lake cruises zurich

Lake Zurich Cruises: Everything You Need to Know

Are you looking for a fun cruise on Lake Zurich? This detailed guide will tell you everything you need to know about your lake and river cruise options from Zurich, so you’re definitely in the right place.

A cruise on the lake is one of the best activities you can do in Zurich because it is not only fun and relaxing but gives you a unique perspective on the city.

Types of cruises, ticket price information, and seasonal cruise timetables are all included in this detailed guide. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Lake Zurich cruises and start planning your adventure immediately!

Table of Contents

Cruise Recommendations

There are lots of cruises and boat trips on Lake Zurich, making it hard to choose. Although a cruise is fun, it is even better if you combine it with a walking tour, cable car ride or chocolate factory tour!

Below is a short selection of some tours worth considering (4.5-5 star ratings only). Many combine other great activities in Zurich so you save time and money!

• Small Group walking tour & cruise in Zurich
• 3 in 1 – Tour, Cruise and Cablecar ride with views over Zurich
• Private Tour:  Walking Tour & Boat Cruise
• Cruise, Tour and trip to Lindt Museum

Main Types of Cruises on Lake Zurich

We can sort the types of cruises on Lake Zurich by length and by theme. When it comes to the duration of the cruise, travelers can choose from mini, short, and long lake cruises.

Mini-Cruises

Mini cruises usually take up to 1-2 hours and take you to one of the nearby towns in the lower part of the lake, closer to the city. They’re short and sweet; perfect for travelers who want to experience a cruise on Lake Zurich or Limmat River.

Short Cruises

Short cruises usually last up to three hours and visit towns near the lake’s center. They often have an onboard restaurant so that you can enjoy snacks and drinks on board.

Long Cruises

Longer cruises on Lake Zurich are the best option for people who want to explore the surroundings, see the entire lake, and enjoy a full day out. These round trips are up to 4 hours long, taking you from Zurich to Rapperswil and then back to Zurich.

You can get off the boat in Rapperswil and explore the town, it’s well worth it. Even if you just manage to stroll along the lakeshore and maybe walk to the top of the Rapperswil Castle , it will give you a great overview of this stunning historic town.

Related Reading

Swimming in lake zurich: best spots & tips.

Unique Cruises

Lake Zurich is also famous for themed lake and river cruises. If you find a regular boat trip boring, consider going on a fondue cruise or even a murder mystery cruise!

Unique cruises take place on Lake Zurich just a few times in a season, so you will need to plan your entire trip around the cruise if that’s something you want.

However, some themed cruises happen more often than others. The fondue boat cruise is very popular in Zurich and takes place frequently, but the murder mystery trip happens once or twice a month.

My Recommendations

• 3 in 1 – Tour, Cruise and Cablecar ride with views over Zurich

Winter Cruises

Given the colder weather, there are fewer cruises in winter. However, that does not mean you can’t go on a Lake Zurich Cruise.

Lake Cruise Tours

A few companies still offer lake cruise tours, usually combined with a walking tour or visit to the Lindt Factory (because it is near a dock). Here are a few I have found:

• Best of Zurich and Surroundings – Extended City Sightseeing Tour with a local
• Zürich Charms Unveiled: Private City Center Walk and Lake Cruise
• Zurich Sightseeing With Lake Cruise and Lindt Home of Chocolate
• The Great Tour of Zurich by Bus and Boat

Local Ferries

Local Zurich Lake ferries still run in winter, just on a reduced schedule. Just remember, that these are not “cruises” per se, but local ferries.

The simplest way to find the ferry times is on the SBB website, however as a general rule from the Bürkliplatz docks in Zurich there are

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• two journeys a day to Rapperswil

• two boats a day to the Lindt Chocolate Factory and Museum (aka Kilchberg ZH (See))

Fondue Cruise

Another popular winter cruise option is the Fondue Cruise, which takes place at night on Lake Zurich

Ticket Prices

Ticket prices for Zurich lake cruises depend on a number of different things. If you already have the Swiss Travel Pass, you can go on a free cruise. It won’t be a themed cruise and you most likely won’t get any food for free, but you won’t have to pay for a ticket just to get on the boat.

