Now, I’m going to take you behind the scenes of my blog a little bit: When I got the offer to partner with Kindrerregion.ch, on the one hand, I was excited. On the other hand, I was a little disappointed. Other fellow bloggers with families were discovering beautiful mountain places (like Glarnerland or Stoos), and Winterthur and Zurich came up for me. What could be interesting in this place somewhere near Zurich? Our first steps here made me more confident in my truth because I wasn’t very impressed. A mix of new buildings from the end of the 20th century, large industrial buildings, seemingly neglected corners, which you will later find out are not so neglected and have their history… But then, when the lady at the reception at the DEPOT 195 hostel we were staying at (more about it at the end of this article) started to reveal the quite recent history of the town, I began to change my mind about Witherthur.
This post will guide you through the best things to do in Winterthur, including a visit to the fascinating Gewerbemuseum, where you can explore materials and design. You’ll also find tips on great places to eat, such as the charming Restaurant Sporrer and Café Rauke, and recommendations for cozy accommodations like a unique hostel, Depot 195, in a historic industrial building. Winterthur has something special for everyone, whether you’re here for culture, cuisine, or a comfortable stay!
Note: this article was written in cooperation with Kinderregion.ch, who invited us to discover interesting and unusual places in Winterthur and Zurich for you.
Winterthur
“Winti“, as the locals affectionately call their city, is located in northeastern Switzerland, only about 25 km from Zurich (accessible by train in 20 minutes!). With more than 115,000 inhabitants, it is the sixth-largest city in Switzerland. It is known as the “city of museums” – over 17 of them here, including the famous Technorama, the Museum of Art, and the Fotomuseum. Winterthur also has a fascinating industrial past. Stadler Rail, now a global player in train manufacturing, has its roots here. Thanks to this tradition, the town is associated with innovation and precision Swiss engineering. This is also reflected in the fact that the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW – Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften), one of the largest and most prestigious schools in Switzerland, is located here.
Gewerbemuseum Winterthur
The Industrial Museum in the city center offers an exciting variety: an archive of materials and their use, a clock museum, and temporary exhibitions. The whole building and the surrounding spaces are very pleasant and visually impressive, with an aesthetic and cleanliness that is uncommon in historic buildings. The museum also has a nice café with a daily menu.
Opening hours and entrance fees
The museum can be found at Kirchplatz 14 and is about a quarter of an hour’s walk from the train station. It is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm, on Thursdays until 8pm. Admission to the whole museum is 12 francs per adult, if you would like to enter only the Material Labor section, the entrance fee is 5 francs, children under 16 are free.
Watch museum
The Gewerbemuseum also hosts a permanent exhibition dedicated to watches. Visitors can admire the collection of clocks by Konrad Kellenberger and the collection of pocket watches by Oscar Schwank. The exhibition includes fascinating examples of historic wall and pocket clocks – from small pocket models to majestic tower clocks. The exhibits date from various centuries, from the 15th to the 20th, and represent mainly the Swiss and German watchmaking traditions. But you will also find interesting information here, such as the fact that even within Switzerland, time was not the same everywhere and how Swiss peasants invented their woodwheel for clocks because the metal ones were too expensive.
Materials Archive “Material Labor”
On the first floor, both young and adult visitors can try their hand at working with various materials and delve into their history and their use in specific products. There are plenty of interactive elements and things you can touch. Everything is carefully and very professionally arranged and displayed by category – whether it is glass, metal, wood, paper, plastic, stone, ceramics, colour pigments, textiles or even leather.
Temporary exhibition – Dafi Kühne
The museum regularly changes temporary exhibitions, which are always interesting and worth a visit. The exhibitions are beautifully arranged and educational, making the museum an ideal place for lovers of design, science, and history. Until 16 March 2025, you will find an exhibition of posters by the multi-award-winning Swiss poster designer and printer Dafi Kühne, who combines contemporary graphic design with old printing techniques in an unusual way.
Where to stay in Witherthur: Hostel Depot 195
If you’re looking for clean, simple, and friendly accommodation in Winterthur, this hostel is a great way to avoid the usual hotel environment. The charm of the hostel comes from the town itself and its industrial roots – the hostel takes its name from the former joinery workshop on the Stadler premises, number 195*. There, oversized crates were made so that huge ship engines could be packed into them. The neighbouring buildings were used to manufacture Stadler marine engines and diesel locomotives. Previously, this industrial area was not open to the general public, and only those who worked here could enter.
Set in a beautiful historic building, the hostel is just a 10-minute walk from the train station. The kitchen is spacious, very clean, well organized, and equipped with everything you could possibly need. It offers accommodation in ladies’ and gents’ dormitories and family rooms. We had a family room on the second floor, which was bright and airy and perfectly suited our family of five. The room had a double bed, two bunk beds, and an en-suite bathroom.
Gastro tips from Winterthur
Rauke
Before visiting the Gewerbemuseum, we stopped at the Rauke Café. It is located away from the city center but worth a trip with the kids. At first glance, you will be charmed by the interior, making you feel like you are in an antique shop. Despite this, the café, emphasizing sustainability, has a large children’s corner where the kids can play, and you can enjoy a delicious cappuccino or a “white” cola.
Restaurant Sporrer
The Sporrer Restaurant is a pleasant and quiet place on the outskirts of Winterthur. The staff is amiable and helpful, adding to the great atmosphere. The dishes are beautifully plated, and the seasonal menu offers an unforgettable gourmet experience. Despite the quiet atmosphere, the restaurant is family-friendly, so both lovers of good food and parents looking for a cozy place for lunch, dinner, or a family celebration will find something to enjoy.
