Winterthur
Winterthur is Switzerland's sixth-largest city, located in the canton of Zurich in the north-east of the country, yet it retains the character of a village with the largest continuous pedestrian zone in Switzerland at its heart. Surrounded by parks, forests and an idyllic region, the city has transformed in recent years from a traditional industrial city into a modern and innovative hub for education and technology. Its charming old town with pretty alleyways, stores, restaurants and cafés forms the centre, while the surrounding region offers the Töss Valley and the Zurich wine country with its vineyards, fields and the Rhine. Winterthur is a cultural city with numerous museums, theaters, music venues and festivals, and it is also a green, sustainable destination that is best explored on foot or by bike.
Summer activities
The region around Winterthur is ideal for hikers and cyclists, with the idyllic Töss Valley and the Zurich wine country offering vineyards, fields, lakes and the Rhine. Visitors can explore the wine country by bike, e-bike or on foot along wine trails and well-signposted hiking routes, with bathing spots providing refreshment in summer. The Rhine Falls, Europe's largest waterfall, lies at the northern edge of the region and offers boat trips, platforms over the water and the largest rope park in Switzerland, while the Töss Valley offers bike tours along the river and scenic hikes such as the Zürcher Oberländer Höhenweg.
Winter activities
Winter in the Winterthur region is marked by Christmas markets, fondue and mulled wine rather than alpine skiing, with magical winter spots such as the illuminated Schloss Laufen near the Rhine Falls, the Winterthur winter market and the Wintialp fondue parlor with curling. The region also offers cross-country ski trails and snowshoe hiking in the Töss Valley, as well as tobogganing in the surrounding hills.
Culture and entertainment
Winterthur is a vibrant cultural city with around fifteen museums, including the Kunst Museum Winterthur, the Fotozentrum and the Sammlung Oskar Reinhart, as well as the Swiss Science Center Technorama. It is home to the Musikkollegium Winterthur, one of Europe's most traditional symphony orchestras, and numerous theaters from the large Theater Winterthur to smaller venues, alongside a lively nightlife of bars, clubs and cinemas. A rich festival calendar runs throughout the year, from the Winterthurer Musikfestwochen and the International Short Film Festival to the Albanifest, and the city's industrial heritage is celebrated through guided tours and experiences.
