Fondue and bars on Steinberggasse, parties behind the station and a club night in the Sulzerareal: here's how to plan your stag do or hen party in Winterthur, with all the things to do within walking distance.
Good to know
5 dl of beer costs CHF 7 at Nelson Pub, CHF 7.50 at Lina's Bar and Fahrenheit, CHF 8.50–9.50 at Boilerroom. Cocktails start at CHF 13 at Lina's Bar and mostly cost CHF 16 at Boilerroom. Party entry is about CHF 15 at the Salzhaus and mostly CHF 10–15 at the Albani. All guide prices.
All costs and money-saving tips ↓On Friday and Saturday nights, the night buses N1, N2, N3 and N7 run from the main station every 30 minutes from about 01:00, with no night surcharge. From Zurich, the SN1 and SN6 come about every 30 minutes until around 04:00. Taxi: Winti Cab 052 202 12 23, round the clock.
ZVV night network ↗In the canton of Zurich, bars and restaurants may in principle open from 05:00 to 24:00, and longer with a permit. Many do: the Albani and Nelson Pub are open until 03:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and the karaoke night at Bangkok Interclub runs until 05:00.
Winterthur's city police fine littering CHF 50, urinating CHF 80 and disturbing the peace between 22:00 and 06:00 CHF 100. Bolero is usually over-21s only, and the Albani and Fahrenheit don't take group bookings at weekends.
With around 120,000 inhabitants, Winterthur is Switzerland's sixth-largest city, known as a garden city and a cycling city with around 175 km of cycle paths. The Old Town is said to be the largest continuous pedestrian zone in Switzerland, so it's never far between bars.
By train you're in Winterthur from Zürich HB in 20 to 28 minutes, from Zurich Airport in 13 to 19 minutes, from St. Gallen in 33 to 45 minutes and from Schaffhausen in 27 to 33 minutes. From Konstanz it's around 50 minutes direct.
For a hotel for your stag or hen do in Winterthur, the best area is around the station and the Old Town: Zur Krone on Marktgasse has a 4-star boutique hotel, the Albani has rooms above the club, and the Park Hotel is on Stadthausstrasse. Book early for the Albanifest at the end of June and the Musikfestwochen in August.
July is the warmest month, averaging around 19 °C, and February the coldest at around 2 °C, with around 1,040 mm of rain a year. Plan B for rainy days: escape rooms at Obertor or Lagerplatz, laser tag at the Funpark, karting at the Tempodrom or the Technorama.
Plan & map
Bars, clubs, fondue restaurants and activities on one map: filter by type, add your favourites with “+ Add to plan” and share the plan with your group via a link, no account needed. Rather have a ready-made schedule? The itinerary generator builds one for you.
Winterthur activities by type: click an idea and the list and map show only what matches.
For the stag do as much as the hen do: laser tag for 30 people at the Funpark, electric karting on a 400 m indoor track at the Tempodrom, disco bowling at weekends in Elsau or blacklight mini golf.
Escape Mission at Obertor with the Bachelor*ette Royal city mission, or Geheimgang 188 on Lagerplatz with rooms for 2 to 6 people and an outdoor game through the city.
A karaoke night until 05:00 at Bangkok Interclub, jazz gigs at the Esse Musicbar, recorder karaoke and quizzes at Kraftfeld, or DJs at the Albani.
Guided walks through the Old Town and the Sulzerareal, industrial history at the Museum Schaffen or hands-on experiments at the Technorama in Oberwinterthur.
Rope climbing and bouldering at Halle 6a plus in Töss, or a brine pool, sauna and steam room at the Fitnesspark on Brunngasse for the day after.
By boat right up close to the Rhine Falls in Neuhausen, VR games in Rümlang north of Zurich, or a whole day at Europa-Park by coach from Wiesendangen.
