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A week on the upper lake

LachenSwitzerland

April 8 – 15, 2026

Seven days on the shores of Lake Zurich. Family, cogwheel trains, baroque abbeys, and the quiet rhythm of a Swiss spring.

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Summit
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Transport

The territory

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Lake Zurich ZURICH AIRPORTArrive Apr 8Depart Apr 15 LACHENhome base RapperswilDay 2 & 6Castle & roses MT. RIGI1,798m360° panorama Lucerne EinsiedelnDay 5 N

Day by day

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Day 1
Wednesday, April 8
Arrive & settle in
Land at Zurich, S2 train south along the lake. First evening for arriving and catching up with your aunt.
ArrivalS2 train
Schedule
11:50Land at Zurich Flughafen
~12:45S2 train to Lachen (direct, ~51 min)
~13:40Arrive Lachen — walk to Riedweg 3
EveningSettle in, dinner with your aunt
Day 2
Thursday, April 9
Rapperswil with your aunt
One stop on the train to the “City of Roses.” 13th-century castle, medieval old town, lakeside cafés.
CastleCafésRoses
Schedule
10:00Train Lachen → Rapperswil (5 min)
10:15Walk up to Schloss Rapperswil
11:00Old town & rose gardens
12:00Lunch at Rathaus (lakeside terrace)
14:00Return to Lachen
Day 3
Friday, April 10
Easy day in Lachen
Study in the morning, lakeside promenade in the afternoon. Recharge before the big day.
StudyLakeside
Schedule
MorningStudy session
AfternoonLakeside promenade & marina
EveningTime with your aunt
1,798m
Day 4 ★
Saturday, April 11
Lucerne + Mount Rigi
The big one. Train to Lucerne, boat across the lake, cogwheel railway to 1,798m. 360° Alpine panorama. No hiking required.
SummitCogwheelBoatChapel Bridge
Schedule
08:30Train Lachen → Lucerne (~1 hr)
09:30Walk Lucerne old town & Chapel Bridge
10:30Boat across Lake Lucerne → Vitznau
11:45Cogwheel train → Rigi Kulm (30 min)
12:15360° panorama — lunch at summit
14:00Cogwheel down to Arth-Goldau
15:00Train → Lachen (~30 min)
Day 5
Sunday, April 12
Einsiedeln monastery
Peaceful half-day at one of Switzerland's most impressive baroque abbeys. Gold, frescoes, Black Madonna.
AbbeyBus
Schedule
10:00Bus/train to Einsiedeln (~30 min)
10:30Kloster Einsiedeln — free entry
12:00Village walk, lunch
14:00Return to Lachen
Day 6
Monday, April 13
Lake Zurich boat cruise
Two-hour loop from Rapperswil. Island of Ufenau, Alps reflected in the water.
CruiseUfenau
Schedule
10:00Walk to Marina Lachen
11:00Train to Rapperswil, board cruise
13:30Return, optional café
15:00Back to Lachen
Day 7
Tuesday, April 14
Last full day
No agenda. Final lakeside walk, last dinner. Let the week wind down.
FamilyPack
Schedule
MorningStudy / free time
AfternoonFinal walk, last dinner
EveningPack & prepare
Day 8
Wednesday, April 15
Depart
Morning train to Zurich Flughafen. 2.5 hours before the 13:30 flight.
DepartureS2 train
Schedule
10:00Train Lachen → Zurich Flughafen (~53 min)
~10:55Arrive airport
13:30Flight departs

The Rigi ascent

Hover each stop to track your altitude

Day 4 elevation profile

From lake level to the summit and back
Lachen
406m
Start: 406m · Home base
Lucerne
436m
Old town & Chapel Bridge
Vitznau
440m
Board the cogwheel train
Rigi Kulm
1,798m
The summit — 360° panorama!
Goldau
510m
Cogwheel train terminus
Lachen
406m
Home by 15:00
406
metres above sea level
Lachen

The numbers

Transport & activities

Lucerne + Rigi day tripCHF 110
Zurich Airport ↔ Lachen (×2)CHF 60
Lake Zurich boat cruiseCHF 25
Lachen ↔ Rapperswil (×3)CHF 15
Einsiedeln returnCHF 15
Estimated total
~CHF 225
≈ $250 USD
Tip: All tickets via SBB Mobile app. No advance booking. Coop & Migros for budget meals. Amex Gold — no FX fees.

Practical notes

Tickets

SBB Mobile app. QR on your phone, no paper.

Weather

12–18°C. Layers + rain jacket. Warm layer for Rigi.

Currency

Swiss Franc. Cards everywhere. Amex Gold — no FX fees.

Rigi

Weggis cable car closed until Apr 22. Use cogwheel trains.

Study

Mornings on easy days. Evenings on outing days.

Emergency

112. Rega: 1414. Police: 117. Ambulance: 144.