Black Forest & Rhine Falls Day Trip from Zurich

Cuckoo Clocks and a 75-Foot Waterfall: Black Forest in One Day

You depart Zurich in the morning and spend two hours exploring Titisee-Neustadt, including a visit to the Drubba clock workshop where traditional cuckoo clocks are made by hand. After time at leisure in the town (boat rides, cafés, and lakeside walks included at your own cost), you drive back through the Black Forest and stop for 45 minutes at Rhine Falls to watch the 75-foot drop and take photos. The air-conditioned coach and professional guide handle all the logistics, and you're back in Zurich by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Black Forest and Rhine Falls tour

• Check in at bus parking Sihlquai
• Depart Zurich for southern Germany
• Drive past Lake Schluchsee and Black Forest
• Stop 2 hours in Titisee-Neustadt
• Visit Drubba cuckoo clock maker
• Explore Lake Titisee and town at leisure
• Travel south through Lenzkirch spruce forests
• Stop 45 minutes at Rhine Falls
• Return to Zurich city center

The experience

"You'll see why they call it the Black Forest when you're inside it," our guide said as the coach pulled away from Zurich's Sihlquai parking area, and he wasn't exaggerating. The drive north takes just over 90 minutes, and the landscape shifts gradually from Swiss precision into something wilder: dense spruce forests, the kind that look the same whether it's 1850 or now. You pass Lake Schluchsee somewhere in there, though honestly the whole stretch feels like one long postcard. The air gets cooler as you climb, and by the time we rolled into Titisee-Neustadt, the town sitting on the edge of Lake Titisee itself, you understand why people come here to disappear for a weekend.

The two-hour stop in Titisee gives you time to actually breathe. First stop is Drubba, a clock workshop that's been making traditional German cuckoo clocks for generations: the kind with the little wooden bird that pops out on the hour. Watching the craftspeople work is hypnotic. There's no rush, no performance, just hands and wood and the sound of tools. After that, the town is yours. Some people rent boats on Lake Titisee, others grab a slice of Black Forest Gateau (Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte) at a café: the real thing, layered with cherries, cream and cherry brandy, not the airport version. You could walk the whole shoreline if you wanted, or just sit and watch the water. The guide doesn't herd you. You meet back at the coach when the time comes.

Then comes Rhine Falls. The drive back into Switzerland cuts through the Lenzkirch spruce forests, and when you arrive, you get roughly 45 minutes to stand in front of Europe's largest waterfall. It's 75 feet of water dropping straight down, and the sound hits you before the sight does. You can walk right up to the edge, take photos, or if you want to pay extra, hop on a boat that gets you closer to the spray. Most people just stand there for a while. There's no narration, no forced moment. Just the falls doing what they've done for thousands of years.

The return to Zurich happens in the evening, so you're back in the city center with the whole day compressed into something you can actually remember. You'll need a valid passport, this crosses into Germany, and the coach is air-conditioned, which matters on the longer stretches. If you go in October, the operator sometimes flips the order and hits Rhine Falls first, then Titisee, depending on crowds and logistics.

What’s included

• Pickup and departure from Zurich's Sihlquai bus parking.
• luxury air-conditioned coach for the full day.
• professional tour guide.
• entry to Drubba clock workshop in Titisee-Neustadt.
• two hours of leisure time in Titisee-Neustadt (food and activities at your own expense).
• 45-minute stop at Rhine Falls with viewing and photo time.
• return transport to Zurich city center in the evening.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to FridayDeparts at 12:15Last departure this season: 30 Oct

Book up to13h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 60

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Hans Meier Tourist AG - Gray Line Zurich

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Black Forest and Europe's largest waterfall in a single day without arranging transport, border crossings, or timing yourself: the fixed schedule and guide handle all of it, leaving you free to linger at Titisee or just stand in front of the falls.

Traveler reviews

3.87★★★★★★★★★★

386 verified traveler reviews

5 ★152

4 ★117

3 ★58

2 ★32

1 ★27

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How long is the drive from Zurich to the Black Forest?

Just over 1.5 hours to Titisee-Neustadt, passing Lake Schluchsee and the pine forests along the way.

What's included in the Titisee stop?

A visit to Drubba clock workshop to see traditional cuckoo clocks being made, plus two hours of free time to walk around Lake Titisee, rent a boat, or visit a café. Food and activities during leisure time are at your own expense.

How long do you spend at Rhine Falls?

Approximately 45 minutes to view the waterfall, take photos, and walk around the area. An optional boat ride closer to the falls is available for an extra fee.

Do I need a passport?

Yes, a current valid passport is required because the tour crosses into Germany.

What time does the tour return to Zurich?

You return to Zurich city center in the evening. The full day is 8+ hours from departure to return.

Is the coach air-conditioned?

Yes, the vehicle is air-conditioned for comfort during the longer drives.

What if I visit in October?

The operator may reverse the itinerary and visit Rhine Falls first, then Titisee, depending on crowds and conditions.