Christmas Events in Zurich, Switzerland

A Christmas tour of discovery: a guided Christmas stroll
A guided Christmas walking tour organized by Zürich Tourism introduces visitors to the sights, traditions and history of the Christmas season in Zürich. This popular two-hour tour, which is always very well booked, is timed in such a way that participants can enjoy the concert of the Singing Christmas Tree. ZürichCARD holders benefit from a 50% discount. A reservation is necessary.

Dates, time November 30 – December 23, 2005
Mon – Fri 5 pm / Sat 3.30 pm / Sun 3 pm (December 4 and 18, 2005)
Price CHF 20.00 for adults, CHF 10.00 for children 6-16 years
50% discount with ZürichCARD
Languages German and English
Start Tourist Service in the Main Railway Station Zürich
Information and Zürich Tourism, Tel. +41 44 215 40 88
reservation tourguide@zuerich.com

Groups CHF 250.- up to 20 people per tour guide

Christmas Competition
With a little bit of luck and the correct answers, visitors can win weekends in Zürich for two people. The prizes each include two overnight stays with breakfast.

Enter at www.zuerich.com/win
Ends on December 31, 2005

Christmas City

The Christmas season will soon be upon us: snow-covered rooftops and church spires, ice crystals on the jetties along the banks of the lake, all characterize Zürich’s wintertime scenery. This year, the city’s magical lights will attract special attention. New light sculptures set new accents, displaying Zürich in a more magnificent light than ever before: from the brand new Christmas illuminations, “The World’s Largest Timepiece“, along the Bahnhofstrasse to bridges bathed in a magical light, through to the sparkling lights on the city’s Christmas trees. Christmas markets and shows, as well as special Sunday shopping, round out the broad range of Zürich’s Advent attractions. On New Year‘s Eve, Zürich’s hoteliers will be staging a gigantic fireworks display over Lake Zürich, whilst partygoers in Zürich can celebrate the largest outdoor New Year’s Eve party in Switzerland.

Find further information and an updated list of events at www.zuerich.com

Light Art

New: illumination highlight of 2005 – “The World’s Largest Timepiece”
The brand new state-of-the-art Christmas illuminations, “The World’s Largest Timepiece”, will cast a new light on the Bahnhofstrasse’s shopping mile and also bring to a close a 33-year old lighting tradition: starting this year, the hundreds of light bulbs along the Bahnhofstrasse will be replaced by “The World’s Largest Timepiece”. The most fascinating feature of this concept is that as Christmas draws nearer, the lighting moods cast by the illuminations will alter constantly. At the beginning of the Advent season, a gentle, calm light – resembling clouds drifting by – prevails. Finally, on New Year’s Eve, the band of light will emit effervescing sparks of light, almost like a fireworks display. Each day, new aspects of the illuminations will captivate visitors to the Bahnhofstrasse and locals alike. Responsible for the new illumination concept are Matthias Kohler and Fabio Gramazio. These two innovative, young architects from Zürich, both graduates of the Federal Institute of Technology Zürich, prevailed against renowned competitors from abroad with their project idea, a shining example of how Zürich is in the international vanguard as a trendsetter in modern-day concepts. Inauguration of “The World’s Largest Timepiece“ will take place during an official ceremonial event in Paradeplatz. The festival will offer numerous attractions on two evenings.

Further information www.bahnhofstrasse-zuerich.ch
Dates November 23, 2005 – January, 2, 2006
Inauguration November 23, 2005, 6.30 – 10.00 pm
and November 24, 2005, 7.00 – 10.00 pm, Paradeplatz

More Light Art

Plan Lumière – new light accents in the city

Further information www.plan-lumiere.ch
Christmas Shopping

Extended store opening hours and special Sunday shopping
The stores in the city center generally stay open Mondays through Fridays until 8 pm at the latest, and on Saturdays until 5 pm at the latest. In December, there is added shopping enjoyment: extended store opening hours on weekends and special Sunday shopping will delight visitors and locals alike.

Further information www.zuerich.com
Dates Monday to Friday, 9.00 am – 8.00 pm
Every Saturday in December 2005, 9.00 am – 6.00 pm
Sunday, December 4 & 18, 2005, 11.00 am – 5.00 pm

12th Zürich Christmas Fair in ShopVille-RailCity Zürich
The modern Christmas market: Zürich is home to the largest covered Christmas market in Europe, held in ShopVille-RailCity Zürich. Every year, over 160 decorated market stalls inspire more than 300,000 visitors with new ideas. The legendary Christmas tree, over 15 meters tall, will once again be adorning the concourse at the Main Train Station. This giant fir tree is decorated with over 5,000 glittering Swarovski crystal ornaments.

Further information www.christkindlimarkt.ch
Dates November 25 – December 24, 2005

Christmas Market in the Old Town
The traditional Christmas market: against the backdrop of the narrow, winding streets of Zürich’s Old Town, artisans and market sellers offer their wares at the city’s oldest traditional Christmas market.

