Egg between Lake Greifensee and Pfannenstiel

Egg is a municipality in the Uster district of the canton of Zurich. Its territory stretches from Lake Greifensee at 438 metres above sea level up to Pfannenstiel at 853 metres above sea level. This difference in elevation connects the lake with a wooded ridge and shapes the attractions in Egg. At Lake Greifensee, swimming and relaxing take centre stage, while Pfannenstiel is associated with nature, excursions and hikes. When planning a stay, you can choose between experiences by the water and in the surrounding landscape.

Lake, nature reserve and Pfannenstiel

The Lake Greifensee nature reserve includes Egg as well as Fällanden, Greifensee, Maur, Mönchaltorf, Schwerzenbach and Uster. Pfannenstiel is a densely wooded ridge between Lake Zurich and Lake Greifensee. The route reaches the Hochwacht at the southeastern end of the ridge; the natural area on Pfannenstiel is used for recreation and is a starting point for excursions and hikes.

The Pfannenstiel Route descends through the forest to Egg on the eastern slope of Pfannenstiel. From Egg, it connects with the Forchbahn railway to Zürich Stadelhofen. The Forchbahn connects the Stadelhofen–Forch–Egg–Esslingen corridor and is used not only by commuters but also for excursions.

Swimming and relaxing at Lake Greifensee

On Lake Greifensee, Seebadi Egg is located in a nature reserve and offers a peaceful setting for swimming and relaxing. The facility was renovated in 2024; its amenities include modern infrastructure, sunbathing lawns and direct access to the lake. The bathing lawn is free for everyone to use. It has two open fire pits and a children’s playground with a slide, seesaw and swings. The offerings include freshly prepared panini every day; a barbecue stand is also open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Historic places and views

In Hinteregg stands the Thommen-Sagi, first mentioned in official records in 1537. It is a fully operational sawmill powered by a waterwheel. You can see the saw in operation on Swiss Mill Day, held each year on the Saturday after Ascension Day. St. Anthony’s Church has stood in Egg since 1921; it is dedicated to Saint Anthony of Padua and is a pilgrimage church.

The Pfannenstiel Tower also has a history of relocation: it was built on Bachtel in 1893, dismantled in 1985 and rebuilt on Pfannenstiel in 1992. The viewing platform is 33 metres high and offers views as far as Lake Zurich and the Swiss Alps. The platform features an Alpine guide with the names and drawings of the mountains visible from Pfannenstiel. As of 1 January 2026, the Zurich cultural heritage list classifies the tower as a Class B cultural asset.

The Hochwacht restaurant offers views of the Zurich Oberland, Lake Greifensee, Lake Zurich and the Alps. It is also a starting point for hikes.

Discover more destinations: Maur, Dübendorf, Mönchaltorf, Schwerzenbach, Volketswil, Uster, Greifensee, Fällanden

Go to the main travel overview: Uster.