.bg.uzh.ch/de/besuchen/altergarten.html
https://www.landesmuseum.ch/en
There are also many beautiful cafes and restaurants on your way:
• Schanzengraben: Cafe Miyuko (japanese), Restaurant Moudi (libanese), Babus' Bakery and Coffee House
• Between Platzspitz and Central: Kebi
• Near the Central: Franzos
• Near the Weinplatz: The Nest (a bit more expensive but with an amazing view)
• Münsterhof: ViCafe
Best time of day
This tour can be done at any time, but you will have a better view during the day. You will pass through the Platzspitz park which is open from 5:30 am to 10:00 pm, but it is possible to walk around it. Make sure that you don’t do the tour after a period of heavy rainfall because the pathway along the shore could be flooded. In winter, some historical water fountains may have no water, but they are still worth a visit. Try to avoid doing this tour during the Street Parade, which is typically the second Saturday in August and the Sechseläuten, a Spring Festival in Zurich, which is usually the third Monday in April.
Precautions
Please take care when crossing the roads. Watch out for cyclists and other pedestrians, and be careful around rivers and Lake Zurich. Don’t forget to take sunscreen or an umbrella with you depending on the weather conditions. If you want to try the water from Zurich's fountains, also take a bottle or a cup with you. You can download the CrowdWater app beforehand if you don’t have an internet connection during the tour and would like to participate in the citizen science project. You can find the link and more information in the tour description. Insurance is the participant's responsibility.
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Questions and Reviews
Questions and Reviews
