# Zurich - Lake, hills and a waterfall within easy reach

> Zurich is a city of water and woods. Swim in the lake and river, climb the Uetliberg for Alpine views, sail to Rapperswil and visit the Rhine Falls nearby.

Web page: https://parkoni.com/en/reiseziele/zurich-lake-hills-and-rhine-falls

[Parkoni editorial team](https://parkoni.com/en/ueber-parkoni) · Published 8 November 2026

Zurich is known for banks and watches, but residents will tell you the best thing about it is how close nature is. A lake fills the south, a clear river runs through the middle, and wooded hills rise on two sides, all connected by punctual public transport.

If you want a break from museums and shopping streets, this guide shows how to spend a day outdoors without leaving the city region.

## Swimming in the lake and the Limmat

In the warm months, Zurich's residents swim in the lake and the River Limmat, whose water is clean enough that swimming is a normal part of summer. Wooden lidos built over the water, grassy shores and small riverside bathing spots all welcome visitors. If you try the river, remember that the current is stronger than it looks, so follow local advice and swim where others do.

## Up the Uetliberg

The Uetliberg is the city's own mountain. A short train ride from the main station brings you to the top, and a walk of a few minutes leads to a lookout tower. On a clear day you see Lake Zurich, the roofs of the old town and a long line of Alpine peaks. Several well-marked trails lead back down through the forest, and you can walk part or all of the way.

## On the water to Rapperswil

Passenger boats cross Lake Zurich from the city to Rapperswil at the eastern end. The trip takes a little under two hours and shows the shoreline as it slowly changes from city to villages, vineyards and orchards. Rapperswil has a castle, a pretty old town and a long wooden footbridge across the lake. You can return by boat or take the train.

## Quiet woods on the Zurichberg

The Zurichberg lies on the opposite side of the city. Its forest paths are popular with joggers, families and walkers, and the zoo sits on the slope. Here you can walk for an hour without hearing traffic, and there are viewpoints over the lake from several spots on the way.

## The Rhine Falls

A short train ride to the north brings you to the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen. They are often called the largest plain waterfall in Europe by volume of water, and the noise and spray can be felt from the viewing platforms. You can take a small boat out to a rock in the middle of the water, which gives a close look at the power of the river. Paths on both banks allow an easy walk.

To combine these ideas, treat the day as a loop: a morning hike on the Uetliberg, lunch with a view, a swim or a stroll by the water in the afternoon, and the boat in the late light. The Rhine Falls and Rapperswil each deserve a half day to themselves. Swiss public transport is reliable and runs on a regular timetable, so it is easy to improvise, and a light rain jacket is worth carrying because mountain weather can change quickly, even in summer.

Zurich suits those who like clean air and clear views. A day outside gives you the city's character better than any list of sights, and you will return to town hungry and relaxed.

## Nonstop to Zurich

Nonstop flights there leave from these airports, among others: [Dublin Airport](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/dublin-airport-dub), [Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/alicante-elche-miguel-hernandez-airport-alc) and [Amsterdam Airport Schiphol](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/amsterdam-schiphol-airport-ams).