Cocktail and neighbourhood bar at Wartstrasse 38, open Monday to Saturday from 16:00. 5 dl of beer costs CHF 7.50, a gin and tonic CHF 13, mojito and caipirinha CHF 16. Groups of 6 to 15 people book by email, except on Fridays; the minimum spend is CHF 20 per person.
Scottish pub with British food at General-Guisan-Strasse 19, east of the Old Town. Draught beer such as Guinness costs CHF 9.40 for 5 dl. Open Fridays from 17:00 to 02:00 and Saturdays from 15:00; book tables via the website. On Sundays from 19:45 there's a quiz night.
Bar and lounge in the former boiler house of the Sulzerareal, right by the station. 5 dl of draught beer costs CHF 8.50–9.50, 1.5 l CHF 25–28, cocktails mostly CHF 16; plus burgers and chicken wings. Room for up to 160 people, Fridays and Saturdays from 17:00 to 01:00; book online.
Old English pub at Technikumstrasse 73, a few minutes' walk from the station. The house beer, Nelson's Helles, costs CHF 7 for 5 dl and CHF 21 for 1.5 l, cocktails such as a mojito CHF 16. Open Fridays and Saturdays from 16:00 to 03:00, with gigs, sport and a small terrace.
Jazz club and music bar in the historic armoury at Zeughausstrasse 52, with more than 150 live gigs a year according to the owners. On Fridays the bar opens at 17:00, gig at 20:15. Pay what you like, with at least CHF 30 recommended; groups of 10 or more also outside opening hours.
After-work bar with an art gallery at Zeughausstrasse 52, open Monday to Saturday from 16:00 to 23:00. Drinks and snacks come from the region, plus gigs, jam sessions and parties. Some nights are private events, so check the calendar first.
Bar with lounges at Archstrasse 2, a minute from the station. From October to March open Fridays 18:00 to 02:00 and Saturdays 19:00 to 02:00. You can book a lounge for up to 8, a regulars' table for up to 10 and high tables for up to 16 people, plus a party bunker for 50 guests in the building. Cashless payment only.
Bistro bar of the Kraftfeld arts association at Lagerplatz 3 in the Sulzerareal, with a lunch menu during the week. Open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 07:30 to 23:00, Saturdays only until 20:00. Gigs are free entry with a collection, and Kraftfeld is right next door.
Lounge bar in the Pionierpark at Zürcherstrasse 7, near the station. Open Fridays from 11:00 to 01:00 and Saturdays from 15:00 to 01:00. For up to 10 people you book online and choose indoors, outdoors, a reclining or a seated lounge; for larger groups there are banquet aperitifs, which can be ordered up to 48 hours ahead.
Karaoke bar with a Thai feel at Tösstalstrasse 18. On Fridays and Saturdays there's a karaoke night from 22:00 to 05:00, with entry at CHF 7 including a shot. Song requests go in on slips of paper, and everyone gets a turn. Beer and soft drinks cost CHF 7–15; card or TWINT only.
Café bar at Obergasse 32 in the Old Town, with regional and international specialities. Open Fridays and Saturdays from 09:00 to 24:00, closed on Sundays and Mondays. Coffee, drinks and food to eat in or take away, a quiet start to the evening.
Hotel bar and lounge of the Park Hotel Winterthur at Stadthausstrasse 4, with a terrace overlooking the hotel park. Open until 00:30 on Fridays and Saturdays, with bar food such as tarte flambée and burgers from 14:00 to 22:30. Groups of 10 or more should book ahead.
Irish pub in the Funpark at Oberer Deutweg 4, in the same building as the laser tag and blacklight mini golf. Open Fridays from 11:30 to 01:00 and Saturdays from 14:00. For up to 40 people there's the Little Molly room with its own bar and tap, with a CHF 600 minimum spend instead of a hire fee.
Cocktail bar and café at Untere Kirchgasse 2 in the middle of the Old Town, with its own signature cocktails and homemade syrups. Open Fridays and Saturdays from 17:00 to 01:00, often longer according to the owners. In summer you sit under an old lime tree; book tables via the website.
