Rhine Falls Day Trip from Zurich + Schaffhausen: Is it Worth it?
When in Zurich, taking a day trip to Rhine Falls and the charming town of Schaffhausen is a popular option for visitors. Known as the largest waterfall in Europe, Rhine Falls offers a spectacular display of nature’s power, while Schaffhausen has its medieval charm. Here’s a detailed guide to make the most of your Rhine Falls day trip from Zurich — and answer the question — is visiting Rhine Falls from Zurich worth it?
Visiting Schaffhausen and Rhine Falls is a great day trip from Zurich on your jet-lagged arrival day in Switzerland, if your flight lands in the morning, as most from the United States do. We did a Rhine Falls day trip from Zurich on our first day in Switzerland and it was perfect in terms of having a leisurely first day to get over the jet lag.
We chose to visit Schaffhausen first and then hit up Rhine Falls, so that we didn’t have to do any backtracking, so for the purpose of this itinerary, I’m going to lay out the steps we took. If you’re just interested in visiting Rhine Falls, you can catch a direct train from Zurich.
rhine Falls Day Trip from Zurich: Transportation Options
How to get from Zurich to Schaffhausen
From Zurich, reaching Schaffhausen is simple and easy. You’ll take a direct train from Zurich HB (Zurich’s main train station) to Schaffhausen (depending on what train you take, it could take around 40-60 minutes).
How to get from Schaffhausen to Rhine Falls:
When you’re finished visiting Schaffhausen, head back to the train station and catch the next train heading to Rhine Falls.
You have two choices of train stations – each of which is only a 5 minute train ride:
Neuhausen am Rheinfall: This is the station we used. It is located right next to the falls — viewing the falls is free. All photos on this post were taken from this side of the falls.
Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall: This station is located on the other side of the falls, right by the castle. You will need to pay an entry fee to visit the falls if you use this train station.
MUST DO for your Rhine Falls day trip from Zurich: Download the SBB mobile app to get train times, platforms, maps and more. (search in your app store for SBB). It’s an absolute MUST for train travel in Switzerland and the app is amazing!
How to get from Zurich to Rhine Falls
From Zurich, reaching Rhine Falls is a breeze.
Again, there are two train stations that serve Rhine Falls — one on each side of the falls. You can catch direct trains to each of these stations for a Rhine Falls day trip from Zurich. Here is the difference:
Neuhausen am Rheinfall: This is the station we used. It is located right next to the falls and viewing the falls is free.
Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall: This station is located on the other side of the falls, right by the castle. You will need to pay an entry fee to visit the falls if you use this train station.
These trains typically run once/hour and take roughly 50 minutes to reach Rhine Falls from Zurich.
Hot tip! Sit on the right side when heading from Zurich and you’ll be able to see the falls from the train.
Driving to Rhine Falls
For those who prefer driving, the journey takes about 40 minutes by car, with ample parking available near the falls. It’s a quick 35–40 minutes on the A4 toward Schaffhausen. Parking is available on either side of the falls, but there is a fee.
Exploring Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen is located only 5 minutes away from Rhine Falls by train. This is a picturesque town known for its well-preserved medieval architecture. Stroll through the old town’s cobbled streets, admire the intricate frescoes on historic buildings, and visit the castle Munot Fortress, which offers lovely views of the town and the Rhine River.
Highlights in Schaffhausen:
- Munot Fortress: Climb up the spiral staircase for incredible views. This was the highlight of our visit to Schaffhausen.
- Fronwagplatz: The lively main square surrounded by charming cafés.
- Vineyards: The rolling vineyards around Schaffhausen are perfect for a leisurely walk.
- Allerheiligen Abbey: If you’re into history, this is a former monastery turned museum.
Shopping and Souvenirs in Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen offers some boutique shopping opportunities. Look for Swiss watches, handmade chocolates, and local wines as memorable souvenirs. I popped into a few shops but nothing really caught my eye. Also, souvenirs are very expensive!
Visiting Rhine Falls Day Trip from Zurich: The Main Attraction
Once at Rhine Falls, you’ll be able to view the roaring waters cascading over a 23-meter drop.
Rhine Falls Quick Tips
- Best Time to Visit: Summer, when water flow is at its peak. Boat tours only operate from April – October
- Entrance Fee: While some viewing points are free, accessing the Schloss Laufen platforms and taking a boat ride will have separate charges.
- Boat Tour Options: There are several boat tours to choose from:
- Short Circular Tour: A quick ride for fantastic views.
- Rock Tour: Takes you to the middle rock for an up-close experience.
- Rhine Crossing Tour: Takes you across the river.
If you arrived at the Neuhausen train station (like we did), simply follow the easy downhill walking path down to the viewing platforms of the falls. If you have mobility issues, there is a free elevator you can use.
What goes up must come down — this downhill walk is quite steep, so you’ll be climbing back up it on the return. I don’t mind a nice hike, but when we saw how steep it was, we were like, “Oh HELL no!” and made a beeline for the elevator.
On this walking path, there is a network of winding stairs where you’ll find multiple viewing platforms that offer different perspectives of the falls. After getting our fill of this, we continued walking down the riverbank to Schloss Worth. This area has souvenir shops and food stands; you can also purchase boat tour tickets here.
