Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein Half-Day Tour from Zurich
Description
Visit the magnificent Rhine Falls and the pretty village of Stein am Rhein on this 5-hour trip from Zurich. With a guide, you'll travel along part of the Grand Tour of Switzerland, passing through gently rolling vineyards and picturesque farming villages near the German border. Marvel at the powerful Rhine Falls - Europe’s largest waterfall - from clifftop Laufen Castle and enjoy breathtaking views from the panoramic glass lift. Witness an incredible 700,000 liters of water per second thundering over a 150-meter-wide drop into the basin below. In summer, you can opt for an unforgettable boat ride that brings you up close to the mighty cascades (optional). Continue to the beautifully preserved town of Stein am Rhein, where a guided walking tour reveals its richly frescoed, half-timbered buildings and fascinating medieval architecture. Perfect for those short on time, this tour offers a memorable snapshot of Swiss history, culture, and natural beauty - all in just half a day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Sit back and relax on a comfortable coach while listening to your multilingual guide explaining about Switzerland's interesting history and culture. The journey takes you along the Grand Tour of Switzerland through picturesque landscapes with gently rolling vineyards and charming farming villages close to the German border.
Reach the first highlight of this afternoon at splendid medieval Castle Laufen – the mighty Rhine Falls! Enjoy about one hour leisure time at Europe's biggest waterfalls and one of Switzerland's major tourist attractions! Delight unique views from the panoramic lift and see how an average of 700'000 liters of water per second plunge across a width of 150 meters into the basin below. The Belvedere panoramic trail brings you to the viewing platform right above the falls where you feel the spindrift of the rumbling waters. Take an optional boat ride (summer only, additional costs) close to the falls. Enjoy an hour here to see an exhibition, admire panoramic views from the glass elevator, or walk to the viewpoints above and around the falls to thrill at their roar and power. The site also has a playground, shops, and restaurants. Perhaps opt for a boat ride (subject to availability and not included in price) to experience the crashing cascades close up.
Continue via Schaffhausen with its well-known Munot Fortress and passing through the beautiful countryside to the medieval town of Stein am Rhein. On a guided stroll, you learn about the well-preserved old town with its many distinctive buildings. Most of these half-timbered houses are made of stone with delicate wooden windows and stun visitors with their exceptional frescoes. The most prominent of these houses is the White Eagle, whose fresco counts as the oldest preserved mural painting of the Renaissance in Switzerland.
Drive back to Zurich in the evening, where the tour ends.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Optional boat ride: CHF 12 per adult / CHF 8 per child (April to October, subject to availability, payable on site by credit card or in cash)
- The boat ride is not suitable for guests with reduced mobility or strollers
Reviews(801)
What a great day! The Falls were wonderful and the boat rode is well worth it for a closer look. Thomas was a wonderful tour guide and Stein em Rhein was very quaint and a lot of history
Positives: Falls are scenic and many opportunities for photos. Stein am Rhine is beautiful walk back in time. Cute shops and restaurants along cobblestone streets. Negative: Bus ride is long and not scenic. Not enough time at Stein am Rhine.
The visit to the waterfalls is nice, it is an impressive natural spot and the landscape created with the castle next to it is worth visiting. They charge you 12€ for the boat ride separately. From the castle you can also see how the train stops next to it ;) in case you want to do it on your own. The subsequent visit to the town does not add much, it is the typical town for and by tourism and it gives a terrible feeling of being inside a theme park, it looks like Port Aventura. For eating it is fine and buying some souvenir, too, but little else. For what it costs, I think it is mediocre. They take you and bring you back, but it would be much better to leave earlier and spend more time in both places, especially at the waterfalls.
Incredible waterfall with a chance to stand within feet of the roaring waters! Far exceeded expectations! Loved the tour of the town and very pleased with the tour guide! Very enjoyable experience.
Tour team was exceptional and punctual. Stefan is a great example and representation of Switzerland. We hope we can see him again when we return. Rhine Falls was a dream to see. I would recommend to anyone traveling, we will schedule other tours when we return. :)
A tour director was very informative and explained all the areas we passed on our bus and made sure we got to the boat on time and left on time. It was a great experience to ride the boat so close to the roaring Falls. There were quite a few steps.
The places we visited were excellent!!! The bus ride was hot!!! Why couldn’t he turn the a/c on??? Your guide was great!!!
Matthew our guide was fun and informative. He really took his time with the history of the region but never boring.
Matthew was an excellent guide; informative, friendly, knowledgeable. His enthusiasm and attentiveness added to a very good itinerary.
Such a wonderful trip from Zurich. At the falls, do the boat ride. It’s amazing! The town Stein Am Reine is like walking into a Harry Potter movie. Everyone was so nice!
