After the Frauenfeld Marathon: Zürich and the Rhine Falls

The Route: Frauenfeld → Zürich → Schaffhausen / Neuhausen → Zürich Airport Logistics: A direct train to Zürich, then a train to Schaffhausen and the Rhine Falls, and a train back to the airport. Marathon Month: November Duration: 3 nights

Frauenfeld ──(~40 mins)──> Zürich (1 night) ──(~1 hr train)──> Schaffhausen / Neuhausen (2 nights)
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Zürich Airport (ZRH) ◄──(~1 hr train, check sbb.ch)────────────────────┘

Der Frauenfelder finishes in a small town on a mid-November Sunday, and Frauenfeld has direct trains to Zürich. From there, Schaffhausen and the Rhine Falls are an easy rail trip north. Using two bases keeps the luggage moves to a minimum. Check journey times and fares at sbb.ch.

November on the Rhine: the days are short and the weather is often grey, with fog hanging over the valley. The river is high or low depending on the year's rainfall, and the falls run at a different volume from summer. The Rhine Falls site is open year round for walkers, but boat trips to the rock in the basin and some of the lower platforms have seasonal operating periods and may not run in winter. Check rheinfall.ch for what is open on your dates before you plan a day around it.

Night One: Zürich

Spend the first night in Zürich. The Limmat riverbank walk through the old town is flat, with benches and cafés. Hotel Marktgasse is in the old town, and Hotel Widder is in converted medieval buildings. Compare rates directly. For dinner, ask for Zürcher Geschnetzeltes with rösti. The Christmas markets usually open in the second half of November, after the race.

Nights Two and Three: Schaffhausen and the Rhine Falls

Take the train north to Schaffhausen, which takes about an hour from Zürich. The old town has painted facades, oriel windows and a pedestrian centre, and the Munot, a round sixteenth-century fortress on a vineyard hill, overlooks it. The climb to the Munot is a steep walk on steps, so leave it for later in the trip.

The Rhine Falls are the largest plain waterfall in Europe. From Neuhausen am Rheinfall station, a short, partly sloped path leads down to viewing platforms near the water. The Laufen castle viewpoint on the south bank involves stairs. The footpaths along the basin are paved in places and slippery when wet, so take it slowly. If your legs say no, the nearest viewpoint is enough. Check access and any seasonal closures at rheinfall.ch.

Hotels close to the falls and in central Schaffhausen are both available; compare rates and check that your chosen hotel is open in November, since some seasonal properties close. For dinner, ask for a Rhine fish dish or a plate of local cheese.

Getting to Zürich Airport (ZRH)

Trains run from Schaffhausen to Zürich Airport in roughly an hour, sometimes with a change. Check sbb.ch for the timetable and fare, and leave a margin of at least an hour for a morning flight.