Switzerland · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips in Switzerland

37 tours  ·  from $26 a head

The lakes are how this country moves when the roads run out. These 15 cover the Lucerne steamers, the Geneva crossings and the short harbour runs, each priced and clear on how long you are on the water.

Award-Winning Geneva Chocolate &Old Town Tour with Boat Ride (3h) - Why this Geneva chocolate tour works so well
3-Hour Experiences, Chocolate Tours, Chocolate Tours in Geneva, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Geneva, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Geneva

Award-Winning Geneva Chocolate &Old Town Tour with Boat Ride (3h)

1.Award-Winning Geneva Chocolate &Old Town Tour with Boat Ride (3h)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,721 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $131Our pick

Meet your English-speaking guide in central Geneva for a three-hour walk through five chocolateries, a pastry shop, and a surprise stop. You’ll taste about 12 treats, hear stories of chocolate and Geneva, visit the Old Town, and cross Lake Geneva by boat. Guides may include Paul, Ethan, Olivia, Anatole, or Isabelle.

“This was an INCREDIBLE tour of Geneva - Paul was the BEST tour guide. What an incredible, and unexpected, way to see Geneva up close. Paul taught us so many fun things about chocolate, and about the history and culture of Geneva. We had a lovely walk along the lakeside, walked into city center, and got to visit some great chocolate shops along the way. This is a great tour for all - including families with young kids - super easy walk, fun time and great company. Thank you again Paul!!”

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Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise - The 30-minute gondola to Fräkmüntegg
Cruises & Boat Tours, Day Trips from Lucerne, Lake Cruises, Mountain Excursions, Mountain Excursions in Lucerne, Tour Reviews, Tours in Lucerne

Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise

2.Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,260 reviews · 5 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $223

Travel from central Lucerne to Mount Pilatus with an English-speaking guide, ride the panoramic gondola and Dragon Ride to 2,132 meters, then descend by cogwheel train and cruise Lake Lucerne. The boat runs from May through October. Seasonal maintenance can replace the cable cars and cruise with trains and a CHF 20 lunch voucher.

“Really nice. Enjoyable, and beautiful. The rides were nice and the scenery was fantastic. The modes of transportation were interesting.”

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Zurich Sights: Cruise, Lindt Chocolate and optional FIFA Ticket - Old Town: 25 minutes for Zurich’s medieval center
Chocolate Tours, Chocolate Tours in Zurich, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Tours in Zurich

Zurich Sights: Cruise, Lindt Chocolate and optional FIFA Ticket

3.Zurich Sights: Cruise, Lindt Chocolate and optional FIFA Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,028 reviews · 5 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $108

This 5-hour-15-minute tour combines a guided Zurich overview, Old Town walk, 30-minute Lake Zurich cruise, and Lindt Home of Chocolate visit with audio guide and chocolate tasting. Guides such as Daniel, Renate, and Fernando lead the city portion. Add the optional FIFA Museum ticket if you want a self-guided football stop afterward.

“Rebate was our guide. She was punctual, organized, and personable. My 10 year old enjoyed Lindt and the boat ride (despite the chilly weather). I wish we could have visited Lindt a bit longer. We were given the option to stay as long as we liked, but wouldn’t have a guide back.”

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Mt Pilatus and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Lake Cruise - Lucerne in 50 minutes
1-Day Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Day Trips from Lucerne, Day Trips from Zurich, Lake Cruises, Mountain Excursions, Mountain Excursions in Zurich, Tour Reviews, Tours in Zurich

Mt Pilatus and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Lake Cruise

4.Mt Pilatus and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Lake Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 694 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $250

Travel from Zurich to Lucerne and Mt Pilatus by coach, gondola, aerial cable car, cogwheel railway, and boat. You get guided transport, free time in Lucerne, a short summit walk, and sweeping Alpine views. The route changes in late October and November, when a lunch voucher replaces the boat cruise.

“The alps were beautiful and all of the fun ways to travel around Pilatus were spectacular. We loved the gondola and the train down the mountain. Our guide, Milton, was very friendly and on top of things! We loved his humor and enjoyed the whole tour!”