Café bar and vinyl lounge at Neustadtgasse 1a in the style of Japanese jazz bars. Cocktails and drinks to music from the vinyl system, Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00 to 24:00. No bookings, so better for small groups or a nightcap.
Bar at Steinberggasse 65 in the Old Town. Appenzeller lager on tap costs CHF 7.50 for 5 dl, sours and espresso martinis CHF 15–16. Open Fridays from 14:00 and Saturdays from 09:00, until 01:00 both days. No bookings Friday to Sunday, so come early.
Music club with a bar and hotel rooms at Steinberggasse 16, around 7 minutes' walk from the station. Open Fridays and Saturdays from 16:30 to 03:00, with the Steibi FM club night and DJs from 23:00 on Fridays. Party entry mostly CHF 10–15, all parties over-18s; there are no group bookings.
Music club of the not-for-profit Kraftfeld arts association at Lagerplatz 18 in the Sulzerareal. On Fridays and Saturdays there are parties from reggaeton through techno to drum & bass, doors usually at 22:00. Plus games nights, quizzes and recorder karaoke, and a garden bar in summer.
Arts centre in a former electricity distribution building in Töss, around 1.4 km from the main station. The focus is guitar music from rock and metal to punk, plus parties. Gig tickets cost about CHF 20–27 in advance; take bus 1, 5, 7 or 11 to the Gaswerk stop.
Gig and party venue at Untere Vogelsangstrasse 6, around 2 minutes' walk from the station. There are regular '90s, 2000s and over-30s parties, with entry at about CHF 15, CHF 18 after midnight. Doors usually 21:30 to 22:00, parties for over-18s, Thirtylicious for over-30s.
Dance club for salsa, bachata and kizomba at Werkstrasse 16 in the Grüze district, 5 to 7 minutes' walk from Grüze station. Two dance floors, Fridays from 21:30 to 02:00 and Saturdays until 03:00, over-18s. Good if your group wants to dance; there's free parking in front of the club.
Club in a former SBB goods shed at Untere Vogelsangstrasse 10, with a lounge, club and the Havana Bar across more than 1,000 m². Entry mostly CHF 15, usually over-21s. Groups book private booths for up to 50 people, with a bottle from CHF 175 per 4 people, at least 2 days ahead.
Escape rooms at Lagerplatz 2 in the Sulzerareal, several rooms for 2 to 6 people with 60 or 75 minutes of play. The Memory Archive costs from CHF 40 per person and runs in German or English. There's also an outdoor game through Winterthur for 2 to 7 people; book online.
Escape rooms at Obertor 8: a 60-minute mission for 2 to 6 people per room, with big groups playing in parallel. A room costs CHF 90 plus CHF 15 per person, so CHF 180 for 6 people. Outdoors there are city missions such as Bachelor*ette Royal, CHF 36 per person from 5 people.
Blacklight mini golf with 18 holes on more than 500 m² in the Funpark at Oberer Deutweg 4. Adults pay CHF 17 per round. Open until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, with last check-in 45 minutes before closing. The laser tag and Molly Malone are in the same building.
Bowling alley with 22 lanes at Rümikerstrasse 5a in Elsau near Winterthur. On Fridays and Saturdays there's disco bowling from 20:00, until 01:00 from September to April. Shoes cost CHF 3; book lanes by phone on 052 366 08 08. A party room holds up to 80 people.
Laser tag arena in the Funpark at Oberer Deutweg 4, designed for 30 people. A game lasts 12 minutes and costs CHF 17, three games CHF 48. The arena can be hired exclusively for CHF 990 per hour. Open until 01:00 on Fridays and Saturdays; book online or by phone.
Science centre at Technoramastrasse 1 in Oberwinterthur, with hundreds of hands-on experiments. Open daily from 10:00 to 17:00; adults pay CHF 34, groups of 10 or more CHF 31 per person. A good programme for a rainy Saturday; better to get there by public transport.
