landmark
Zürich Zoo
Progressive Swiss zoo known for its Masoala Rainforest hall, a massive indoor tropical ecosystem.
18 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeSwitzerlandZurich
Winterthur
Zurich, Switzerland · Europe
About Winterthur
Winterthur is worth a stop: 21km from Rhine Falls.
Winterthur is in Zurich, Switzerland, with about 110,000 people. You drive on the right here.
Winterthur (Swiss Standard German pronunciation: [ˈvɪntərtuːr]; French: Winterthour [vintəʁtuʁ, vintɛʁ-]) is a city and municipality in the canton of Zurich in northern Switzerland. With over 120,000 residents, it is the country's sixth-largest city by population, as well as its ninth-largest agglomeration with aboutRead more
140,000 inhabitants. Located about 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Zurich, Winterthur is a service and high-tech industrial satellite city within Zurich Metropolitan Area. Winterthur is usually abbreviated as Winti in the local dialect.
Winterthur is connected to Germany by direct trains and has links to Zurich Airport. It is also a regional transport hub: the A1 motorway from Geneva through to St. Margrethen connects in Winterthur with the A4 motorway heading north toward Schaffhausen and the A7 motorway heading close to the Swiss-German border at Kreuzlingen. There are also roads leading to other places such as Turbenthal. The railway station is the fourth busiest railway station in Switzerland, and is 20 minutes away by train from Zurich.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Winterthur?
Within an hour or so of Winterthur: Zürich Zoo (18 km), Zürich Old Town & Lake (21 km), Rhine Falls (21 km), Mainau Island (42 km).
Are there any good drives near Winterthur?
The nearest famous roads are Sattelegg Pass, Schwägalp Pass and Ibergeregg Pass.
Where is Winterthur?
Winterthur is in Zurich, Switzerland.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 111,840
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Switzerland
- Region
- Zurich
- Timezone
- Europe/Zurich
- Coordinates
- 47.5056, 8.7241
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Switzerland
Motorway vignette (toll sticker) required: buy at the border or online. Roadside assistance (TCS): 140.
Full driving guide for SwitzerlandTags
Worth the detour from Winterthur
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Zürich Old Town & Lake
Switzerland's largest city blending a medieval old town with trendy districts, all set along the Limmat River and the shores of Lake Zürich.
21 km · about 25 min drive
waterfall
Rhine Falls
Europe's largest plain waterfall, spanning 150 meters wide and 23 meters high near the town of Schaffhausen.
21 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Mainau Island
A Mediterranean flower island on Lake Constance bursts with palms, butterfly house and a baroque palace garden.
42 km · about 50 min drive
mountain pass
Sattelegg Pass
A low, year-round pass between the Sihl valley and Einsiedeln, a useful and pretty link rather than a challenge.
43 km · about 50 min drive
castle
Meersburg Castle
Germany's oldest inhabited castle overlooks Lake Constance from a vineyard terrace in a charming medieval old town.
46 km · about 55 min drive
museum
Autobau Erlebniswelt
Racing driver Fredy Lienhard's supercar and motorsport collection in a former Romanshorn industrial plant on Lake Constance: Ferraris, Le Mans prototypes and Indy cars.
49 km · about 55 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Mount Rigi
The 'Queen of the Mountains' above Lake Lucerne, site of Europe's first mountain railway and offering sunrise panoramas over the Alps.
53 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Winterthur
- 43 kmSattelegg PassA low, year-round pass between the Sihl valley and Einsiedeln, a useful and pretty link rather than a challenge.
- 53 kmMount RigiThe 'Queen of the Mountains' above Lake Lucerne, site of Europe's first mountain railway and offering sunrise panoramas over the Alps.
- 53 kmSchwägalp PassThe road under the north face of the Säntis, ending at the cable car station. Green alpine pasture country rather than high rock.
- 54 kmIbergeregg PassA modest but scenic pass above Schwyz with long views to the Mythen peaks, usually kept open through winter.
- 58 kmPragel PassA narrow, steep pass linking the Muotatal to the Klöntal, closed to through traffic on Sundays and barred to coaches. One of the quietest genuinely wild roads in central Switzerland.
- 62 kmAxenstrasseA spectacular cliff-hugging shore road blasted into the rock above Lake Lucerne between Brunnen and Fluelen, threading galleries and tunnels with constant views across the Uri arm of the lake.
Driving in Switzerland
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
- Vignette
- Required, around €42 for a short-stay sticker
When to drive here
April to October
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