Rhine Falls from Zurich
Zurich to Rhine Falls is the classic day trip in this part of Switzerland. You have two basic choices. Either you take a regional train and decide on the spot how long to stay, or you book a tour that starts in Zurich and takes care of transport. Most tours on this page start in Zurich, some at a bus station, some at a meeting point near the centre, and the private ones at your hotel.
Many visitors ask about the distance from Zurich and about a Zurich waterfall in general. The Rhine Falls are the waterfall you mean: 150 m wide with a drop of 23 m, on the border between the cantons of Schaffhausen and Zurich. The falls are reached from two sides, and which train you take decides which bank you arrive on.
Our picks: Rhine Falls from Zurich
Our take: the train trip with a guide is for travellers who like public transport and Schaffhausen. The ticket trip by vehicle is the quick way to the falls, and the afternoon tour adds Stein am Rhein.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator and GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Swiss francs (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Rhine Falls and Schaffhausen by train with a guide
- Train tickets 2nd class
- Guided tour in Schaffhausen
- Local guide
A boat tour at the falls runs from March to October, a panoramic platform ticket from November to February.
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Afternoon trip to the falls and Stein am Rhein with a guide
- Admission to Rhine Falls
- Guided village walk in Stein am Rhein
- English speaking guide
The afternoon departure suits a later start. The guide speaks English.
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Rhine Falls trip from Zurich with tickets
- Tickets to Rhine Falls
- Access to viewing platforms
- Driver guide
Round-trip transport from Zurich in an air-conditioned vehicle. Boat tickets can be bought on the day, and there is no guide during the activities.
Check availability →Day trips from Zurich to the Rhine Falls
Coach tours, small-group trips and private tours that start in Zurich, with live prices and availability.
Zurich to Rhine Falls by train
Three train lines, two stations, one rule to remember.
South bank: Schloss Laufen station
The castle operator names the direct S12 from Zurich main station (Zürich HB). The other way is to ride to Winterthur and change there to the S33. The station Schloss Laufen has a step-free path to the lift and the visitor centre, and boarding help with a mobile ramp is available if you register early with the SBB Contact Center Handicap.
North bank: Neuhausen Rheinfall station
From Schaffhausen the S9 towards Uster runs to the station called Neuhausen Rheinfall. Do not mix it up with the stations Neuhausen or Neuhausen Badischer Bahnhof, which are different stops. From the north bank you reach the free viewing area at Schlössli Wörth and the boat landing there.
The 57 minutes
SBB gives 57 minutes for the S9 between Zurich and Schaffhausen. That is one named connection to Schaffhausen, not the time to the falls and not a statement about the fastest route. Check the journey in the SBB timetable for your travel day, including departure times and the way back.
Which bank first is a matter of taste. The south bank has the castle and its viewing platforms, the north bank the free basin and the boats. Our page on Schloss Laufen covers the platforms, the lift and parking, and getting there compares train, car and airport. If you want the boat as well, read about the boat tour first, because boats are booked separately from the castle platforms.
Train or tour from Zurich
A tour makes sense if you want transport, a guide and a fixed plan in one booking. The coach trips with Laufen Castle entry include a guide, the ride and the entry to the platforms at the castle, while a boat ride is usually an optional extra paid on the spot. Small-group and exclusive trips include the round trip from Zurich, access to the viewing platforms and a driver guide, and the boat tickets are bought on the day.
Private tours with a Zurich pick-up give you a flexible schedule. One of them is a door-to-door transfer from a hotel in Zurich with a driver guide and a customisable programme. It is a day tour, not an airport transfer. The private tour with Laufen Castle includes the castle and the entrance tickets to the falls, but no boat ride. Read the inclusions on each card before you book, as the boat is the part that most often costs extra.
The train suits you if you like to set your own pace, want to add Schaffhausen or Stein am Rhein, or prefer to pay only for what you use. Entry works differently on each bank: there is no general entrance fee for the falls, the basin at Wörth is free, and the castle tour has its own tariff, listed on our tickets page.
Day trip from Zurich with Stein am Rhein
One more stop by rail.
Stein am Rhein can be added to the Rhine Falls by train. The museum at St. Georgen Monastery confirms regional trains from Schaffhausen and from Winterthur, so the usual way is Zurich, the falls, Schaffhausen and then on to Stein am Rhein. How long the whole day takes depends on the connections you pick and on how long you stay at each place, so plan with some margin rather than fixed times.
The tours work in a similar way. A coach tour with Stein am Rhein includes a guided walk through the town, and several private tours combine the falls with Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein. Details on the town are on our Stein am Rhein page, and the old town and the Munot fortress are described on the Schaffhausen page.
If you travel on a Swiss Travel Pass, note that SBB describes it as free travel by train, bus and boat within its network and only for people who live outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Before buying extra tickets, check whether your pass covers the castle platforms or your chosen boat trip. For longer rail journeys through the mountains, see our Swiss Alps guide.
Planning the day
Practical points from Zurich.
Status as of 1 November 2026
The Historama at Schloss Laufen is closed until 27 November 2026 because of renovation, and the falls are not lit from 26 October to 27 November 2026. The viewing platforms are not closed. From 2 to 29 November 2026, limited boat service runs on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 to 16:00. Check the current timetable for later dates. Monday to Friday there are charters on request (season plan of 25 August 2026).
Tour pick-up points
The tours start at different places in Zurich, such as a bus station on Sihlquai, an address on Ausstellungsstrasse or the main station for a guided trip by train. Confirm the exact meeting point in your booking.
By car
If you drive yourself, the A4 towards Schaffhausen with the exit Dachsen/Rheinfall is the route the castle operator names. A motorway vignette is needed. Details and parking fees are on the getting there page.
Frequently asked questions
Which train goes from Zurich to the Rhine Falls?
The S12 runs from Zurich HB to the station Schloss Laufen on the south bank. Alternatively ride to Winterthur and change to the S33. For the north bank take the S9 to Schaffhausen and then on to Neuhausen Rheinfall.
How long does Zurich to Schaffhausen take by S9?
SBB gives 57 minutes for the S9 between the two cities. The way on to the falls is extra, so look up your own connection in the SBB timetable.
Is a day trip from Zurich enough for the Rhine Falls?
For the falls themselves, yes. Add a boat ride, Schaffhausen or Stein am Rhein and the day fills up. Choose one or two of these rather than all of them.
Do the tours from Zurich include the boat?
Mostly not. On coach tours with Laufen Castle entry the boat is an optional extra, and on small-group trips the boat tickets are bought on the day. Check the inclusions of the tour you want.
Can I use a Swiss Travel Pass?
If you live outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein, it covers travel in its network. Before buying extra tickets, check whether your pass covers the castle platforms or your chosen boat trip.