Switzerland is a universally loved country. If you haven’t visited Switzerland, then your Europe tour is incomplete. Switzerland never fails to amaze us with its beauty.
It is one of the most visited destinations in Europe, especially by Indians. The Rhine Falls is hugely popular apart from Zurich, Geneva, and Bern. It is the largest waterfall in Europe and Rhine Falls location is on the border of Germany and Switzerland.
Rhine Falls photo spots are enormous which keeps you busy throughout the trip.
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How to reach the Rhine Falls
We boarded the train from Ulm Hbf to Schaffhausen. We purchased the Bäden Wrüttemberg ticket (BWT) and this ticket is valid till the border town in Switzerland, Schaffhausen. To know more about Regional Day Tickets (RDT) in Germany read through. The total journey was 3 hours with multiple changeovers.
From Schaffhausen station, Rhine Falls can be reached in three ways.
1. On foot
It is a 4 kilometers walk to reach Rhine Falls which may take 1 hour. Once you get down at the Schaffhausen station, walk towards the Rhine River through the city center and then make a right turn at the dead end. You will have to walk along the river until you reach the Rhine Falls. There are signboards throughout indicating the way, remaining time, and distance.
2. Bus
Board bus number 1 or 6 towards Neuhausen to reach Rhine Falls. This bus ride is not included in the BWT so we purchased the day ticket for 5 Swiss Francs (CHF) for one person at the vending machine inside the bus. The bus journey was 12 minutes from Bahnhof and a 5-minute downhill walk to reach the main location.
Tip: Keep in mind, the machine accepts only CHF and not Euros. As we did not have CHF, one of the passengers on the bus helped us with CHF for Euros. And another thing is the machine accepts only 1 note and not multiple notes. So don’t try to force multiple notes as the machine doesn’t accept them.
3. Train
A 7-minute train from Schaffhausen to Neuhausen am Rhine Fall and a 5 min walk will lead to the main location. This train ride is also not included in the BWT. You will have a buy a separate ticket at the vending machine or even online. It cost 2.6 CHF one way.
Rhine Falls nearby attractions/activities
Boat ride
The major attraction in Rhine Falls is the boat ride which will take you close to the waterfall. The prices vary depending on the duration, distance, and how close you will go to the falls. I felt that the ride which costs less was not worth it and the rides with longer duration were beyond my budget. It is not student-friendly.
The yellow line path costs 20CHF which will take you to the top of the hill. I am sure that the bird’s view of the falls will be splendid. I will do this when I go there next time.
Schloss Laufen am Rhine falls
Schloss Laufen is another attraction located on the other side of the river. The Schloss entrance prices are 5€ for adults and 3€ for children and the tickets can be booked online. There are many viewpoints near Schloss that give a nice sight of the falls.
The place can be conveniently by
Boat – Route number 2 (marked in red) drops you at the entrance. It costs 3 CHF per person one way for the Rhine Falls boat tour.
Walk – You can even enjoy a 15 mins walk from one side to another side of the river. The waterfall looks breathtakingly beautiful as you walk along the railway track.
Train – Alternatively, it can be accessed by trains S33 or S12 from Schaffhausen Hbf and get down at Schloss Laufen am Rhine fall.
Ticket price – The train tickets can be purchased at the vending machines in Schaffhausen. How would be view be from the train though.!
Adventure Park
If you are an adventurous person, then the park will surely give you an adrenaline rush with a variety of activities. This park is open between March and October and also depends on the weather.
Even though we visited the Rhine Falls in July, the park was not open and did not get a chance to experience this. For prices and reservations visit the official website.
How we spent our day
We started our journey at 10.00 in the morning, not an early start as it was summer. The days are long. Upon reaching the Schaffhausen main station at 12.00, we boarded the bus to reach Rhine Falls. This spot is picturesque and the best location to bring out photography skills. We had lunch enjoying gazing at the boats as they sailed by.
Restaurants and Souvenirs
The souvenirs are expensive when compared to other places with basic magnets starting from 5€ which usually costs 2.5€ and postcards starting from 2€. Water is awfully expensive so it is better to carry lots of water. There are fountains to refill the bottles.
There are free washrooms available.
The Rhine Falls is an ultimate destination with a variety of activities for all age groups. Do Visit Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe, and enjoy nature. So are you Switzerland-ready?
Overall experience: ⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
Date of visit: June 2018
”Live with no excuses and travel with no regrets” – Anonymous