Opfikon: City Life, Culture and Recreation

Opfikon is a city and political municipality in the district of Bülach in the Canton of Zurich. The municipality includes the locality of Glattbrugg, which is why Opfikon is also informally known as Opfikon-Glattbrugg. Since the turn of the millennium, the built-up areas of Zurich and Opfikon have grown together around Glattpark and Glattbrugg. Municipal statistics for 2019 show that built-up areas accounted for 44.5 percent and transport areas for 21.3 percent of the municipality’s area. Agricultural land made up 16.4 percent, forest 15.9 percent and bodies of water 2.0 percent. These figures provide a concrete picture of how the municipality’s land is used.

Experience Village History and Culture

At the Dorf-Träff, the museum apartment reflects village life in the past, with its struggles to make a living, craft skills and small vanities. The Dorf-Träff’s house, which is almost 350 years old, stands at Brunnenplatz in Opfikon’s lower village. Opfikon’s tower, meanwhile, defines the old village and is considered a landmark of the municipality. It was once part of a chapel that must have existed as early as the 13th or 14th century.

For an evening of culture, the Kleintheater Mettlen offers music, literature, cabaret and theatre. Performances take place in the assembly hall of Lättenwiesen School at Giebeleichstrasse 48, 8152 Glattbrugg. The programme changes with the seasons, so check the dates for your visit. The gallery in the town hall also presents a changing programme: twice a year, it displays paintings, photographs, sculptures and other works by various artists over several weeks, across three floors.

The Food Festival in Opfikon is a recurring event celebrating a variety of cuisines. It takes place on the last Saturday in September, when people from all over the world present their favourite dishes. As the programme and venue should be checked, it is a good idea to look up the details for the relevant date in advance.

Parks, Walks and Leisure Activities

Opfikerpark is suited to a range of leisure activities, including relaxing, walking, observing nature, playing, swimming, sunbathing and skating. The water in Glattpark Lake meets bathing-water quality standards. When planning your time, you can choose between being active, spending time outdoors or relaxing by the water.

The Gschichtliweg is a signposted walking trail around three kilometres long and suitable for pushchairs. At ten stops, you can listen to audio story segments on your smartphone. The trail is part of the free Opfitrail family programme. A new story is released for the trail approximately every four months; this schedule may change.

There is also a roller park for activities on wheels. In its 2024 annual report, the city recorded vehicle rentals at the kiosk and a bike repair workshop with young people from the operations group. These activities are described for that year; check their seasonal and current availability before visiting. Opfikon also participates in the PubliBike bike-sharing system. At the end of 2024, the city signed a five-year service agreement for it. The agreement covers the service from 2025 under the name Züri Velo 2.0.

Wellness and Swimming

Opfikon Leisure Pool has a separate wellness area with a Finnish sauna, sanarium, steam bath, ice mist shower, tropical rain shower, Kneipp hoses and a Kneipp foot bath. There are also three relaxation rooms and an outdoor courtyard with a cold-water pool. In addition, a warm-water whirlpool is located in a 100-square-metre outdoor area. As operating details may change, check the latest information when planning your visit.

If you are looking for a hotel in Opfikon, the different sides of the town can help you choose what kind of stay you want: village history and culture, walks and time in the park, or a visit to the leisure pool each offer a different focus. Discover more destinations: Höri, Rorbas, Bülach, Zweidlen, Rafz, Kloten, Bassersdorf, Wallisellen.

Go to the parent travel overview: Bülach.