Mini lake cruise Lake Zurich from Zurich
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Mini lake cruise Lake Zurich from Zurich
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Small lake cruise Lake Zurich from Zurich
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Round trip Lake Geneva ticket from Geneva incl. audio guide
Duration: 50 minutes
Boat trip Lugano - Gandria ticket
Validity: All day
Short Catamaran Cruise with the Bürgenstock shuttle boat from Lucerne
Duration: 1 hour
Boat trip Lugano - Morcote ticket
Validity: All day
Lake Thun boat ticket from Interlaken West
Validity: All day
Geneva Grand Tour by boat
Duration: 2 hours
Lake Geneva ticket from Lausanne to Evian-les-Bains return
Duration: 35 minutes
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Mini lake cruise Lake Zurich from Zurich
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Small lake cruise Lake Zurich from Zurich
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Why book with Swiss Activities?
Ticket
Round trip Lake Geneva ticket from Geneva incl. audio guide
Duration: 50 minutes
booked 301 times
Ticket
Boat trip Lugano - Gandria ticket
booked 35 times
Ticket
Short Catamaran Cruise with the Bürgenstock shuttle boat from Lucerne
Duration: 1 hour
booked 954 times
Ticket
Boat trip Lugano - Morcote ticket
booked 60 times
Ticket
High demandLake Thun boat ticket from Interlaken West
booked 66 times
Ticket
Geneva Grand Tour by boat
Duration: 2 hours
booked 46 times
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Lake Geneva ticket from Lausanne to Evian-les-Bains return
Duration: 35 minutes
booked 153 times
In this guide, the passenger ships are the main actors. Year after year, they transport millions of people and shape the image of the Swiss lakes. Milestones of development were the establishment of steamships in the 19th century, until finally in the 1920s the first motorized passenger ships set sail
Switzerland is not only the land of mountains. It is also the land of lakes and rivers. One of the greatest attractions is the leisurely "sightseeing" of the country from the water. Then as now, people from all over the world come to our lakes. They enjoy a tranquil ride on the water, but also marvel at the breathtaking scenery with mountains and sights from the lake.
Boat trips in Switzerland aren't only for tourism and enjoyment. It still has considerable importance in terms of transport access. Every day, ferries transport cars, trucks and buses.
There are several passenger ship companies that offer different passenger trips
Here you can find an overview of the lakes in Switzerland and their passenger ship companies. The table arranges the lakes by size in km2.
Lake | Navigation company | Cantons | Main stops and places |
---|---|---|---|
Lake Geneva | Compagnie de general de navigation sur le lac léman | GE, VD, WA | Geneva, Lausanne, Montreux. Evian (FR) |
Lake Neuchâtel | Navigation Lacs de Neuchâtel et Morat | BE, FR, NE, VD | Neuchâtel, Yverdon |
Lake Constance | Schweizerische Bodensee Schifffahrt, Untersee und Rhein Schifffahrtsgesellschaft | SG, TG, SH | Romanshorn, Kreuzlingen, Stein am Rhein, Schaffhausen |
Lake Lucerne | Lake Lucerne Navigation Company | LU, NW, OW, SZ, UR | Lucerne, Brunnen, Flüelen, Stansstad, Vitznau |
Lake Zurich | Lake Zurich Navigation & Catering, Lake Zurich Meilen-Horgen | SG, ZH, SZ | Zurich, Rapperswil, Meilen, Horgen, Wädenswil |
Lake Thun | Lake Thun and Lake Brienz Navigation BLS | BE | Thun, Interlaken, Spiez, Beatenbucht |
Lago Maggiore | Navigazione Lago Maggiore | TI | Ascona, Locarno |
Lake Bienne | Navigation Lac Bienne | BE, NE | Biel, St. Peter Island |
Lake Zug | Lake Zug and Ägeri Navigation | LU, ZG, SZ | Zug, Arth |
Lake Lugano | Societa Navigazione del Lago Lugano | TI | Lugano, Morcote, Campione (I) |
Lake Brienz | Navigation Lake Thun and Lake Brienz BLS | BE | Brienz, Interlaken |
Lake Walen | Lake Walen Navigation | GL, SG | Walenstadt, Quinten |
Lake Murten | Navigation Lacs de Neuchâtel et Morat | FR, VD | Murten |
Hallwillersee | Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Hallwillersee | AG, LU | Beinwil, Birrwil, Meisterschwanden |
Greifensee | Greifensee Shipping Association | ZH | Greifensee, Fällanden, Maur |
Ägerisee | Lake Zug and Ägerisee Navigation | ZG | Morgarten, Oberägeri, Unterägeri, Naas |
Basel - Rhine | Basler Personenschifffahrt | BS | Basel, Rheinfelden |
For boat trips in the Zurich region there are numerous shipping companies that make their rounds on various lakes.
