Rhine Falls Day Trip from Zurich: All You Need to Know
Rhine Falls is the largest waterfall in Europe. At 23m high and 150m wide, the gushing waves from one of Switzerland’s most beautiful natural wonders are too good to miss on a day trip.
I’ve managed to visit twice from Zurich, once in spring and once in summer, blown away each time by its sheer power. Now it’s time for you to experience it!
Planning a Rhine Falls day trip from Zurich is very easy. Whether you want to experience it on a boat tour, from a viewing platform, or see the other local attractions, this guide’s for you.
I’ll cover everything you need to know, including how to get there, when to go, and other activities you can do on your day trip from Zurich.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission if you use them at no extra cost to you.
Where is Rhine Falls located?
Rhine Falls is located on the High Rhine River in the Canton of Schaffhausen, 3-4 km southwest of the town of Schaffhausen and a few kilometres from the Germany and Switzerland border.
The nearest village to the falls is Neuhausen am Rheinfall, which surrounds the falls. Here is where you’ll find all the restaurants, cafes and shops you need for your day trip.
Schaffhausen is the nearest town, which I highly recommend combining with Rhine Falls for a complete day trip.
Is a day trip to Rhine Falls from Zurich worth it?
Yes, absolutely! There is no better chance to see Europe’s largest waterfall from Zurich, being only a short distance away by train or car.
In addition to Rhine Falls, the area has plenty of other activities to do and has all the amenities you need for a brilliant day trip.
I have been on this day trip twice, once in spring and once in summer, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.
There is something magical about seeing Rhine Falls’ largest gushing waves right next to you, something totally different from the bustling city of Zurich.
How to get to Rhine Falls from Zurich
There are several options available to get to Rhine Falls from Zurich, whether you’re travelling by train, car or on a day tour.
Zurich to Rhine Falls by train
If you’re planning a day trip to Rhine Falls from Zurich, the easiest way to get there is by train, with at least one train running there every hour. A return train ticket from Zurich to Rhine Falls averages around CHF 48.
There are three main train routes to choose from:
- Zurich HB to Neuhausen Rheinfall (direct): This station is located on the northern bank and is the closest to the boat depot. The journey takes 1 hour and 5 minutes, with trains departing every 2 hours. When you arrive, you can take the glass lift from the station towards the Rhine Falls promenade.
- Zurich HB to Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall (direct): This station is located on the southern bank and right next to Schloss Laufen. The journey takes 1 hour and 5 minutes, with trains departing every 2 hours. When you arrive, you can walk up the stairs towards Schloss Laufen or take the glass lift.
- Zurich HB to Schaffhausen to Neuhausen Rheinfall (requires connection): If you plan to visit the picture-perfect town of Schaffhausen on a detour, this is the best option. This route to Rhine Falls is more frequent and quicker overall, but requires a connecting train. It takes 44 minutes in total.
Good to know: I always buy my train tickets using the SBB Mobile rail app. I highly recommend doing the same for any train journeys around Switzerland to save time.
If you are based in Schaffhausen, you can also choose to travel to Rhine Falls via the Rhyfall Express. The tourist train runs daily from May to October from the Schifflände stop in the Old Town, taking 30 minutes to arrive.
Zurich to Rhine Falls by car
If you plan to head to Rhine Falls from Zurich by car, the best route to take is driving on the A4 road towards Schaffhausen. This will take less than 35 minutes.
There are parking spots on either side of the river. On the northern bank next to Schlössli Wörth, you’ll find three parking areas and one on the south bank next to Laufen Castle (Parkplatz Schloss Laufen).
For those travelling with a wheelchair user, your best option is to travel by car. There are accessibility lifts from either parking areas on either side.
As a side note, parking around Rhine Falls is very expensive. Every parking spot costs CHF 5 for the first hour and CHF 2 for each additional hour.
Zurich to Rhine Falls by tour
While there are definitely more practical ways of getting to Rhine Falls from Zurich, going on a tour eliminates the need to plan your day.
