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Things to do in Schaffhausen

Our most recommended things to do in Schaffhausen

From Zürich: Stein am Rhein and Rhine Falls

1. From Zürich: Stein am Rhein and Rhine Falls

Travel out of Zürich for a scenic tour through dramatic natural landscapes and historic landmarks. Come across quaint villages and vast vineyards, and take the lift to the Rhine Falls. Depart Zürich and journey towards the Swiss/German border of northern Switzerland. Travel through a beautiful wine-growing region of charming farming villages and picturesque landscapes en route to Laufen. See the splendid medieval castle of Schloss Laufen and the mighty Rhine Falls and experience Europe's biggest waterfall. Get unique views from the panoramic lift and discover what it looks like when an average of 700,000 liters of water per second plunges into the basin below. If you are feeling adventurous, take the optional boat ride and experience the falls from below. Continue via Schaffhausen with its famous Munot Fortress. Soak up the views of the gently rolling vineyards and farming villages en route to Stein am Rhein. Upon arrival, learn about the well-preserved old town during a stroll. See distinctive medieval buildings such as the church and former monastery of St. George's Abbey. Look at the half-timber frame townhouses, along with the city gates and towers, the Town Hall, and the Armory. Admire the delicate wooden window frames of many of the buildings and marvel at their exceptional frescoes.

Best of Zurich City Tour: Rhine Falls & Stein am Rhein

2. Best of Zurich City Tour: Rhine Falls & Stein am Rhein

Explore Zurich's Old Town and see the highlights of this unique town in the morning. Pass by the castle-like National Museum, the Bahnhofstrasse shopping avenue, Zurich's famous financial district and the renowned Zurich Opera House. Enjoy a photo stop at the picturesque Lake Zurich before continuing uphill into the "Zurichberg" district with its many impressive mansions of glorious times past. Enjoy breathtaking views of the city, lake and snow-covered Alps. Cruising by the university quarter, see the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and Zurich's art museum before reaching the charming Old Town. Stop to take a picture with a view of the patriarchal guild houses, St. Peter's Church with Europe's largest clock face, the "Grossmünster" cathedral and the "Fraumünster" church with its stained glass windows by Marc Chagall. After an introduction to the Old Town, take a scenic drive back to Limmatquai to the Sihlquai coach park. After the city tour, you have around 1 hour of free time to enjoy lunch (not included) or relax. In the afternoon, a bus will drive you through a picturesque landscape with gently rolling vineyards and charming farming villages to reach the splendid medieval Laufen Castle. Enjoy your time at the mighty Rhine Falls, Europe's biggest waterfall and one of Switzerland's major attractions. Experience unique views from the panoramic lift and see an average of 700,000 liters of water per second plunge into the basin below, across a width of 150 meters. The Belvedere panoramic trail brings you to the viewing platform right above the falls where you can feel the spindrift of the rumbling waters. Those seeking the ultimate adventure might take the optional boat ride into the fizzy waters below the falls (available in Summer only). Continue via Schaffhausen with its renowned Munot Fortress to the medieval town of Stein am Rhein. Learn about the well-preserved old town and see the many distinctive medieval buildings such as the church, St. George's Abbey, the townhouses and the gates and towers, as well as the town hall and armory. Most of these half-timbered frame houses are made of stone with delicate wooden window frames and impress visitors with their exceptional frescoes. 

Schaffhausen: Self-Guided City Sightseeing & Scavenger Hunt

3. Schaffhausen: Self-Guided City Sightseeing & Scavenger Hunt

Get to know Schaffhausen at your own pace on this interactive scavenger hunt walking tour. You'll explore the city on foot and get points for solving different types of tasks: Find sights: You will use hints to find the best sights and hidden gems throughout the city. The map function in the app will help you get there. Solve questions: Once you’ve arrived at the place you’re looking for, you’ll be asked questions about the sight. Most of the time, the answers are hidden in signs, pictures, etc. A great and fun way to learn new things about the city. Have fun: During the adventure you can also expect exciting photo tasks that require a lot of creativity. If you master the snapshots, you will be rewarded with points. Along the way, you’ll reach amazing places like the "Haus zum Ritter", "Kreuzgang" and many more! After you book the game, you’ll get a game code via email with instructions on how to play. Head to the “Fronwagplatz” and use the code to unlock the game in the app. The tour ends at the “ Schifflände”. The experience is not limited in time. You can explore the city at your own pace and take breaks. Just download the Explorial-App, go to the starting point, and you’re ready to start with the game. The tour lasts on average about 1-2 hours.