Shipping on Lake Zurich probably dates back to the time of the settlement of the shore region around 4000 BC. The first iron ship on the European continent was the Lake Zurich steamer "Minerva", which began operations on July 19, 1835.
Today, the fleet comprises 17 ships. Of these, 12 are motor ships, three are Limmat boats and two are paddle steamers. in 2007, the newest member of the fleet, the MS Panta Rhei, was christened. The 700-passenger ship is particularly impressive because of its large windows and the accessibility of all decks for the disabled.
Under the title "Traumschiff" (dream ship), the Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft (ZSG) offers numerous special theme trips. In Zurich, you can travel comfortably from Bürkliplatz to Rapperswil, or treat yourself to a leisurely round trip on the Limmat. In the winter months, the Limmat navigation is always discontinued.
The ZSG serves with its fleet of ships both banks as far as Rapperswil and in the high season also the upper lake between Rapperswil and Schmerikon. The Limmat boats also entertain a small loop around the lake. The best place to board is at the Swiss National Museum. Finally, the most beautiful excursions lead to Zurich or as far as Rapperswil with a wooden footbridge that is part of the Jakobsweg (Way of St. James).
From Rapperswil, a footbridge led over the dam on Lake Zurich from the earliest times. Old pilgrimage traditions are also testified by the innumerable inns in the town. The most important landmark, however, is the triangular castle with its three different towers.
On Lake Zurich there is a wide range of adventure cruises for connoisseurs and explorers. Regular cruises with food & drink experiences or round trips from Zurich or Rapperswil are offered.
Offer | Route from | Duration |
---|---|---|
Sunday Brunch | ZH Bürkliplatz | ca. 2h |
Chäs Fondue | ZH Bürkliplatz | ca. 2h |
Mini Lake Tour | ZH Bürkliplatz | approx. 1h |
Small Lake Tour | ZH Bürkliplatz | approx. 2h |
Big Lake Tour | ZH Bürkliplatz | ca. 3h |
River Tour | ZH National Museum | ca. 1h |
Obersee round trip | Rapperswil (Schmerikon) | ca. 2-3h |
Lake Tour | Rapperswil | ca. 2h |
Ufenau Shuttle | Rapperswil | approx. 2h |
The Lake Zurich Ferry Horgen-Meilen (FHM) operates year-round ferry service on Lake Zurich between Horgen and Meilen. This ferry connection shortens the travel route for individual traffic from the Zurich Oberland to central Switzerland. You can reach the opposite shore of the lake without a detour through the city of Zurich or via the Rapperswil lake dam.
The fleet consists of five ferryboats, the lion's share of whose trips are for commuters between the two lakeshores. From spring to fall, both tranquil round trips and nostalgia trips are offered.
The special culinary cruises are no less inspiring. There is a breakfast ship as well as a pasta, fondue, Asian and a game ship.
15 km east of Zurich lies the charming Greifensee, whose entire shore region is a protected nature reserve. The Greifensee boat service links the five main starting points on the lake: Maur, Fällanden, Uster and Mönchaltorf Silberweide open up the region around Lake Greifen.
In 1895, the steamship Greif was built by Escher Wyss, the largest manufacturer of ships in Switzerland at that time. More than 600 ships have left the factory halls in the meantime. The steamship "Greif" is the oldest and only coal-fired steamship with screw propulsion operating in public passenger shipping in Switzerland today.
