After getting off the InterCity in Lucerne on a summer’s morning, you merely have to cross the square in front of the station in order to transfer to a 19th century passenger steamer – for lunch on Lake Lucerne for instance. And there is a pleasant riverboat trip from Bienne to Solothurn – unless you prefer to take a 3 lakes cruise on Lake Bienne, Lake Neuchâtel, and Lake Morat. While on Lake Geneva, you could make a side trip to Evian in France, or to the Chillon Castle. At the other end of Switzerland, the river cruise from Schaffhausen on the Rhine to Kreuzlingen on Lake Constance will take you from the Swiss to the German side and back without your leaving the Swiss Travel System. While aboard ship on Lake Thun you may admire Mt. Niesen, which Paul Klee used as a model for his painting “Ad Parnassum.” Or you may marvel at the world famous Giessbach Falls while sailing on Lake Brienz.
But please note: Ship cruises are a seasonal affair. Except for those ships plying Lake Lucerne and Lake Zurich, most only sail from spring to autumn.
The Swiss Travel System has 145 boats as well.
Switzerland by train, bus and boat.
© 2010 Swiss Travel System