Rapperswil travel guide

Why visit Rapperswil

Rapperswil is the destination that Zurich residents keep to themselves — a compact medieval town at the narrow waist of Lake Zurich, close enough for a day trip or even an afternoon excursion, far enough to feel like a genuine escape from the city. The journey by train takes 40 minutes; by lake boat, a leisurely two hours with the mountain panorama expanding gradually to the south.

The town’s official nickname — Rosenstadt, “Town of Roses” — is not marketing fantasy. The slopes below the castle, the rose garden on the lakefront peninsula, and the planters along the main street collectively hold around 15,000 rose plants in hundreds of varieties, with the main bloom from mid-June through August. The International Rose Garden on the peninsula (free entry) is one of the more unusual and genuinely pleasant public gardens in the Zurich region.

Beyond the roses, Rapperswil has a hilltop castle (visible from the lake approach for the last 30 minutes of the boat journey), a historic wooden bridge across the lake (the longest wood-pile bridge in Europe, at 841 metres), a well-preserved medieval old town, and a position on the lake that makes it scenic from every direction. It is not a destination for those who want high drama — the mountains here are in the distance, not overhead — but for a relaxed, well-rounded Swiss lake town day trip, it is among the best options from Zurich.

Getting to Rapperswil

By train

Rapperswil is on the S5, S7, and S15 S-Bahn lines from Zurich, operated by ZVV (Zurich’s regional transport authority). From Zurich Hauptbahnhof, direct S-Bahn trains take approximately 40 minutes. Services run every 30 minutes throughout the day. The Swiss Travel Pass covers all ZVV services from Zurich, including to Rapperswil.

By lake boat

The lake boats operated by ZSG (Zürichsee-Schifffahrtsgesellschaft) connect Zurich’s lakefront (Bürkliplatz) with Rapperswil via a leisurely cruise along Lake Zurich, stopping at lakeside villages on both banks. The journey takes around 2 hours in each direction and is significantly more scenic than the train. Swiss Travel Pass holders travel free on ZSG boats. Boats run from late March through October; winter service is reduced.

The approach to Rapperswil by boat — the castle appearing above the water, the wooden bridge visible in the middle distance, the old town taking shape against the hillside — is one of the better lake arrivals in Switzerland.

By car

Rapperswil is approximately 40 kilometres from Zurich via the A3 motorway (exit at Rapperswil), around 35 minutes by car. Parking is available in the town centre, though it is limited on summer weekends.

Top things to do in Rapperswil

Explore the castle and castle hill

The Schloss Rapperswil, on a rocky hill above the town, dates from the early thirteenth century and is one of the better-preserved medieval castle complexes in eastern Switzerland. The castle is visible from the lake boat for most of the approach and serves as the visual anchor of the town. Inside, the castle houses the Polenmuseum — a museum devoted to the history of the Polish people in exile, with particular focus on the period of Polish partition in the nineteenth century, when Rapperswil became an important centre for the Polish emigrant community and their national library.

The castle hill itself is beautifully planted — roses on the lower slopes, linden trees on the upper terraces, a large deer enclosure accessible by a short path. The views from the castle walls over the lake — south toward the Swiss Plateau and the Alps beyond, north toward Zurich — are excellent and justify the short climb from the old town regardless of interest in the museum.

Walk the wooden bridge

The holzbrücke (wooden bridge) crossing the lake between Rapperswil and Hurden on the opposite bank is 841 metres long, built on wooden piles, and is the longest wood-pile bridge in Europe. The original bridge was built in 1358 and was a key crossing point for the historic pilgrimage route from Germany to Santiago de Compostela; the current reconstruction dates from 2001. The bridge is open to pedestrians and cyclists; walking the full length takes around 15 minutes.

The walk across the bridge and back — particularly in late afternoon when the light is on the castle and the old town — is one of the better short walks in the region. On the Hurden side, a small chapel marks the site of the medieval crossing point.

The International Rose Garden

The rose garden on the Lindenhügel peninsula below the castle is one of the most complete rose collections in Switzerland, with around 600 varieties represented across formal beds, trellises, and climbing frames. The garden is at its best in June and July, when the roses bloom in overlapping waves of colour. Entry is free; the garden is open year-round.

