Bahnhofstrasse
Bahnhofstrasse
One of the world’s most luxurious and refined shopping streets.
Bahnhofstrasse is Zurich’s iconic shopping boulevard, stretching from the Main Train Station to the shores of Lake Zurich. Lined with luxury boutiques, Swiss watchmakers, upscale department stores, and stylish cafés, it’s more than just a retail destination – it’s a showcase of Swiss elegance and urban precision, where sophistication meets the rhythm of the city.
How to Get There
On foot from Zurich center ~26-39 min.
From Lucerne by taxi ~59 min.
From ZRH airport (Zurich) by taxi/transfer ~15 min.
From BSL airport (EuroAirport Basel – Mulhouse – Freiburg) by taxi/transfer ~118 min.
Description
What is this place
Zurich’s premier shopping boulevard, roughly 1.4 km between the main station (Bahnhofplatz) and Lake Zurich at Bürkliplatz. A pedestrian-first axis with tram tracks, it is a city icon and a showcase for Swiss retail and banking.
Key features
- About 1.4 km long – linking Zürich HB to Bürkliplatz and the lakefront.
- Paradeplatz – the banking hub; after the 2024 merger the historic “two-bank” setup effectively consolidated under UBS.
- Created after fortifications were removed and the Fröschengraben moat was filled 1864–1877 – shaping today’s alignment.
- Trams since 1882 (horse-drawn), electrified by 1896 – still a major transfer corridor.
- “Lucy” Christmas lights since 2010 – ~11,150 crystals and 23,100 LEDs over ~1,050 m, typically switched on at 6 pm on the third Thursday of November.
What to see
- Paradeplatz with landmark bank buildings and the Sprüngli café.
- The southern stretch to Bürkliplatz – luxury watch and jewelry windows, lake pier and views.
- Side lanes into the Old Town: Augustinergasse with painted bay windows and Rennweg.
History
Bahnhofstrasse emerged after the city’s walls were dismantled: work began in 1864, a first section opened in 1865, and by 1877 the street reached its full length. The station front gained a triumphal façade and the Alfred Escher monument.
Horse trams started in 1882 and electric trams in 1896; by the turn of the 20th century the former residential promenade had become a fashionable shopping mile, with the first department store opening in 1899. Unified festive lighting arrived in 1971, an experimental installation in 2005, and “Lucy” since 2010.
In the 21st century, Paradeplatz remained the financial core, but after the UBS–Credit Suisse combination was finalized in 2024, the square’s banking landscape changed.
Practical information
Location: City center, from Bahnhofplatz/Zürich HB down to Bürkliplatz on the lake.
Getting there: trams 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15 – stops Bahnhofstrasse/HB, Rennweg, Paradeplatz, Bürkliplatz.
Access: Mostly pedestrian; private cars heavily restricted. Flat surface suitable for strollers and wheelchairs; mind the tram tracks.
Visiting hours: Open 24/7. Typical shop hours Mon–Fri ~9:00–20:00, Sat ~9:00–18:00; most shops closed Sun, except ShopVille at the station and the airport malls.
Visit duration: 45–90 minutes for a stroll with window-shopping and the lake finish.
Best time: Weekdays daytime for shopping; late Nov–early Jan for “Lucy”; evenings for the ambiance.
Notes: VBZ route changes possible due to Bahnhofquai works until Dec 2026. Event days may bring restrictions.
