The Best Day Trips To Take From Zurich

Nature, culture and adventure awaits you in central Switzerland, and it’s all within a day’s reach of Zurich. Find all of the above and much more on the best day trips from Zurich.

Rhine Falls

Take a trip to Europe’s largest waterfall, carved out thousands of years ago by the mighty Rhine River. Spanning 150 metres, the waterfall is a froth of white, foamy water which you can get up close to on a boat tour. You can also admire it from one of the many vantage points on either side of the river. May or June is one the best times to visit as the volume of water pouring over the falls peaks, making this spectacle of nature even more special.

Lucerne

Liechenstein

Liechenstein, one of Europe’s smallest countries, is only two hours from Zurich by train. Its tiny size makes it perfect to explore on a day trip. Steeped in history, this small landlocked territory is packed with history and the capital of Vaduz won’t disappoint. A notable sight is the spectacular Vaduz Castle, the official royal residence, which stands watch over the city from a high perch.

Rapperswil

Along the upper end of Lake Zurich is Rapperswil, the town of roses. Roses feature on the town’s coat of arms and are dotted all around almost every public space, adding bursts of colour to an already delightful medieval town. Take a stroll along the promenade and visit the historic old town, which is a protected area and well-preserved, or between June and October explore the three rose gardens which are packed with over 15,000 roses between them.

Mount Titlis

A journey of under two hours takes you to the small town of Endelberg, in the shadow of the eternally snow-clad Mount Titlis. From there, on a revolving cable car ride, you can enjoy the full majesty of the Swiss Alps to the top of Titlis, which stands at 3,238 meters above sea level. From the top, the Ice Flyer chairlift skirts you across to the Glacier Park, with panoramic views of snowy peaks all around. To truly experience the Swiss Alps, a visit to Mount Titlis is a must.

Jungfraujoch

Breathe in the purest air at the Jungfraujoch, otherwise known as the Top of Europe. To get there is an adventure in itself, as a cog wheel train trundles through a land of ice and snow, before passing through a seven kilometre tunnel that brings you to the highest rail station in Europe, standing at a shiver inducing 3,454 meters. From the Jungfraujoch, the Sphinx observatory offers 360 degree views, including the massive Aletsch glacier that creeps into the distance.

Alpamare

The largest indoor water park in Europe is in the Swiss canton of Schywz, a short trip from Zurich. Alpamare has 11 water slides, measuring an impressive 1,800 meters in total, ensuring kids will have plenty to keep them occupied. Thermal baths and almost every type of sauna you can imagine (Bio-Sauna, Finnish Sauna and more) at the wellness centre offer a little more relaxation amidst all the madness. If you need a change in tone from all the mountain exploring, you’ll find it here.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.