Rapperswil is known as the City of Roses. It takes a long time to reach the lake from the city by train, but the trip by boat is more pleasant. Attractions near the Obersee include a medieval castle and a wooden bridge, the longest of its kind in the country. Alpamare Water Park ensures great fun for families, as does the slide in Atzmnnig, which is a full 700 m long. The water park is the biggest indoor facility of its kind in Europe. You can see trained circus animals at Knies Childrens Zoo, feed them, enjoy the sea lion show or ride an elephant.

Cities and towns in the area
Naturally, the most famous city near Lake Zurich is Zurich. This city has a fascinating history and many interesting attractions. These include the Great Minster (Grossmunster) Church, Fraumnster Abbey, St. Peters church, Einsiedeln Abbey, the old town, Bahnhofstrasse and more. Construction of Grossmunster began around 1100 AD. It was completed over a century later. Initially an abbey church, it is the most famous place of worship in Zurich today. Legend has it that it was founded by Charlemagne himself, after his horse fell at the place where the patron saints of Zurich were buried. One can find the guild houses downstream from the Grossmunster. Another interesting attraction is the Lindenhof, the site of a Roman and Middle Age castle. It overlooks the old town and the river. The old town spreads on both riverbanks. A must-see is Bahnhofstrasse, the main artery of the city. This is one of the most expensive shopping streets in the world. It begins at the Central Railway Station and ends at the National Bank. The two biggest Swiss banks, Credit Suisse and UBS, are headquartered here. The Paradeplatz is here as well. This is among the most famous squares in the country. It is the financial heart of Zurich. A number of elite world-class hotels are located here. There is a very exclusive mall inside the Credit Suisse Palace named Lichthof, which features luxury shops, bars and restaurants.

Among the important museums in the city are the Museum Brengasse, Kunsthaus Zrich, Museum Rietberg and the Swiss National Museum. Museum Brengasse chronicles the development of Zurich in the 1700s. The Kunsthaus displays one of the biggest collections of modern art with works by artists such as Picasso, Munch, Giacometti, Braque and others of that calibre. The Rietberg Museum showcases unique, ancient Asian art. The National Museum is one of the most significant museums of art and culture in the world. It is housed in a beautiful castle on an island between the rivers Sihl and Limmat, right across from the central railway station. The museum building was completed in 1898 in the style of the urban French Renaissance chateaus. It features several towers, courts and a well-maintained park. This is a major attraction in the old town. It chronicles the developments in art from antiquity to the 20th century. There are extensive displays of Gothic art and collections of carved altars, panel paintings and wooden sculptures used in liturgies. Zurich is also a haven of gastronomy, with eateries for all tastes and all price ranges. The restaurants range from expensive and upscale to casual and cheap. Many excellent eateries of the second kind can be found along the Niederdorf, serving noodles, fries, falafels, sausages and other fast food on the go, as well as delectable daily specials.

Zunfthaus zur Schmiden is a landmark. The restaurant building was completed in 1520, and was initially the smiths guildhall. Huge platters laden with meat are served, a favorite being veal with cream sauce and white wine. There is also a wide variety of Thai restaurants in Zurich, the most famous being the Golden Elephant and the White Elephant. You will find the White Elephant in the Marriott Hotel. It offers a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, an artistic interior and very tasty food. The Blindekuh is a complete novelty on the Zurich dining scene. This restaurant is run and staffed by blind people. Part of the experience is eating in total darkness. This allows us to understand what it is like to be blind. This restaurant is very successful, and if you want to dine here you should book a table around eight months in advance. Zurich hosts many famous festivals, such as the annual Street Parade, the biggest techno festival in the world. Another popular event is the annual Swiss Freestyle, a great weekend of inline tricks, BMX and skateboarding in September. Rapperswil is famous for its three vast rose parks. Over 600 varieties of roses are displayed here every summer. There are over 15 000 plants in total. Other attractions in this city are the castle and the rebuilt wooden bridge with a chapel. There is a Capuchin monastery and the Wurmsbach Abbey, and numerous other churches and chapels. The castle of Rapperswil dates from around 1200. It is the focal point of the old town and lies atop a hill.

The town of Horgen near Lake Zurich hosted an amazing archaeological discovery pottery dating back to the Neolithic age. It is among the bigger towns on the left bank of the lake. The village of Thalwil is located in the Horgen district. In medieval times it was an Alemannic farmstead, inhabited by the Germanic war tribe. Attractions here include a church with a panoramic view over the lake, a museum, old half-timber dwellings and the historical Erzliberg observation point, as well as a magnificent Neo-Baroque villa. Another famous historical site is Meilen, a town on the north bank of Lake Zurich. It is located halfway between Rapperswil and Zurich. This town also hosted important discoveries, dating back more than four millenniums. Among them were coins from Roman times. There is other evidence of prehistoric settlements in the area, unearthed after the level of Lake Zurich dropped drastically in 1854. Attractions in Meilen include the spectacular church at the lakeside, which dates back to a 7th century chapel. The current church was completed in 1493. The small village of Bollingen near Rapperswil seems unimpressive at first, but it has a glorious history. The former country residence of famed psychologist Carl Jung is located here, and he stayed in Bollingen for a very long term in his lifetime. He spend several months a year here for most of his life, and passed the time by making sculptures, painting and writing. Many of his famous works were produced here. Today his home is property of a family trust and closed to tourists.

Sports
The Linth plateau between Lake Zurich and Lake Walen, as well as the gentle rolling hills around Lake Zurich should definitely be discovered at ones own pace. The terrain is ideal for mountain bike tours and inline skating trips, and well-marked Nordic walking trails and hiking routes are available. There are three ice rinks, three health clubs, three outdoor swimming pools, a golf course, two indoor pools, two mini-golf courses, a toboggan run and three tennis courts in the area of the lake. Naturally the ice rink is suitable for ice hockey too. Biking is a popular activity here, and many guided mountain bike tours are available from May to October. Most depart from Rapperswil. Then theres always walking. You will delight in a leisurely stroll through this scenic area. There are several options for guided walks. Here are some suggestions. You can hike uphill from Wald toward Toss Valley. On the way you will pass by the majestic Bachtel Tower. This is an interesting and varied hike of medium difficulty. It is available from April to November. If you plan to take your kids along, a great family trip is the Gebenstorfer Horn. On the way you will discover all about the history and culture of the scenic Zurich region. This tour is available all year round. You will be guided along the Jura Mountain trail from Baden to Brugg through Gebenstorfer Horn. The tour through Reuss Valley will lead you to one of the most significant nature reserves of Switzerland. The terrain is flat, so you dont have to worry about getting exhausted. The duration is 2-4 hours. The starting altitude is 500 m, with an altitude gain of up to 100 m throughout the year. Another option is a tour of the vineyard-covered slopes around Zurich. This area offers woodland, agricultural terrain, sandstone rocks and pleasant meadows. The tour takes from 4 to 6 hours. Biking tours in Sihlwald forest and Pfannenstiel are also available. The forest tour covers the beautiful tracks and paths up to Sihlwald. This route is 20-35 km long. The scenic tour is available from February to November. The charming area of Pfannenstiel is worth exploring this tour will lead you through thick woodland right to the gates of the cosmopolitan Zurich. It is available from March to November. You will not regret a vacation on the shores of the lake, because it will allow you to feel the outstanding, unique tranquility that only undisturbed nature can give. You can take a leisurely cruise and share the sunset after a delicious dinner. Lake Zurich is easily accessible from all directions by train and car. It offers a camping ground in the summer and recreational activities all year round.