Lake Zurich (Zürichsee)

Most everyone who visits Zurich will come across the lake at some point. Perhaps the best way to fully appreciate Lake Zurich’s scenic beauty is on a boat tour; options range from leisurely sightseeing cruises to high-adrenaline watersports excursions. Some city tours incorporate a boat trip across the lake, as well as a ride on the Felsenegg cable car, which leads to a 2,624-foot (800-meter) viewpoint overlooking the lake. If you’d rather stay on solid ground, land-based tours from Zurich often combine stops at lake-edge villages, such as the medieval old town of Rapperswil, with trips to storybook mountain towns like Appenzell, or even Vaduz in the neighboring microstate of Liechtenstein.

• Bring a swimsuit to try out the lake’s swimming spots (May through October).

• Water-based excursions range in duration, from short round-trip outings to leisurely half-day cruises.

• The Felsenegg cable car is wheelchair accessible. Private sightseeing tours can be customized to meet the needs of wheelchair users.

Lake Zurich is easily accessible by public transportation. To get to Zurich’s Lake Promenade park, take the tram (5, 6, 7, 8, or 13), train (S, S8, S24, or SN8), or bus (161 or 165) to Zurich Wollishofen station, then walk the short distance to the waterfront. Alternatively ride the tram to Burkliplatz (2, 5, 8, 9, and 11) at the end of Bahnhofstrasse, or Bellevue (2, 5, and 9), which brings you to the edge of Lake Zurich where the Limmat river begins.

The best season at Lake Zurich is summer, when warmer temperatures make boating, swimming, and sunbathing feasible. Boats do not run during the winter months (mid-October to early April), though you’ll find ice-skating rinks at the lake’s edge during this time.

Among the most popular spots to visit on the lake is Rapperswil, a small town famed for its medieval old center and its public gardens, where a bounty of roses blossom. For the sweet-toothed, there is the Lindt & Sprungli chocolate factory in Kilchberg on the southern lake edge, not far from Zurich, while the sunny stretch along the northeast—known as the Gold Coast (Goldkueste) is dotted with lakeside mansions owned by Europe’s elite.

The costs of Lake Zurich boat rides are varied as multiple options exist. Tourists wanting a lake cruise from Zurich city with the ZVV (Zurich Transport Network) can expect to pay between CHF$7 for a mini lake cruise up to CHF$43 for a long lake cruise.

Yes, select Lake Zurich cruises are included with the Swiss Pass. Zurich tourists should check their Swiss Pass information for full details on the available boat options, which include round-trip cruises and 1-way crossings. The popular Zürich Card includes some boat sightseeing options like ZVV’s mini and short lake cruises.

For high-up views of Lake Zurich, visit Käferberg peak where the Waid lookout offers vistas that stretch over the lake to the Alps. For close-up views, there’s no better way to see Lake Zurich than from the water. Lake Zurich cruise or strolls along the lakeside promenade are good options.

A total circuit of Lake Zurich covers a distance of around 74.5 miles (120 kilometers), which is split into 10 stages for easier planning. Stages are graded easy, moderate, or difficult, and are timed with durations from an hour (Manegg to Adliswil) to 6.5 hours (Pfäffikon to Schmerikon).

Yes, on a good weather day when the skies are clear, the Swiss Alps can be seen to the south of Lake Zurich. Along with these classic mountain vistas, other Lake Zurich sights to see on a sightseeing cruise include Ufenau and Lützelau islands and the 13th-century Rapperswil Castle.

If you’re looking to stop on the banks of Lake Zurich, but don’t want to stay in the city, there are plenty of options. Consider the rose town of Rapperswil and the nearby lake islands of Ufenau and Lützelau, or Kilchberg for easy access to the Lindt & Sprüngli Chocolate Factory.