Rhine Falls & Laufen Castle Half-Day Tour from Zurich

Your tour begins at Zurich Sihlquai Bus Station (Coach Terminal)

Arrive near Zürich HB and follow Track 18 at street level until the road bends right, then walk about 50 meters to the coach terminal across from Starbucks. Check in at the counter with your voucher and ID, then board an air-conditioned coach and get settled for an easy ride out of the city.

Cruise north through vineyard country

As Zurich fades behind you, the scenery opens into gently rolling farmland, neat rows of vines, and storybook villages. Your guide shares information about the region as you follow the river corridors that have shaped trade and travel in northern Switzerland for centuries.

Pass the timber-framed village of Marthalen

Then roll by Marthalen, a small farming village known for its traditional half-timbered houses and bright painted façades. It’s the kind of place you’d miss without a guide. This village sets the style for the rural landscapes around the Upper Rhine.

Arrive at Laufen Castle and enter the Rhine Falls viewpoints

Once you arrive at Laufen Castle, a 1,000-year-old castle perched on a cliff above Europe’s largest waterfall, use your included admission to access the pathways and viewing areas above the falls. Hear the thundering sound first, a deep, constant roar, before seeing the full curtain of the Rhine spilling into the basin.

Follow panoramic trails to platforms above the falls

Next, walk the panoramic trails that showcase several viewpoints, each offering a new angle on the cascades. From the closest platforms, feel the cool mist on your face and watch the current churn and whirl, with the river’s force on full display.