In addition to the steamship, the Schifffahrtsgenossenschaft Greifensee (SGG) also operates its own ships, which offer themed boat trips. Today, the environmentally friendly operated ships of the SGG include the MS Stadt Uster, the MS David Herrliberger and the MS Heimat.
The view from the lake is the best way to see the unobstructed shores. About 400 different plant species grow in the reed meadows and fens surrounding the idyllic Greifensee. The round trip from Maur - Uster - Maur takes about 1.5 h.
The graceful Lake Zug - 14 km long and 198 m deep - is surrounded by a gently rolling landscape in its northern part. The southern end is nestled between the steep flanks of Rossberg and Rigi. Lake Aegeri, about 5 km southeast of Zug, is also beautiful to experience by boat. The boats leave near the boat station north of the Landsgemeindeplatz. In summer they sail south to Arth and many other destinations.
The places on the shore are served by the ships of the Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Zugersee. At the start of the season (April 1), the lake maps of Lake Zug and Lake Aegeri are available digitally. There you will also find the most important data and basics about navigation and leisure.
Lake Zug is connected by boat via 9 stops. On your big round trip you reach the worth seeing places Cham, Walchwil, Arth am See, Immensee and Oberwil via these stops.
Throughout the year, the Zuger Schifffahrtsgesellschaft offers adventure cruises. These range from breakfast or brunch on Sunday to aperitifs and themed cruises such as Dinner Krimi, Casino Night or Bond Brunch.
Offer | Route | Duration |
---|---|---|
Sunday Brunch | ZG Bahnhofsteg | ca. 2h |
Round Trip | ZG Bahnhofsteg | approx. 2h |
day ticket | flexible | flexible |
The light green shimmering Walensee stretches between the Glarus Alps and the Churfirsten peaks rising almost 1000 m above the lake to the north. It is 15 km long, 151 m deep and up to 2 km wide.
The ferries of the Walensee shipping company run regularly between Quinten and Murg. The motor ship Quinten forms the largest unit with a total capacity of 260 passengers, followed by the ferries MS Churfirsten, MS Seestern, MS Walenstadt and MS Alvier.
From March to October, ships regularly travel between Weesen and Walenstadt. On the route Murg - Au - Quinten - Murg they stop at several places like Betlis. In winter the connection is limited from Murg to Quinten. One of the most beautiful destinations is Weesen, an idyllic little town visited as a summer resort. Hikers also appreciate a stop at Walenstadt under the steep walls of the Hinterrugg.
The main landing stages at the Walensee, which are approached, are: Murg, Au, Weesen, Mühlehorn, Betlis and Quinten.
In the region of Aargau you have the opportunity to enjoy the surroundings from a ship on the Hallwilersee.
You can cruise across the peaceful waters of Lake Hallwil on a ferry. If you want to discover the lake valley in all its beauty, you can't miss a boat trip on Lake Hallwil.
In 1888, the Lake Hallwil Navigation Company was founded - as the "Steamship Company of Lake Hallwil". Currently, five ships operate on the lake: MS Brestenberg, MS Delphin, MS Seetal, MS Hallwil and MS Seerose.
The scheduled boats sail regularly from May to September, as well as on fair-weather days in the early and late season. The main landing stages are Seengen, Delphin Meisterschwanden, Birrwil, Beinwil am See, Aesch, Mosen and Boniswil.
The big round trip from Seengen - Meisterschwanden - Aesch - Mosen - Beinwil - Birewil - Boniswil - Seengen takes 1 h 45 min. The most popular destinations on Lake Hallwil include Hallwyl Castle, Heidegg Castle, Schongiland Adventure Park and the Seerose and Delphin restaurants in Meisterschwanden.
The offer ranges from seasonal special and theme trips to culinary excursions. Among the most beautiful experiences is the Sunday morning trip with the brunch ship as well as a sunset cruise.
When you travel from Bern to Interlaken for the first time, you will never forget the moment when your gaze falls on Lake Thun. The turquoise blue water will immediately enchant you. So it's no surprise that these two lakes in the Bernese Oberland are a real magnet for excursions.
