Under an hour from the airport, Laufen Castle, boat trip to the rock and Schaffhausen's old town: how to see the Rhine Falls on a layover or on arrival day.
The Rhine Falls at Neuhausen am Rheinfall, around 150 metres wide, are Europe's largest waterfall – and they lie closer to Zurich Airport than most travellers expect. Via our fixed route to Schaffhausen you are there in under an hour. This article shows how the visit can be planned as a half-day trip, a detour on arrival or even during a longer layover.
Getting there and duration
The 49 km from the airport run north via the A4; we plan around 59 minutes. The fixed price for the Schaffhausen route starts at CHF 148.50 per vehicle in the Business Class; the Rhine Falls are right on the way. For an excursion with waiting time and a return to the airport or the city, our hourly booking is the right format: vehicle and chauffeur are at your disposal for the desired duration, the luggage stays in the boot.
What awaits you at the Rhine Falls
Two sides, two perspectives. On the south side, Laufen Castle towers with viewing platforms that lead right up to the roaring water – the most spectacular view. On the north side, at Schlössli Wörth, the boats depart: to the rock platform in the middle of the falls or on a short round trip in the basin. If you want both, allow two to three hours. The Rhine Falls are accessible all year round; in early summer after the snowmelt they carry the most water.
Combining with Schaffhausen and Stein am Rhein
A few minutes away lies Schaffhausen's old town with oriel windows, guild houses and the Munot, the fortress above the city. With a whole day, continue to Stein am Rhein, one of Switzerland's most beautiful medieval towns with painted façades on the Untersee. Both places combine easily with the driver – you set the time windows and the return time.
On a layover
From around six hours at Zurich Airport the Rhine Falls are feasible: one hour there, one to two hours on site, one hour back, plus the time for re-boarding. How to calculate the window safely is explained in Layover in Zurich: 4 to 8 hours. Book the excursion in advance so the driver is ready when you land – enquire here.
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