Zurich True Crime Uncovered: A Tour of its Heists and Robberies

Beneath Zurich’s polished exterior there’s a shadowy world of audacious crimes.

On this true crime walking tour, you’ll discover the spectacular heists, daring robberies, and brazen escapades that have shocked Switzerland’s financial capital. From multimillion-franc art thefts to daylight raids by international gangs, this tour reveals how Zurich’s concentrated wealth has attracted some of Europe’s most ambitious criminals.

Starting at the Kunsthaus Zurich, you’ll learn about one of Europe’s most spectacular art heists, where masterpieces worth over 200 million Swiss francs were sliced from their frames. You’ll walk the exact escape routes used by notorious gangs like the Pink Panthers during their jewelry store robberies along the prestigious Bahnhofstrasse. While you explore Zurich’s beautiful old town and riverfront, you’ll find out how these glamorous settings became the stage for high-stakes crimes.

Along the way, you’ll hear about the gangsters who brought American-style violence to peaceful Switzerland, and the Red Army Faction terrorists whose bank robbery turned deadly. The tour ends at a peaceful park along the Sihl River, where you’ll hear the story of a faked robbery.

On this two-hour, you’ll have a chance to:

• Stand at Paradeplatz, where the notorious Pink Panthers executed a perfectly timed three-minute raid, escaping with 7.2 million in luxury watches
• Visit former Volksbank, where German left-wing extremists executed a lightning-fast 50-second bank robbery
• Discover the scene of Zurich’s “Chicago-style” shootout where gangsters fired 108 bullets in a wild exchange with police
• Walk through the underground Shopville plaza where fleeing terrorists exchanged deadly gunfire with pursuing officers
• Explore the former Sihlpost complex where an employee built a secret hideout to pull off a 34-million-franc theft

This walk through Zurich’s criminal history provides a fascinating counterpoint to the city’s reputation for order and discretion, revealing how its wealth has attracted some of the world’s most ambitious criminals over the decades.