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Zurich Walking Tour With Cruise and Aerial Cable Car - Walking through Zurich’s old town
Cruises & Boat Tours, Mountain Excursions, Mountain Excursions in Zurich, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Zurich, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Zurich

Zurich Walking Tour With Cruise and Aerial Cable Car

5.Zurich Walking Tour With Cruise and Aerial Cable Car

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 669 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $111

Spend about six hours seeing Zurich on foot and by public transport, with a local guide such as Greg or Patricia. Visit the old town, Polyterrasse, Lindenhof, Lake Zurich, and either Felsenegg or Uetliberg. The tour includes the funicular, ferry, and mountain transport, but requires brisk walking, hills, stairs, and comfortable weather-ready clothing.

“Great fun, and I learned so much. The views were amazing. I would definitely recommend. Good workout on the hills too!”

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Lucerne Walking & Boat Tour: The Best Swiss Experience - Nine towers and the city wall
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Lucerne Walking & Boat Tour: The Best Swiss Experience

6.Lucerne Walking & Boat Tour: The Best Swiss Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 417 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $118

This roughly three-hour Lucerne tour combines a two-hour walk through the Old Town, Chapel Bridge, riverfront, and medieval fortifications with an optional one-hour Lake Lucerne cruise. Guides such as Luis, Isabella, and Laszlo bring local stories and practical tips. Cheese and wine tasting packages are also available.

“This tour was amazing. Our guide Luis was very knowledgeable and gave us a wonderful insider view to life in Switzerland. This walking tour was the perfect length and we hit all of the key spots in an efficient manner. Our group was only one other couple and we got so much out of the experience. Highly recommend this tour!”

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Best of Geneva City Tour with optional boat cruise - The Jet d’Eau and Flower Clock
City Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Lake Cruises, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Geneva

Best of Geneva City Tour with optional boat cruise

7.Best of Geneva City Tour with optional boat cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 416 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $76

See Geneva’s international district by coach, stop at the Broken Chair and UN headquarters, then explore the Old Town by mini train or on foot. Add the seasonal Lake Geneva cruise for views of the Jet d’Eau and Alps. English commentary, central pickup, and groups of up to 45.

“Boat ride was not included, but do seasonal closure. And the website noted it before ticketing. Staff in the store front we friendly and accommodating. Our guide, Gabriel did an outstanding job.”

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Lake Lucerne Panoramic Sightseeing Cruise - Making sense of the audio guide
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Lucerne

Lake Lucerne Panoramic Sightseeing Cruise

8.Lake Lucerne Panoramic Sightseeing Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 363 reviews · from $39

Cruise Lake Lucerne for about an hour aboard a spacious 161-foot yacht from Pier 7 near Hotel Schweizerhof. Choose a morning, afternoon, or evening departure, take in Lucerne and Alpine views from the open or upper deck, and use the smartphone audio guide or onboard headphones. Snacks, drinks, Wi-Fi, and indoor seating are available.

“Short, quaint boat ride comes with the option of audio guide, wine/snacks/cocktails, views Absolutely lovely”

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Mt Rigi and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Boat Ride - Riding up Mount Rigi by cable car and train
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Mt Rigi and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Boat Ride

9.Mt Rigi and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Boat Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 297 reviews · 9 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $204

Travel from Zurich to Weggis, ride a cable car and historic cogwheel train up Mount Rigi, then cruise Lake Lucerne to Lucerne. This partly guided day trip gives you transport, tickets, route notes, and free time rather than all-day guiding. Guides such as Bruno, Fernando, Cecilia, and Adolfo have been praised for clear instructions.

“We weren’t aware that our tour wasn’t accompanied by a guide. We were just dropped off to do our own thing and then told to meet at a place and given a small map. A bit stressful spending our time trying to find where we were to be picked up.”

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(STTG04) - Sightseeing Cruise at Geneva with Wine and Aperitif - Crossing Lake Geneva by quiet solar boat
Cheese & Wine Tastings, Cheese and Wine Tastings in Geneva, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Geneva

(STTG04) – Sightseeing Cruise at Geneva with Wine and Aperitif

10.(STTG04) – Sightseeing Cruise at Geneva with Wine and Aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 235 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $38

Cruise Lake Geneva for about an hour aboard a small, zero-emission solar boat. You’ll see the Jet d’Eau, Bains des Pâquis, United Nations area, parks, and English Garden while enjoying wine and light snacks. Departures may be hosted by Christoph or Christoff, with a relaxed format and limited commentary.

“Lovely cruise, guide was brilliant, great facts, nice clean boat, cheese was good, they sent directions to find them which were very helpful!”