As for all the other cruises, it’s important to note that themed cruises are a lot more expensive than sightseeing cruises. The themed cruises usually include dinner and drinks, and it’s no secret that going out in Zurich is not a cheap sport at all. The fondue cruise is around 65 CHF, while the murder mystery cruise costs around 115 CHF.

Sightseeing cruises are dirt cheap compared to themed ones. Prices for the mini round trip cruise start at around 7 CHF and go up to 43 CHF for a long lake cruise. In any case, expect to spend at least 50 CHF if you want to eat and drink something on the boat. You can bring your own food and drinks to save money, and this is the best thing to do if you want to get off the boat at some point and explore towns on the lake shore.

You can buy the tickets online at the ZVV and SBB online shops, as well as onboard all ZSG boats. Tickets are also available for purchase at the tourist information office at Zurich main station, the ticket office in Zürich Bürkliplatz, and all ZVV and SBB ticket machines.

On top of all that, you should know that tickets are necessary for children and dogs, and they’re 50% cheaper than regular adult tickets.

The timetable for cruises on Lake Zurich depends on the season, weather conditions, and destination. There are fewer departures in the winter season, especially for longer routes. Departures for one-way trips and shorter routes are more common, especially in smaller lakeshore towns.

Cruises are more popular in the summer season, so there are more departures from all docks along the shore. In any case, you can see the current timetable for cruises on Lake Zurich right here .

Things To Do In Zurich: History, Culture, and Swiss Delicacies

How to get to the main boat docks in zurich.

Most boat cruises depart from Zürich Bürkliplatz. This is a public square on the shore of the lake, which doubles as one of the most important transport hubs in the city. Most tram and bus lines in Zurich pass through here, so it’s really easy to reach the ferry terminal.

If you happen to have accommodation in Zurich’s old town, you can just walk to Zürich Bürkliplatz; it’s at the end of Bahnhofstrasse, so it will be a pleasant walk through the heart of the city. The pier is just a 10-minute walk away from both Fraumunster Church and Zurich Opera House, so it’s easily accessible from the most popular tourist destinations in the city.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Cruises on Lake Zurich

Is A Zurich Lake Cruise Included in the Swiss Pass?

Yes, you can go on a free Lake Zurich cruise if you purchased the Swiss Travel Pass Flex . It’s not included in the cheapest travel pass option, but only in the mid-range one. You will still need to pay for any food and drinks you consume on board, but you don’t have to spend any money on a ticket.

It’s important to note that the Travel Pass covers only sightseeing lake cruises. If you’re interested in one of the themed cruises, you must pay the full price.

How much does it cost to go to Lake Zurich?

That depends on so many different things. It can be anywhere from a few francs to several thousand, depending on whether you’re including the cost of plane tickets, accommodation, transport through Switzerland, and finally, boat cruise tickets.

Even without the plane tickets, it will cost you hundreds of $/€/£/₣. Hostels in Zurich start at around 100 Francs per night, and that’s for the cheapest type of accommodation available. The lake cruise can cost anywhere from a few francs to several hundred, eating out in Zurich is quite pricey, and train tickets to other nearby towns aren’t cheap either.

The Swiss Travel Pass can get you some great discounts, but it costs around 250 Francs for 3 days, and that’s the cheapest option that doesn’t include a Lake Zurich cruise. So to answer your question, it costs a lot of money to go to Lake Zurich – 300-400 Francs for a couple of days at least, not including the plane tickets.

Is Lake Zurich worth visiting?

Lake Zurich is definitely worth visiting if you’re staying somewhere in the area and you’ve never been before. The city of Zurich is absolutely amazing, and one of the most popular places to visit in entire Switzerland.

But if you want to visit Lake Zurich specifically for the lake and fun water activities, you might be a bit disappointed. Sure, there are things to do and places to see, but it’s not quite as popular as the lakes of Thun, Brienz, Lucerne, and Neuchatel. These are better options for people who want to have fun on the water and swim, but none of those will allow you to walk through the streets of Zurich.

Can you swim in Lake Zurich?

Yes, Lake Zurich offers plenty of opportunities for swimming. There’s a small beach area in the city of Zurich, but if you want to avoid the crowds it’s best to head to a more remote part of the lake. There are plenty of beaches along the shore of Lake Zurich that are rarely as busy as the swimming areas in the city.

