Holidays To Winterthur - Eastern Switzerland

Historic town perfectly placed for Zurich, the airport and the Rhine Falls

Although Winterthur is one of Switzerland's largest towns, it retains the character of a village with a large pedestrian zone, a charming Old Town and a wide choice of boutique cafés and shops. It's also known as the 'Garden City' thanks to the large number of parks and green spaces. Situated not far from Zurich, this is a great alternative to staying in the city or can be booked as a stopover en route to or from the airport (just 15 minutes away). 

You may like to take a city tour to discover the hidden delights of the Old Town, or take the short train journey to the famous Rhine Falls, Europe's largest waterfall. Nature-lovers will also enjoy the Zurich wine country with its lakes, meadows and vineyards. One of the biggest attractions in Winterthur is its range of museums. Discover the Photo Center, leading hub for photography and photo-based art in Switzerland, or the Oskar Reinhard Collection which brings together more than two hundred paintings, drawings and sculptures of European art of exceptional quality. The Kunst Museum is housed in an impressive building and features exhibitions with a focus on modern art. The history of Winterthur is brought to life in the 18th century Villa Lindengut nestled in a secluded park; among the richly decorated panels, fascinating objects tell of life in bygone eras. Why not purchase a museum pass locally to cover all these plus more museums and castles in the local area. The pass also acts as a ticket for public transport.

Get your holiday quotation today

Contact us to book your holiday

Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com


Winterthur holiday ideas 2025

Stay in our handpicked Winterthur hotel

 
What to see and do from Winterthur

Zurich is close at hand with its myriad attractions; Lake Zurich is a true delight and while visiting you could treat yourself to a tour of the Lindt Home Of Chocolate. We also recommend a visit to Stein-am-Rhein, a charming town which can be reached via a quick train ride from Winterthur. This beautifully preserved small medieval town boasts half timbered houses, many perfectly painted. Amongst the flower decked fountains and cobbled streets there are plenty of cafés and restaurants where you can relax and soak up the atmosphere. You can also take the boat or train a little further to the towns of Konstanz and Romanshorn, both on the shore of Lake Constance. This is one of Europe's most beautiful lakes and well worth seeing during your stay in the region. Schaffhausen and St. Gallen are close by, both centres of history and well worth a visit; Schaffhausen has the added advantage of the magnificent Rhine Falls - don't miss the thundering water. 

If you are keen for some mountain walking, head for Appenzellerland which has glorious scenery, plenty of marked trails and a good array of alpine restaurants waiting to welcome you. Please click here for a summary of the best the region has to offer.

 
Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site from Wintherthur

Take a trip to the historic town of St. Gallen - two of the highlights are the baroque Cathedral and the Abbey Library, which also is known as Seelenapotheke (healing place of the soul). You can also visit the Old Town of Bern, with its distinctive red roofs and arcades. Find more Swiss World Heritage Sites here.

 
Explore the Eastern Switzerland region with our great value travel passes

Our holidays include the Half Fare Card, which entitles you to a 50% discount on most rail, mountain railways, cable cars, boats and PostBuses across Switzerland.

If you are planning trips further afield, it can be well worth pre-booking the Swiss Travel Pass, as it saves you a great deal of money - and helps you avoid the queues at the ticket office! We will be delighted to help you choose the one that's right for you. Call us on 0800 619 1200 for more advice.

 
Scenic rail holidays from Winterthur

Enjoy a fantastic two or multi centre holiday, with a scenic rail journey connecting your resorts.

Travel to St. Gallen to join the charming Pre-Alpine Express to Lucerne, or to Bern to board the Lötschberg Regio Express. Another option from Zurich is the Treno Gottardo which transports you right down the southern tip of Switzerland and the sunny town of Locarno.

If you prefer to be based solely in Winterthur, there are many lakes and mountains journeys to be enjoyed locally. We can tailor make any itinerary you choose, please contact us for details on 0800 619 1200.

 
How to get to Winterthur

Your ticket wallet will contain comprehensive travel instructions to help you reach your destination with ease, including recommended rail connection times and platform numbers. These are the most common routes for your Winterthur holiday. 

Fly to Zurich

Flights available from London, Luton, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow.

Swiss Railways: Zurich Airport > Winterthur with a transfer time of around 15 minutes.

Fly to Geneva

Flights available from London, Luton, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle.  

Swiss Railways: Geneva Airport > Winterthur with a transfer time of around 3 hours 30 minutes. 

Travel by international rail

Rail from London St. Pancras via Paris to Basel.

Swiss Railways: Basel > Zurich > Basel with a transfer time of around 1 hour 40 minutes.

 
 

Request your holiday quotation

Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com

Winterthur rose garden

Planning your holiday 2025

Switzerland Call 0800 619 1200
  • Decide where you would like to stay
  • Choose your scenic journeys
  • 1st or 2nd class rail travel in Switzerland
  • How many nights in each resort
  • Decide on bed & breakfast or half board
  • 3, 4 or 5 star hotel accommodation
  • Plan visits with your Half Fare Card
Request your holiday quote

Winterthur Museums video