Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and the country's economic centre. Every day, commuters from the whole region come into the city, along with business travellers, students and tourists. That makes Zurich an obvious market for outdoor advertising, but also one with a lot of competition for attention.

Here is an overview of the areas that matter most for out-of-home (OOH) in Zurich, and of how to evaluate a site.

Main station and Europaallee

Zurich main station is one of the country's most important transport hubs. Long-distance trains, S-Bahn, trams and buses all meet around it. The Europaallee next to it has grown into a district of offices, shops and restaurants. Here you reach a broad, mobile audience, from commuters to business travellers.

City centre and Bahnhofstrasse

The city centre with Bahnhofstrasse is Switzerland's best-known shopping street. Much of the audience is on foot and has time to look. The centre is attractive for premium brands, retail and restaurants. As in any historic centre, however, large formats are particularly sensitive here in terms of design and permits.

Zurich West and Hardbrücke

The former industrial area of Zurich West has become a district for work, living, culture and nightlife. The Hardbrücke, a major traffic artery, and Hardbrücke station keep a lot of people on the move. For brands that want to reach a young, urban, working audience, this area is interesting.

Districts 4 and 5

Around Langstrasse and in districts 4 and 5, the city is dense, lively and mixed. Many people live, work and go out in a small area. Large-format advertising on scaffolding stands out particularly well in these densely built neighbourhoods, because there are few traditional advertising sites.

Oerlikon

Oerlikon in the north of the city is a centre in its own right, with a major station, residential and office districts, and venues such as the Hallenstadion and Messe Zürich. On event days, additional audiences come into the area.

Seefeld, Bellevue and the lakeside

Around Bellevue and along the lakeside, many people are on the move on foot, by tram and by car, especially in good weather and at weekends. Here you meet locals and tourists alike.

Main traffic arteries

The major routes into the city take many drivers past the same places every day. For large scaffolding and facade surfaces these routes are particularly valuable, because the surfaces are seen from a distance and from several directions. The message has to be short and large, though.

How to evaluate a site in Zurich

Whatever the neighbourhood, these questions help you compare surfaces.

  • How many people pass? Ask for the contacts per day and scale them up to the campaign period. Our article on calculating the reach of an outdoor campaign shows how.
  • How do they move? On foot, by tram, by bike or by car? That decides how much text your message can carry.
  • How visible is the surface? From one direction or several, head-on or at an angle?
  • How long does the gaze linger? Traffic lights, stops and pedestrian zones extend dwell time.
  • Do the surroundings fit? A site in an office district reaches a different audience from one in a nightlife area.

Competition for attention

In Zurich many brands compete for attention. That makes a clear, simple message and a format that stands out from its surroundings all the more important. Large-format scaffolding advertising has an advantage here: it is new in the cityscape and much larger than most other surfaces. See our creative best practices for design tips.

Zurich or Basel?

Whether Zurich, Basel or both make sense for your campaign depends on your audience. See our comparison Basel vs. Zurich: where should you advertise?. You will find the currently available Hyde Media surfaces under Sites.

FAQ

Where is outdoor advertising most effective in Zurich?

Around the major transport hubs such as the main station, on the main traffic arteries and in busy neighbourhoods. What matters is that your audience passes regularly.

Does scaffolding advertising in Zurich need a permit?

Large-format advertising in Swiss cities generally requires a permit, and the rules differ by canton and municipality. Hyde Media handles the permit process. Read more in permits for scaffolding advertising in Switzerland.

How long should a campaign in Zurich run?

Long enough for your audience to see the message several times. At Hyde Media the minimum booking is four weeks.

Planning a campaign in German-speaking Switzerland? Contact us and we will advise you on suitable surfaces.