Lake Thun and lake Brienz lie in the elongated valley of the Aare between Brienz and Thun. The idyllic Brienz is located on the shore of the lake of the same name. Here you look out over beautiful turquoise waters, rugged mountains and dense forests. Lake Brienz, which is mainly fed by glacier water, is one of the coldest lakes in Switzerland.
The BLS Schifffahrt-Flotte consists of a total of 14 ships, including the two stately paddlewheel steamers "Blümlisalp" and "Lötschberg". Passenger ships operate year-round on Lake Thun between Interlaken and Thun, while operations on Lake Brienz are discontinued in winter.
A lake cruise on both lakes can be combined with excursions to popular places and sights. For example, a stop at the Giessbach Falls on Lake Brienz or the Beatus Caves on Lake Thun is worthwhile. About 18 km from Interlaken, on the northern shore of Lake Brienz, is the valley station of the Brienz-Rothorn cable car, which whiskey lovers should not miss.
Wonderful evening cruises and numerous events complement the range of courses offered by BLS Schifffahrt. You can also plan a Zweiseen boat trip and connect the lakes with a trip on the Bödeli Railway. This nostalgic mini train in Interlaken operates between May and October by reservation for groups of 8 or more.
Steamboat lines
Lake Lucerne is named after the four "Waldstätten" surrounding it - the original cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden and the canton of Lucerne. It is the fourth largest lake in Switzerland and stretches over a length of 38 km from Lucerne to Flüelen. In magnificence as well as diversity, the 214 m deep lake is not surpassed by any other Swiss lake.
The Lake Lucerne Navigation Company (SGV) operates ships on the lake every day. With 5 paddle steamers and 14 motor ships, the fleet offers something for everyone.
Lucerne is the ideal starting point for excursions by boat on Lake Lucerne as well as for combined tours. The Lucerne regions on Lake Lucerne appear cheerful and serene. Lovely mountain ranges alternate with sheltered bays of almost Mediterranean vegetation. The three well-known excursion mountains Pilatus, Bürgenstock and Rigi set striking accents.
There are year-round connections from Lucerne to Alpnachstad, Weggis, Vitznau, Brunnen and Flüelen. To Flüelen, however, there is only one ship a day in winter, while the courses turn around in Brunnen or at the Rütli.
Combine your hiking trip with a boat trip, enjoy the sunset atmosphere on deck or sail towards Lucerne's sea of lights during Advent.
With the Lake Lucerne Pass you have one year of free travel on the lake and many other advantages. The annual fee is worth it if you often travel on the lake.
Offer | Route | Duration |
---|---|---|
course trip | Alpnachstad to Luzern | ca. 2h |
course ride | Weggis to Lucerne | ca. 50 min |
Course ride | Vitznau to Lucerne | approx. 1¼h |
Course ride | Brunnen to Lucerne | ca. 2h |
Course ride | Flüelen to Lucerne | approx. 3¼h |
day ticket | whole lake |
To the east of Geneva stretches Western Europe's largest inland lake. The much visited Lake Geneva is a gigantic liquid mirror. It lies between the French Savoy Alps and the Vaud Alps in Switzerland. Of its lake surface, 60% falls on Switzerland and 40% on France.
The sunny northern shores of Vaud with the vineyards of Lavaux, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, invite you to linger, discover and enjoy. Other beautiful destinations around Lake Geneva are the Chateau Chillon and the cities of Montreux, Lausanne, Geneva and Evian.
There are plenty of family-friendly activities on Lake Geneva. The largest ferry company (CGN Ferries and Cruises) on Lake Geneva offers a regular schedule year-round. And in addition, various themed cruises operate on beautiful Belle Epoque steamboats.
Main moorings and routes on Lake Geneva are:
Swissboat also offers various thematic cruises on Lake Geneva and the Rhone from April to October.
