Holidays To Schaffhausen - Eastern Switzerland

The historic old town close to the famous Rhine Falls

The historic old town of Schaffhausen started as a settlement on the banks of the Rhine where ships needed to unload their cargos to avoid the dramatic Falls. Many of the old guild houses and merchants' houses still survive along with beautifully painted facades in the car free Old Town where shopping along the Virdergasse is a pleasure and photographs are a must. The ring shaped stronghold of the Munot fortress built in the 16th century stands over the town and a visit to the battlements is highly recommended for its views. There is still a guard living in the tower who rings the traditional Munot bell every evening at 9pm - this used to signal the nightly closure of the town gates and local inns.

During your stay, a visit to the Rhine Falls is highly recommended. The largest waterfall in Europe is easily reached by a 10 minute bus ride and you will be richly rewarded by this natural wonder, which is at its most powerful in June/July. Virtually in the middle of the falls you can stand on platforms which jut out over the Rhine. The castles of Laufen and Worth can be reached by boat.

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Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com

Our handpicked Schaffhausen hotel

Hotel Ruden

We recommend a visit to Stein-am-Rhein, a delightful town which can be reached by boat or a quick train ride from Schaffhausen. This beautifully preserved small medieval town boasts half timbered houses, many perfectly painted. Amongst the flower decked fountains and cobbled streets there are plenty of cafés and restaurants where you can relax and soak up the atmosphere. You can also take the boat or train a little further to the towns of Konstanz and Romanshorn, both on the shore of Lake Constance. This is one of Europe's most beautiful lakes and well worth seeing during your stay in the region. 

If you are keen for some mountain walking, head for Appenzellerland which has glorious scenery, plenty of marked trails and a good array of alpine restaurants waiting to welcome you. Please click here for a summary of the best the region has to offer.

Take a trip to the historic town of St. Gallen - two of the highlights are the baroque Cathedral and the Abbey Library, which also is known as Seelenapotheke (healing place of the soul). You can also visit the Old Town of Bern, with its distinctive red roofs and arcades. Find more Swiss World Heritage Sites here.

Our holidays include the Half Fare Card, which entitles you to a 50% discount on most rail, mountain railways, cable cars, boats and PostBuses across Switzerland.

If you are planning trips further afield, it can be well worth pre-booking the Swiss Travel Pass, as it saves you a great deal of money - and helps you avoid the queues at the ticket office! We will be delighted to help you choose the one that's right for you. Call us on 0800 619 1200 for more advice.

Enjoy a fantastic two or multi centre holiday, with a scenic rail journey connecting your resorts.

Schaffhausen is on the route of the Lake Constance Line to St. Gallen, where you could join the Pre-Alpine Express to Lucerne. There are also excellent connections on the fast route to Lucerne where you can join the Luzern-Interlaken Express or the Gotthard Panorama Express.

If you prefer to be based solely in Schaffhausen, there are many lakes and mountains journeys to be enjoyed locally. We can tailor make any itinerary you choose, please contact us for details on 0800 619 1200.

Your ticket wallet will contain comprehensive travel instructions to help you reach your destination with ease, including recommended rail connection times and platform numbers. These are the most common routes for your Schaffhausen holiday. 

Fly to Zurich

Flights available from London, Luton, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow.

Swiss Railways: Zurich Airport > Schaffhausen with a transfer time of around 40 minutes.

Fly to Geneva

Flights available from London, Luton, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle.  

Swiss Railways: Geneva Airport > Zurich > Schaffhausen with a transfer time of around 3 hours 40 minutes. 

Travel by international rail

Rail from London St. Pancras via Paris to Basel.

Swiss Railways: Basel > Zurich > Basel with a transfer time of around 1 hour 40 minutes.

Request your holiday quotation

Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com