Rhine Falls
Rheinfall
Europe's largest lowland waterfall by water volume, 150 metres wide and 23 metres high. Boats can take you to the giant rock in the middle of the falls.
The Rhine Falls are located at Neuhausen, near Schaffhausen. They formed about 15,000 years ago, after the Rhine changed course following the Ice Age. The falls are about 150 metres wide and 23 metres high, with an average summer flow of about 600 cubic metres per second, making them the largest waterfall in Europe by volume. On the south bank, the cliff-top Laufen Castle sells tickets (about CHF 5) for a viewing path down to an iron platform right against the falls, where the spray hits you with dramatic force. On the north bank, the side of Schloss Wörth has a landing stage, restaurants and a free viewing area. The most fun is taking a boat trip. Different routes take you beneath the falls, or you can climb the giant rock in the middle of the falls to its top platform, surrounded by flowing water (rock boat about CHF 20, operating April to October). The railway bridge beside the falls can be crossed on foot. From Zurich Main Station, the train takes about 50 minutes to either Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall station (summer only) or Neuhausen station. It can be combined with the old town of Schaffhausen and the painted village of Stein am Rhein for a day trip.
Opening hours
Open all day; Laufen Castle viewpoint path approx. 09:00–19:00 (summer; shorter in winter)
Nearby sights
- Schaffhausen & Munot
- Swiss Science Center Technorama
- Zoo Zürich
- Zurich West (Im Viadukt & Freitag Tower)
- Swiss National Museum
- Zürich Hauptbahnhof
- ETH Polyterrasse
- Niederdorf (Old Town)