Located off the northern edge of the Alps, Lake Constance is the third largest inland lake in Europe. It ranks third after Lake Balaton and Lake Geneva among the most extensive lakes in Central Europe. Lake Constance is located in Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
The entire southern foreland of Lake Constance is Swiss territory and by far the greater part belongs to the canton of Thurgau. In contrast, the area around Rorschach up to the Old Rhine is assigned to the canton of St. Gallen.
Several ferry companies, including the Schweizer Bodensee Schifffahrt SBS - the Vorarlberg Lines VLB, the Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe BSB and the Schifffahrtsgesellschaft Untersee und Rhein SSURh - crisscross the lake and along its shores from the beginning of March to the end of October.
Bodensee Schifffahrt operates as the largest shipyard on Lake Constance. There are 4 scheduled ships and 2 ferries in operation. In addition, the ships MS Rhynegg and MS Rhy and Rhyspitz operate. In summer, the MS Rhynegg invites you to a wonderful voyage of discovery on the Old Rhine. The motorboats Rhy and Rhyspitz can also be rented.
The main stops on Lake Constance on the Swiss side are Romanshorn, Rorschach and Kreuzlingen. Other stops are Arbon, Rheineck, Constance (DE), Mainau (DE), Lindau (DE) and Immenstaad (DE).
offer | route |
---|---|
Cruise | Meersburg to Rorschach |
course trip | Lindau to Rorschach |
day ticket | everywhere |
The Lake Constance ticket includes the use of the ferries Friedrichshafen - Romanshorn and / or Constance - Meersburg depending on the region purchased.
Untersee is separated from the main basin of Lake Constance by a land bridge cut by the Rhine at Constance. In its northern part it forms the two fingers of the Gnadensee. Untersee is located between Constance, Stein am Rhein and Radolfzell.
On the Untersee, the Swiss shipping company "Untersee und Rhein" offers course and adventure cruises. The scheduled boats operate daily from April to October between Kreuzlingen, Stein am Rhein and Schaffhausen. The main stops are Kreuzlingen, Constance, Reichenau Island, Höri Peninsula, Stein am Rhein and Schaffhausen.
The 45 km long boat trip from Schaffhausen to Constance leads along one of the most beautiful sections of the Rhine. The Swiss shipping company "Untersee und Rhein" sails from/to Kreuzlingen via Stein am Rhein and Reichenau to Schaffhausen. The trip takes almost four hours downstream - one hour longer in the opposite direction.
Another Untersee round trip starts from Steckborn and leads to Ermatingen, Switzerland's oldest fishing village. On the way you will see castles, palaces and historic half-timbered buildings. The round trip takes about 2 h
In Basel, Switzerland comes closest to a seaside port: from here, the Rhine is navigable all the way to its mouth for relatively large ships. It flows north through the city in a gentle curve coming from the southeast.
The Basler Personenschifffahrt operates scheduled cruises and year-round adventure cruises from March to October. Founded in 1924, the company now owns four ships.
It is hard to believe the contrasts that Switzerland offers: Where you stroll along the waterfront promenades in Locarno and Lugano under well-tended palm trees, you enter an alpine jungle in the wild side valleys. The boat trip in Ticino is suitable for unforgettable hours or days with family or friends....
Lake Maggiore, 60 km long, 3-5 km wide and up to 372 m deep, is the second largest of the Upper Italian lakes.
Only the northeasternmost corner of Lake Maggiore with the town of Locarno belongs to Switzerland. The rest of the lake is in Italian Lombardy. There has been passenger navigation on the lake since 1826. The Navigazione Lago Maggiore shipping company operates ships on the entire lake. The fleet consists of 25 ships. Among them are the historic "Piemonte", a historic steamboat built in 1904, and modern speedboats such as the catamaran "Leopardie".
Be it the event tour on a paddle steamer, round trips or short excursions - every trip across Lake Maggiore is an experience. The sister towns of Locarno and Ascona are located on the two bays. A charming contrast that always surprises is the light blue of the lake in front of the sugared peaks of Tamaro and Gambarogno.
With the day ticket you can sail the whole Swiss part of the lake. There are several options for visiting the Italian side. A car ferry connects the ports of Intra and Laveno every 20 minutes.
