A 70-kilometre route follows Winterthur’s city limits in one continuous loop: the Winterthur Circular Route is divided into ten stages. The starting and finishing points of the stages are served by public transport. Check trail conditions and current connections before setting out. Winterthur is 20 minutes by train from Zurich’s main station; check current train services before travelling.
Forest Trails, Wildlife and Earth’s History
Winterthur’s forests offer 260 kilometres of forest roads and trails for walks and hikes. Around 60 official fire pits provide places to take a break along the way. The Bruderhaus Wildlife Park is located in the heart of the forest on Eschenberg. It is home to native or formerly native wildlife species in enclosures suited to their needs. The Ice Age Trail near the wildlife park offers a different perspective: using rocks, it illustrates the 270-million-year history of mountain formation, ice ages and climate change. Wildlife and the history of the Earth thus offer two different ways of looking at nature.
Science in the Open Air
The Swiss Science Center Technorama offers more than 500 hands-on exhibits, as well as shows and workshops. The Technorama also includes Technorama Draussen, an outdoor area covering just over 15,000 square metres. Winding paths lead through a forest of poles, as well as meadows and waterside areas. The 130-metre-long, up-to-17-metre-high Wonder Bridge offers space for experiments among the treetops. With the exhibits, shows and workshops on the one hand, and the outdoor paths on the other, you can experience science in different ways.
Museums of Nature, Photography and Art
The permanent exhibition at the Winterthur Museum of Natural History takes you through local habitats and their plants and animals. The museum complements its exhibitions with concerts, excursions and workshops on specific topics. Photography, too, has a range of different focuses: Fotomuseum Winterthur is dedicated to international contemporary photography. The Swiss Foundation for Photography collects and presents historical and contemporary photographic work from Switzerland. Together, the two institutions present different forms of photography. The Oskar Reinhart Collection “Am Römerholz” displays more than 200 outstanding works of European art in the rooms of Oskar Reinhart’s former private villa. It is set in a park above Winterthur. The Winterthur Museum Pass provides access to most of the museums’ and castles’ temporary exhibitions and collections. Check which institutions are currently participating before you buy.
Views and Stories of the Old Town
From the tower of Winterthur’s Stadtkirche, you can take in the entire old town. A guided tour of the old town leads into picturesque courtyards and hidden corners, revealing the city’s secrets. The two perspectives differ: the tower offers a panoramic view, while the tour focuses on hidden places. The former Sulzer site in the city centre is home to a mix of cultural, craft and dining businesses.
A Tasty Tour of the City
The FoodTrail Winterthur is a culinary scavenger hunt that takes you to five stops for food or drinks and shares stories about the city. The tour is equivalent to a full meal and lasts around 3.5 hours. If you would like to include this activity in your plans, check its current availability before booking.
Discover more destinations: Winterthur, Elgg, Hettlingen, Elsau, Wiesendangen, Rickenbach, Hofstetten, Turbenthal, Altikon, Dinhard, Pfungen, Neftenbach, BrĂĽtten.
Return to the regional travel overview: Zurich.