In June, Rapperswil hosts the Rosentage (Rose Days) festival, combining guided tours of the rose garden with artisan markets and outdoor events.

The old town

Rapperswil’s old town is compact and pleasant — a network of cobbled streets below the castle hill, with arcaded buildings housing independent shops, bakeries, and restaurants. The Lindquartier (the old fishing quarter near the lake) and the main Hauptplatz are the centres of the pedestrianised area. The Kapuzinerkloster (Capuchin monastery), founded in 1606, is an active religious community on the edge of the old town and is open to visitors for guided visits.

The Stadtmuseum (City Museum) in the old town covers the history of Rapperswil and the surrounding region with a well-presented collection of local objects and documents.

Boat trip on the lake

From Rapperswil, lake boats continue along the Obersee (upper section of Lake Zurich) to the small resort of Schmerikon and the Linthkanal nature area — a wetland reserve at the far eastern end of the lake. The short section of the lake south and east of Rapperswil is significantly more rural than the Zurich-side section and shows a Switzerland of reeds, farmland, and quiet water that the urban lakefront does not.

A half-day circuit — boat from Zurich to Rapperswil (2 hours), afternoon in the town, train back to Zurich (40 minutes) — covers the main attractions efficiently.

Knies Kinderzoo

Knies Kinderzoo, adjacent to the boat landing stage, is a children’s zoo with a circus heritage — the Knie family are the Swiss national circus dynasty, and the zoo developed as an extension of their travelling circus. The zoo focuses on animals that can be interacted with: elephants (the zoo’s elephants have been here for decades), exotic birds, pygmy hippos, and various domesticated species. It is primarily a family attraction but genuinely well-regarded for animal welfare standards.

Where to stay in Rapperswil

Rapperswil has a handful of hotels in the town centre. The Hotel Hirschen is a historic property with a central location. The Seehotel Riviera is a lakefront option with good views. Most visitors use Rapperswil as a day trip from Zurich, which is entirely practical given the 40-minute train connection. However, staying overnight allows access to the town in the evening and early morning, when the castle is lit against the dark water and the crowds have entirely departed.

Where to eat and drink

The restaurants along the lakefront and on the Hauptplatz serve Swiss classics and seasonal produce. The Lindtche is a reliable lakefront option for fish and regional food. The Rathaus Keller, in the old town, is good for fondue and traditional Swiss cooking. The café at the rose garden is adequate for a light lunch or afternoon coffee.

The local fish — perch (Egli) from Lake Zurich — is particularly good at the lakefront restaurants. Perch fillets with butter and herbs, served with rösti, is a regional classic and one of the better things to eat in the area.

Practical tips for visiting Rapperswil

Rapperswil is most rewarding in June and July, when the roses are at their peak and the lake is warm enough for swimming (there is a lido near the wooden bridge). The town is very popular on summer weekends; arriving by the early morning train or staying for the late afternoon when the tour groups have departed gives a notably more pleasant experience.

The Swiss Travel Pass covers both the S-Bahn train from Zurich and the lake boats, making it cost-effective to combine a boat journey one way with the train return. This is one of the better uses of the pass for a Zurich-based day trip.

For those on a budget Switzerland trip, a Rapperswil day trip is one of the cheapest pleasant excursions from Zurich — particularly if you walk the wooden bridge, visit the free rose garden, and picnic at the lakeside rather than eating in the restaurants. A Swiss Half Fare Card is a cost-effective alternative to the full Travel Pass if your itinerary is focused on the Zurich region.

Rapperswil connects naturally with a broader eastern Switzerland itinerary — it is roughly midway between Zurich and St Gallen, and from Rapperswil a regional train north connects toward Wil and the wider Zurich-Ostschweiz rail network. For those combining Rapperswil with Appenzell, continuing by train from Rapperswil toward St Gallen (around 1 hour) and then to Appenzell (40 minutes from St Gallen) makes for a logical two-stop eastern Switzerland day.

See our 7-day Switzerland itinerary for suggestions on how Rapperswil fits into a broader Swiss programme, and our Swiss Travel Pass guide for the best way to cover lake boats and regional trains across the Zurich region.