With the added bonus of having an experienced tour guide explaining the history of Rhine Falls!
Here are some of the tours I recommend to save you time planning your day out:
- From Zurich: Rhine Falls Morning Trip with Entry Tickets – This tour will take you to Rhine Falls from Zurich by coach with a return journey available. Tickets to the Belvedere Trail are included in the tour to see Rhine Falls up close on foot.
- From Zurich: Rhine Falls Coach Tour – This tour offers transport to and from Rhine Falls, with an option to join a boat tour to take you right up to the falls.
- Zurich: Rhine Falls, Chocolate & Cheese Factory Day Trip: This tour is a little different to what you can expect on your day trip to Rhine Falls. On the tour, you’ll visit a chocolate and cheese factory, something Switzerland is well known for, thanks to its high-quality produce.
What to do at Rhine Falls
There are so many great things to do at Rhine Falls, whether that is experiencing the waterfall or visiting the nearby attractions. Here is everything you can do on your day trip.
Take a boat trip to Rhine Falls
If you’re lucky to visit during April to October, you can experience the Rhine Falls through a boat trip.
These boat rides will take you directly to the falls and offer different experiences depending on the boat trip you choose. Here are all the boat trip options you can choose from:
- Rock Tour: This 30-minute boat cruise will take you along the Rhine River towards the central rock, the heart of Rhine Falls. Visitors will spend 20 minutes on the rock, where you can climb 100 steps to the viewing platform for stunning 360° views of the waterfall. Tickets cost CHF 22.50 for adults and CHF 12.50 for children.
- Rhine Crossing: This 5-minute boat cruise takes you between the two banks of the Rhine. Tickets cost CHF 3 one way or CHF 6 return for adults, and for children (6-16), CHF 2 one way and CHF 4 return.
- Short Tour: Head as close as possible to the Rhine Falls by boat on this quick 15-minute boat cruise. Tickets cost CHF 14 for adults and CHF 9 for children.
- 30-Minute Audio Round Trip: Learn everything you need to know about Rhine Falls in this informative 30-minute audio guide tour. It’ll take you along to the Nohl Bridge and back to Rhine Falls, where you’ll go past the Rhine Falls basin twice. Tickets cost CHF 14 for adults and CHF 9 for children.
- Neuhausen am Rheinfall – Rhine Falls Boat Tour: This incredible Rhine Falls tour takes you along the Rhine River, passing the German border and then returning to see the Rhine Falls up close. Our tour guide on this tour was incredibly knowledgeable and shared various facts about the falls.
- Big Round Trip: This complete boat cruise lasts 75 minutes, taking you to Rhine Falls and then onwards onto a 7 km trip around the Rhine River. It briefly stops at Rheinau, where you get to visit a beautiful baroque monastery church. The boat tickets cost CHF 17 for adults and CHF 9 for children.
You can pre-book these experiences on the Rhyfall and Schiffmaendli website.
View the falls from various viewing platforms
Just on the south bank (Schloss Laufen) and north bank (Schlössli Wörth) are various platforms where you can view the falls.
If you want to navigate to both banks, you can walk along the pedestrian path on the Rheinfall Railway bridge (Rheinfallbahn), which as a plus, offers a great view above the falls.
You can also take the Rhine Crossing boat ferry to connect to both.
Southern bank (Schloss Laufen)
The southern bank viewing platforms give you the closest view of the Rhine Falls on foot without a boat trip, but it will require an entry fee. It currently costs CHF 5 for adults and CHF 3 for children ages 6-15.
From the Schloss Laufen courtyard, you’ll walk down towards Rhine Falls along the Belvedere Trail, passing various viewing platforms until you reach the Känzeli platform, which is the closest viewing point of Rhine Falls on the trail.
For wheelchair users, there is a glass lift in the courtyard that can take you to a viewing platform. However, it won’t give you the best viewing experience.
Tickets for the trail can be purchased in the Schloss Laufen courtyard and you’ll need to queue up to begin the trail.
