Zurich Main Station, Zürich — Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Zurich Hauptbahnhof is not just Switzerland's largest railway station; it has been ranked the best railway station in Europe in 2023 and 2024. The first station at this location opened in 1847 as the terminus of the Spanisch Brotli Bahn, Switzerland's first entirely domestic railway line. The grand neo-Renaissance building that dominates the view today was designed by architect Jakob Friedrich Wanner and completed in 1871, featuring a monumental triumphal arch facade facing the newly constructed Bahnhofstrasse.

The station's interiors are worth a look even if you are not catching a train. Magnificently proportioned lobbies, atriums, and halls were designed to handle the thousands of daily travelers who pass through Zurich's central hub. The iconic arched train shed was constructed in 1933, covering 16 tracks with seven and a half arches. In 1997, architects Marcel Meili and Markus Peter added contemporary pitched roof structures that respect the original design while modernizing the space.

In 1893, the station was officially designated "Hauptbahnhof" to reflect the incorporation of Zurich's suburbs into the city proper. Today it serves as much more than a transit point: the station houses shops, restaurants, and even hosts markets in its underground concourse. Questo's Zurich adventures often begin or end at the Hauptbahnhof, where the history of Swiss engineering and urban design is on display before you even step outside.