Central

Central is a square on the Limmat opposite Zurich Main Station and one of the most important traffic hubs in the city centre. Until 1950 it was called Leonhardsplatz, after a chapel that once stood there, and was renamed for the Hotel Central, which still defines the square today. From Central, the Polybahn - a short funicular that has run up to the ETH university since 1889 - departs frequently, a classic of everyday Zurich life and popular with commuters and students. Framed by the Limmat, the Niederdorf old town and the Bahnhofbruecke, Central is not a classic tourist destination, but a useful starting point for walks through the Niederdorf and along the river.