Lake Zurich Cruises

Lake Zurich stretches some forty kilometres south-east from the city, a long, curving lake framed by gentle hills, vineyards, orchards and wealthy villages, with the snow-covered Glarus Alps rising at its far end on clear days. The Zurich Lake Navigation Company, the ZSG, has run passenger boats on it for well over a century, and taking one of its cruises is the best way to see the lake and understand why so many people want to live on its shores. All the cruises leave from the Buerkliplatz landing stages, at the foot of the Bahnhofstrasse where the Limmat leaves the lake, and they are public transport rather than tourist excursions, so you can hop off at any landing and take a later boat back. The ZSG offers three main routes. The mini lake cruise is a one-hour round trip to Wollishofen and back across the lower lake, perfect for a first look or a short evening ride. The short lake cruise, about an hour and a half, zigzags between the villages of the lower lake, such as Kilchberg, Kuesnacht, Thalwil and Erlenbach, with their waterfront houses and gardens. And the long lake cruise, about four and a half hours return, runs all the way to Rapperswil, the medieval town of roses with its castle on a hill, past the island of Ufenau, and makes a full day out if you stop for lunch. In summer the fleet includes two historic paddle steamers, and themed cruises add brunches, sunset trips, fondue in winter and special events. Service is reduced in spring, autumn and winter, when fewer boats run on fewer routes, and in exceptionally dry summers low water can force temporary changes, as in August 2026, when some cruises were suspended for a time. A separate river cruise runs along the Limmat from the landing stage by the Swiss National Museum in season. Tickets are standard public transport fares, and the Swiss Travel Pass and many Zurich network day passes are valid, with a supplement on some special cruises.

Choosing your cruise: for a first visit, the short lake cruise gives the best balance of scenery and time, while the long cruise to Rapperswil is worth it on a fine day, especially if you combine it with a walk through Rapperswil's old town and its rose gardens and a train back to Zurich, which is much faster than the boat. In winter, check the special winter timetable, as fewer boats run and some routes operate only on certain days; the boats are heated inside, and a crisp, clear winter day with the Alps standing out over the lake can be magical. Sit on the right-hand side heading south for the views of the east shore and the mountains, or on the open deck in good weather.

Tickets and passes: buy tickets from the ZSG ticket office at the Buerkliplatz, at the machines or in the SBB app; zones depend on how far you travel. Holders of the Swiss Travel Pass travel free on regular cruises, and the Zurich Card includes some boat trips within the city; check its current conditions. Special cruises with food or events carry an extra charge. Families should note that children travel at reduced fares, and the Swiss Family Card arrangements apply to the Swiss Travel Pass.

Beyond the boats: the lakeshore itself is one of Zurich's great free attractions. The promenades of Utoquai and Mythenquai, the Zuerichhorn park with its Chinese garden and the lakeside bathing houses, the Badis, which turn into bars on summer evenings, are where Zurich spends its summer. In winter, the lake is calmer and quieter, and the swans and the views remain. Whatever the season, an hour on the water is the most relaxing way to see Zurich, and the best value in an expensive city.