Rhine Falls - the largest waterfall in Europe

9 Highlights at the Rhine Falls

• The Rhine Falls impresses with an average flow rate in summer of about 600'000 liters of water per second.
• The highest measured value was 1,250,000 liters per second in 1965.
• The Rhine Falls extends over a width of 150 meters and reaches a height of about 23 meters. This makes for a spectacular sight.
• In the middle of the Rhine Falls is a large rock called "Mittelfelsen" or "Big Middle Rock". This rock divides the waterfall into two halves and gives it a unique shape.
• You can admire the Rhine Falls from different angles. There are well-designed viewing platforms on both sides of the river that offer breathtaking views of the waterfall.
• One of the most famous ways to experience the Rhine Falls is the Belvedere Trail, which leads from Schloss Laufen to the "Känzeli" platform.
• A boat trip on the Rhine brings you very close to the waterfall.
• The Rhine Falls have a rich history and are immortalized in many legends. One of the most famous stories says that the monk Felix Manz tried to fly over the waterfall here in the 16th century. In the process, he tragically drowned.
• The surroundings of the Rhine Falls offer many opportunities for hikes and walks. You can stroll along the Rhine and enjoy the nature.

The Rhine Falls, which are about 15,000 years old, are an impressive natural spectacle. The right bank of the Rhine Falls is on the territory of the municipality of Neuhausen (Canton Schaffhausen). The left bank belongs to Laufen-Uhwiesen (Canton Zurich).

The Rhine Falls used to be called "Grosser Laufen". In addition, there was the "Kleiner Laufen" in the High Rhine near Laufenburg and the "Mittleren Lauffen" near Ettikon. The Kleiner Laufen rapids no longer exist today.

What awaits you at the Rhine Falls

You can view the Rhine Falls from different perspectives. There are viewing platforms on both banks, the Rhine Bridge, a path from Schloss Laufen and the possibility of a boat ride.

The Rhine Falls can be visited all year round. However, the boats operate only between April and October.

Rhine Falls South Bank Viewing Platform

Schloss Laufen is also located on the southern bank of the Rhine Falls. From here you can view the Rhine Falls up close. There is a circular route from the castle, both by steps and by elevator. You reach platforms at different heights, which allow you to admire the Rhine Falls at different distances. On some of them you even get wet. You pay a small entrance fee here. Popular is the Belvedere path from the castle to the "Känzeli", a viewing platform directly at the waterfall.

At the paid parking lot near the visitor center you will find electric charging stations with fast charging stations.

Rhine Falls North Bank Viewing Platform

On the north bank you have a good overview of the Rhine Falls. Access to the shore is free of charge here. The boat trips start here and you can also see other attractions such as the Smilestones and the Adventure Park at the Rhine Falls.

The parking lot is also for a fee.

Hiking Path at the Rhine Falls

A lovely circular path starts at the southern shore near the Laufen Castle and takes you across the Nohl pedestrian bridge to the other side. The Nohl bridge is located southwest of Laufen Castle. The panoramic circuit, marked as No. 896, is about eight kilometers long. Along the way, you'll get great views of the waterfall, with several particularly beautiful viewpoints. On the northern shore, you first reach Wörth Castle, then follow the mill wheel path uphill. For your return, you have a choice. You can either take the path over the eastern Neuhausen - Flurlingen bridge or the shorter route over the railway bridge back to Laufen Castle.

Hike from Schaffhausen to the Rhine Falls

A lovely hike starts in the old town of Schaffhausen, featuring the Munot fortress. The old town is one of the best-preserved medieval city centers in Switzerland. Schaffhausen boasts 171 bay windows and is adorned with colorful facades.

The trail descends to the Schifflände and then follows the Rhine. Away from the main road, you’ll walk all the way to the Rhine Falls, which you can hear from far away. After passing Laufen Castle, a nature trail takes you back along the Rhine on the other side. Short detours will guide you through Flurlingen and Feuerthalen. The circular route is about ten kilometers long.

Boat Trips at the Rhine Falls

Two boat companies offer boat trips here: Rhyfall-Mändli and Schiffmändli. Their docks are located on the north shore near Schlössli Wörth.

Boat Trips Rhine Falls by Rhyfall-Mändli

The boats from Rhyfall-Mändli are yellow, red, pink, or blue. They operate from April to the end of October and, depending on the weather, sometimes even into early November.

Line	Color	Experience	Duration (min)
1	yellow	Trip to the rock in the Rhine Falls	30
2	red	connects the castles on the south and north shores	5
4	blue	short scenic cruise around the basin of the Rhine Falls	15
5	pink	longer cruise outside the basin, with audio guide	30

With the yellow boat on Line 1, you go directly to the rock in the Rhine Falls. This is a scheduled boat service that departs every 20 minutes. The trip (including the visit to the rock) takes about 30 minutes.

The red boat on Line 2 connects the two castles (Schloss Laufen and Schlössli Wörth). This boat takes you back and forth between the south and north shores. A crossing takes five minutes.

Line 4, the blue one, is intended for a short scenic cruise. Here you get to experience the waterfall up close as far as the boat allows. This short cruise lasts 15 minutes and departs every 15 minutes.

The pink boats on Line 5 offer a longer cruise that takes you to other interesting places on the Rhine. You’ll get an audio guide for this trip, allowing you to listen to all the important information. The cruise lasts 30 minutes and departs every hour.

Boat Trips at Rhine Falls from Schiffmändli

The trips from Schiffmändli operate as Line 3. The captain shares information along the way, such as details about the beavers on the Rhine. The boarding point for both round trips is at Schlössli Wörth, and the crossing from Schloss Laufen to Schlössli Wörth is included in the price. These boats run from April to mid-October.