Boat Tours of Rhine Falls
If you’re looking for more an an up-close experience, take one of the boat tours that navigate near the powerful currents and even allow you to step onto the iconic rock in the middle of the falls.
You’ll notice a large rock in the middle of the falls — this is the Rock of the Rhine Falls. Boat tours can take visitors to the rock, where you can climb it for some amazing views. Sometimes though, it is closed due to weather or water flow, so check with the boat tour operators if this is a must-do for you.
We didn’t do a boat tour – I just wasn’t awestuck by Rhine Falls to feel the need to get closer and explore it more. Seeing it from afar was perfectly adequate for me. I’m sure these boat tours are quite pricey too. I didn’t investigate further as I just wasn’t interested.
No matter which train station you use for your Rhine falls to Zurich day trip, you have the option to walk to both sides of the falls via the Platform Trail — but keep in mind, you will need to pay admission once you reach the Schloss Laufen Castle side of the falls. Here is a map from the official site, as we did not feel the need to do this.
Schloss Laufen Castle
Perched above the falls, Schloss Laufen offers visitors a chance to explore a medieval castle with views of the falls. Inside, you’ll find a small museum detailing the history of the falls and the castle itself. Walking down the Belvedere Trail (for an extra fee – remember, everything on the other side of the river costs money!) for an even closer look at the roaring water. We didn’t do this, we just admired the castle from the riverbanks.
Food Options
Food in Switzerland is extraordinarily expensive, so if I were you, I wouldn’t bother with any of the restaurants here, unless you like mindlessly throwing money away or you’re literally starving. If you must, the Schloss Laufen Panorama Restaurant has great views fantastic views of the falls. Alternatively, there are food trucks and food stands selling theme-park style food along the riverbank that cater to tourists ($$$) but again, you’re going to drop some serious coin here for a mediocre cheeseburger and an Oreo ice cream sandwich that you could’ve purchased for half the price at Coop.
Don’t be financially reckless! If you’re looking for budget tips for Switzerland, check out my post: Tips for Visiting Switzerland on a Budget
Do you need to see both sides of Rhine Falls?
In my opinion, no. On a Rhine Falls from Zurich day trip, seeing the waterfall from the Neuhausen train station side was plenty. Look, it’s a nice waterfall, but Niagara Falls, it ain’t. I don’t need to see it from every perspective; I’m not trying to form a personal relationship with every corner of it!
Returning to Zurich from Rhine Falls
Trains back to Zurich run about once/hour (if you want a direct train to Zurich HB), making it easy to end your day trip at your own pace. Unfortunately, we timed this horribly and missed the train by about 5 minutes, so we had to hang out and wait near the station. It wasn’t a big deal – you have a great view of Rhine Falls from the Neuhausen station.
Rhine Falls and Schaffhausen Day trip Travel Tips:
- Wear comfortable walking shoes.
- If you’re doing a boat tour on a Rhine Falls day trip from Zurich, you’ll want a rain jacket as you probably will get wet.
- Snacks, if you need them. Restaurants and snack bars at the falls are really expensive. Hit up the Coop in the Zurich train station before you leave and you’ll save money on food.
- Purchase a Swiss Travel Pass if planning multiple trips, as it covers trains, buses, and trams, as well as entry to many museums and attractions. We had a Swiss Travel Pass for our two weeks in Switzerland and loved the convenience.
- Bring a water bottle and fill up at the city fountains — Schaffhausen has a bunch!
- Arrive early at Rhine Falls to avoid large crowds, especially in peak summer months.
Is a Rhine Falls Day Trip from Zurich Worth It?
Look, I’ve seen a lot of waterfalls in my travels—like, a lot. So it takes something truly jaw-dropping to impress me. While I didn’t hate my visit to Rhine Falls, let’s just say it didn’t exactly make my Top 10 list.
Schaffhausen was pleasant enough for a stroll and some photos, but let’s be real—it’s not a must-see Swiss gem. We mostly did this as a low-effort, jet-lag-friendly activity to stay upright and adjust to the time zone, and for that, it worked perfectly.
But here’s the thing: Rhine Falls is touristy. We visited around 1 PM in mid-July, and while the crowds weren’t unbearable, they were definitely there. Between the overpriced restaurants, souvenir shops, and boats zipping around like water taxis at rush hour, it felt like we’d wandered into a waterfall-themed amusement park.
So, is Rhine Falls a must-do? Honestly, no. Sure, it’s Europe’s largest waterfall, but it’s also kind of… mid. Switzerland has so many more stunning, authentic experiences to offer, and if you need to trim your itinerary, this one should probably be on the chopping block.
Bottom line: If you’ve got time to kill or need an easy, low-stakes day trip from Zurich, Rhine Falls works. Otherwise? Skip it.
Such helpful detail. Saving for future trip to Switzerland!
I appreciate your honesty. The falls look so pretty, but crowds and prices play a huge factor in the overall experience. Thank you for sharing!
Wow this looks incredible!!! I love the photos. I have heard Switzerland is really expensive, so appreciate you sharing your true thoughts. Saving this for when we go!
I love your honesty about your experience at Rhine Falls. Thanks for sharing and giving us a real insight into what your trip was like and what you liked and didn’t like.
The waterfalls look fabulous but I love your honestly about the experience.