Schaffhausen

A lively medieval town located an hour north of Zurich, Schaffhausen is best known as the gateway to one of Switzerland’s most famous tourist attractions – the Rhine Falls. The mighty waterfall is Europe’s largest, stretching 450-feet across the Rhine River and cascading from heights of up to 75-feet. Along with hosting Switzerland’s largest fireworks display in honor of Swiss National Day on August 1st, the Falls are also a prime spot for hiking, boat trips and river rafting, overlooked by the medieval castle of Schoss Laufen and home to a spectacularly situated treetop adventure park.
Back in the center of Schaffhausen, strolling around the medieval Old Town unveils an array of Baroque architecture, richly decorated with hand-painted frescos and elaborate oriel windows. Climb the hilltop to the 16th-century Munot fortress for the best views over the town; visit the surrounding Klettgau vineyards for a spot of wine tasting; take in sights like the High Gothic St Johann church and the All Saints Cathedral; or browse for goods at the historic marketplace on Fronwagplatz.