A Dark Tour of Zurich (Halloween Edition)

Discover Zurich with little-known stories and curiosities at every turn. Though your guide will address (among others) some heavy topics, they are delivered with lightheartedness, so we're able to stay thoughtful, draw lessons, and keep the mood lively. The accompanying mindset is "There is much beauty here, because there is much beauty everywhere." (Rilke) Note: Please bring comfortable footwear.

1. 1

   Ganymed

   7 min

   Where myth meets menace: hear Ganymed's story and watch the black‑headed gulls that patrol the square. It's also a perfect spot for taking photos.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   7 min

   Let your imagination soar: picture the now vanished tower that once held a robber baron, hear of witch hunts and Anabaptists, and learn of an unexpected escape.

3. 3

   Stop 3

   Pass by

   Get to know Zurich's patron saints, and what happened to the Water Church during Reformation. Bonus: a very unceremonial heist and strange commemorations.

4. 4

   Grossmunster

   15 min

   Spotlight is shared between a king guided by omens and a figure of iconoclasm. There will be no time to sample the milk‑soup that halted a war, but we'll tell its story.

5. 5

   Munsterbrucke

   7 min

   Next: how Napoleon's power play provoked a backlash, who were the cabbage knaves, and an intro to a festival that is all about being wicked to keep wickedness at bay.

6. 6

   Hans Waldmann Statue

   7 min

   Meet two controversial figures: two wildly different ways to handle life's pressures.

7. 7

   Fraumunster Church

   15 min

   Hear the legend of a stag linked to the founding and the "firestarter" who sabotaged it.

8. 8

   St. Peter's Church

   7 min

   Discover what record St. Peter holds, what's hidden in the crypt and what sparked a coup d'état. Bonus: a story from local folklore.

9. 9

   Lindenhof Hill

   15 min

   Walk up to the Masonic Lodge: at the top of the hill, admire the statue of the woman who outwitted a duke to save Zurich - then finish with a stunning panoramic view of the Old Town and the Limmat.

10. 10

    Town Hall (Rathaus)

    Pass by

    Discover where in Zurich political telenovelas play out and which enlightened figure faced trial here. Bonus: an anecdote from General Stuppa's era.

11. 11

    Stop 11

    7 min

    A virtual museum: Think like one of Agatha Christie's famous sleuths - explore the moment Swiss police realised crime was more than just about missing cheese.

12. 12

    Cabaret Voltaire

    Pass by

    What stifles our creativity? Explore art not bound by logic and the quirky group that sparked Dada - who they were and why they rebelled.

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.