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One thought on “ Lake Zurich Cruises: Everything You Need to Know ”

Hi there, appreciate if you can explain more details on Zurich Lake and River cruise particularly during winter season. I planned to go to Zurich sometimes in late February and really interested to take one of either mini or short cruise, however I noticed that you didn’t mentioned on its availability during winter time. If available, what their time-table would be? Thank you and best regards.

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Round Trips on the Lake – Lake Zurich Navigation Company

• Boat trip on Lake Zurich
• Must-do in Zurich
• Various round trips
• One-way trips possible
• Some trips free with the Zürich Card

Enjoy some special moments on a round trip or on one of the special cruises of the Lake Zurich Navigation Company.

Round Trips 

In summer, the Lake Zurich Navigation Company offers numerous round trips from Zurich every day:

• Mini lake cruise to Zürich Wollishofen (55 minutes)*
• Short lake cruise to Thalwil / Erlenbach (90 minutes)*
• Long lake cruise from Zurich to Rapperswil and back or vice versa (4 hours)

Reduced service in spring, fall and winter.

*Free travel with the Zürich Card

To the Timetable

Unique Cruises

Anyone looking forward to a special experience is sure to find the right boat. A selection of the special culinary cruises is shown below:

• Cheese fondue boat
• Build your burger boat
• Brunch boat
• Beer & Dine boat

Feel like getting on the move after dinner? Then the following special cruises are just right for you:

• Silent party boat
• Country boat
• 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s party boat

The special cruise dates are published in the event calendar .

Opening Hours

Open on these days.

In the Vicinity

Ganymed Sculpture

Cheese Fondue Cruise

Bürkliterrasse

Bürkliplatz

Home » Activities » Boat Tours

Lake Zurich Boat Cruises

• Switzerland
• Zürich City
• Last Updated: 18 Jun 2024
• By Tanya, Founder of Swiss Family Fun

If you buy something through a link here, we may earn a commission. See our disclosure policy . Note that p rices and opening times may change without notice.

Zurich lies on the north end of Lake Zurich and the Limmat river cuts directly through the old town. So doing a boat cruise is a great way to see some of the city and environs. It’s also a fun way to visit nearby attractions like the Lindt Chocolate Factory.

Below are suggested boat cruises and self-guided boating options for Lake Zurich.

Boat Tickets

1. limmat river cruise, 2. short lake cruise, 3. long cruise to rapperswil, overview of lake zurich cruises.

This map shows Lake Zurich cruise routes. You can see the current cruise offers and timetables on www.zsg.ch

Below are a few cruises we recommend. There are also many dining cruises, like the  Brunch Cruise on Sundays and Cheese Fondue Cruise , which runs in fall and winter. You need to book ahead for these special cruises.

Boats on Lake Zurich are part of the public transport system. If you have a valid public transport ticket for the corresponding zone, the ticket is valid for the boat, as well as trains, buses and trams in that zone.

You can buy tickets:

• ticket office at the Bürkliplatz ferry dock
• SBB mobile app or SBB.ch
• on the boat if there is no ticket machine or office at the dock

Lake Zurich boats are free with the Swiss Travel Pass . Discount for Swiss Half Fare Card , Eurail Global Pass , and children age 6-15. Under 6 ride free.

If you buy the Zürich Card , it includes the Limmat river cruise and all short lake cruises as far south as the Thalwil and Erlenbach stops.

This small boat cruises along the Limmat river, where you can see some of the most beautiful Zurich landmarks like the Grossmünster cathedral.

Starting at the Landesmuseum dock near the Zürich HB train station, it’s a 55 min loop down river and into the lake. But you can get off at any stop along the way for a shorter trip.

If you have time, we suggest get off the boat at  Zürichhorn , where you can enjoy refreshments at the  beer garden  with lake views.

Then you can ride the boat back to the city. Or you can walk back to the city along the lovely lakeside promenade. The walk takes about 25 mins to reach Bellevue, where you’ll find restaurants and trams connecting to all parts of the city.

The boat has a glass roof, so you have unobstructed views. It is air conditioned. It has room for one wheelchair, but strollers must be folded.

Time: 55 mins round trip / 30 mins one way Landesmuseum to Zürihorn

Cost:  CHF 4.40/adult round trip, CHF 14/child6-16, under 6 free. Free with Zürich Card and Zurich city day pass.