Museum of work and industrial history at Lagerplatz 9, around 10 minutes' walk from the main station. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 17:00, entry CHF 12, CHF 9 for groups of 8 or more. A private guided tour costs CHF 160 per hour, a 30-minute short introduction CHF 100.
Electric go-kart track at Steigstrasse 5 in Töss, with a 400 m indoor track and, in good weather, a 100 m outdoor track. A race session lasts 8 minutes and costs CHF 26, helmet included. From 8 people there are group formats such as Grand Prix and stag and hen packages, bookable up to 3 days ahead.
Climbing and bouldering hall at Klosterstrasse 17 in Töss, with rope climbing, bouldering, a rope park and a bistro. Entry costs CHF 33 for climbing or CHF 25 for bouldering only, with harness hire CHF 6 and shoes CHF 7. Taster climbing sessions with an instructor and team events on request.
Spa of 1,285 m² at Brunngasse 4: brine pool, whirlpool, sauna area with infusions, steam room and Kneipp path. Single entry costs CHF 39, the Basic DaySpa with bathrobe and towel CHF 46. Book online or at reception; the Private SPA is for 1 to 2 people only.
Restaurant with Swiss and Czech food at Steinberggasse 25. Cheese fondue is served all year for 2 or more, classic for CHF 32.80 per person. For 10 to 25 people there's a group menu, to be ordered 3 days in advance. Open Saturdays from 17:30 to 22:30.
Fondue and raclette restaurant in a vaulted cellar more than 150 years old at Tellstrasse 15, with eight round tables for 6, for up to 50 people. Cheese fondue costs CHF 32.50–34.10, raclette à discrétion (as much as you like) CHF 34.50. Tuesday to Saturday from 17:00 to 23:00, in summer for events only.
According to the owners, Winterthur's oldest restaurant, at Marktgasse 49 since 1448. On the menu are Swiss and Austrian classics, mains about CHF 28–48, the spätzli pan for example CHF 28. Open Tuesday to Saturday until 22:00, with the Kronesaal for celebrations.
According to the owners, the oldest pizzeria in Winterthur's Old Town, at Steinberggasse 51. Pizzas cost about CHF 18.50–37.50, the small version CHF 3 less. Open on Saturdays at lunchtime and in the evening from 18:00 to 21:30; book online. Come early, as the kitchen closes in good time.
Restaurant with Swiss and Czech food at Oberer Graben 18 in the car-free Old Town, with a hidden courtyard garden. Mains cost about CHF 26.80–49.80, roast pork with dumplings CHF 35.80. Monday to Saturday until 23:30; order duck in advance for 4 people or more.
Italian osteria at Marktgasse 44, the Old Town's main shopping street. Homemade pasta costs CHF 24–34, meat and fish dishes CHF 39–53. Open Monday to Saturday from 11:30 to 22:30 and Sundays from 12:00; book tables online.
Restaurant with a separate fondue hut at Neuburgstrasse 63 in Wülflingen, around 3.9 km west of the Old Town. From October to March there's cheese fondue for 2 or more at CHF 31–35 per person, raclette à discrétion CHF 36. Open daily for groups of 10 or more; book by phone.
Restaurant with a cocktail bar in the Casinotheater at Stadthausstrasse 119, in a building from 1860. Open Thursday to Saturday from 11:00 to 24:00, hot food until 21:30. Mains cost about CHF 28–47, the burger CHF 29; afterwards you go straight into a show in the same building.
Country inn with traditional Swiss food at Eschenbergstrasse 1, around 2.9 km south-east of the Old Town on the Eschenberg. Homemade fondue, classic, with mushrooms or with game, is available to pre-order. The banquet hall holds 10 to 150 people; open Wednesday to Saturday until 22:00.
Guided walk through Winterthur's Old Town in German, around 1.5 hours according to the listing. Suits Saturday morning before the group heads to Steinberggasse. On GetYourGuide from approx. €21 per person; the meeting point and route are in your booking.
