Lake Zurich Switzerland: What To See & Do

About Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich (known as Zurichsee locally in German) is a picturesque and large natural lake with its larger part located in the Zurich canton of Switzerland, although it stretches further to the southeast beyond Zurich.

The entire Lake Zurich which has a shape of a banana belongs to 3 cantons of Switzerland – Zurich in the north-west (which encapsulates most part of the Lower Lake or the downstream part of the lake), and the cantons of St. Gallen and Schwyz in the south-east where the Upper Lake (or the upstream part of the lake) belongs. Locally, the Upper Lake is also known as Obersee and the Lower Lake as Untersee.

Lake Zurich is fed by the Linth river which originates from the glaciers of the Alps in the canton of Glarus in the southeast. It flows into a large basin that forms the Upper Lake of Lake Zurich. At Rapperswil (located on the north shore of the lake and near the south-eastern end of Zurich canton), the Lower Lake begins and it continues till Quaibrucke towards the north-west passing through the Zurich City (the biggest city around the entire lake). At Quaibrucke, the lake ends but it then flows out further to the northwest as a river known as Limmat.

The end-to-end length of Lake Zurich is 40kms and its maximum width is 3kms covering a total area of about 89 square kilometres. The average depth of water is 49meters.

At Rapperswil, there is a causeway and bridge known as Seedamm built on the narrowest section of the lake. The Upper Lake is to the right of Seedamm, while the Lower Lake is to its left (west).

The Seedamm is a 1km long partially artificial causeway and a bridge built in the year 1878. It connects Rapperswil city on the north shore of Lake Zurich with Pfaffikon on the south shore. The Seedamm has a road and a railway track. The railway track is used by the S5 and S40 lines of the S-Bahn Zurich and also by the SOB railway of Switzerland. There is a swing bridge at the centre of Seedamm which allows small vessels to pass. Other than Seedamm, there is only one other bridge on Lake Zurich and that is at Quaibrucke.

Take A Boat Ride

Undoubtedly the best and the most popular way of experiencing and enjoying the lake is by taking a cruise. There are a number of boat rides available daily from various points around the lake starting from early morning sunrise cruises to sunset sailing, including special cruises complete with breakfast or dinner. And these cruises are usually available year-round. There are also musical cruises and other special boat tours on public holidays.

Lake Zurich Navigation is a public Swiss company and the main operator that operates these boat rides all through the year. They presently have 17 boats out of which two area Paddle Steamers (very popular with tourists) and the remaining are large motorboats including Limmat boats that operate on the Limmat river.

The company operates daily scheduled cruises from Zurich City, Rapperswil and various other places around the lake. Depending on the type of lake cruise (mini, short or long), the duration of a round trip can vary from 55-minutes to more than 3 hours. Most of these regular cruises stop at several points along the shore, so you can get off anywhere you like or complete the entire round trip.

If you are boarding from Zurich, the cruises usually depart from Zurich Burkliplatz. The mini-lake cruises usually go via Wollishofen, Zollikon, Tiefenbrunnen and Zürichorn, and alternately in the opposite direction. The short lake cruises go via Kilchberg (the place for the world-famous chocolate factory), Erlenbach (the historic village with vineyards), Zurihorn where you get to see the “Heureka” sculpture machine that stands on the shore of the lake, and then returns.

The long cruises go up to Rapperswil (18kms one-way) and return. If you take the long cruise, then a great idea would be to get off at Rapperswil and stroll around to enjoy this beautiful and charming old town. You can get back to Zurich City by train (Sbahn).

Lake Cruise ticket prices are reasonable (unless you want to book a special cruise with meals). You can buy tickets at any ZVV (Zurich Public Transport) sales point, at the SBB railway counter or directly on the boat. There are no seat reservations… it’s free seating once you have the ticket. You can find lake cruise schedules, information about offers, special cruises etc from this Lake Zurich Navigation Company Website.

You can also book a privately operated Lake Zurich Cruise online through this Viator Website.

Stroll Around & Visit Places

If you are in Zurich for a few days, you will end up spending substantial time at Lake Zurich because this is a central attraction of the city and the canton as a whole. The lake is so beautiful, clean and its greenish-blue water so attractive that you will keep getting drawn back to the lake.

There are many large and grand mansions, villas as well as historical buildings around the lake. The shores rise through gradual slopes to many orchards and vineyards, and far away you can see the alps to the south… it’s a picturesque setting. There are often many swans on the water.

And there are paved wonderful walkways around the lake. You will find fountains along the way, benches to soak in the view and enjoy the breeze as you watch the gently rocking waves. You will also find many grassy lawns around the lake that are excellent for relaxing or a family picnic.

A section of the northern shore of Lake Zurich is known as the Golden Coast… it stretches from Zollikon to Feldmeilen. This section of the coast is known for low tax rates but very high property prices… no wonder you will see fabulous villas and mansions of the rich and the famous here. Switzerland is the world’s most expensive country, but the residents here live lavishly beating all cost barriers in the world.

If you are in Rapperswil, take a stroll along the lake-side promenade and enjoy its Mediterranean charms with lovely views of the lake. Walk down to the public gardens that house over 15,000 rose bushes with more than 600 varieties of roses… no wonder Rapperswil is known as the ‘Rose Town’. Stroll around this Old Town, enjoy its enchanting charm and see the imposing Rapperswil Castle that was built in the early 13th Century.