Further information www.gld.ch
Dates December 9 – 23, 2005

More Christmas Shopping

City Christmas Market
Place, dates Pestalozziwiese, November 24 –December 31, 2005

Christmas Collector’s Fair
Place, dates Messe Zürich, December 8 – 11, 2005

Event Adventures

Live on Ice
Just a one-minute walk from the Main Train Station, a public ice rink, decorated with artistic illuminations by Gerry Hofstetter, casts a spell on the castle-like inner courtyard of the Swiss National Museum, transforming it into a Christmas wonderland. Skating enthusiasts and novices alike can revel in speed racing, ice shows and culinary treats.

Further information www.liveonice.ch
Ice rink and ice skate hire: daily 11.30 am – 10 pm, free admission
Restaurants 11.00 am – 12.00 pm
Dates November 26, 2005 – January 2, 2006

New Year’s Magic worked by Zürich hoteliers
On New Year’s Eve, Lake Zürich and the upper part of the Limmat River are the venue for the largest New Year’s Eve party in Switzerland. The event culminates in a spectacular fireworks display over the lake put on by Zürich hoteliers to welcome the New Year.

Further information www.silvesterzauber.ch
Date December 31, 2005

More Event Adventures

Singing Christmas Tree
Dates November 27 – December 23, 2005

New Years Eve Run
Date December 11, 2005

Floating Lights
Date December 22, 2005, 6.00 pm

Christmas Shows

Salto Natale
This year, Salto Natale will be fascinating audiences for the third time in succession. The new show, “Anagramma”, will transport visitors into a world of artistry, comedy and dance, accompanied by an enchanting story.

Further information www.saltonatale.ch
Dates November 10 – December 31, 2005

More Christmas Shows

Conelli Circus
Dates November 18, 2005 – January 1, 2006

The Rat Pack
Dates December 12 – 31, 2005
Glittering Regions

Baden Region

Baden Christmas market
The Christmas market turns the Baden Bahnhofplatz into a unique winter fairy tale. An ice rink invites visitors to skate for free while superb aromas, spicy dishes and hot beverages entice guests to linger at the attractive market stalls and do some Christmas shopping. Weekly highlights include a varied program with surprise appearances and shows. The breathtaking illumination and background music provide for a unique, wintry, Chistmassy atmosphere.

Dates November 26 – January 1, 2006

Further info on the glittering region of Baden www.winterzauberbaden.ch

Lake Zürich Region

“Christkindli“ market in Rapperswil’s old town
A pre-yuletide mood will also take hold of the historic town of Rapperswil. The traditional “Christkindli“ market will be offering visitors a varied range of goods that are bound to fulfill every heart’s desire.

Dates December 9 – 11, 2005

Carol singing in Rapperswil
On the sixth strike of the bell on the evening of the 4th Sunday in Advent, the Rapperswil carol singers will begin on their march through the town. Angels, astrologers, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the three kings along with sheep, horses, donkeys and camels – which are provided each year by Knies Kinderzoo (children’s zoo) – will trek from the Kapuzinerkloster (capuchin monastery) through the dark alleys of the old town to the Hauptplatz where they will perform a nativity play for 30 minutes.

Date December 18, 2005, 6.00 pm

Räbechilbi in Richterswil
Each year, numerous school classes and clubs get ready for the “Räbeliechtli” (rutabaga lanterns) procession, one of the largest local costume events. The creative designs of the rutabaga motifs occupy the main focus of attention. The windows of the buildings along the route are also adorned with hundreds of rutabagas. The candle lights flicker gently inside the hollowed-out rutabagas, giving rise to a festive mood in the enchanted town of Richterswil.

Date November 12, 2005, procession begins at 6.30 pm

More Advent in the Lake Zürich Region

Christmas Market Einsiedeln
Dates November 26 – December 4, 2005

Further info on the glittering region of Lake Zürich www.zuerichsee.ch

Winterthur Region

Winterthur Christmas market
More than 100 beautifully decorated and dazzling wooden chalets and the wonderful festive aromas of roasting chestnuts, cinnamon and mulled wine will greet visitors in the heart of Winterthur’s old town. Visitors to Winterthur can do their Christmas shopping in this cozy atmosphere, this year for the ninth time in a row.

Dates December 1 – 22, 2005

Heated fondue tent in the middle of the city park
After a long Christmas stroll through the old town, guests can relax with a good wine in a pre-yuletide atmosphere. The heated, festively decorated tent in the middle of the city park will offer various cheese specialties including raclette and fondue.

Dates November 28 – December 27, 2005

Further info on the glittering region of Winterthur www.winterthur-tourismus.ch

Zug Region

Zug Christmas market
The scent of cinnamon, mulled wine and pine trees will fill the air; Christmas music will resound in the streets. Hundreds of small lights will glitter throughout the town and 50 decorated stalls will offer every heart’s desire. The Zug Christmas market arouses pleasant anticipation of the most beautiful time of the year!

Date December 7 – 11, 2005

More Advent in the Zug Region

“New Spirit”, Gospel Gala
Date December 18, 2005

Further info on the glittering region of Zug www.zug-tourismus.ch

October 17, 2005   Posted in: Switzerland