Olten: Old Town, Museums and Culture

Old Town and railway city

The historic Old Town is a good starting point for exploring Olten: on a walking tour, you can discover squares, lanes, houses and other buildings. It lies on the left bank of the Aare and is directly accessible on foot from the main railway station via a historic wooden bridge. The extensive pedestrian zone offers numerous cafés, restaurants and shops. This makes it easy to combine a stroll through the lanes with a break in the pedestrian zone.

Olten’s history is also connected to its location on the Aare. In the Middle Ages, a town developed around a bridge over the river; in the 19th century, Olten continued to grow as a railway city. Today, the railway lines of the north–south Basel–Chiasso axis and the east–west St. Gallen–Geneva axis meet here. Olten is therefore one of Switzerland’s major railway hubs. The station is also a practical landmark for the Swiss Writers’ Trail, which begins right there.

Museums under one roof

The House of Museums is home to three museums. Their subjects range from archaeology in the Canton of Solothurn and the history of the city of Olten and the canton—from its beginnings to the present day—to natural history and biodiversity at the local, regional and cantonal levels. The “Three at a Stroke – Highlights at the House of Museums” tour takes visitors through three permanent exhibitions. Sharing an address brings together different perspectives on history and nature without conflating their distinct subjects.

The Historical Museum Olten focuses on industrial and technological history, everyday culture and social history. Its permanent exhibition features interactive stations where visitors can solve tasks and take part in playful activities. The Archaeological Museum of the Canton of Solothurn in Olten displays artefacts from 80,000 years of history. In the Natural History Museum, fossils illustrate the region’s natural history, while lifelike taxidermy specimens show its present-day biodiversity. Together, the museums offer different ways of exploring the past and the natural world.

Culture and city life

Cultural offerings beyond the museums also shape a visit. The Olten City Theatre presents concerts by international classical music stars, operas, operettas, musicals and plays in two spacious halls. As the programme varies by season, check the current performances if you have a particular theatre visit in mind. Olten also hosts the Olten Cabaret Days; dates and programme are subject to change. The IPFO House of Photography presents internationally renowned photo exhibitions.

If you are interested in everyday life, you can also plan a visit to the weekly market. It offers vegetables and other regional specialities, such as cheese and meat products; the selection may vary by season. The market offers a different perspective on local produce, while cafés, restaurants and shops in the pedestrian zone provide further stops for a city stroll.

Audio stories and guided tours

The Swiss Writers’ Trail begins right at Olten station and features around 70 listening stations with QR codes and stories lasting between two and four minutes each. You can follow it for free at any time of year. The trail also includes the Christian Schenker family tour, with eleven listening stations, a discovery map and a matching CD. If you would rather join a guided tour, public tours of the Old Town and themed tours are offered in Olten year-round. Check the dates and subjects before your visit.

Forest trails and activities on the Aare

For outdoor exercise, there are several landmarks to explore. The Bornwald Sculpture Trail is described as an easy hike and starts at the edge of the forest on Erlimattweg. Its figures depict people, animals and mythical creatures, carved from raw tree trunks from the local forest. The Bannwald Forest Discovery Trail is just over two kilometres long. While the Bornwald trail stands out for its carved figures and classification as an easy hike, the Bannwald trail’s stated length provides a practical guide for planning the distance. The region around Olten is also considered a classic hiking area, with circular routes, themed hikes, hiking trails, mountain hikes, and half- and full-day tours.

On Aare canoe route stage 5, the paddling section runs between Murgenthal and Olten; along the way, the route passes the historic Aarburg Fortress. Check the route conditions before setting out. Sportpark Olten offers facilities and activities for ice skating, ice hockey, figure skating and inline skating. The inline rink can be rented for training sessions and games. If you are planning a particular sport or a rental, check the current seasonal operating and rental conditions in advance.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Schönenwerd, Olten, Kappel, Gretzenbach, Hägendorf, Dorneck, Wasseramt, Gösgen.

Go to the main travel overview: Solothurn.