Guided tour in German through the former industrial site of the Sulzer works, around 2 hours according to the listing. Afterwards you're already where the evening continues, at Boilerroom or Kraftfeld. From approx. €27 per person; the meeting point and content are in your booking.
Half an hour by boat on the Rhine to the German border, finishing right up close to the Rhine Falls. The boat ticket is included according to the booking; you board at Schlössli Wörth in Neuhausen, a good 20 km to the north. From Winterthur, take the train via Schaffhausen. From approx. €11 per person.
Virtual reality for your private group, around 40 minutes of free roaming with a headset and haptic vest according to the booking, plus a highlights video by email. The meeting point is in Rümlang north of Zurich, about 15 km from Winterthur; by train with a change at Zürich-Oerlikon. From approx. €54 per person.
A whole day at Europa-Park in Rust: the return coach trip and park entry are included according to the booking, food and Rulantica aren't. Departure from Wiesendangen S-Bahn station just east of Winterthur, around 15 hours in total. From approx. €113 per person.
The city's biggest station and the fourth-largest in Switzerland by passenger numbers, with S-Bahn and long-distance trains to Zurich. Night buses N1, N2, N3 and N7 leave from here at weekends. The Old Town, the Salzhaus and Bolero are a few minutes' walk away, and the tourist information is at Bahnhofplatz 7.
The main axis of the Old Town pedestrian zone, around 335 m long, between Neumarkt and Graben. The city parliament meets in the Town Hall at Marktgasse 20, and the Krone and Cantinetta Bindella are right on the street. A good gathering point before heading to Steinberggasse.
Building by Gottfried Semper, completed in 1869, with a grand staircase and the Stadthaus fountain in the forecourt. The Musikkollegium Winterthur plays regularly in its concert hall. The Stadthaus borders the Stadtgarten on the northern edge of the Old Town, and the bloom Bar is also on Stadthausstrasse.
Square in the converted Sulzerareal, the former industrial site of the Sulzer works south-west of the main station, around 600 m away as the crow flies. On the square are Halls 52/53 and the Kranbahn housing development. Kraftfeld and Portier on Lagerplatz are a few minutes' walk away.
The city's most central park, around 22,700 m² directly north of the Old Town between Stadthausstrasse and Museumstrasse. There's a pond, old sequoia trees and the little baroque house, and the Museum Oskar Reinhart and the summer theatre are by the park. A quiet meeting point in the afternoon.
Street around 150 m long that widens into a square up to 35 m across, in the Old Town pedestrian zone. It links Technikumstrasse with Untertor and Marktgasse, and the lower Steinberggasse branches off here. From the end of November until just before Christmas, it hosts the Christmas market.
Guide prices excluding travel, food & accommodation. Check the provider for today's prices.
🗺️ Open route in Google MapsNeighbourhoods
Winterthur parties within short distances: in the Old Town around Steinberggasse and Marktgasse, just behind the station on Untere Vogelsangstrasse, in the Sulzerareal on Lagerplatz and, to the east, at the Funpark on Oberer Deutweg.
For bars, a club night and fondue
Steinberggasse is the Old Town's nightlife street. At the Albani at number 16, DJs play until 03:00 on Fridays; Fahrenheit at number 65 pours Appenzeller lager; the Wintikanne at number 25 serves cheese fondue all year round; and Don Camillo bakes pizza at number 51.
For food, a garden and cocktails
On Marktgasse, the Krone has been welcoming guests since 1448, and a few doors down Cantinetta Bindella cooks pasta. On Oberer Graben, the Schäfli has a hidden courtyard garden, and on Untere Kirchgasse Thurbinä mixes its own signature cocktails until 01:00.
For parties, clubs and lounges
Just behind the station is Untere Vogelsangstrasse: the Salzhaus runs '90s, 2000s and over-30s parties, and at Bolero you dance in a former SBB goods shed. The Archbar has high tables for up to 16 people, and Plan B on Zürcherstrasse is in the Pionierpark.