Important note: During the summer, the queue to access the Belvedere Trail on the southern bank gets incredibly busy. Expect to queue up for 40 minutes to 1 hour just to begin the trail.
Northern bank (Schlössli Wörth)
Although you won’t be able to get as close, the northern bank platforms are free and still offer stunning views of Rhine Falls.
On the northern bank, you can walk along the forest area of the Rhine Falls promenade and get incredible side views of the falls with a backdrop of Schloss Laufen.
Getting to the platforms: If you’re coming from the Rhine Falls basin around Schlössli Wörth, the viewing platforms can be accessed along the stairs next to Mühlerad Bistro.
For those coming from the Neuhausen Rheinfall station, you can take the glass lift down and continue the path to the left towards Mühlerad Bistro.
Unfortunately, wheelchair access is not available to the northern bank viewing platforms.
See the rest of Schloss Laufen
Perched on a cliffside along the southern bank of the waterfall is Laufen Castle, a medieval castle that has been in the Rhine area for over 1000 years.
While you can access the Belvédère Trail here, there is plenty more to see in and around the grounds.
Those interested in the history of Rhine Falls can visit the Historama room, with 11 themed rooms displaying various fun facts about the falls and developments in the local areas.
If you’re looking for information on your day trip, you can head to the visitor centre right next to the Schloss Laufen car park.
There is also a gourmet restaurant at the castle, serving Swiss delights like Fondue. Its open terrace is available from April to October and has an amazing birds-eye view of the falls.
Zipline at Adventure Park Rheinfall
If you fancy a bit of adrenaline on your day trip, be sure to visit the largest rope park in Switzerland.
There are over 170 different elements, including climbing sections and various obstacle courses. Zipline is a huge activity here with over 1.5km of ziplines.
Panorama Express is the most popular zipline, flying 460m over the forest area of the Rhine, with beautiful panoramic views of the waterfall while you zipline across.
Opening times: Adventure Park Rheinfall is open from March to October, daily from 10 am to 7 pm. Ticket prices vary depending on the activity.
Hop on the Rhyfall Express
One of the more fun ways to travel to Rhine Falls is by riding on the Rhyfall Express. The Rhyfall Express is an open tourist train that takes you from Schaffhausen’s Old Town to the Rhine Falls
The journey will take you past the Old Town and through the beautiful Swiss hills, stopping off at Munster, Flurlingen and Rhyality, until it reaches Rhine Falls.
It will drop you off at the northern bank (Schlossli Worth), which is where you can catch a return to Schaffhausen.
Rhyfall Express operates from May to October, daily from 12:50 pm until 6 pm, and tickets can be bought online or at the departure points. Tickets are CHF 16 one way or CHF 24 for a return.
Visit the largest indoor miniature world in Switzerland
Just a 3-minute walk away from the promenade of the Rhine Falls is Smilestones, Switzerland’s largest indoor miniature museum.
The museum has over 23,000 miniature figures set within tiny recreations of some of Switzerland’s most famous locations, including the Bernese Oberland and Interlaken region.
You’ll see sights like the Jungfrau peak or a miniature version of Rhine Falls, where you’ll spot a few boats on their way to the waterfall.
Tickets cost CHF 21 for adults and CHF 12 for children aged 6 to 15.
Explore the town of Schaffhausen
Your day at Rhine Falls could not be complete without a visit to the picturesque town of Schaffhausen.
Schaffhausen is just a quick train ride from Rhine Falls and can easily be explored within a few hours. I recommend coming in the late afternoon, stopping off for a wander around and dining before you head back to Zurich.
The best place to start in Schaffhausen is the Old Town. Spend your time viewing the many beautiful Renaissance and medieval buildings as you wander around.
Make sure to see the medieval gems Schaffhausen has to offer, including the All Saints Abbey & Museum and Munot Fortress.
Munot Fortress is my top pick, Schaffhausen’s medieval castle. It sits 25m high above the town and you can climb the 277 steps to the fortress for a stunning panorama of the town.
Admire art at Rhyality Immersive Art Hall
The Rhyality Immersive Art Hall is one of a kind!
