In Switzerland, Santa does not drop off presents unseen on Christmas Eve. Instead, Samichlaus (the Swiss German version of Santa Claus) visits children in person in the week leading up to St Nicholas Day on Dec 6.
Many families celebrate this tradition by visiting Samichlaus at a forest hut, where Samichlaus doles out stories and advice and children recite Christmas poems they learned at school.
In Zurich, you can visit Samichlaus for free without an appointment at the Käferberg forest hut. We’ve been to this hut many times with our children. Here’s how to get there and what to expect.
Quick info
When: 3 to 7 Dec 2025 • 10:00 to 16:00
Where: Käferberg forest (see on map), 20 min walk from Bucheneggplatz tram stop
Cost: free
Website: samichlaus-zuerich.ch
When to go
Samichlaus is at the hut the first week of December, usually from 10:00 to 16:00 (check website for current schedule).
It gets really busy on the weekends, particularly Sunday. They recommend coming on a weekday between 11:00 and 13:00 if possible. See their website here.
How to get there
This Santa hut is in the Käferberg forest, north of Zürich
It’s best to arrive by public transportation, as street parking can be hard to find and is mostly short-term parking. From either the tram stop or parking, it’s about a 25 min walk uphill through the forest to reach the hut.
By public transport: Ride tram to Bucheneggplatz.
By car: Drive to Käferholzstrasse 2-16, 8057 Zürich, which is just north of Buchenplatz on the edge of the woods. Park in the blue zone spots along Käferholzstrasse. The parking can get very full, but I’ve always got a spot eventually.
Trail to Hut
Once you get to the forest, follow the main wide dirt road that leads up into the forest, as shown on the map below. There will probably be other families with kids going the same place as you. It takes about 30 minutes or so with little kids.
Photo story
Here’s the road leading to the hut. It is fine for sturdy strollers. If it’s snowy, you can bring your sled to drag your kids up the trail and sled back down. One time, we saw another Samichlaus walking up to the hut.
There is a wood sign along the trail/road that say “Zur Samichlaus”.
Here is the wood hut where Samichlaus is holding court. It’s a simple affair but festively decorated. Families go in as small groups, so you’ll need to wait your turn outside the hut. It can be a long wait on weekends, perhaps an hour, so dress warmly. We used to snacks and hot chocolate or hot apple punch in insulated bottles to help keep the kids warm.
There are usually a couple donkeys next to the hut (don’t feed the animals) and a slightly scary helper, Schmützli. Sometimes you can pet the donkeys while you wait.
When it’s your turn, they squeeze in about 30 people into a very small smokey room where Samichlaus lives (maybe its different after the pandemic). Samichlaus tells a story or two, often instructive, like about brushing your teeth better.
He asks the children to recite a Sprüchli (a Christmas poem or song) they have memorized for the occasion. If your kids go to Swiss school, they will have learned something for this, so ask them about it before. Here are some Samichlaus poems if you need ideas.
It’s all in Swiss German, so bring your own translator if that’s important to you. When you exit the hut, you can shake hands with Samichlaus and they give you a few nuts, maybe a cookie.
It’s free to visit, but they do ask for donations to help fund this event. There is a donation box outside the hut. So if you’re feeling generous, drop a few francs in the box. It’s all very rustic and very Swiss. You should definitely go at least once.
If you go in the afternoon, you’ll get a lovely view of Zurich in twilight.
Samichlaus in your neighborhood
Samichlaus usually visits the public Kindergartens and some primary schools on the first week of December. You should also check with your local community center, aka Gemeindehaus, which often host Samichlaus visits. You may need to sign up beforehand and pay a small fee.
They may also arrange Samichlaus to visit your local forest hut. You might have to be a member of the community family club to participate, or know the right people. Just ask around your local playground and someone will know. Some Swiss families hire a Samichlaus to visit their home and give personal scoldings.
For more info, we like this article by our friend Kristin at Z-nuni.com.
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One Response
All the activities are filling my calendar already. With TG day approaching i will be thankfull for you and the great info you are giving to all of us your followers.