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Zurich, the Rhine Falls & St. Gallen: Route Guide

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Rhine Falls Schaffhausen — Zurich, the Rhine Falls & St. Gallen
Photo: Christian David · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Europe's biggest waterfall, its most beautiful library, and painted medieval towns between: boats nose into the Rhine Falls' spray, Stein am Rhein wears frescoes like wallpaper, and St. Gallen's rococo abbey library keeps 170,000 books under a ceiling worth the trip alone. Detour into Appenzell for cheese and hills that invented cute.

Zurich, the Rhine Falls & St. Gallen is a 115 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as 2–4 days; the plan below is the 3-day version for June, built from 197 verified places, with real road-routed transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

2–4
days
115km
distance
4
Stops
197
curated stops

Plan your own version → 2-day plan · 3-day plan · 4-day plan · best time to go

The route

Zurich→ 50 kmSchaffhausen & the Rhine Falls→ 20 kmStein am Rhein→ 45 kmSt. Gallen & Appenzell

What you'll see

Kunsthaus
Feast your eyes on masterpieces by Swiss and international artists in Zurich's premier art museum.
Zurich
Museum zu Allerheiligen
Discover deep regional history through diverse exhibits.
Schaffhausen & the Rhine Falls
Lindwurm Museum
Step into middle-class life circa 1850 through exhibits.
Stein am Rhein
St. Gallen Stiftsbibliothek
Gaze upon baroque splendor holding medieval manuscripts.
St. Gallen & Appenzell
Landesmuseum
Explore Switzerland's rich history through engaging exhibits on archaeology, art, and culture.
Zurich
Rheinfall
Stand awe struck before Europe's mightiest waterfall.
Schaffhausen & the Rhine Falls
Hohenklingen Castle
Admire town vistas from the hilltop castle terrace.
Stein am Rhein
Kunstmuseum St. Gallen
Explore centuries of European art in a grand neoclassical building.
St. Gallen & Appenzell

Choose your length

2-day plan13 stops · 3.7 h transit6.5 stops/day · 1.9 h transit/daySee the full plan →3-day plan18 stops · 4.4 h transit6 stops/day · 1.5 h transit/daySee the full plan →4-day plan24 stops · 4.1 h transit6 stops/day · 1 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: May, June, July, August, September, October

The Rhine Falls run snowmelt-fat and boat platforms nose right into the spray; Appenzell's alpine cheese-making is in full swing above.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

Similar journeys

Plan your own version →