Lake Zurich (Zürichsee) Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Lake Zurich. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Zurich Walking Tour with Cruise and Aerial Cable Car

• 3 in 1: Zurich Walking Tour - Cruise on the Lake - Cable Car Ride to Felsenegg

• From Zurich: The Most Beautiful Insider Spots in Switzerland (Private 1-Day Tour)

• Zurich: Private City Walking Tour with Polybahn Ride

• Private Tour to the Most Breathtaking Insider Spots in Switzerland (1 Day)

While it’s free to visit Lake Zurich, there are lots of affordable tours that can help you make the most of your visit—finding places you might otherwise miss out on. Tours start around US$44, with options that range from walking tours to scenic cruises.

Yes, Lake Zurich is worth visiting—it's among the highlights of exploring Switzerland's largest city. Not only is the lake itself a scenic gem, it has fantastic views back toward the waterfront, city skyline, and the Alps in the distance. It's also lined with waterside resorts, swimming spots, and open-air bars.

Per one customer who booked the Lake Zurich Cruise and Lindt Home of Chocolate Visit, "I really enjoyed the lake cruise and chocolate factory tour in Zürich! One of the biggest highlights was getting access to the chocolate factory even though it was sold out on their official website—this tour made that possible, and I'm so glad it did."

The costs of Lake Zurich boat rides are varied as multiple options exist. Tourists wanting a lake cruise from Zurich city with the ZVV (Zurich Transport Network) can expect to pay between CHF$7 for a mini lake cruise up to CHF$43 for a long lake cruise.

Yes, select Lake Zurich cruises are included with the Swiss Pass. Zurich tourists should check their Swiss Pass information for full details on the available boat options, which include round-trip cruises and 1-way crossings. The popular Zürich Card includes some boat sightseeing options like ZVV’s mini and short lake cruises.

For high-up views of Lake Zurich, visit Käferberg peak where the Waid lookout offers vistas that stretch over the lake to the Alps. For close-up views, there’s no better way to see Lake Zurich than from the water. Lake Zurich cruise or strolls along the lakeside promenade are good options.

A total circuit of Lake Zurich covers a distance of around 74.5 miles (120 kilometers), which is split into 10 stages for easier planning. Stages are graded easy, moderate, or difficult, and are timed with durations from an hour (Manegg to Adliswil) to 6.5 hours (Pfäffikon to Schmerikon).

Yes, on a good weather day when the skies are clear, the Swiss Alps can be seen to the south of Lake Zurich. Along with these classic mountain vistas, other Lake Zurich sights to see on a sightseeing cruise include Ufenau and Lützelau islands and the 13th-century Rapperswil Castle.

If you’re looking to stop on the banks of Lake Zurich, but don’t want to stay in the city, there are plenty of options. Consider the rose town of Rapperswil and the nearby lake islands of Ufenau and Lützelau, or Kilchberg for easy access to the Lindt & Sprüngli Chocolate Factory.

There are tons of things to do when you're done visiting Lake Zurich. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in Zurich:

• Zurich Old Town

• Rhine Falls

• Bahnhofstrasse

• Mt. Titlis

• Lindt Home of Chocolate

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in Zurich.