- [Dublin Airport \(DUB\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/dublin-airport-dub): Aer Lingus, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport \(ALC\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/alicante-elche-miguel-hernandez-airport-alc): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Amsterdam Airport Schiphol \(AMS\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/amsterdam-schiphol-airport-ams): KLM, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Kraków John Paul II International Airport \(KRK\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/krakow-john-paul-ii-airport-krk): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport \(BCN\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/josep-tarradellas-barcelona-el-prat-airport-bcn): Swiss International Air Lines, Vueling, year-round
- [Berlin Brandenburg Airport \(BER\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/berlin-brandenburg-airport-ber): Eurowings, Swiss International Air Lines, easyJet, year-round
- [Bilbao Airport \(BIO\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/bilbao-airport-bio): Edelweiss Air, year-round
- [Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport \(BLQ\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/bologna-guglielmo-marconi-airport-blq): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport \(BOD\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/bordeaux-merignac-airport-bod): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Bremen Airport \(BRE\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/bremen-airport-bre): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Brindisi Airport \(BDS\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/brindisi-airport-bds): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport \(BUD\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/budapest-liszt-ferenc-airport-bud): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Avram Iancu Cluj International Airport \(CLJ\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/avram-iancu-cluj-airport-clj): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Dresden Airport \(DRS\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/dresden-airport-drs): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Düsseldorf Airport \(DUS\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/duesseldorf-airport-dus): Eurowings, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Faro - Gago Coutinho International Airport \(FAO\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/faro-gago-coutinho-airport-fao): Edelweiss Air, year-round
- [Milan Malpensa International Airport \(MXP\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/milan-malpensa-airport-mxp): Ethiopian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Florence Airport, Peretola \(FLR\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/florence-peretola-airport-flr): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Frankfurt Main Airport \(FRA\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/frankfurt-main-airport-fra): Air Dolomiti, Condor, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Hamburg Helmut Schmidt Airport \(HAM\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/hamburg-helmut-schmidt-airport-ham): Eurowings, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Hannover Airport \(HAJ\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/hannover-airport-haj): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Helsinki Vantaa Airport \(HEL\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/helsinki-vantaa-airport-hel): Finnair, year-round
- [Cologne Bonn Airport \(CGN\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/cologne-bonn-airport-cgn): Eurowings, year-round
- [Lamezia Terme Sant'Eufemia International Airport \(SUF\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/lamezia-terme-sant-eufemia-airport-suf): Edelweiss Air, year-round
- [Larnaca International Airport \(LCA\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/larnaca-airport-lca): Chair Airlines, Condor, Edelweiss Air, year-round
- [Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport \(LIS\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/lisbon-humberto-delgado-airport-lis): Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, easyJet, year-round
- [Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport \(MAD\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/adolfo-suarez-madrid-barajas-airport-mad): Air Europa, Iberia, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport \(AGP\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/malaga-costa-del-sol-airport-agp): Swiss International Air Lines, easyJet, year-round
- [Marseille Provence Airport \(MRS\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/marseille-provence-airport-mrs): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Munich Airport \(MUC\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/munich-airport-muc): Air Dolomiti, Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Naples International Airport \(NAP\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/naples-airport-nap): Swiss International Air Lines, easyJet, year-round
- [Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport \(OTP\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/bucharest-henri-coanda-airport-otp): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Falcone-Borsellino Airport \(PMO\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/falcone-borsellino-airport-pmo): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Palma de Mallorca Airport \(PMI\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/palma-de-mallorca-airport-pmi): Chair Airlines, Condor, Edelweiss Air, Eurowings, Swiss International Air Lines, Travelcoup, Vueling, easyJet, year-round
- [Charles de Gaulle International Airport \(CDG\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/charles-de-gaulle-airport-cdg): Air France, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Francisco de Sá Carneiro Airport \(OPO\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/francisco-de-sa-carneiro-airport-opo): Chair Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, TAP Air Portugal, easyJet, year-round
- [Poznań-Ławica Airport \(POZ\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/poznan-lawica-airport-poz): Swiss, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Václav Havel Airport Prague \(PRG\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/vaclav-havel-prague-airport-prg): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Rome-Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport \(FCO\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/rome-fiumicino-leonardo-da-vinci-airport-fco): ITA Airways, Swiss International Air Lines, easyJet, year-round
- [Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport \(SCQ\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/santiago-rosalia-de-castro-airport-scq): Edelweiss Air, Vueling, year-round
- [Seville Airport \(SVQ\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/seville-airport-svq): Edelweiss Air, year-round
- [Sofia Airport \(SOF\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/sofia-airport-sof): Bulgaria Air, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport \(ATH\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/athens-eleftherios-venizelos-airport-ath): Aegean Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Split Saint Jerome Airport \(SPU\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/split-saint-jerome-airport-spu): Croatia Airlines, Edelweiss Air, year-round
- [Stockholm-Arlanda Airport \(ARN\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/stockholm-arlanda-airport-arn): Scandinavian Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Stuttgart Airport \(STR\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/stuttgart-airport-str): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Valencia Airport \(VLC\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/valencia-airport-vlc): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Zagreb Franjo Tuđman International Airport \(ZAG\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/zagreb-franjo-tudjman-airport-zag): Croatia Airlines, year-round
- [Venice Marco Polo Airport \(VCE\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/venice-marco-polo-airport-vce): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Vienna International Airport \(VIE\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/vienna-airport-vie): Austrian Airlines, year-round
- [Vilnius International Airport \(VNO\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/vilnius-airport-vno): Swiss International Air Lines, airBaltic, year-round
- [Warsaw Chopin Airport \(WAW\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/warsaw-chopin-airport-waw): LOT Polish Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Copernicus Wrocław Airport \(WRO\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/copernicus-wroclaw-airport-wro): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Brussels Airport \(BRU\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/brussels-airport-bru): Brussels Airlines, Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport \(LJU\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/ljubljana-joze-pucnik-airport-lju): Swiss International Air Lines, year-round
- [Bari Karol Wojtyła International Airport \(BRI\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/bari-karol-wojtyla-airport-bri): Edelweiss Air, seasonal
- [Cagliari Elmas Airport \(CAG\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/cagliari-elmas-airport-cag): Edelweiss Air, seasonal
- [Catania-Fontanarossa Airport \(CTA\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/catania-fontanarossa-airport-cta): Edelweiss Air, seasonal
- [Gdańsk Lech Wałęsa Airport \(GDN\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/gdansk-lech-walesa-airport-gdn): Swiss International Air Lines, seasonal
- [Ibiza Airport \(IBZ\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/ibiza-airport-ibz): Condor, Edelweiss Air, seasonal
- [Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport \(OLB\)](https://parkoni.com/en/flughafen/olbia-costa-smeralda-airport-olb): Edelweiss Air, easyJet, seasonal

Routes as listed on Wikipedia from the airlines' schedules; the airline's current timetable is authoritative.

- [All destinations](https://parkoni.com/en/reiseziele)

---

Markdown version of this page for software and AI assistants. Source: Parkoni, https://parkoni.com/en/reiseziele/zurich-lake-hills-and-rhine-falls