Lake Zurich

Lake Zurich (Zürichsee) is a freshwater lake in east-central Switzerland linking the city of Zürich with towns to the east and south; it extends roughly 40 kilometers from Zürich to Rapperswil. The lake is a regional recreational focus for boating, swimming and lakeside promenades.

The northern shore is urban and heavily used for walking and public baths, while the eastern and southern shores pass through smaller towns and villages with marinas and parks. Regular passenger boats and ferries provide connections between towns along the lake.

The lake was formed by glacial action and has long been used for transport and leisure; ferry services and shoreline promenades developed in the 19th and 20th centuries. Towns around the lake grew with trade and tourism tied to its shores.

Lake Zurich lies in the cantons of Zürich and St. Gallen, with the city of Zürich at the lake’s northern end and Rapperswil at the eastern end; the Seedamm causeway crosses a narrow section near Rapperswil and carries road and rail traffic.

• Length: Stretches roughly 40 kilometers from Zürich at the lake's northern tip to Rapperswil at the eastern end.
• Boat services: Regular passenger boat services operate across the lake and connect multiple towns, providing both commuter and tourist transport.

What to See #

• Rapperswil: A historic lakeside town at the eastern end with a medieval castle and a wooden footbridge across the lake connecting to the narrow causeway.
• Seedamm causeway: A narrow natural and man-made crossing that links the lake's two shores near Rapperswil and carries road and rail traffic.
• Zürich lakeside promenades: Promenades and public baths along the northern shore in the city of Zürich that are used year-round for walking, swimming and boating access.