Zurich Hauptbahnhof (Central Railway Station), Zurich

Known to locals and rail nerds alike as Zurich HB, this train station is Switzerland鈥檚 largest and possibly its busiest overachiever. Thanks to Zurich鈥檚 prime perch in the heart of Europe, HB has long been the continent鈥檚 commuter magnet, currently juggling over 2,000 trains a day like it鈥檚 just another Tuesday.

Nestled between the charming wrinkles of the Old Town and flanked by the Limmat and Sihl Rivers, this station even has a river running under it. Yes, the Sihl cruises through a tunnel beneath the platforms like it鈥檚 got a ticket too. And speaking of platforms, Zurich HB runs on two levels鈥攐ne up top, one down below鈥攚ith a fully functional shopping mall called ShopVille connecting the two.

The station鈥檚 railway roots go back to 1847, when the very first Zurich terminal linked to Baden via the Swiss Northern Railway. But as train traffic multiplied like clockwork, the city had to go big. The grand 1871 upgrade produced a neo-Renaissance beauty with soaring arches, stylish lobbies, and even a statue out front of Alfred Escher, the man who made Swiss trains cool before it was cool.

Modern tweaks followed: electrified lines in the early 1900s, computer-controlled signals in the 60s鈥攂ecause even old souls need fresh software. Today, Zurich HB is more than a transit point; it鈥檚 a full-blown railway cathedral with shopping, history, and a river casually flowing underneath. All aboard!

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Zurich. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: 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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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Zurich Hauptbahnhof (Central Railway Station)
Sight Location: Zurich, Switzerland (See walking tours in Zurich)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Zurich Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Zurich, Switzerland

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.

Old Town Walk

Zurich鈥檚 Old Town鈥攖he city鈥檚 historical core鈥攊s 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 鈥淶urich is a city, but Old Town is a village鈥濃€攁nd 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

Zurich Introduction Walking Tour

Zurich鈥擲witzerland鈥檚 largest city and possibly the classiest time machine you鈥檒l 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鈥攎eaning 鈥渢he place of Turos鈥�, likely stemming from a... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles

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 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 鈥淲hen in Switzerland, buy Swiss-made products.鈥�

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

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

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

Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip

15 Distinctively Swiss Things to Buy in Zurich

Zurich is Switzerland鈥檚 largest city, and although it may feel like a bustling metropolis, the tranquil essence of the Alps flows fervently through the lively cobblestone streets, the buzzing train station, and the frenzied designer boutiques. Most shops in downtown Zurich open at 9 am and close...

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