Line	Experience	Duration (min)
3a	Short round trip including Rhine Falls	30
3b	Scheduled boat to Rhine Falls	40
3b	Long round trip including Rhine Falls	70

Line 3a is a 30-minute round trip that takes you along the calm Rhine to the German border, wrapping up with a visit to the Rhine Falls. Line 3b offers a longer round trip that starts at the Rhine Falls basin, traveling 7 km up and down the Rhine. You can hop off briefly at Rheinau and Rheinfelsen. This round trip lasts 70 minutes.

The 40-minute scheduled ride of Line 3b starts at Rheinau Power Station. There’s a stop at the Rhine Falls Schlössli Wörth docking station where you can disembark.

Attractions at the Rhine Falls

At the Rhine Falls, you can find two castles: Schloss Laufen from the 9th century and Schlössli Wörth from the 12th century. Both castles now operate as restaurants. The terraces of both restaurants give you a perfect view of the waterfall. Additionally, there's a kiosk on the northern bank.

The Historama, which provides historical information about the Rhine Falls and Schloss Laufen, is located right in Schloss Laufen.

Overview of Restaurants at the Rhine Falls

Name	Location	Special Feature
Restaurant Park am Rheinfall	in the northern bend of the Rhine, best view of the Rhine Falls	maritime and Italian flair
Restaurant Castello	in Schloss Laufen, with a panoramic terrace	also has a self-service restaurant
Panoramarestaurant	in Schlössli Wörth, with a panoramic terrace	specializes in fish
Inseli-Bistro	at Schlössli Wörth	mainly snacks, self-service
Mühlerad-Bistro	near Smilestones	small dishes

But around the Rhine Falls, you can discover more attractions. Right by the Rhine Falls basin, there’s a large playground. You'll also find a fire pit and benches here.

Adventure Park in Neuhausen am Rheinfall

The Adventure Park is just a few minutes' walk from Schlössli Wörth. It is located above the parking lots and near the playground. Here you can choose from more than 165 climbing elements and other attractions.

• 2 courses for children
• 14 courses (graded from 8 years to 16 years)
• 3 modules "overcome your fear of heights"
• 1.5 km ziplines

In the rope park, employees assess the ability of children from 8 years old. Children and teenagers who already have rope park experience and can climb well may then also choose courses for which they would actually still be too young.

From the rope park you have a good view of the Rhine Falls. It is open from April to the end of October.

Smilestones at the Rhine Falls

The Smilestones is a miniature world of Switzerland. Some of the most famous Swiss destinations are represented here. These include the Bernese Oberland, the Alpstein region, the Rhine Falls and much more. You can discover many funny details in the miniature landscape. The modeling is designed like a three-dimensional hidden object. You should plan about one hour for the visit.

Rhyality at the Rhine Falls

Above the Rhine Falls is an innovative feature: Switzerland's first immersive art gallery. Immersive means as much as "to immerse oneself and become a part of the artificial world in one's own perception."

28 video projectors irradiate the surfaces of the immersive room with moving images. Here you immerse yourself in the cinematic action. Throughout the seasons, the first film production shows the Rhine Falls in moving nature shots and artistic animations.

How to get to the Rhine Falls

We recommend that you do not drive to the Rhine Falls, as parking lots are often overcrowded. Traveling by public transportation, on the other hand, is very convenient, with two train stations in close proximity to the waterfall.

During the boat season, the Rhyfall Express also runs. The little nostalgic tschu-tschu train runs daily from the old town of Schaffhausen to the Rhine Falls and back. It runs five times a day and takes between 20 and 30 min for the trip.

By Public Transport

There are three train stations near the Rhine Falls that you can use:

• Neuhausen (10-15 min walk to the Rhine Falls)
• Neuhausen Rheinfall (right next to the northern shore)
• Neuhausen, Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall (right next to the southern shore)

The Neuhausen and Schloss Laufen stops are on the line from Zurich to Schaffhausen. There’s a direct train from Zurich three times an hour, taking just under an hour.

If you want to visit Schloss Laufen and the southern shore, get off at Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall station. For the northern shore, you have two options. You can either go to Neuhausen and walk about 10 to 15 minutes to the Rhine Falls. This train runs three times an hour from Zurich. Or, you can take a direct train from Zurich to Neuhausen Rheinfall, which runs once an hour.

By Car

Driving is not highly recommended due to the limited (paid) parking spaces available. Parking is located on both sides of the riverbank.

If you're coming from Germany: Keep in mind that there’s a toll sticker requirement in Switzerland. This sticker is required on both highways (blue) and main roads (green). You can buy it on the German side for CHF 40.00 even in the border area. If you're driving via the A81, the toll rule applies only from “Schaffhausen – Schweizersbild.” If you don’t want to buy a sticker, you can exit the highway and reach the Rhine Falls via local roads.

Who is the Rhine Falls suitable for?

The Rhine Falls is a great outing for the whole family. You can easily combine your visit with a stop at the playground, Adventure Park, and Smilestones.

If you're using a wheelchair or a stroller, you should choose the Neuhausen Rheinfall stop. There are wheelchair-accessible paths leading to the boat landing. A panoramic lift for wheelchairs and strollers to the viewing platform is available at Schloss Laufen.

The viewing platforms on the south bank are quite close to the waterfall, so you might get wet. It's a good idea to bring rain gear or a change of clothes.

Dogs on a short leash can ride the boats for free, but the only exception is the rock tour, where dogs are not allowed.