Bürkliplatz (Burkli Square), Zurich

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Bürkliplatz (Burkli Square), Zurich

Bürkliplatz (Burkli Square), Zurich

Burkli—Zurich’s unofficial front porch, main square, and tram central all rolled into one. If you're looking for a place where the city gently slips off its shoes and enjoys the lake breeze, this is it. With a steady hum of trams passing through, it's where urban bustle meets lakeside leisure, and somehow, they get along quite nicely.

Just to the north, under the shade of well-behaved trees, is Stadthausanlage—a leafy square that hosts some of the city’s most delicious negotiations: veggies, cheese, flowers, and bread, all vying for your attention at the local market. In the middle, a classic music pavilion nods politely to passersby, often with a soundtrack to match.

From here, Station Street marches north like a well-dressed soldier, ready to lead you straight into Zurich’s high-end shopping world—credit cards beware...

But back to Burkli Square. It’s not just the transport hub or the snack stand heaven (though the bratwurst game is strong). It is also your launch pad for scenic lake cruises and water taxis—because, yes, Zurich knows how to do traffic with style.

To the east, the elegant Quay Bridge crosses the Limmat like a well-dressed Victorian gentleman. Nearby, the Seeuferanlage lakefront park stretches out invitingly, complete with an arboretum and aviary. Nature and relaxation? Yes, and yes.

And don't miss the statue of Ganymede at the lake overlook—it’s a dramatic bronze moment of myth-meets-modernity, with the young man being whisked away by Zeus’s eagle, as you do on an average Zurich afternoon...

Just a short stroll east, you'll run into the Geiserbrunnen, a beefy 1911 sculpture by Jakob Brüllmann, where a man appears to be in intense negotiation—or maybe just wrestling—with a bull. Either way, it's got the energy of a protein bar ad.

Burkli Square is not just a place to pass through—it’s a place to pause, snack, stare at some art, and maybe catch a boat. So, linger a little. Zurich doesn’t mind...

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Zurich. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Bürkliplatz (Burkli Square) on Map

Sight Name: Bürkliplatz (Burkli Square)
Sight Location: Zurich, Switzerland (See walking tours in Zurich)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Zurich, Switzerland

Create Your Own Walk in Zurich

Create Your Own Walk in Zurich

Creating your own self-guided walk in Zurich is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Zurich Gourmet Tour

Zurich Gourmet Tour

Apart from its high-quality watches, Switzerland is famous for its unique delicacies. The secrets of their making have been preserved for centuries and passed on from father to son. In this respect, it is not at all surprising that a global banking and financial center such as Zurich can be also a haven for food enthusiasts seeking gourmet delights. On this self-guided walk, we invite you to...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Zurich Introduction Walking Tour

Zurich Introduction Walking Tour

Zurich—Switzerland’s largest city and possibly the classiest time machine you’ll ever stroll through. Beneath its polished surface of banks, trams, and world-class chocolate lies a city with roots older than most empires. Humans have been hanging out here for over 6,000 years, and in 15 BC the Romans finally gave it a name: Turicum—meaning “the place of Turos”, likely stemming from a...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles
Zurich's Historical Churches Tour

Zurich's Historical Churches Tour

The history of Christianity in Zurich is duly reflected in the local churches, found here in abundance. Indeed, Christianity has been the dominant religion of Zurich for many centuries. And while, historically, the city was a center of the Protestant Reformation, today it is home to both Catholic and Protestant communities.

The Swiss Reformed Church is the largest Protestant denomination, but...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Zurich Souvenir Shopping

Zurich Souvenir Shopping

Zurich has no shortage of tourists, and when it comes to souvenirs, there are plenty of options available.

A popular saying goes, "When in Zurich, shop on Bahnhofstrasse." True, in terms of souvenir shopping, this thoroughfare is second to none. Another saying is that “When in Switzerland, buy Swiss-made products.”

Alongside many other things, Bahnhofstrasse is home to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.5 Km or 1.6 Miles
Old Town Walk

Old Town Walk

Zurich’s Old Town—the city’s historical core—is where the past shakes hands with charm and refuses to be boring. Spread on both sides of the Limmat River, this part of town still remembers when cobblestones were cutting-edge tech. They say “Zurich is a city, but Old Town is a village”—and yes, that pretty much nails it. A sort of medieval postcard with a side of espresso...

Old...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.4 Km or 0.9 Miles

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