Samichlaus in Zurich 2026

Zurich's Samichlaus parade opens the St. Nicholas season. The Märlitram, the city's fairy-tale tram, leads richly decorated floats down Bahnhofstrasse under the Christmas lights, while many Samichläuse and their helpers, the Schmutzli, hand small gifts to children along the way.

At Bürkliplatz, the Samichlaus wraps up with a short ceremony to the sound of two brass bands. It suits preschoolers and young school kids who still believe in him.

Samichlaus is Zurich's St. Nicholas, and each Advent he and his helper Schmutzli move into a little hut in the Käferberg forest. Families follow a signposted path through the woods to find them. The pair chat with the kids and show them their Stube (living room) and bedroom.

It suits young kids who still believe in Samichlaus, and families who would rather visit him in the woods than at home.

The Märlitram is a Zurich Advent tradition: a tram that carries only children. Samichlaus, the Swiss St. Nicholas, leaves his reindeer behind and rides along while two angels read Christmas fairy tales aloud as the tram winds through the city center.

The stories are in German, so it suits kids who follow German or are happy listening. A child who won't go anywhere without a parent may not be ready.

Once a year Küssnacht turns off its street lights for a St. Nicholas parade. First come up to 250 Iffelen, some over 2.5 meters tall, slipping past in silence. St. Nicholas follows with torch bearers, then about 1,100 Klausjäger swinging cowbells in time and some 200 horn players.

It is dark and loud, so it suits kids who love a spectacle more than kids who startle at noise.

Polarzauber fills the main hall of Zurich's main station with what it bills as Switzerland's largest indoor Christmas market: craft and food stalls, mulled wine and a kids' program all season. Kids watch the Lindt Christmas train circle the big tree, dance at the kids' disco and make crafts to take home.

Being indoors makes it an easy stop on a cold day or between trains.

Häsli Ingo the bunny and Nelly host a sing-along concert where parents join in too, to welcome Samichlaus season. Kids sing, dance and laugh along, and the popular Häsli Ingo songs are on the program.

It suits toddlers and young children who like to move to music. It is sung in German, so kids who don't speak it will follow the dancing more than the words.