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Season: all year
Recommended season: early April to mid October
Max. altitude: 408 m (1339 ft)Lake Zurich boats: quick introduction 
Zurich is located in the north-western corner of a 42 km long lake ("Zürichsee" in German) and on the banks of the river Limmat. The company ZSG ("Zürichsee Schifffahrtsgesellschaft") offers a large fleet and lots of varying cruises. The options range from short round trips to full-day boat excursions all across the lake.
➤ Boat prices, tickets and reservations
Lake Zurich boat tickets: 2026 prices without a rail pass
The ticket price depends on the route and class you travel in. You can get ZVV tickets, which are explained here. Price examples:
- A long 4h15 lake crossing from Zurich to Rapperswil and back costs CHF 28 in 2nd class or CHF 46.20 in 1st class. This is based on the ZVV 9'O-Clock Day Pass, which grants free travel in the Zurich area for a day.
- A short 1h25 boat cruise from Zurich to Zürichhorn and back costs CHF 9.40 in 2nd class. This is based on a 3-zone ZVV ticket.
- A mini cruise of 0h55 from Zurich to Zürichhorn and back costs CHF 7.20 in 2nd class. That's the price of a 2-zone ZVV ticket.
You don't have to make complete round trips: you can get on and off board at every dock on the route. A ticket for a shorter stretch can thus be cheaper.
Lake Zurich boat tickets: 2026 prices with a rail pass
With several rail passes, such as the Swiss Travel Pass, you can make free cruises on Lake Zurich. You don't need tickets in that case: just board the boat and show your pass if asked for. A Swiss Half Fare Card gets you a 50% discount on ZVV tickets.
Find a full breakdown of rail pass discounts here.
Where to buy your boat tickets
If you don't have a rail pass that grants free traveling, you'll need a ticket. They're for sale online, from the ticket desks at the pier of Zürich Bürkliplatz, at rail stations, and on board the boats.
Reservations
Reservations aren't necessary for the standard boats at Lake Zurich. You can make table reservations for the ship restaurants, but you don't have to.
If you want to join any of the "Unique Cruises" (mostly culinary-themed cruises), I advise you to arrange for your booking in advance.
Tours
You can also choose to book a tour that includes a boat ride at Lake Zurich. In that case, you won't need additional tickets.
➤ Save money on boat rides with your rail pass
The below travel passes get you discounted or even free boat trips on Lake Zurich. This goes for the standard rides. "Unique Cruises" require additional payment.
| Pass | Discount |
|---|---|
| Day Pass | Free:
|
| Eurail Global Pass | Discount 50%:
|
| Interrail Switzerland Pass | Discount 50%:
|
| Saver Day Pass | Free:
|
| Swiss Half Fare Card | Discount 50%:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass | Free:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex | Free:
|
Map of Lake Zurich and directions to the shipping piers
The main boat terminals in Zurich
The main boat docks in Zurich are:
- "Zürich Bürkliplatz": this is where the lake cruises start. It's located at the end of the famous Bahnhofstrasse. You can get there on foot from the central station in about 20 minutes, or by tram.
- "Zürich Landesmuseum (See)": this is where the Limmat river cruises depart. It's located right next to the central rail station, beside the Swiss National Museum. It takes 3 minutes on foot from the station.
Learn how to reach the city in my Zurich travel guide.
Docks in other towns around the lake
The boats reach many towns all across the Lake Zurich shores. The docks are usually close to the town center and to train stations or bus stops.
Learn how to find docks in the timetable here.
The many routes on Lake Zurich
There are many cruises on the lake, that aren't all displayed on the map below. The boat schedules provide a full overview of all options.
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
Operation dates of boats at Lake Zurich
The boats operate year-round. The summer schedule applies from 3 April to 18 October 2026, and high season schedules apply from 1 May to 30 September 2026. This is when you have the most choice. During the rest of the year, a somewhat limited schedule applies.
Planning your cruise with the timetable
You can consult the ZSG timetables through the links here. Or plan your boat trips in the general Swiss timetable. Set the travel mode to "ship" with the "Settings" function.
The main boat terminals in Zurich are called:
- "Zürich Landesmuseum (See)"
- "Zürich Bürkliplatz (See)"
Boat docks in the other towns on the lake can be recognized by the addition "(See)", which is German for "lake". For example: the boat dock at Rapperswil is called "Rapperswil SG (See)".
