The Rhine Falls, at the border of Germany and Switzerland, are right out of a fairy tale, something you might imagine for this part of Europe. Laufen Castle is built on top of a hill above the rushing waterfall in a curve of the Rhine River. Located two hours from Stuttgart, and 30 minutes from Zurich, the Rhine Falls are a popular day trip from these areas. This is the largest waterfall in Europe, and people travel from around the world to see it.
We packed an overnight bag and a picnic in Rocky the Mini and headed out early one morning to check out the Falls. Driving from Stuttgart, we arrived by 09.30, an hour before the tour buses. Parking, WC’s, and café and restaurant choices around the Falls are all very well organized.
Boat Ride to the Falls
We bought our tickets to go out on a boat ride, to see the Falls from the river. A tower juts out on a peninsula in the river, and this is where you go to board your boat. It’s a fun and adventurous ride on the river, as the boats drive right up to the base of the crashing Falls.
Feeling the spray of the water, and hearing the close-up roar of the falls, is quite an experience.
Hiking at Rhine Falls
After our boat ride, we hiked the loop around the Falls, to the Castle, along the river, and then back across a pedestrian bridge to our starting point. It’s a beautiful hike, and easy to follow, but no picnic tables along the way. We ate our lunch from the tailgate of Rocky, surrounded by nature.
Lighting of the Falls
We spent the night in the village of Neuhausen am Rheinfall to see the lighting of the Falls after sunset. The village is a 2-minute walk from the Falls, and has both a good variety of restaurants and a CoOp grocery store with an excellent pastry selection. There are a few hotels, mostly geared toward backpackers, offering a decent room with shared bathroom facilities. We stayed at Hotel Rheinfall, which has private bathrooms and excellent customer service.
The Falls light up about 30 minutes after sunset, for another pretty view. We are glad to have seen it, but liked even better the views of lightning over the castle and the lighted train windows rolling by in the dark.
Rhine Falls lives up to its reputation, it is amazing to see, and the boat ride is a real highlight. Highly recommend!
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Meanwhile, the Falls continue to be a top choice for a day trip. But the lighting of the Falls at night is reserved for the few. Accordingly, the town must decide if they want to continue this tradition. Local hotels and restaurants particularly wish to continue. Above all, set the budget. Then certainly continue to socialize and advertise this nighttime feature.
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