Rhine Falls & Schaffhausen Private Tour from Zürich

4. Rhine Falls & Schaffhausen Private Tour from Zürich

Visit the old town of Schaffhausen and stay along Europe's largest plain waterfall: The Rhine falls. Enjoy a one-hour train ride to Schaffhausen and visit the old town. After a short walk around, continue to Laufen and visit the castle located at the Rhine waterfalls. On a walking path, stay close at the waterfall and enjoy a boat ride to the rock, a sightseeing platform in the middle of the waterfall. The guide accompanies you on this tour from the starting point, shows you the changing landscape, and answers your questions about the country and its people. The tour guide knows the way and shows you a few places away from the tourist flow.

Zurich: Switzerland 7-Day Guided Tour with Accommodation

5. Zurich: Switzerland 7-Day Guided Tour with Accommodation

Day 1: Arrival at Zurich Airport Here, your driver will be ready and waiting for you to ensure a comfortable and luxurious transfer to your hotel in a business-type vehicle. You’ll then have some time to prepare for your exciting week ahead. Day 2: Zurich City - Rhine Falls Start of the Sweet Zurich Tour - 2.5-hour walking journey around the city to check out a variety of specialty shops. The Sweet Zurich Tour is a beautiful way to taste Zurich while learning about the city's rich history. Continue your trip to explore Rhine Falls - the most powerful waterfall in Europe, an opportunity of unmissable photos. Day 3: Zurich – Lucerne – Interlaken Start your day with a 2-hour walking tour of the main sights while you listen to exciting and interesting historical facts about your surroundings. Visit Max Chocolatier to enjoy 90 minutes in chocolate heaven, chocolate tasting 6 exclusive handmade treats, immerse yourself in the family history of Max Chocolatier, and have the opportunity to create your own chocolate. Day 4: Interlaken Discovering Interlaken - a traditional picturesque resort town in central Switzerland. You’ll have some leisure time here to spend exploring the town yourself before heading to the eastern part of the city. Trip to Harder Kulm, where at the top presents a special glass section underfoot to see the most picturesque views. Visit Funky Chocolate Club – 75 minutes of magic is not to be missed, so make sure you have your phones charged for photographs to make your memories last. Day 5: Interlaken – Montbovon – Gruyère – Bern – Interlaken Start with Golden Pass Express for an exceptional journey from the majestic peaks of the Bernese Alps to visit Montbovon, Gruyere village Nestlé Cailler chocolate factory, and add to your knowledge of the tastiest treasures of Switzerland. On the way back to Interlaken - a journey through Bern, which retains its heritage features and Swiss traditions with a long and interesting history packed into a tiny, compact city. Day 6: Interlaken – Lauterbrunnen - Zurich Comfortable ride to the small and inconspicuous village in the Jungfrau region, Lauterbrunnen. The Valley of Lauterbrunnen, aptly named ‘The Valley of Waterfalls,’ is home to 72 waterfalls. Visit to Schilthorn, 2970 m up in the clouds. At an altitude of 2677m, at the Birg station, you will find the Skyline Walk platform, which is located above a vertical slope, and the entrance to the Thrill Walk, which leads down into the perpendicular walls of the imposing rock massif. Day 7: Departure - Zurich Airport Here we are at the end of our fascinating 6-day sweet adventure. We hope we exceeded all your expectations and that you take with you great memories of indulgent chocolate, exciting history, and beautiful scenery. Your driver will be waiting to give you a comfortable and safe ride to the Airport.

Other Sightseeing Options in Schaffhausen

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What people are saying about Schaffhausen

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 443 reviews

Daniel - The best tour guide I have ever been on. He is very positive , erudite , he told a lot of historical facts . We are delighted with such a guide. Believe me - we had something to compare with in these 7 days

Both towns were breathtaking, and the guide was meticulous at making sure to count every traveler. The guide, Thomas, was excellent at elaborating on the history of both locations.

The whole tour is amazing, Francisca y Armando excellent. She knows the area to perfection. The falls are impressive and the medieval town is like taken from a movie. Beautiful!!

In spite of the freezing weather, we had a great time. Comfy coach and friendly knowledgeable guide (also our driver). Highly recommended

Best Self Guided Tour we ever did. We learned lots of new facts about this charming little town