It is Switzerland’s first immersive art venue, offering a 360° visual experience, with art depicted on the walls around you.
The art hall has several immersive shows a day. Rhine Falls in 4 Seasons is a highlight, showcasing the Rhine Falls in a time-lapse throughout the year.
It begins with its heavy flow in April, moving through the seasons and ending with the icy winter surrounding the falls.
View the falls illuminations at night
If you can stay around Rhine Falls after sunset, don’t miss the illuminations that light up the falls and create a sparkling display.
For those also lucky enough to be at Rhine Falls around the celebrations of Swiss National Day, a large fireworks display is held here at night called ‘Fire on the Rocks’.
It happens on the 31st of July at 9:45 pm, which is a day before Swiss National Day.
Best time to visit Rhine Falls
The best time to visit Rhine Falls is around May and early June.
This is when the falls are at their most powerful due to the melting snow coming from the Swiss Alps. You’ll also benefit from off-peak tourist prices on boat trips and tours.
Summer is still a perfect time to visit, but do expect much larger waiting times for boat trips and accessing the Belvedere Trail on the Schlössli Wörth (south bank).
I waited over 10 minutes to queue up to start the Belvedere Trail in May, and over 40 minutes in the summer!
Winter can still be a beautiful time to visit, with many festivities held in the area around the falls. However, boat trips, Rhyfall Express Tourist Train and the Adventure Park are all closed from November to March, so your experience will be slightly dampened. The falls are also at their least powerful in the winter.
Frequently asked questions about Rhine Falls
How much time do you need at Rhine Falls?
There is no right or wrong answer, as it depends on what you want to experience on your visit.
If you’re aiming to just see the Rhine Falls, I recommend at least 1 hour from the Schloss Laufen (south side) or Schlössli Wörth (north side).
If you plan to see the falls from both sides, do the Belvedere Trail, explore Schloss Laufen and also take a boat trip, allocate at least 3 to 4 hours here.
I combined a trip to Rhine Falls and Schaffhausen for a full-day out. Alternatively, you can replace a trip to Schaffhausen with a visit to Adventure Park Rheinfall and Smilestones, which is a more family-friendly option.
Is Rhine Falls free?
Yes, Rhine Falls is free to view from Schlössli Wörth (Northern bank).
However, if you want to access the viewing platforms from the Schloss Laufen side, walk the Belvedere Trail or take a boat trip, this will come at a cost.
Does Rhine Falls close?
No, Rhine Falls doesn’t close and is open all year round, 24 hours a day. Viewing platforms on the northern platforms are always available for access.
However, the viewing platforms on the Belvedere Trail in Schloss Laufen are only available during set hours.
What facilities are at the Rhine Falls?
Around Rhine Falls, you can find everything you need during your day trip.
On the northern bank, there is the Castle Worth restaurant for gourmet dining, alongside many food kiosks selling refreshments and a picnic area to sit at and enjoy your food.
There is also a play area for kids, with a climbing frame and slide to keep them busy.
On the southern bank next to Schloss Laufen, you can find the visitor centre for guidance on your day trip.
Free toilets are located adjacent to the visitor centre, with a nearby playground and an ice cream van set up in the warmer months right next to it.
Can you visit Rhine Falls in winter?
Yes, you can visit Rhine Falls in the winter. It is a magical time to visit, with a few Christmas festivities held within the local area around the falls.
Winter Magic is held at Schloss Laufen, where the castle gets decorated in Christmas lights, and has a mini Christmas market set up outside the castle grounds.
Final thoughts on a Rhine Falls day trip
Well, there you have it! Rhine Falls is an incredible day trip from Zurich. I have experienced it twice and I can easily say I would experience it again.
With just a quick bus or train ride from Zurich, you can see Europe’s largest waterfall at your feet.
This guide gives all the information you need to plan the trip yourself! I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
Looking to explore more Switzerland destinations? Check out:
Best Free Things to Do in Bern
How to Spend One Day in Zurich
Need help with travelling in Switzerland? Check out:
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