Open:  daily April – late October / departs every 30 mins from 10:50 – 17:20 (until 19:50 in July & Aug)

Location:  board boat on Limmat river near Zürich HB main station, stop:  Zürich Landesmuseum

The “Kleine Seerundfahrt” is a 90 min loop around the north end of Lake Zurich. This is a good choice if you want to spend more time on the water or want a break from walking. You can hop on & off the boat at any of the stops.

We suggest combining this with a visit to the Lindt Home of Chocolate, which is at the  Kilchberg ZH stop . Then get back on the boat and continue the cruise back to Zurich.

Time:  90 min loop

Cost:  CHF 8.80/adult round trip, CHF 4.40/child 6-16, under 6 free. Free with Zürich Card.

Open:  year round / departs every 30 mins from 10:30 – 18:30 (until 19:50 in July & Aug)

Location:   Zürich Bürkliplatz  ferry dock / tram stop:  Bürkliplatz

The longest cruise on Lake Zurich goes to Rapperswil, a picturesque historic town on the south end of the lake. It has a nice castle, small car-free old town, a nice lakeside promenade with lots of cafes, and a big playground with grassy fields below the castle.

From Zürich Bürkliplatz, the “Grosse Seerundfahrt” takes a little over 2 hours to reach Rapperswill. On the way back, you can ride the train, which takes about 36 mins if you catch the fast train.

Time: 2h10 one way

Cost 2024: about CHF 35.60/adult round trip (optional train one way). Free with Swiss Travel Pass , discounted with Swiss Half Fare Card and Eurail Global Pass .

Timetable: In summer, 5 times per day, each direction. In winter, twice a day each direction. See current timetable .

Location:   Zürich Bürkliplatz (See) ferry dock to Rapperswill SG (See)

Learn more in my Rapperswil Day Trip article .

• TAGS: ferry

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Take the boat for a short ride around Lake Zurich. The trip starts and ends at Bürkliplatz in Zurich and goes via Zurich Wollishofen and Zollikon. Optionally, you can also get on at other landing stages.

Unfortunately, this offer is not bookable at the moment.

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With the day ticket, experience unlimited travel by boat on Lakes Thun and Brienz, two beautiful and turquoise blue lakes in the Bernese Oberland.

From Zurich: City tour and cable car ride to fondue fun at sunset

Experience Zurich's culinary side with a visit to the largest Lindt store in the "Lindt Home of Chocolate". Enjoy a traditional cheese fondue with a 4-course menu at sunset.

Mini lake cruise Lake Zurich from Zurich

About this ticket likely to sell out.

Validity: All day

Use your phone or print out the voucher

No booking fees

Bürkliplatz (Lake), 8001 Zurich

Discount: Half Fare Card | Swiss Half Fare Card

Free cancellation

Small round trip by boat in ZVV zones 110 and 140

Optional exit on the way with the 24 hours ticket

Catering in the on-board restaurant

• Enjoy a short, one-hour round trip across Lake Zurich
• Start your round trip at Bürkliplatz or at one of the other indicated landing points
• Get on or off at any of the five landing stages on Lake Zurich with a 24-hour ticket
• Discover the surroundings of Zurich from the lake
• With the GA travelcard, Swiss Travel Pass and SBB Day Passes, you can travel for free

Description

With the ticket you can use the boats on Lake Zurich between Zurich Bürkliplatz and Zollikon. You can start your little round trip at any of the following stops.

• Zurich Bürkliplatz
• Zurich Tiefenbrunnen
• Zurich Wollishofen

Without getting off, the round trip takes just under an hour. If you want to get off on the way, you need a 24-hour ticket for zones 110 and 140.

At the on-board restaurant you have the possibility to buy food and drinks.

Practical Information:

• Suitable for: Wheelchair users, strollers, dogs (over 30 cm with 2nd class ticket for dogs)
• Bicycle transport is not guaranteed (bicycle ticket required)

Swiss Activities Tip

The Zürichhorn is an alluvial cone on the eastern shore with spacious parks and quays that belong to the Seefeld district. Between Lake Zurich and the Zürichhorn you will also find the Chinagärten Zürich and the kinetic sculpture Heureka by artist Jean Tinguely.

On the road with wheelchair

On Lake Zurich, all scheduled boats are wheelchair accessible.

