Egg is a municipality in the district of Uster in the canton of Zurich. Its municipal area stretches from Lake Greifensee at 438 metres above sea level to Pfannenstiel at 853 metres. At one end, the lakeshore and swimming area take centre stage; at the other is a wooded natural area with paths and views. The Greifensee protected area also includes Fällanden, Greifensee, Maur, Mönchaltorf, Schwerzenbach and Uster.

Lake Greifensee: Swimming and relaxing

The Egg lakeside swimming area is located on Lake Greifensee in a nature reserve and offers a peaceful setting for swimming and relaxing. Its facilities were renovated in 2024 and include modern amenities, sunbathing lawns and direct access to the lake. The swimming lawn is free to access, making it easy to combine time by the water with a spot on the grass.

The swimming lawn has two open fire pits and a playground with a slide, seesaw and swings. The swimming area also offers food: panini are freshly prepared every day, and a grill stand is added on Saturdays and Sundays. This brings swimming, a break on the sunbathing lawn and the available amenities together in one place.

Pfannenstiel: Woodland paths and views

The natural area on Pfannenstiel is a place to relax and a starting point for excursions and hikes. One route leads to Hochwacht at the southeastern end of Pfannenstiel, a heavily wooded ridge between Lake Zurich and Lake Greifensee. From there, the route descends through the forest to Egg on the eastern slope of Pfannenstiel.

The Pfannenstiel Tower stands on Pfannenstiel. It was originally built on Bachtel in 1893, dismantled there in 1985 and rebuilt on Pfannenstiel in 1992. The viewing platform is 33 metres high and offers views as far as Lake Zurich and the Swiss Alps. An alpine orientation sign on the platform shows the names and drawings of the mountains visible from Pfannenstiel. The tower is also classified as a Class B cultural asset.

Church, sawmill and local history

The Church of St Anthony has stood in Egg since 1921. As a pilgrimage church, it is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua. As of 1 January 2026, it is classified as a Class B cultural asset. The area’s history also goes back a long way: in 1408, the area around Egg became the property of the city of Zurich as part of the former bailiwick of Grüningen.

Another historical landmark is the Thommen sawmill in Hinteregg, first mentioned in official records in 1537. The fully operational sawmill is powered by a waterwheel. If you would like to see it in operation, you can visit on Swiss Mill Day, which takes place each year on the Saturday after Ascension Day.

Getting there and planning

The Forchbahn connects the Stadelhofen–Forch–Egg–Esslingen route and is used not only by commuters but also for excursions. The Pfannenstiel route connects Egg with Zurich Stadelhofen via the Forchbahn. For specific connections, you can check the timetable for your travel date.

If you are considering Egg as a travel destination, it helps to look at its different highlights: swimming and relaxing on Lake Greifensee, woodland paths and views on Pfannenstiel, or the Forchbahn connection to Zurich Stadelhofen. This can help you choose the municipality based on which of these aspects matters most for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Maur, Mönchaltorf, Greifensee, Uster, Schwerzenbach, Volketswil, Fällanden, Dübendorf.

Back to the main travel overview: Uster.