LAKE ZURICH

About Lake Zurich

Offering panoramic views of the steel grey mountains with their tips covered in snow at a distance, Lake Zurich is crowned as one of the biggest and most beautiful lakes in Switzerland. A gem included in your Switzerland tour package, this stunning lake sprawls to the southeast of Zurich city, a creation of the Linth River flowing from Glarus Alps glaciers.

Carved like a banana, the lake streams passing through the city are termed Limmat, the downstream at Seedamm is called Rapperswil whereas the upstream is called Obersee. Flanked by forested chain of hills on both the sides, Lake Zurich has Albis and Zimmerberg hills on its south and Pfannenstiel hills on its north.

The gentle slopes of the banks of the lake are covered with fragrant vineyards and orchards to enhance its beauty several times. Edging the the largest city Zurich on its west, lake Zurich is a popular place for excursion in the present time.

People from all around the world and the locals come here to unwind themselves and spend a day with peace. The gently rocking waves, accompanied by laziness and fine food, become a synonym for vacation in Zurich. As part of a serene stop on your Zurich trip, the best thing you could do is to take a boat and explore the untarnished distant banks of the pristine lake.

How To Reach Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich is situated 40.1 km from the Zurich Airport and there are three ways which you could take to cover this distance:

By Train:

Line 7 directly takes you from Zurich Airport to Lake Zurich. It would cost you around 1,200 to 3,200 INR and around 55 minutes to cover the distance. You first need to take a train from Zurich Airport to Zurich HB and then from there to Stafa.

By Bus:

Line 768 bus and line 7 night bus will take you to Lake Zurich from the Zurich Airport in 1 hour and 55 minutes. First take a line 768 bus until Glattbrugg Post which will take 7 minutes. From there, you can walk the 600 m of distance till Opfikon where you would get your next bus till Stafa which would take around 48 minutes. This entire journey will cost you around INR 500 to INR 745.

By Car:

You could hire a taxi which would take no more than 33 minutes to cover the distance. However, it would cost you between INR 12,000 to INR 15,000. Whereas if you could drive your own car then it wouldn’t take more than INR 360 to INR 550.

Best Time To Visit Lake Zurich

Zurich is a popular tourist destination that can be flocked to throughout the year, often featuring as a highlight on many trips to Europe.

Winter Season (November to February) -

Winter season gets really cold and snowy in Switzerland which makes it ideal for skiing activities in the Swiss Alps. 

Summer Season (May to August) -

However, summers are very pleasant if you wish to explore the corners of the city and enjoy the lake at its fullest. However, during both seasons, the area is very crowded and highly expensive. This makes spring and fall months ideal times to visit Zurich. 

Spring Season (March and April) and Autumn Season (September and October) -

The temperature is cool and nice enough to visit all tourist destinations without putting too much pressure on the purse. The city becomes less crowded and the prices of hotels and accommodation become very reasonable.

Lake Zurich Other Essential Information

Location—Zurich, Switzerland

Entry Fee—There is no entry fee for visiting Lake Zurich. However, there are some beaches which charge admission but they promise a lot of fun and facilities in return.

Public Facilities—There are several public facilities present on Lake Zurich for the comfort of the visitors and tourists. There are eleven official outdoor swimming baths on the lake and the river. Facilities such as fitting rooms, cloakrooms, toilets, kiosks, water chutes, diving boards, ping pong tables, playgrounds, and kiddie pools are available at the lake.

Distance from Zurich Airport—Lake Zurich is at a distance of approximately 27 kilometers from Zurich Airport. You can use five modes of transportation to reach Lake Zurich: bus, tram, train, boat, or taxi.

History of Lake Zurich

Founded in the year 1836 and further incorporated in the year 1896, Lake Zurich has been attracting people to reside on its banks since the Neolithic Age. The evidence found around the lake has proved that humans were settled around the lake even in the Stone Age and Bronze Age.

First settled by European descendants in the 1830s, the banks of the lake Zurich slowly started accommodating New Zealand farmers as well as German immigrants by the 1840s. In that era, the Zurich lake was known by the name Cedar Lake which was incorporated in the year 1896 on September 29th. 

Initially it primarily housed farmers as the waters of the lake could feed the vast fields of crops. After the establishment of the highway Rand Road in 1922 and Half Day Road in 1927, Lake Zurich got popular as a great summer resort and the lake turned into a travel destination.

After that time, the place has been an evergreen tourist destination ever since. People from around the world and locals alike flock to the banks of the river and enjoy their day by having a picnic in peace.

Tips for visiting Lake Zurich

These travel tips might come in handy when you are visiting Zurich for the first time.

• Explore Altstadt, or Old Town, on foot. Its narrow lanes with extraordinary architecture offer spectacular sites with a chance to understand its history.
• Experience a cruise tour on the River Limmat. A cruise tour provides different beautiful lake and city views along with special, delicious regional culinary treats.
• You can enjoy a picnic with your family at the Zurich Botanical Garden.
• Wear a colored bathing cap on your head while taking a swim in Lake Zurich. A lifeguard might not necessarily be present in the lake, so swimming is advisable for good swimmers only.
• If you are an art lover, you should browse the art collections that the city’s largest art museums have to offer.