Since we can call Switzerland our second home, we have fallen in love with this medieval town 😍 Whenever family and friends from Austria visit us, a day trip to Rapperswil-Jona is a must. Nobody has been disappointed yet 😉
Here I present you the TOP 6 things that you should do in Rapperswil.
No 1: CROSS THE WOODEN BRIDGE RAPPERSWIL-HURDEN
The historic wooden bridge over the upper Lake Zurich connects Hurden with Rapperswil. Already in the Middle Ages, a wooden bridge spanned Lake Zurich at its narrowest point and attracted Jacob pilgrims. In 2001, the 841-meter-long, modern wooden walkway to Hurden was opened at the same location.
wooden bridge Rapperswil-Hurden
view to Rapperswil
No 2: VISIT THE ROSE GARDENS
Rapperswil deserves the name City of Roses because of the over 20,000 roses that bloom in the rose gardens from May to October. Two red roses can even be seen on the coat of arms of Rapperswil. You can visit the following 3 gardens:
- Rose garden at the Capuchin monastery
- Rose garden at the hermit’s house
- Fragrant rose garden for the blind and visually impaired
Rose garden at the hermit’s house
Rose garden at the Capuchin monastery
No 3: DRINK A COFFEE IN THE HISTORICAL MAIN SQUARE
In the heart of the old town is the main square, where restaurants and coffee houses invite you to linger.
Rapperswil main square – the heart of the old town
No 4: GO UP TO RAPPERSWIL CASTLE
Rapperswil Castle is the landmark of the city of roses on Lake Zurich and towers over the old town below. The castle, which was built towards the end of the 12th century and later redesigned several times, can be seen from afar.
Rapperswil Castle
Rapperswil Castle can be seen from afar
No 5: ENJOY THE VIEW FROM THE CASTLE HILL / LINDENHOF
From here you have the most beautiful panoramic view of the historic city, the wooden bridge, the islands of Lützelau and Ufenau, as well as the surrounding mountain ranges. The deer park, which was created around 130 years ago, is located on the north side.
No 6: TAKE A WALK AT THE PORT / SEEQUAI
There is always a lot of activity on this lake promenade, especially on beautiful summer days. You will also find a few very tasty restaurants with lake view.
If that wasn’t enough information for you, take a look at our Rapperswil video 😊
Our personal opinion about Rapperswil-Jona:
- very nice historic old town
- great views from the wooden bridge and the castle hill
- always worth a trip
Best travel time:
Rapperswil should be visited between May and October, as the rose gardens are in bloom at this time. In December, however, the Christmas market is also well worth seeing.
Restaurant recommendations:
- Quellenhof
- La Scala
- Dieci
- Kaffee Klatsch
More tips & recommendations:
Rapperswil is relatively manageable and can be explored in a few hours. However, if you have more time available, I recommend a boat trip to the island of Ufenau. This can be reached from the port of Rapperswil either by boat taxi or ferry.
The Knies Children’s Zoo in Rapperswil is very popular with children.
The Seaside bathing area invites you to splash on hot days.
But we also love the city very much at Christmas time. The entire old town and the lake promenade sink into the sea of lights. A crib with life-size figures will be set up on the main square.
