How to visit the Rhine Falls from Zurich

The Swiss Alps are often the only ones that come to mind when talking about Switzerland, but there are other unmissable natural treasures on its soil. No matter how many days you travel to Zurich, make sure you take a trip to Rhine Falls, Europe's most famous waterfall. If you want to know the different alternatives available to see them, here is the summary you need to know prices, duration and tips for your trip.

Rhine Falls, translated as Rhine Falls, offers a splendid spectacle to visitors and locals alike. Its 150 metres wide with a height of 23 metres makes it the largest waterfall in Europe.

Throughout the year, numerous visitors are seduced by its charms. The best time to visit Rhine Falls is in summer, but any time of the year is good.

However, I recommend booking an excursion to Rhine Falls from Zurich if you want to forget about logistics, transfers, and just enjoy yourself accompanied by a guide who will explain everything you need to know about this wonder of nature.

Useful information

• Price: from 61 euros.
• Duration: around 3 hours and 45 minutes.
• What's included: visit to the Rhine Falls from Zurich, return journey, tour guide, stop at the Munot Fortress, free time and, in summer, optional boat trip.

Before seeing the largest waterfalls in the country, you'll change countries and enter Germany to visit Titisee-Neustadt, the city of cuckoo clocks and a classic pastry: Black Forest cake.

In Titisee-Neustadt you'll find a variety of shops, factories and a cuckoo clock exhibition (the flagship product of the area), as well as a wide range of restaurants where you can eat (don't forget to try the authentic Black Forest cake, this is its land of origin).

After a couple of hours getting to know Titisee-Neustadt, it's back on the bus to head for Rhine Falls. The falls are a visual spectacle and can be viewed from the various platforms on either side of the falls or, if you prefer, you can join the Rhine Falls boat trip for an additional fee.

• Price: from 86 €.
• Duration: 7 hours.
• What's included: Return transport by luxury coach from a central location in Zurich to Rhine Falls. Professional English-speaking guide service. Entrance to the Drubba watch showroom. Entrance and boat trip to the Rhine Falls.

The beautiful little town of Schaffhausen is located 10 minutes away from Rhine Falls. The town centre has retained its medieval village appearance.

We recommend a walk around the Museum zu Allerheiligen Schaffhausen or All Saints' Museum, along the circular Munot wall and up a circular path to the Laufen Castle, where you will find beautiful views of the Rhine Falls.

The streets of Schaffhausen are full of Swiss spirit. The tour includes the guided walking tour, a perfect way to learn about Swiss culture and history with the sound of the Rhine Falls in the background.

Useful information

• Price: From 60 €.
• Duration: 4 hours.
• What's included: Transport to and from Zurich. Visit and guided tour of Schaffhausen. Entrance to the Rhine Falls, boat trip over the falls.

For those interested in getting an overview of the Alpine country, this is one of the most recommended day trips to discover Switzerland from Zurich thanks to the convenience and variety of routes it offers.

Morning

The tour begins after meeting around Sihlquai to board a luxury coach that takes you straight to the Rhine Falls. Lean out of the window to enjoy the view as your guide describes the areas along the way.

As soon as you step off the coach you will hear the Rhine Falls in the background. The sound is colossal, 600m3 of water lapping over this alpine village and the views are breathtaking.

Be sure to climb up to the viewing platforms to take your best photographs. If you want to get even closer, enjoy a boat ride and cross the waterfalls.

Afternoon

After this stop, return to the coach for Sihlquai just in time for lunch in the surrounding area while you wait for the second part of the tour, the Zurich city tour.

This tour includes a walk through the old town of Limmat, the St. Peterskirche or St. Peter's Church and its iconic clock with the largest clock face in Europe.

The itinerary, which will allow you to see the best of Zurich in an afternoon, passes by other monuments such as the Fraumünster Church decorated with stained glass windows by Marc Chagall, the National Museum, the sophisticated shopping street Bahnhofstrasse, as well as the school where Albert Einstein taught.

Interesting details

• Price: From 85 €.
• Duration: 7 hours.
• What's included: Return transfer service from Zurich. Entrance and guided visit to the Rhine Falls. Tour of Zurich and walking tour of the city's landmarks.

This way of travelling will allow you to move around at your leisure and get the most out of your trip. If you don't have your own car, you can always rent one from one of the various companies at Zurich airport, such as Sixt, where you can get a car from €37 per day.

If you are determined to drive to the Rhine Falls in your car, you should take Neumühle Quai and Wasserwerkstrasse to A1L in Kreis 6. Then connect with A1/A4 and E41 towards Dorfstrasse in Laufen-Uhwiesen, exit at 7-Uhwiesen from A4/E41 and finally take Lauferstrasse to your destination.

Following the route on your GPS you will reach your destination in less than 40 minutes (please note that traffic may vary and you will encounter a couple of tolls on the way).

Bus travel is a good option for travelling from Zurich to Rhine Falls, as it only takes a little longer than trains and costs a lot less. From €2 you can buy a bus ticket, making it the cheapest option.

The main bus company is Verkehrsbetriebe Schaffhausen:

• It has departures every 10 minutes from Sihlquai** station (Zürich HB) with lines 1, 7, 21 and N4 to Schaffhausen, the medieval town on the German border.
• Once there, several lines take you to Neuhausen Zentrum, including bus numbers 1, 6 and 12, although if you take bus 10 from Schaffhausen train station it will take you directly to the falls at the Rheinfall stop.
• From Schaffhausen to Neuhausen is only 7 minutes and drops you off in the city centre.
• From there it is only a 400 metre walk to see the waterfalls.

This is the most convenient way to travel to the Rhine Falls from Zurich. The price, time, comfort and speed of this trip make it the best alternative: the Rhine Falls are only an hour away from Zurich if you travel by train and the ticket price is around 19 €.

To get to the falls you should go to any of the Swiss Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS) stations, such as Hauptbahnhof, Oerlikon, Winterthur or Zurich HB, from where the best scenic trains also depart:

• You should take a train to Schaffhausen, where you have to change trains.
• There you take another train to Neuhausen am Rheinfall or Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall. The difference between them is the side of the river Rhine where they leave you.
• Once you get off the train, the falls are a mere 10 minutes away.

If you plan to go boating, choose a train that goes to Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall station, as the boarding is just a short walk away.

Limousines, conventional taxis, luxury minivans... these are some of the means of transport used as a private alternative to travel from Zurich to the Rhine Falls.

For this distance of approximately 50 kilometres, taxi fares start at 230 €, which makes this the most expensive option.

This alternative does not seem to me to be the most convenient, however, for special events it may sound attractive, here are the websites of three companies:

• Taxi 444
• Zuerich taxi 24
• Taxi 7x7

• Boat tours of the falls are available between April and October. However, July and August are the best months to enjoy the falls. If you're looking for a good view, climb the central platform at any time of the year. You're sure to be impressed.
• The boats have limited capacity, so it's best to make a reservation in advance or book directly with the tour operator so you don't miss out on the experience of navigating the Rhine Falls.
• Between November and March, the trail leading to Laufen Castle with the waterfalls in the background is open. Only boating activities are excluded, so you can still enjoy the beautiful views.
• If you are travelling by bus, be aware that many buses do not have ticket machines, so you will not be able to board them. It's best to secure your seat by purchasing your ticket at the Zürich HB terminal or the one closest to your stay in advance.