Switzerland · CRUISES & BOAT TOURS

The 15 Best Boat Trips in Switzerland

35 tours  ·  from $26

The lakes are the cheap half of this country and the boats run all year. The 15 below range from a one-hour hop off Bürkliplatz to a full day on a steam paddler, each priced and clear about how long you are on the water.

Award-Winning Geneva Chocolate &Old Town Tour with Boat Ride (3h) - Five chocolateries, a pastry shop, and a surprise stop
3-Hour Experiences, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dessert Tours, Geneva Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

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 guides such as Paul, Ethan, Olivia, or Isabelle for a three-hour Geneva walk with five chocolate shops, one pastry stop, a surprise tasting, Old Town sights, chocolate history, the Marmite tradition, and a short Lake Geneva boat ride. Expect about 2.1 kilometers of walking and a dozen samples.

“Absolutely fabulous tour. Ethan was just a brilliant friendly knowledgeable guy. Loved it from start to finish. Went to lots of chocolate shops for different chocolate experiences and a great walk around the city especially the old town. Would highly recommend.”

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Mount Pilatus Summit from Lucerne With Lake Cruise - The Dragon Ride and the 2,132-meter summit
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lucerne Tours, Mount Pilatus Tours, Mount Pilatus Tours in Lucerne, Swiss Lake Cruises, Tour Reviews

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

From central Lucerne, ride a panoramic gondola and Dragon Ride to Mount Pilatus, enjoy free time at 2,132 meters, descend by cogwheel train, then cruise Lake Lucerne from Alpnachstad. The English tour lasts about 5 hours 15 minutes and includes transport and admissions.

“Enjoyed the cable car and gondola up the mountain and the cogwheel down the mountain. Sites on top were amazing!!”

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Zurich Sights: Cruise, Lindt Chocolate and optional FIFA Ticket - Walking from the Lake to Lindt Home of Chocolate
Cruises & Boat Tours, Dessert Tours, Tickets, Tour Reviews, Zurich Tours

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

Spend about 5 hours and 15 minutes seeing Zurich by coach, on foot, and from Lake Zurich before visiting Lindt Home of Chocolate. Guides such as Daniel, Renate, Fernando, and Katrin lead the city portion in English. Add the optional FIFA Museum for an independent football-themed visit afterward.

“Good overview of city and takes you to parts you might not otherwise see. Guide was fantastic. Boat trip was short, but worth it to get to Lindt.”

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Mt Pilatus and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Lake Cruise - Lucerne in less than an hour
1-Day Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Mount Pilatus Tours, Mount Pilatus Tours in Zurich, Swiss Lake Cruises, Swiss Lake Cruises in Zurich, Tour Reviews, Zurich Tours

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 with a multilingual guide such as Adolfo or Rafael. Explore Lucerne briefly, ride gondolas to 2,132 meters, walk the Dragon’s Path, descend by the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, and finish with a Lake Lucerne cruise in the summer season.

“Bus, train and cable car this tour has it all. Along with beautiful mountains, lakes and views all seen with very informative commentary from an experienced guide. A day well spent in nature with lovely professional people.”

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Zurich Walking Tour With Cruise and Aerial Cable Car - Old Town sights, from Bahnhofstrasse to the Grossmünster
Cruises & Boat Tours, Swiss Cable Car Rides, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Zurich Tours

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

Start at the Swiss National Museum and explore Zurich with a local guide such as Greg or Patricia. Walk the Old Town, ride the Polybahn, cruise Lake Zurich, and take a cable car or train toward Felsenegg or Uetliberg. Expect a small group, many transport modes, hills, and about six hours on the move.

“Greg was a great host and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour. He answered all our questions and made the tour very interesting and informative - with a bit of humor as well 😁 It was a great experience- We travelled on tram train bus boat and cable car! We would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Zurich”

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Lucerne Walking & Boat Tour: The Best Swiss Experience - Walking the Reuss River and old town
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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

Spend two hours walking Lucerne with guides such as Luis, Isabella, or Laszlo, then add a one-hour Lake Lucerne cruise if you select that package. Some options include cheese and wine tasting. The small group, capped at eight, keeps the tour personal and easy to follow.

“Our walking tour with Diego was wonderful. Diego made our morning so memorable. He was so knowledgeable and answered all of our questions Highly professional and easy to be with. Was like a family member!”

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Best of Geneva City Tour with optional boat cruise - Jet d’Eau and the Flower Clock
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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 UN district, Broken Chair, Jet d’Eau, Flower Clock, and Old Town by coach, mini train, or on foot. Guides such as Gabriel and Berry add useful local help. Add the seasonal Lake Geneva cruise for views, wine, cheese, and a relaxed finish, but plan for possible waits.

“Though very friendly, our tour guide was not good. If she introduced herself, we did not hear her name. Her English was barely understandable, and the tour script was read robotically. We could not hear the tour description well despite the AV being turned up. For Viator, overall, instructions are sparse. How do we know which group is yours? Can you have a uniform or sign? It was unclear that the boat trip was later in the day, and not right after the coach tour. We had a nice day, but it could have been better.”

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Lake Lucerne Panoramic Sightseeing Cruise - Pier 7 and the first minutes aboard
Cruises & Boat Tours, Lucerne Tours, Tour Reviews

Lake Lucerne Panoramic Sightseeing Cruise

8.Lake Lucerne Panoramic Sightseeing Cruise

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

Board a 161-foot yacht at Pier 7 in Lucerne for a one-hour cruise on Lake Lucerne. Enjoy mountain and city views from the main or upper deck, use the multilingual audio guide on your phone or onboard headphones, and buy drinks or snacks at the bar.

