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Urania-Sternwarte – That Bit Closer to Heaven

Here Zurich lies at your feet – as the Urania-Sternwarte (observatory) bids exciting views of the cosmos.

  • Public astronomy tours
    Central location
    Out-of-the-ordinary views of Zurich

In the heart of central Zurich, astronomy fans can reach for the stars. In the 50m (164ft) high round tower of the Urania observatory, visitors can observe the heavenly bodies through a telescope that allows magnifications of up to 600 times. Whether you want to take a closer look at the craters on the moon, the bands of clouds surrounding Jupiter, or the church tower of the Fraumünster: a guided tour to the non-profit public observatory is always a memorable experience.

The Urania observatory, which opened in 1907, was the first building in Zurich to be made from concrete. It is still one of the most distinctive buildings in the historical Old Town, and has been listed as a protected monument since 1989. The 12-ton Zeiss telescope underwent extensive renovation on the occasion of the observatory’s centenary in 2007.

Public tours are held in the evening on Friday and Saturday irrespective of the weather; in addition, special tours for children take place on the first Saturday of the month.

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33% discount with the Zürich Card*
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Zürich Card

  • 24 or 72 hours
  • Public transportation included
  • Free admission to museums
  • Over 50 discounts
Buy a Zürich Card

Prices

  Price
Adults CHF 20.-*
Young People (12-16) CHF 15.-*
Children (6-11) CHF 10.-*

*Discount with the Zürich Card: CHF 5.-

Tickets are available on www.eventfrog.ch.

Opening Hours

  • Guided tours for the public: Friday and Saturday in all weathers
    Start: 8.00pm during winter, 9.00pm during summer
    The entrance at Uraniastrasse 9 opens 30 minutes before the start of the visit.
    Evening tours recommended for children of 9 years and above
  • Every first Saturday of the month tours for children at 3.00pm, 4.00pm and 5.00pm 
  • Guided tours for schools and private tours on request