Urania-Sternwarte – That Bit Closer to Heaven

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

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 tours are offered in German.

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.

Price

 Price
AdultsCHF 20
Young People (12-16)CHF 15
Children (6-11)CHF 10
Zürich Card holders25% discount

Tickets are available on eventfrog.ch

Opening Hours

Open on These Days

  • Mo
  • Tu
  • We
  • Th
  • Fr
  • Sa
  • Su
  • Guided tours for the public: Thursday, 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 2pm, 3.30pm and 5pm 
  • Guided tours for schools and private tours on request

Address

Distance Travel time
Zürich Main Station 399 m 4 min
Zürich Airport 8.8 km 16 min
Urania-Sternwarte
Uraniastrasse 9
8001  Zürich