Niederdorf street

The Niederdorf street, in Zurich

The Niederdorf street is a long lively street in the heart of the old town of Zurich, one of the most appreciated for its restaurants, cafés and shops. The Zurich audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this pedestrian and festive artery, affectionately nicknamed Dörfli, the little village, that transforms each end of August into a gigantic village festival, the Dörflifäscht.

The festive heart of the Dörfli

This long lively street of the city centre is the Niederdorf street, the heart of the district of the same name. It is one of the most appreciated areas of the old town, notably for its numerous restaurants, cafés and shops that line its picturesque alleys. Entirely pedestrian, the street transforms in the evening into a festive and lively place, perfect to spend a good evening with friends. At the end of August, it is here that the annual festival of the Dörflifäscht is held: for the occasion, the Niederdorf street metamorphoses into a gigantic village festival. Moreover, the people of Zurich affectionately call this district Dörfli, which means little village. On the programme: family entertainment by day, street shows, well-stocked stalls, street food from all over the world, and, in the evening, room for renowned DJs and the party until late in the night. If you have come during the last weekend of August, it is clearly the event not to miss. The rest of the year, this typical district keeps all its charm and offers you a fine range of entertainment, between sunny terraces, craftsmen's shops and prettily coloured medieval façades. To stroll in the Niederdorf street is to take the pulse of Zurich life in what it has of the most convivial. A lively street and a heart of the old town, the Niederdorf street is a fine stop of the discovery of Zurich.

What to see

Here you walk along one of the most lively streets of the old town of Zurich, a pedestrian artery lined with restaurants, cafés and shops, affectionately nicknamed Dörfli, the little village; festive in the evening, it transforms at the end of August into a gigantic village festival, the Dörflifäscht, with street shows, street food and DJs. The Niederdorf street is the festive heart of Zurich. It is a fine stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The Niederdorf street crosses the old town of Zurich, on the right bank of the Limmat, reachable on foot or by tram. It is a pedestrian street freely accessible, lined with restaurants, cafés and shops, lively in the evening; the Dörflifäscht festival is held there the last weekend of August. You walk along it during a stroll in the centre.

Why is the district of the Niederdorf street of Zurich called the Dörfli?

Because the people of Zurich affectionately nickname this district Dörfli, which means little village, because of its picturesque and convivial atmosphere; each end of August, the Niederdorf street transforms into a gigantic village festival, the Dörflifäscht, with entertainment, street shows, street food and DJs, and remains the rest of the year one of the festive hearts of the old town.

Where is the Niederdorf street in Zurich?

In the old town of Zurich, on the right bank of the Limmat, in Switzerland.