Zurich is not the first city people think of when they plan a food trip, and that is exactly why a guided tasting walk is worth the time: the local table is hidden in plain sight, in small shops, old guild-house restaurants and chocolate counters that a visitor would walk past without a guide. This small-group food tour, limited to twelve people, lasts about three and a half hours and strings together a series of tastings along the Limmatquai, the Zwingliplatz, the Fraumuenster and the Paradeplatz. It starts at the Bellevue tram stop, where the guide waits with an orange umbrella, and it ends at the Paradeplatz, so you finish in the middle of the city and close to the Bahnhofstrasse. The menu covers the classics in a sensible order: Bircher muesli, the invention of a Zurich doctor, a traditional Zurich sausage with sauerkraut, fondue bites dipped in Kirsch, golden Swiss butter, Roesti with a creamy local meat stew, a cheese tasting, Swiss chocolate and hot chocolate, Swiss gin and hay schnapps, a glass of local Zurich Riesling and a cheese tart. Between the stops the guide fills in the history of the guilds, the churches and the river, so the walk doubles as an introduction to the Old Town. It suits curious eaters, couples and anyone who wants a long lunch with context rather than a table for one.
How the tour works
You meet at Bellevueplatz and walk towards the Limmat, stopping for around half an hour at each of the main points on the route. The tour moves along the Limmatquai, the Zwingliplatz area, the Fraumuenster and finally the Paradeplatz. The pace is relaxed but you are on your feet for most of the afternoon or evening, so wear comfortable shoes and leave the heavy bag at the hotel.
The operator states that the itinerary and menu may change depending on what the venues have available and on the weather, which is normal for a tour that depends on small family businesses. On Mondays, the cheese tasting with hay schnapps and fondue bites is replaced by a traditional Swiss fondue, so check which version your day offers when you book.
What to know before you go
The food is generous, but this is a tasting walk rather than a sit-down dinner, so come hungry and treat it as a substantial lunch or an early supper rather than a light snack. Some guests have found a late-afternoon departure less filling than expected, so eat lightly beforehand but not nothing. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and involves a fair amount of walking.
It is not recommended for people with heart problems or other serious medical conditions, pets are not accommodated and infants must sit on a lap. Dietary requirements need to be raised with the operator before the day, not at the first stop, because the menu is set in advance. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time.
Who it suits and how to use it: this is a first-day or second-day tour, best done early in a stay when you can use the guide's tips for the rest of your time, such as which confiserie to return to or which restaurant for a proper fondue. It works well for couples, for friends travelling together and for solo travellers who want company with a shared table.
Families with older children who enjoy food are welcome, although younger children may tire of the walking. Pair it with a visit to the Lindt Home of Chocolate for the factory side of the story, and keep the evening free for a lake walk, because you will not need dinner. Zurich is expensive, and a tour that combines lunch, drinks, history and navigation is a sensible way to spend a few hours.
What to expect
The experience
A guided walking tasting tour for a maximum of twelve guests, with stops along the Limmatquai, Zwingliplatz, the Fraumuenster and the Paradeplatz, and about ten tastings of Swiss food and drink.
Best time
Early in your stay, so the guide's tips carry through the rest of the trip. Come hungry; it works as lunch or an early supper.
How long
About three and a half hours, starting at the Bellevue tram stop and ending at the Paradeplatz.
Tips
Wear comfortable shoes. Tell the operator about dietary needs before the day. On Mondays a traditional fondue replaces the cheese tasting. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Curious eaters who want the local table explained in an afternoon.
- Families
- Good for older children who enjoy food; the walking and the schnapps stops are better suited to adults.
- Couples
- A shared, unhurried afternoon that ends in the middle of the city, with the evening free for the lake.
- Pair with
- The Lindt Home of Chocolate for the factory story, and the Old Town for a longer wander.
- Time needed
- Three and a half hours.
Good questions
How long is the Zurich food tour?+
About three and a half hours. It starts at the Bellevue tram stop and finishes at the Paradeplatz, with roughly half an hour at each main point on the route.
What do you taste on the tour?+
The menu includes Bircher muesli, a traditional Zurich sausage with sauerkraut, fondue bites dipped in Kirsch, golden butter, Roesti with a creamy meat stew, a cheese tasting, Swiss chocolate and hot chocolate, gin and hay schnapps, a local Riesling and a cheese tart. Menus can change with availability.
How big are the groups?+
Small. The tour is limited to twelve travellers, and the guide carries an orange umbrella at the meeting point.
Is the tour suitable for people with dietary needs?+
Contact the operator before the day, because the tastings are arranged in advance. The menu is built around cheese, meat, wine and spirits, so check what can be adapted when you book.
Is it wheelchair accessible?+
No. The route involves a fair amount of walking, so the tour is not wheelchair accessible. It is near public transport at both ends.