• Wheelchair travel in 2nd class (MS Panta Rhei also 1st class possible)
• Wheelchair may be a maximum of 80 cm wide
• MS Bachtel has no wheelchair accessible WCs
• Staff will assist with boarding at all landing points if required

Important Information

• Please check in advance the timetables on the day of travel

Meeting Points

From CHF 7 Likely to sell out

Duration: 35 minutes

booked 144 times

booked 207 times

Duration: 4:45 hours

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Boat trip on Lake Zurich.

The offer is available in the following categories.

• Rail & boat - Other offers can be displayed in this category

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To the timetable

Go on board, slow down, enjoy: numerous summer boat trips invite you to leave the hectic pace of daily life behind.

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Alongside the regular scheduled services, there are also ships offering particular experiences with many different themes, e.g.:

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Outward journey: from Zürich Hauptbahnhof, walk approx. 20 minutes from Bürkliplatz or get there in 15 minutes by tram.

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Lake Zurich Cruises

ZSG Zürichsee Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Mythenquai 333 8038 Zürich Phone  +41 (0)44 487 13 33 zsg.ch

Enjoying unforgettable moments on a boat cruise or aboard one of Lake Zurich Navigation company’s Dream Boats.

During all seasons and on all parts of the lake as well as the river Limmat, Lake Zurich Navigation offers various scheduled boat cruises daily (between 1.5h and 4h). Passengers can relax on well-maintained steamboats or motor vessels as well as Limmat boats while enjoying the lovely landscapes that roll past. For a very special experience, passengers may treat themselves to one of the Lake Zurich Navigation company’s boat cruises on various Dream Boats. Among these are the Fondue Cruise, the Steamboat Dinner or the Late Riser’s Brunch (Breakfast Boat). Whether party person, epicurean or families, there is a suitable Dream Boat for everyone.

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This route is fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) and GA travelcard. Book Swiss Travel System tickets

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ZSG Zürichsee Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Mythenquai 333 8038  Zürich Switzerland

Phone  +41 (0)44 487 13 33 [email protected] zsg.ch Show Route

ZSG Zürichsee Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Mythenquai 333 8038 Zürich Phone  +41 (0)44 487 13 33 zsg.ch Show Route

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Zurich stories of the old town for zurich residents, discover zurich.

+41 (0)44 710 50 50 (7:00 - 21:00)

Zurich City Tour with Lake Cruise

Top off your classic city sightseeing tour of Zurich, the economic and cultural centre of Switzerland, with a one-hour boat trip on Lake Zurich! Tour the university quarter by bus, explore the quaint Old Town on a guided walk and discover the city’s highlights from a different perspective during an audio-guided lake cruise. 

• Catch a glimpse of the famous Bahnhofstrasse and the financial district
• Cruise the university quarter on the traces of its alumni Albert Einstein
• Tour the noble Zürichberg district with unparalleled views
• Explore the Old Town on a guided walk through medieval alleys
• Enjoy a 1-hour cruise on Lake Zurich with an audio guide

Tour description

Board a comfortable, climate-controlled coach and set out past the castle-like Swiss National Museum, the luxurious shopping avenue Bahnhofstrasse and Zurich's renowned financial district . Enjoy a magnificent view of crystal-clear Lake Zurich during a photo stop at Enge harbour. Continue along the lake, passing the grand Opera House and the university quarter with the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and the University of Zurich. Tour distinguished districts with stately mansions from glorious times past and convince yourself of the high standard of living on the threshold of the popular Zürichberg recreational area . 

After a short glimpse of the city, the lake and the snow-covered Alps, you drive past the Kunsthaus art museum down to the charming Old Town . Follow your tour guide on a  guided stroll  through the inviting pedestrian zone with imposing guild houses, the Church of St. Peter with Europe's largest clock face, the Grossmünster church and the Fraumünster church with its impressive stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall. 

Exhilarated by numerous anecdotes about Zurich, you say goodbye to your tour guide. A short stroll along the picturesque Limmat brings you to nearby Bürkliplatz. Embark on a scenic one-hour cruise on crystal-clear Lake Zurich past grand lakeside villas and popular lidos. Sit back and relax as you listen to compelling stories about the history of the city, the lake and the surrounding mountains over an audio guide app on your own device before ending the tour at Bürkliplatz. 