For industrial charm, a club and escape rooms
In the former industrial site of the Sulzer works, Boilerroom sits in the old boiler house with room for 160 people. On Lagerplatz are Kraftfeld, with parties from 22:00, Bistro Portier for the start of the evening, and Geheimgang 188 with escape rooms for 2 to 6 people.
For laser tag, mini golf and jazz
East of the Old Town, the Funpark is on Oberer Deutweg: laser tag at LazerFun for up to 30 people, blacklight mini golf with 18 holes and then Molly Malone in the same building. On Zeughausstrasse, the Esse Musicbar puts on more than 150 gigs a year.
Sample itinerary
This is what a weekend that works in Winterthur looks like, whether it's a stag do, a hen do or a quieter group. You'll find every venue in the planner above, where you can swap out individual stops.
Burgers and draught beer in the old boiler house, 5 dl for CHF 8.50–9.50.
House beer for CHF 7, open until 03:00 on Fridays.
Party for over-18s, entry about CHF 15, CHF 18 after midnight.
3 games of laser tag for CHF 48 per person.
18 holes of blacklight mini golf, CHF 17.
Classic cheese fondue for CHF 32.80 per person.
Karaoke from 22:00, entry CHF 7 with a shot.
Signature cocktails in the Old Town, open from 17:00.
Homemade pasta for CHF 24–34; book a table online.
The Steibi FM club night from 23:00, entry mostly CHF 10–15.
Around 1.5 hours in German; meeting point in your booking.
The Bachelor*ette Royal city mission, CHF 36 per person from 5 people.
Swiss and Czech food, in the garden in summer.
Ask about a private booth for the group at least 2 days ahead; usually over-21s.
Cocktails on the terrace, tarte flambée until 22:30.
Gig on Fridays at 20:15, pay what you like.
Hands-on experiments, entry CHF 34.
Brine pool, sauna and steam room, single entry CHF 39.
Swiss classics in the city's oldest restaurant, until 22:00.
Your group's a bit different? The itinerary generator builds a plan around your group, budget and mood, using the same venues.
Budget
Winterthur has Swiss prices: 5 dl of beer costs CHF 7 at Nelson Pub and up to CHF 9.50 at Boilerroom, party entry at the Salzhaus about CHF 15, and a cheese fondue at the Wintikanne CHF 32.80. Laser tag and mini golf at the Funpark are cheap.
| Option | Per person | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| One night out | €65–130 | fondue or pizza, Old Town bars, a party at the Salzhaus or the Albani |
| A day with an activity | €105–215 | plus laser tag, an escape room, karting or bowling |
| Weekend | €230–490 | two nights out, one activity, one night in a double room, travel not included |
Guide prices per person, based on the prices of the venues and tours on this page. The bride or groom usually doesn't pay; their share is split across the group. The planner above adds up what your programme costs.
All prices in euros, converted at the ECB rate of 9 October 2026. Travel isn't included, as that depends on where you're coming from. Accommodation is based on the country's price level. Work out your own budget with the cost calculator.
Seasonal tips
These dates come round every year. If your weekend falls on one of them, the city will be packed. If you'd rather keep things relaxed, plan around them.
Over Whitsun there's a festival with a market and gigs, in May or June depending on when Whitsun falls.
On the last weekend in June the Old Town celebrates from Friday to Sunday, with stalls from around 70 local clubs, rides and free gigs.
Around 12 days of music festival in the city in August.
In early November the festival shows short films all over the city.
Daily on Neumarkt from the end of November until just before Christmas, until 20:30 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Winterthur's Old Town is said to be the largest continuous pedestrian zone in Switzerland, with shops, restaurants and cafés.
The former industrial site of the Sulzer works next to the station is now a district with lofts, the Kraftfeld arts venue and nightlife spots in the old boiler house.
Hundreds of hands-on experiments in Oberwinterthur, open daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
Questions
