Platzspitz park

Platzspitz in Zurich, officially called Platzpromenade, is a triangular city-centre park in District 1. It sits beside the Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum) and the main station, on the tongue of land where the Sihl and Limmat rivers meet. Today it is a calm green pocket, but few Swiss parks have lived through such a dramatic past.

Where is Platzspitz and how do you get there?

The park occupies the spit between the two rivers, at their confluence. From Zurich main station it is a few minutes on foot: head to the side where the National Museum stands, which borders the park directly. It makes an easy break between connections or after a walk through the old town.

What is there to see?

The signature feature is the tree-lined avenues planted along both rivers in 1780, when the site was laid out as a promenade. During the 19th century a network of paths and a music pavilion were added. When the National Museum was built, the layout was reworked and the bandstand was moved a short distance. The grounds also hosted the first Swiss national exhibition in 1883. Expect riverside strolling and plenty of shade.

What is the history of the park?

Before it became a promenade, this was pasture, and later a venue for marksmen's festivals. Zurich's traditional Knabenschiessen shooting contest has its roots here. In the 1980s the park gained worldwide notoriety as "Needle Park": heroin users and dealers gathered here in growing numbers, reaching about 3,000 people a day at peak times. In 1992 the park was closed for a year, cleaned and renovated. The open drug scene then moved to the former Letten station site and lasted until 1995. Now the park is a relaxed recreation spot again.

When should you visit?

Late spring through early autumn, when the lawns and avenues are at their greenest. Concerts, open-air film screenings and other events take place in the National Museum courtyard, so check the museum programme before your trip. The park pairs naturally with a museum visit, as you step from the exhibitions straight onto the grass.

Frequently asked questions

Is Platzspitz the same place as Needle Park? Yes. "Needle Park" was the nickname from the 1980s and early 1990s, when the park hosted an open drug scene. Nothing of that remains today.

How far is it from the main station? The park adjoins the station area and the National Museum, a few minutes' walk.

What else is nearby? The Swiss National Museum with its courtyard, plus the Limmat and Sihl riverbanks that flank the park on both sides.

Are there events in the park? Concerts and open-air screenings are held in the courtyard of the National Museum next to the park.