Discover Zug: Old Town, Museums and Lake Zug

Zug combines a historic Old Town with museums, lakeside paths and destinations for excursions on Zugerberg. The sights and activities give you concrete ideas for planning your time in Zug according to your own interests.

Old Town and cultural history

Zug’s Old Town has a history dating back 800 years and features a significant number of medieval buildings. Located right on Lake Zug, it combines historic buildings with the lakeside landscape. The Zytturm is Zug’s landmark. It once served as a gate and watchtower; today, it houses an astronomical clock that displays the day of the week, month and phase of the moon. Access is via the eZug app or, without the app, with a registered badge. Check the access rules before your visit.

The Pulverturm is also part of the city’s history: it stood at the southeastern corner of the former Zug city wall and was used to store gunpowder. If you would like to learn about the Old Town in context, consider joining a public city tour. It takes you through the Old Town and introduces the history of the city of Zug; tour dates may change.

Museums with a range of themes

Located in the heart of Zug’s Old Town, Museum Burg Zug has a permanent exhibition spanning three floors that explores the cultural history of the city and canton of Zug from the Middle Ages to the modern era. Topics include medieval rule and warfare, religion, domestic life, arts and crafts, and coinage. The collection comprises around 50,000 historical objects relating to the history of the Canton of Zug from the Middle Ages to the present, with a focus on objects connected to Zug. Themed tours are offered in both the permanent and special exhibitions; available tours may vary. The museum is served by several bus lines. It is a two-minute walk from the Kolinplatz stop.

Kunsthaus Zug offers a different perspective on art history. Its collection comprises around 10,000 works and includes the most significant collection of classical Viennese Modernism in Europe outside Austria. Due to limited space, Kunsthaus Zug displays the collection in themed temporary exhibitions rather than on a permanent basis. This is a useful distinction if you are planning a museum visit for a particular day of your stay: the presentation changes according to the themes on show.

Museum für Urgeschichte(n) Zug takes you further back in time. Its permanent exhibition covers archaeological finds from the Palaeolithic to the Early Middle Ages, with a focus on the pile-dwelling period. It includes finds from three UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Late Bronze Age settlement of Zug-Sumpf. Models and stories bring everyday life in past eras to life.

Lakeside path, viewpoints and Zugerberg

For a walk by the water, the Lake Zug lakeside path runs from Zug station to Cham station. Along the way, urban promenades alternate with quieter stretches through woodland and fields, with views of the lake. The route is designated as accessible. For a shorter alternative with a view, consider the Guggi: a short climb from Zug’s Neustadt leads to the viewpoint. From there, you can see Lake Zug and the towers of the Old Town, and, on a clear day, as far as the Bernese Alps.

Zugerberg offers a different experience. The Zugerberg railway reaches it in eight minutes and is wheelchair accessible. The Zuger Hochmoor lies in the area around Zug. Around 80 kilometres of signposted paths lead through forests, across meadows and through one of Switzerland’s most important moorland landscapes. The accessible Hasen Route is also suitable for people with pushchairs and people with reduced mobility. The Zugiblubbi adventure trail invites you to search for diamonds with Zugiblubbi and his friends. Schattwäldli adventure playground is a 15-minute walk from the Zugerberg railway’s mountain station.

Lake, boat trips and seasonal activities

Strandbad Zug is the city’s largest open-air swimming pool and has an artificial sandy beach. Facilities include a water play area for children and various sports equipment; seasonal opening arrangements may vary. You can reach the swimming pool on bus route 4 or by taking the S1 city train to the Schutzengel stop. Check travel information before setting off.

The boats operated by Zugersee Schifffahrt can also be used as a means of transport on Lake Zug. Boat services run daily from mid-April to early November. The offerings include buffets featuring local specialities, Sunday brunches, evening cruises, family activities and music cruises; specific departures may vary by season. Check the timetable for your stay. Depending on your interests, you can explore Zug through its Old Town and museums, the lakeside path or the landscape of Zugerberg.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Risch, Oberägeri, Walchwil, Neuheim, Cham, Menzingen, Baar, Unterägeri.

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