Getting the Key
What is "the Key"? A key, naturally opens doors. Of course, this key does too, but it doesn't just open any door. This one opens doors and stairways to hidden historical sights in Zürich. And they are very well hidden; they are not visible to the public eye. There are 11 places that can be visited with the key, however, Insider Zürich has chosen the top three that are worth going to. Here you will find the instructions on how to pick up this key.
What to know?
- You must call to reserve the time slot you would like by phone. Here is the number: 044 266 8686 You will be asked to specify the number of people that are in your group, your name and at what time you expect to return the key. The visit should be about 90 minutes, depending on your pace and how often you stop along the way.
- Bring a Passport or Ausweiss as you will be required to leave an ID when borrowing the key.
- There is no charge for borrowing the key.
- Bring weather appropriate clothes, as you will be walking outside between the three locations.
- Once you arrive in front of the building at Neumarkt 4, you will see that it is the municipal archives building. There are two doorbells on the side; don't ring them, as they belong to private apartments above. If you're here during the opening times, just push the door and enter.
- In front of you, there will be stairs. Go up these stairs.
- At the top, there is a glass door. Open it and enter. The first door in front of you is the office you're looking for. Normally, the door is open. If not, just knock. The staff there will take care of you.
This key will lead you to:
It is recommended that you follow this order, as it is a perfect loop. Each site is about 5-6 minutes walking distance from the next. Also, in each page explaining more about the hidden sights, there will be some basic instructions on how to get to each door, so following this path will make it simpler for you.
Tip: Put the address into Google Maps or another GPS device on your phone. This will make it easier to find the sights.
Opening Times
Monday: 1:00pm - 5:00pm
Tuesday-Friday: 8:00am - 5:00pm
First Saturday of each month: 10:00am - 4:00pm
Closed Public Holidays
How do I get there?
Address:
Neumarkt 4
8001 Zürich
Car:
- Closest parking in Obergericht parking, which is at the intersection of Heimstrasse and Hirschengraben.
Public Transport:
- Tram 3 (Neumarkt)
Model of Old Zurich
On the first floor of the building where you pick up the key, there is a model of what Zurich looked like in the late 16th century. Make sure to check it out, as there are explanations in English and the detail in the model is stunning.
The photos below the map are of this model.
Photos