“The lake is of course great, difficult to do something wrong here, but the stuff on board has zero knowledge about the culture of serving beverages. Getting half of a glass prosecco it’s really frustrating in a country of so called “high standards”…”

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Mt Rigi and Lucerne Day Trip from Zurich With Boat Ride - Mount Rigi: give the summit your best weather window
1-Day Tours, Cruises & Boat Tours, Mount Rigi Tours, Tour Reviews, Zurich Tours

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 Mount Rigi and Lucerne by coach, aerial cable car, cogwheel train, and public boat. This partly guided day trip gives you free time for mountain walks, alpine food, and Lucerne’s Old Town. Guides such as Fernando, Cecilia, Adolfo, and Bruno have led departures, but guide assignments vary.

“We did the self guided portion of the tour (Mt. Rigi and Lucerne) and there is really not a lot of guidance or support.”

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(STTG04) - Sightseeing Cruise at Geneva with Wine and Aperitif - Bains des Pâquis and Geneva’s local waterfront
Cruises & Boat Tours, Geneva Tours, Tour Reviews, Wine Tours

(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

Set out from Quai du Mont-Blanc on a small, zero-emission solar boat for a one-hour cruise around Geneva’s Petit Lac. Expect wine, cheese, crackers, and aperitif snacks, plus views of the Jet d’Eau, Bains des Pâquis, parks, the English Garden, and the Alps. Commentary depends on the guide.

“Well worth the price. Nice aperitive with wine, cheese etc. The pilot was friendly and explained the main things around the petit lac.”

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3 in 1: Zurich Walking Tour - Cruise on the Lake - Cable Car Ride to Felsenegg - Zurich’s intellectual and political side
Cruises & Boat Tours, Swiss Cable Car Rides, Tour Reviews, Tours, Walking Tours, Zurich Tours

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

Start at the Swiss National Museum for a guided walk through Zurich’s Old Town, then use trams, trains, a funicular, and a cable car before a Lake Zurich cruise. Guides such as Greg, Patricia, and Vasi bring Swiss history and culture to life. Expect hills, cobblestones, and a brisk pace.

“It is great. Covers walking, lake cruise, and a tram. You can't beat that. Our tour guide, Greg, was fantastic!!”

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

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

Join a guide such as Rose, Jonas, Santiago, or Leighton for a five-and-a-half-hour outing from Lucerne to Mt. Pilatus and Lake Lucerne. Ride the Dragon Ride cable car, enjoy summit views or a short hike, descend by cogwheel train, and finish with a lake cruise. Seasonal routing can change.

“Leighton of Swiss Tours was fantastic! He was very knowledgeable and lively! The boat ride was a bit boring after as amazing as Pilatus was.”

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Geneva and Annecy Tour With Optional Lake Geneva Cruise - Two hours of free time beside Lake Annecy
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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

Spend about nine hours crossing from Geneva to Annecy and back, with guided walks, free time by Lake Annecy, Geneva’s international district, Old Town, and an optional seasonal cruise. Guides such as Gabriel, Hector, Antonio, and Zara are praised for friendly, lively commentary.

“I had no idea what Annesy was so I was surprised to see this wonderful village. The coach was comfortable and perfect time allowed in the city. The bus tour was a great way to see Geneva. And the boat was another perspective of the city. Guides were amazing!”

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Audioguided sightseeing cruise of Geneva - 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

Board at Quai du Mont-Blanc for a roughly 55-minute cruise across Geneva’s bay. You’ll pass Jardin Anglais, Pierre du Niton, the Jet d’Eau, lakeside homes, and international offices. Download the CGN Tours app and audio before boarding, and bring your own headphones.

“This is quite an ordinary experience….it’s just for someone wanting to get on a boat… Nothing exciting whatsoever!”

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The Great Tour of Zurich by Bus and Boat - The Höhenstrasse and the road to Rapperswil
Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours, Zurich Tours

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

This five-hour tour pairs a guided Zurich coach ride with Rapperswil’s castle, rose gardens, and deer park, then sends you back by public lake boat. Guides such as Hans and Jeanine have been praised for lively commentary, but the cruise is unescorted and the city tour is fairly quick.

“The great tour of Zurich is very comprehensive tour, I have been to major part of the city and had 2 hours cruise on the lake Zurich, it is Si beautiful and by the end of the trip, I also had a bit time to walk to train station through the centre of the Zurich, and discovered a bit more of it.”

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New in Cruises & Boat Tours

★ 4.5Attraction Ticket: Day Pass for Lake Thun & Brienz Boat CruisesFrom $1467 reviews
★ 5.0LINDT Home of Chocolate, Cruise On Lake Zurich And Old Town Walking TourFrom $18211 reviews
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★ 3.5Round trip cruise from Lausanne to ChillonFrom $6815 reviews
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★ 4.5Lucerne small group walking tour and Lake Cruise from BaselFrom $46323 reviews
★ 5.0Zurich Small-Group Walking Tour Including a Lake CruiseFrom $8924 reviews
★ 4.5Zurich City, Lake Cruise and Chocolate (Private Tour)From $51326 reviews
★ 4.0Zürich Private Walking Half-Day Trip with optional Lake CruiseFrom $20826 reviews
★ 3.5Round trip cruise from Montreux to ChillonFrom $3927 reviews
★ 5.0Private sailing cruise on Lake Geneva from GenevaFrom $20428 reviews
★ 5.0Beatus Caves, Panoramic Bridge, Nature Park Blue Lake and Lake Thun CruiseFrom $37335 reviews
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