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3 in 1: Zurich Walking Tour - Cruise on the Lake - Cable Car Ride to Felsenegg - Bahnhofstrasse, Paradeplatz, and Zurich’s historic core
Cruises & Boat Tours, Mountain Excursions, Mountain Excursions in Zurich, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Zurich, Walking Tours, Walking Tours in Zurich

3 in 1: Zurich Walking Tour – Cruise on the Lake – Cable Car Ride to Felsenegg

11.3 in 1: Zurich Walking Tour – Cruise on the Lake – Cable Car Ride to Felsenegg

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 227 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $110

This six-hour small-group tour with guides such as Greg, Patricia, and Vasi combines Zurich’s Old Town, public transport, a 45-minute Lake Zurich cruise, and an aerial cable car to Felsenegg. Expect hills, cobblestones, a short forest walk, Swiss history, and sweeping views toward the Alps. Lunch is not included.

“Amazing tour! Patricia was a great tour guide. I loved walking through Zurich and really learning about the city. Bonus was also getting the boat ride and cable car.”

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Mt Pilatus Peak and Lake Lucerne Cruise Small Group from Lucerne - Riding the Dragon Ride to Fräkmüntegg
Cruises & Boat Tours, Day Trips from Lucerne, Mountain Excursions, Mountain Excursions in Lucerne, Tour Reviews, Tours in Lucerne

Mt Pilatus Peak and Lake Lucerne Cruise Small Group from Lucerne

12.Mt Pilatus Peak and Lake Lucerne Cruise Small Group from Lucerne

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 189 reviews · from $260

Meet your guide in Lucerne at 10:15 a.m. for a half-day route to Mt. Pilatus and Lake Lucerne. Ride the Dragon Ride cable car, walk toward the summit, descend by cogwheel train, then cruise by boat. Guides may include Rose, Santiago Rooney, Jonas, or Leighton. Weather can affect the mountain views.

“Jonas was a great tour guide, very knowledgeable! Pilatus was a great experience, unfortunately the clouds sat at the peak so we couldn't see the whole view. That's just the luck of the draw, weather was perfect besides that.”

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Geneva and Annecy Tour With Optional Lake Geneva Cruise - Annecy Old Town, canals, and the Palais de l’Isle
Chamonix & Mont Blanc Day Trips, Cruises & Boat Tours, Montreux & Lake Geneva, Tour Reviews, Tours, Tours in Geneva

Geneva and Annecy Tour With Optional Lake Geneva Cruise

13.Geneva and Annecy Tour With Optional Lake Geneva Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 151 reviews · 9 hours (approx.) · from $162

Travel by coach from Geneva to Annecy for a guided Old Town walk and free time beside Lake Annecy. Return for Geneva highlights, including the UN district, Flower Clock, St. Pierre Cathedral, and an Old Town tram or walking tour. Add the seasonal Lake Geneva cruise, and arrive ready for a full nine-hour day.

“Having Gabriel for a guide made it complete,! Pretty town, great market - would have stayed longer if possible! The boat trip was also fun, bus tour of the city was very informative.”

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Audioguided sightseeing cruise of Geneva - The English Garden, Pierre du Niton, and the Jet d’Eau
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Audioguided sightseeing cruise of Geneva

14.Audioguided sightseeing cruise of Geneva

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 144 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $25Best value

Cruise Lake Geneva from Quai du Mont-Blanc for about 55 minutes, passing the English Garden, Pierre du Niton, Jet d’Eau, lakeside homes, and the United Nations area. You use the free CGN Tours app on your own phone, so download the audio before boarding and bring headphones. The boat returns to the starting pier.

“Pleasant hour of cruising. We had good weather. We did not download the audio based on other reviews. This cruise worked for us because it was something to do on our first afternoon. We did not learn any but but enjoyed the views. There is ample seating on board.”

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The Great Tour of Zurich by Bus and Boat - Rapperswil castle, deer park, and Old Town
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The Great Tour of Zurich by Bus and Boat

15.The Great Tour of Zurich by Bus and Boat

★★★★★★★★★★3.0 · 105 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $82

See Zurich by air-conditioned coach, then drive to rose-filled Rapperswil for its castle, Old Town, and deer park. Finish with an unescorted 2 to 2.25-hour public boat ride on Lake Zurich to Bürkliplatz. Guides such as Jeanine and Hans have been praised, but the city tour is brief and the boat is a scheduled ferry.

“The guides were great! The bus ride wasn't anything special, the town Rapperswil where you are dropped of for thr boat ride was very neat to see. Boat ride was good but about a 2 hour ride back to Lucern.”

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New in Cruises & Boat Tours

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