Zurich offers a beautiful Easter tradition: the Zurich Rose Fountains. Since 2021, several historic fountains in Zurich’s Old Town (Altstadt) have been filled with thousands of roses during the Easter season. The motto, “Without thorns, no roses,” symbolizes hope during challenging times. The Rose Fountains in Zurich are free to visit and located throughout the pedestrian-friendly Old Town, making them a perfect family activity in Zurich. Walking between the fountains is an easy way to explore the city while enjoying one of Zurich’s most colorful Easter traditions.
Visiting the Zurich Rose Fountains
The Zurich Rose Fountains are typically on display from the week before Easter until Easter Monday. Each year, the Reformierte Kirche decorates the fountains with around 4,500 roses. You can find the rose-filled fountains at four locations in Zurich Altstadt:
- Münsterhof
- Münzplatz (Augustinergasse)
- Predigerplatz
- Helmhaus
If you prefer a shorter walk, Münzplatz and Münsterhof are only about six minutes apart. Visiting all four fountains takes about one hour, depending on how long you stop at each location. Our 4‑year‑old and 7‑year‑old easily walked the full route. For a detailed interactive map including fountains, restaurants and family friendly activities, click here.
Rose Fountain at Münzplatz (Augustinergasse)
We started at the Münzplatz fountain on Augustinergasse, a charming street in Zurich’s Old Town. This fountain is decorated with roses supplied by the neighboring florist and sits next to the Christkatholische Augustinerkirche. Compared to the other locations, this fountain tends to be less crowded, making it a nice first stop when visiting the Zurich Easter Rose Fountains.
Rose Fountain at Münsterhof
From Münzplatz, we strolled through Zurich’s historic Old Town to the fountain at Münsterhof, located next to the iconic Fraumünster Church. This is usually the most popular rose fountain in Zurich, and it’s easy to see why. The large square offers beautiful views of the church and the surrounding historic buildings. The area is mostly pedestrian-friendly, although occasional delivery trucks pass through. For the best experience, visit early in the morning on weekends or during the week when it is quieter.
Rose Fountain at Helmhaus
The Helmhaus fountain is located inside the covered arcade of the Wasserkirche building, close to the Limmat River and the bridge. Because it is slightly tucked away, it can be a little tricky to find. This quieter location creates a peaceful atmosphere, and our kids enjoyed looking closely at the roses without the crowds.
Rose Fountain at Predigerplatz
The final fountain on our route was near Predigerkirche at Predigerplatz. Like Helmhaus, this fountain is usually less busy, which makes it a great place for kids to stop and explore. Our children loved smelling the roses and choosing their favorite colors before we continued exploring Zurich Old Town.
Family Activities Near the Rose Fountains
If you are visiting the Zurich Rose Fountains with kids, there are many family-friendly attractions nearby in Zurich.
- Natural History Museum – Free entry with exhibits on dinosaurs, the Ice Age, insects, animals, and plants.
- focusTerra – A free interactive museum about geology and Earth sciences.
- WOW Museum Zurich – A fun museum full of illusions and interactive art installations.
- Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum) – Learn about Swiss history through interactive exhibits and audio guides.
- Lindenhof Park – A quiet park and viewpoint overlooking Zurich Old Town.
- Fraumünster Church – Founded in 853 and famous for its Marc Chagall stained-glass windows.
- Pegasus Shop – A charming shop with souvenirs, holiday decorations, and beautifully painted Easter eggs.
- Schweizer Heimatwerk – A great place to find authentic Swiss souvenirs, including handcrafted toys and textiles.
Family-Friendly Restaurants and Treats
There are also many family-friendly restaurants and cafés in Zurich Old Town within walking distance of the fountains.
- Gelati 1998 Niederdorf – Delicious gelato, and kids receive a small animal toy.
- Vittorio Vanini – A historic Swiss chocolatier (since 1871) offering premium chocolate and gelato.
- St. Jakob Beck & Kafi Münster – A child-friendly café near Fraumünster known for its three‑ear chocolate Easter bunnies.
- La Pasta – A casual Italian restaurant serving homemade pasta and pinsa.
- Holy Cow! – A Swiss burger chain using locally sourced ingredients.
- Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer – American-style comfort food with burgers, chicken tenders, truffle fries, and milkshakes.
- Delish La Pinseria – A quick stop for pinsa, salads, sandwiches, and desserts.
- Goody’s Smash Burger – Simple and fast burgers and fries.
- Zum Kropf – Traditional Swiss cuisine served in an elegant historic interior.
Getting There
The first fountain at Münzplatz is only about a 10‑minute walk from Zurich HB (the main train station). If you arrive by car, Parkhaus Urania is a convenient central parking garage. The Zurich Old Town area is generally stroller-friendly, although some streets have cobblestones.
Why Visit the Zurich Rose Fountains
The Zurich Easter Rose Fountains are a unique seasonal attraction and one of the most beautiful things to do in Zurich during Easter. Visiting the fountains is an easy and enjoyable way to explore Zurich Old Town with kids, especially on a sunny spring day. With pedestrian-friendly streets, historic churches, nearby museums, and plenty of places to eat, it is easy to turn a visit to the Zurich Rose Fountains into a fun family day in Zurich.