Lake Lugano on the southern edge of the Alps belongs mainly to the Swiss canton of Ticino. The lake also has a share in the Italian provinces of Varese and Como. Situated at 270 meters above sea level, the lake is up to 288 meters deep and 35 kilometers long.
A boat trip on Lago di Lugano is definitely worthwhile. The transport boats on the lake are operated by the Societa Navigazione de Lago di Lugano. The offer of the shipping company with nine ships includes morning, noon and evening trips.
There are round trips from Lugano to Melide, to Morcuote and to Ponte Tresa. If you want to visit more places, it is best to choose a time ticket. In addition to the day pass, there is also a three-day pass and a weekly pass. Children travel at a reduced price.
The pier in Lugano is located near Piazza della Riforma. The boats operate all year round. They operate most frequently between the end of March and October. At this time they sometimes even go as far as Ponte Tresa, which is right on the border with Italy.
With its rivers and lakes, the Three Lakes Region is predestined for a leisurely cruise on a passenger ship.
Lake Biel, with a length of 14.5 km and a width of up to 3.5 km, forms the boundary between two geological regions: the limestone formation of the Jura and the molasse region of the Seeland. The neighboring lakes Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Murten are connected to Lake Biel by a canal.
Throughout the year, the Bielersee Schifffahrtsgesellschaft BSG in Biel and the Navigation Lacs de Neuchatel et Morat LNM in Neuchâtel offer day trips for all three lakes. The proud fleet of BSG Schifffahrt includes classic course ships, the largest solar catamaran in Switzerland and a modern yacht. The route network runs through the Seeland region from Solothurn to Murten. On the Aare, the ships sail into Lake Biel, on into Lake Neuchâtel to Lake Murten and back again.
A round trip makes you familiar with the beautiful shores and a number of villages and small towns worth seeing. A famous destination on Lake Biel is St. Peter's Island - a spot of poetic beauty. You can reach St. Peter's Island by boat from Biel or La Neuveville. Along the nature reserve Yverdon les Bains Champ-Pittet you will enjoy a magnificent view of the Jura chain.
Highlights on the Aare trip between Solothurn and Biel are the storks of Altreu, the historic town of Büren an der Aare and the lock in Port.
Day trips across all three lakes include lunch. Other boats operate regularly only in spring and summer. In autumn and winter, however, there are numerous special trips such as fondue evenings.
The one-way trip from Biel to Erlach takes about 1 ¼ h, the two-lake trip about 2 ¼ h and the big three-lake trip about 3 ¼ h.
In the Fribourg region, a tour by boat on Lake Murten is possible and definitely worth a visit.
Canals connect Lake Murten with Lake Neuchâtel to the west and Lake Biel to the north, forming the Three Lakes Country. It is lakeland, distinguished by about 250 km of cycling and hiking trails. Lake Murten is 9 km long and up to 46 m deep. To the northwest extends the flat ridge of Mont Vully, which separates Lake Murten from Lake Neuchâtel.
In the season from the end of April to the end of October, the Navigation Lacs de Neuchatel et Morat offers boat trips on Lake Morat. On the approximately 70-minute round trip, the ship stops in Praz, Motier, Avenches, Vallamand and Faoug.
By the way, in Salavaux you will find the longest sandy beach in Switzerland.
In Valais, the main valley of the Rhone, an enchanting river landscape reveals itself. It starts at the Rhone glacier and ends at the shore of Lake Geneva. There are no navigation companies here, as they are known from the Aare. Instead, the rivers of the region can be explored in other ways, for example river rafting.
Graubünden is the headwaters of the Rhine. The Inn also rises here, as well as the rivers of the Italian-Graubünden southern valleys that flow toward the Po. The Rhine Gorge forms a spectacular backdrop for first white-water rafting taster tours. If you're looking for more challenging waters, you'll find them on the Landquart in central Prättigau and in the Lower Engadine
Also for canoeists the Vorderrhein is an ideal area for the first attempts in white water. It is also home to the best canoe school in the canton. It offers a wide range of canoe and kayak courses.