Last Updated on: 29th October 2024, 10:36 am
Visiting Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfalls, and the gorgeous historical town Stein am Rhein is a great day out and really easy to do from Zurich.
Both spots are close to Zurich, making it a hassle-free and enjoyable outing.
If you would prefer to do this trip as a tour, this one comes well-reviewed, but it’s actually very easy to do independently.
Here’s A Simple Itinerary For A Day Trip To Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein:
Take an early train from Zurich Hauptbahnhof (Zurich HB) to Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall. The journey takes about 50 minutes to an hour.
When you exit the train, you will hear the falls and see the castle (Schloss).
You can either walk up to the castle and wander the grounds or head straight down to the viewing platform.
If you head up to the castle, there are places to eat nearby, toilets, and a souvenir shop.
The castle offers stunning views and a brief history of the falls. It also has a visitor centre.
To reach the falls, you need to purchase a ticket. When I was there recently, it was five euros.
To reach the falls from Schloss Laufen, you can either walk or take the panoramic elevator down to the viewing platforms for close-up views of the falls.
Best Views Of Rhine Falls
The trail on the southern side, near the Schloss Laufen castle, offers the most impressive views. The platforms bring you incredibly close to the falls for a dramatic experience.
As this is obviously a popular destination, do get there early and avoid visiting at weekends.
Boat Tours
Other options are available if you don’t feel that the platforms get you close enough to the falls.
You can take a boat trip to get up close to the falls or even to the rock in the middle of them for an exciting perspective.
The Rhyfall Mändli boat tours operate seven days a week seasonally from March to October.
All the boat tours start from the northern bank, so you must take a ferry across to join the boat tours.
15 Minute Boat Trip
The 15-minute Round Trip offers an up-close experience of the Rhine Falls’ power, taking you directly into the thundering left fall for a thrilling, wet ride.
After a relaxing loop around the basin with views of Europe’s largest waterfall, the boat re-enters the left fall for another encounter, with stunning photo opportunities along the way.
Book your 15-minute boat ride tour here.
30 Minute Boat Tour
On the 30-minute audio guide boat tour, you’ll learn interesting facts about Europe’s largest waterfall while enjoying a scenic ride along the Rhine.
The boat enters the powerful left fall twice for a thrilling, wet encounter, with opportunities to relax and enjoy the stunning views of the Rhine Falls and its rock formations.
Book your 30-minute boat ride tour here.
The Rock Experience
The Rock Experience takes you by boat to the Middle Rock at the heart of the Rhine Falls, where you can climb over 100 steps to a 30-meter-high viewing platform.
You’ll enjoy a stunning 360-degree view of the falls from the top, and the return trip offers more excellent photo opportunities. This 20-minute adventure provides a unique perspective of Europe’s largest waterfall.
Although this tour sounded interesting when watching from the platform, it was one long queue to the top of the steps, a quick photo op, and then back down.
Off to Stein am Rhein
Once you’ve had enough of the falls, it’s time to head to Stein am Rhein.
The train journey is just over half an hour. Take the train from Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall to Schaffhausen, where you change trains for Stein am Rhein.
From Stein am Rhein train station, it’s about a ten-minute walk to the town.
The best thing to do here is to wander the streets of this charming medieval town, known for its well-preserved old town and colourful, frescoed buildings.
As you’re probably hungry by now, there are plenty of restaurants in the town centre and by the river to choose from.
Afterwards, continue strolling along the cobblestone streets and admiring the intricate frescoes on the half-timbered houses, especially around Rathausplatz (Town Hall Square).
If the weather is nice, you can take a walk alongside the Rhine River or rent a bike and ride along the riverside paths.
When you’re ready to leave, return to the Stein am Rhein train station to take the train back to Zurich. The journey takes about an hour and 15 minutes, and depending on what time you leave, you’ll most likely have to change trains at either Winterthur or Schaffhausen.
Use the easy-to-use SBB Mobile app to plan your journey.
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