• Guided Old Town walk
• Boat cruise on Lake Zurich with the Audio Guide App "ZSG Tour"
• Partly guided tour by professional multilingual guide
• Transportation in comfortable coach with AC
• Carbon-balanced operations certified by myclimate
• Meals and drinks
• Personal expenses

Good to know

• Routing may have to be amended due to construction work or public events without prior notice. 
• If you do not have unlimited data in Switzerland, we recommend downloading the ZSG Tour App in advance. Available for Apple iOS and for Google Android
• The tour ends at Bürkliplatz square.  

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Affordable cruising on Lake Zürich

Zürich has an abundance of pretty sights and things to do. There is wandering around in the old town of Zürich, enjoying cool places like Frau Gerolds Garten and Urban Surf, and of course, there is the lake! Tourists and locals alike spend sunny days out by the lakeside, walking the long promenade from the inner city all the way to the Zürichhorn park and beach. Meanwhile, ships and boats glide over the water next to them. What many tourists may not know is that many of the ships are actually part of the Zürich public transport network, making a trip on Lake Zürich surprisingly affordable!

The Zürich Navigation Company (ZSG Rundfahrten) offers a wide variety of what they call ‘unique cruises’. Think of cruises allowing you to dance on a boat in Lake Zürich, or culinary cruises where you can eat burgers, mezze or of course Swiss cheese fondue. While these cruises are a great way to combine food with a lake experience, they are rather pricy.

Shorter lake cruises for a fraction of the price

If you have the budget for the more unique cruises offered on Lake Zürich, I think you should absolutely go for it. However, it is great to see that even more budget -conscious travellers can enjoy the lake for a fraction of the price. In collaboration with the Zürich public transport company, there are several cruises that you can take without breaking the bank. The one that we took and that I recommend taking is the so-called ‘Mini lake cruise’. This cruise only takes about an hour and is thus great to combine with other activities in Zürich.

The mini-lake cruise starts at Zürich Bürkliplatz, right in the middle of the center at the end of the famous Bahnhofstrasse. From there, the mini-lake cruise takes you to different places around the lake such as Zürichhorn, Zollikon and Wollishofen. There are cruises that take you further out on the lake, but these are more expensive and might be a bit too long for visitors with limited time in Zürich. You can find an overview of all cruises under ’round trips on the ZSG website .

We enjoyed the mini-lake cruise so much because it was a great way to get a glimpse of lake life in Zürich, while still being able to do other activities in the city. Especially as we only did a day trip from Luzern where we live, spending several hours on a boat would have been too long for us.

Seats both inside and outside

Naturally, sunny days are preferred when taking a cruise on the lake. However, even for colder and overcast or rainy days, the cruise could be part of your day program. There are seats inside the ship, where panorama windows still allow you to look out and see the lakeside parks, mansions and other sights.

The outside seating on the boats fill up quickly, especially on sunny days, so prepare to either wait or sit inside during your cruise.

Only CHF 6.80, or included in your Zürich day card

Tickets for the cruise can not be reserved or booked in advance. Instead, you buy a ticket at any of the ZVV ticket machines, in the SBB app, or onboard the ship. Tickets for the mini-lake cruise only cost CHF 6.80 for adults, and 3.40 CHF if you have the half fare card.

For visitors with a public transport day pass for Zürich, the mini-lake is free of charge. The same applies to those with a ‘ Zürich Card ‘. However, as the Zürich Card also includes other cruises on the Limmat river and the lake, the mini-lake cruise might not be your best option.

So there you have it, want to enjoy Lake Zürich without breaking the bank? Head over to the ZSG website and find departure times that fit your travel itinerary!

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home > destinations > zurich > all great spots > Zürich lake

Zürich lake

We heard of travelers going to Zürich and spending all their time at the many outstanding museums, beautiful Münsters and charming historical cobbled streets of old town. Yet, we find the lack of references to the lake quite surprising. Lake Zurich is wonderful and on hot summer days, you will see people swimming in its very clean waters, sunbathing on its lawns along the shore, walking, jogging or cycling on the promenade, sailing the waters and drinking beer at the lakeshore cafés at sunset. So, why not join the locals and experience the lake while in town? If you want to enjoy a boat ride, a good idea is to book a private vessel. Avoid the tourist trap of large boat rides or infamous boat dinner tours, the best option is to check with your hotel for a suitable trusted rental company close to where you are staying (it is a large lake and some options might be too far for convenience). Attention: if you intend to swim in the lake check with the locals or authorities onshore for the best spots. There are places with strong currents which are not safe and you should avoid them (there are signs usually, but better be extra careful).

