Sight guide · Zurich · Switzerland
Visiting Lake Zurich cruise
Passenger boats leave from Bürkliplatz at the lake end of Bahnhofstrasse for short round trips of about 1.5 hours or longer cruises to the rose town of Rapperswil at the far end of the lake.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Roland zh, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Lake Zurich cruise is an experience in Bürkliplatz, Zurich. Allow 1.5–4 hours; it is low cost. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Experience
- Area
- Bürkliplatz
- Time needed
- 1.5–4 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- views, couples, kids and outdoors
- Best months
- July–September
About Lake Zurich cruise
Passenger boats leave from Bürkliplatz at the lake end of Bahnhofstrasse for short round trips of about 1.5 hours or longer cruises to the rose town of Rapperswil at the far end of the lake. On clear days the snow-capped Glarus Alps appear beyond the vineyards and villages of the 'Gold Coast' shore.
Tip: Sit on the open upper deck when the weather allows, and look south-east down the lake for the Alps on clear days.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1.5–4 hours.
- Cost: Low cost.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Bürkliplatz.
Best time to visit Lake Zurich cruise
Lake Zurich cruise is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- September: 19°C (66°F) highs, about 9 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- July: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, busy crowds.
- August: 24°C (75°F) highs, about 11 rainy days, busy crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-September the sun sets at about 19:39 local time (calculated for Zurich).
When to visit Zurich has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Our 3-day Zurich itinerary visits Lake Zurich cruise on day 3, together with Kunsthaus Zürich and Swiss National Museum.
- No. 5 of the 18 sights in our Zurich things-to-do list.
- Day 2 of the 2-day plan.
- One of the picks in outdoors in Zurich.
- A family favourite in Zurich with kids.
If you like Lake Zurich cruise
- Lindenhof hill — City and Lindenhof, 30 minutes
- Uetliberg — Uetliberg, Half a day
- Zurich Zoo — Fluntern, Half a day
- Lake and river baths (Badis) — Lake Zurich and Limmat, 2–3 hours
Staying near Lake Zurich cruise
Where to stay in Zurich compares every area by price and who it suits.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Lake Zurich cruise?
Plan 1.5–4 hours.
+Is Lake Zurich cruise free?
No, it is low cost. Tickets are usually available on the day.
+When is the best time to visit Lake Zurich cruise?
July–September for the most comfortable weather. Sit on the open upper deck when the weather allows, and look south-east down the lake for the Alps on clear days.
+Do I need to book Lake Zurich cruise in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.
+Is Lake Zurich cruise good for kids?
Yes, it is one of our family picks in Zurich. Zurich is clean, safe-feeling and well organised for families, with trams that take pushchairs, lakeside playgrounds, shallow areas at the lake baths and hands-on museums.