Best months to explore Lake Zurich by boat
The best period of the year is early April to mid October, as that's when most cruises are available. I personally prefer April to June: most cruises at Lake Zurich are available and there's quite some chance to see snow at the Alps in the distance.
July, August and September are perfect too. You'll see less snow on the far-away mountain peaks, but boat trips are relaxed and refreshing if it's hot in Zurich.
There are restricted timetables from October to March. From late November to February, the surrounding hills can look less attractive - unless snow has fallen in the lowlands area around Zurich too!
Weather forecast for Lake Zurich
Sunny weather is best to enjoy the wide views from the lake. In clear skies, you'll not only see the hilly surroundings of Zurich, but the Alps far in the distance too. On the other hand: all Lake Zurich boats have enough indoor capacity, so a cruise is perfect for cloudy or rainy days as well.
If you want be seated outside, make sure you're dressed warm enough: there can be quite some wind. Take along sunscreen and sun glasses to protect your eyes from the bright sun reflections.
Find the current forecasts for the Zurich region below.
The types of boat rides on the Limmat and Lake Zurich
You can choose from lots of boat trips on the river Limmat and the lake. The main ones are:
- Limmat River cruises: these 1-hour canal boat tours can be made from early April to mid-October. They start and end from “Zürich Landesmuseum” and take you on the river Limmat, along the Old Town, and onto the lake. The “Zürichhorn” dock is where it turns and goes back to the town center. Round trips from the docks along the way are possible as well.
- Round trips over north-western part of the lake (between Zürich and Rapperswil) of varying durations. Most are available year-round. The shortest option takes about an hour. The longest round tour, all the way from Zurich to Rapperswil and back, takes 4 to 5 hours.
- Cruises in the Obersee (“Upper Lake”) area, south-east of Rapperswil. These tours can be made on Saturdays, Sundays, and on public holidays from April to September.
Learn where the boats depart here.
The best boat excursions on Lake Zurich
According to me, any boat ride that fits your itinerary is perfect: all of the lake is pretty. I personally like to combine a boat ride with a train or bus tour, or with another excursion. This results in a varied half-day or full-day activity. My favorites are:
- A one-way boat ride from Zurich to any of the small towns along the lake. Examples are Küsnacht, Thalwil, Herrliberg, Horgen, Wädenswil, Richterswil, and Rapperswil. Then get back by train or bus. My top pick is Rapperswil. I recommend to explore this scenic village and its castle before traveling back. Or board the Voralpen-Express.
- The Upper Lake cruise from Rapperswil to Schmerikon. The hilly surroundings are very scenic. The pretty train ride from Schmerikon back to Zurich takes about 50 minutes.
- A boat trip to Kilchberg and a visit to the Lindt Home of Chocolate or the Lindt factory outlet.
- A short river cruise combined with our Zurich city walk.
About the fleet and catering
The types of vessels on Lake Zurich
The boats are operated by ZSG (“Zürichsee Schiffahrtsgesellschaft”). The large fleet consists of many motorboats and two historic paddle steamers: the “Stadt Rapperswil” and “Stadt Zürich”. These steamboats operate regularly from early April to late September.
The boats have indoor and outdoor sections on the lower and upper decks. Most boats for the shorter cruises have 2nd class segments only. Other boats, for longer round trips, have upper-deck 1st class segments too.
On the river Limmat, smaller 1-level boats operate.
Catering on board
Most round-trip boats at Lake Zurich have an on-board restaurant. You can have a multi-course lunch during longer trips, or just enjoy coffee or tea and pastries. In my opinion, prices are high, even to Swiss standards. I do like the varied menu and the quality of the food though, and having a bite while enjoying the views is a great experience.
If you’re not seated in the restaurant area, you’re allowed to have your own food and drinks too.
On top of the à la carte offers, there are many “Unique Cruises”. Most of them have a culinary theme. There are beer, Swiss cheese fondue, and brunch cruises for example. Several of these special trips require advance booking and additional payment.
➤ Where to buy Lake Zurich boat tickets
Promotions
- www.zsg.ch: Unique Cruises at Lake Zurich
- www.zsg.ch: on-board gastronomy
- www.zsg.ch: all boat docks on Lake Zurich with maps and timetables
Schedules
- www.zsg.ch: timetables for Lake Zurich boats
- www.zsg.ch: allocation of boats, including paddle steamers
Prices
- www.zsg.ch: price overview of Lake Zurich boat trips
Free with the Swiss Travel Pass in Lucerne
Town walk Zurich
Voralpen-Express