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Flying From the West Coast to Switzerland Is About to Get Easier — What to Know

The flights start in June of 2025.

iStockphoto/Getty Images

Edelweiss, a Switzerland-based airline that is owned by Lufthansa, recently announced new twice-weekly flights from Seattle's SeaTac Airport to Zurich Airport.  The flights will operate every Monday and Saturday and depart Seattle at 4:25 p.m. arriving into Zurich at 11:45 a.m. the next day. The return flights will also operate on Monday and Saturday from Zurich to Seattle. The Seattle route is an addition to existing Edelweiss routes in Denver, Las Vegas, and Tampa Bay, Florida.  The flights will begin on June 2, 2025, providing west coast travelers an opportunity to enjoy the hiking and beauty of Switzerland and the surrounding areas during the summer. From Zurich, passengers can either stay and enjoy the largest city in Switzerland, or connect to over 90 destinations that Edelweiss flies to ranging from Agadir, Morocco, or Bari, Italy. The airline also flies throughout Croatia, France, Greece, Ireland, Spain, and Turkey. The airline will also begin a new route from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Zurich on July 3, 2025.  Tickets for both flight routes were not immediately available for purchase on Edelweiss's website . “This nonstop service offers a convenient link to Zurich, at the heart of Europe, while also bringing a significant number of Swiss travelers to Seattle and the Pacific Northwest,” Edelweiss CEO Bernd Bauer said in the release.  Edelweiss is described as Switzerland's leisure airline, and offers a variety of experiences in-flight including Business Class, Economy Max, and Economy Class. For the new Seattle to Zurich routes, Edelweiss will operate the flight on a Airbus A340-300 which has a passenger capacity of 214, where 27 seats are lie-flat business class. The economy cabin is equipped with a 11.1" high-definition touchscreen entertainment system, which has over 250 pieces of content to watch.  Edelweiss is owned by Lufthansa Group, and is described as a "sister airline" of Swiss International Airlines, which is also owned by the German company. Edelweiss has been continuing to grow as international travel demand hits new records. The airline provided air travel for 2.7 million passengers in 2023, which was an increase of 2.2 million passengers in 2022. 

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Cruise the Rhine and Moselle Rivers

Delight in vineyard-lined valleys and hilltop castles on this seven-night, first-class cruise through the Netherlands, Germany and France. Glide along Amsterdam’s 17th-century canals, and marvel at UNESCO World Heritage cathedrals in Cologne and Speyer. In Cochem, admire half-timbered houses on cobblestone lanes and visit the stately castle above town. Cruise through the Rhine Gorge, a winding stretch renowned for its beauty, and stroll through lovely Koblenz, where the Rhine and Moselle rivers meet. Tailor this journey to your interests with a choice of included excursions. In Amsterdam, opt for the Rijksmuseum’s world-class art, a countryside bike ride, or a food tour in the hip Jordaan district. Choices in Rüdesheim and Heidelberg feature cultural visits and scenic walks. In Strasbourg, France, visit the splendid cathedral, along with a panoramic tour, a cruise through the charming Petite France area or a culinary tour. Enjoy insights from expert guides and an ample meal plan with wine and beer at lunch and dinner. No single supplement, limited availability.

Cost: From $3,795 AHI Travel

Activity Level: Mild Activity

Book this Tour

STEP 1 Download the tour Reservation Form here. This tour is booked quickly, so sign up early to reserve space.

STEP 2 If you wish to pay your $600 per person deposit by check, make check payable to AHI Travel. If you wish to pay your $600 per person deposit by credit card, you will be asked to submit those credit card details after the reservation request form has been received. AHI Travel will contact you to discuss deposit payment within one business day of receiving your reservation request in their office.

STEP 3 Fax 310-209-4271, email [email protected] , or mail to: AHI Travel International Tower – Suite 600 8550 W. Bryn Mawr Avenue Chicago, IL 60631

A brochure will be mailed to you as soon as it is available.

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