Another great place of interest particularly for children is Knie’s Children’s Zoo at Rapperswil. One can really get close to some of the animals here. Depending on the species, one can touch, feed, pet or even ride an animal. There are more than 350 animals of 41 species including elephants, horses, leopards, Giraffe, many small animals as well as penguins and flamingos. Elephant rides are offered. The children’s zoo is only 150 meters from the Rapperswil station. Knies Kinderzoo, Oberseestrasse, 8640 Rapperswil SG, Phone  +41 (0)55 220 67 60; Website: knieskinderzoo.ch.

Only a few minutes walk from the Rapperswil Station you will come to the famous pedestrian Wooden Bridge on Lake Zurich which connects Rapperswil with Hurden. It’s located next to Seedamm and crosses the Upper Lake. This is the longest wooden bridge in Switzerland. Take a walk over this bridge, enjoy the lake and the lovely scenes around, and get to Hurden and explore the village.

Some of the other great places to visit around Lake Zurich are:

• Kilchberg: This is where the world-famous Lindt & Sprungli chocolate factory is located.
• Erlenbach: This is a historic village that has vast stretches of vineyards.
• Zurihorn: You can see the popular “Heureka” kinetic sculptural machine here that stands on the shore of the lake. It was created by Jean Tinguely, a Swiss sculptor. There are boat services to all these places.
• There are a couple of beautiful islands (called Lutzelau and Ufenau) located to the west of Seedamm and close to Rapperswil.
• A baroque church in Lachen.
• And of course, the bustling city of Zurich with all its mighty attractions including the mile-long Bahnhofstrasse downtown shopping street full of glittering shops.

Enjoy Some Watersports

There are many swimming areas in the lake where you can enjoy a refreshing swim during the summers. You can also try out paddleboarding, windsurfing and even waterskiing. During summers, many can be seen floating on the Lake Zurich on inflatable mattresses.

You can rent a pedalboat or a motorboat from Lago Boat Rental located at Utoquai (near Zurich Opera House) and explore the lake. If you rent a smaller motorboat, you do not need a boat license and skipper it yourself. You also have the option of renting a skippered yacht. Phone: +41 44 262 22 20

Stand-Up Paddling City Tour offers a guided tour starting from Strandbad Tiefenbrunnen to see the historical places of interest from the water as you stand on a paddling board (Phone: +41 44 215 4000).

The Ceccotorenas Wakeboarding School offers a range of watersports including wakeboarding, wakeskating and wake surfing. You can also rent boats and Stand-up Paddleboards. It’s located next to Pedal Boat Rental by the Stafa harbour. Phone: +41 76 383 6658.

Europe’s largest covered water park is located at Pfaeffikon in Schwyz Canton… it’s called Alpamare. The water slides measure a total length of 1800 meters, and there are surf wave pool, open-air swimming pool, Thermal Baths with whirlpools, as well a Sauna. There is an in-house restaurant where you can make your own barbecue if you want. A sunbathing lawn offers lovely views of Lake Zurich and the mountains.

If you are fond of ice skating, there are also ice skating rinks next to the lake at Kusnacht and Wadenswil.

Wine & Dine With Lake Views

There are numerous restaurants, cafes and eateries around the lake, many of which offer marvellous views of the lake and the surroundings. Don’t miss out on the experience of sipping a cocktail, relish on culinary delights while watching the sunset or simply gazing at the beautiful lake and the boats passing by.

While eateries differ by cuisine and many of them offer seasonal and regional dishes, try out one of the top favourites – ‘Fischknusperli’… battered fried fish pieces made with fresh catches from the lake and served with tartar sauce… delicious!

Here are some of the best restaurants around Lake Zurich with great lake views:

• Fischer’s Fritz: Located close to Zurich City, this restaurant has a large terrace overlooking the lake right from the edge. It’s by far the best when it comes to “Fischknusperli” – pieces of battered fish fry. Enjoy with a glass of wine. Open Monday to Saturday 11.00am – 3.00pm and 5.30pm – 12.00am, Sunday 10.00am – 12.00pm.
• Hirschen am See: Located in Meilen, this upscale restaurant too has a lakeside terrace and serves excellent Mediterranean cuisine. It’s open daily from 11.45am – 10.30pm.
• Sonnengalerie: This restaurant is located in Küsnacht on the eastern bank of the lake. It serves excellent Swiss specialities and has a beautiful beer garden. It’s open daily 12.00pm – 1.45pm and 6.00pm – 9.30pm.
• Lake Side: This one is located in a prime location in Zürichhorn with stunning views of the lake. It has a terrace facing the lake. It’s well known for fish, sushi and Sunday brunch. It’s open Monday – Saturday, 11.30am – 11.30pm, Sunday 11am – 10pm (brunch until 2.30pm).
• Rossli: Located near Hurden, it has its own terrace and a jetty. Excellent in fish preparations.

Location

Also Read

• Best places to visit in Zurich
• Zurich Tourism
• Switzerland Tourism
• Europe Tourism