The name Lachen is fitting for the cozy town on upper Lake Zürich that boasts itself as “the town with the best sunset-views on Lake Zurich”. From Fastnacht, to the Weihnachtszauber, to impromptu live music and festivals at the lakeside, there always seems to be something to do and see in Lachen. The town has a real “Ferienstimmung” and with its close location to Rapperswil-Jona, has easy access to a multitude of culture events that take place across the lake as well.
Eating Out in Lachen and Züri-Obersee
- Enjoy breakfast at: Every weekend you can find us grabbing our Sunday zopf at Steiner Bakery – they also offer delicious breakfast and brunch options in their restaurant.
- For authentic Swiss hospitality: For great Swiss hospitality and food, we love Rössli in Lachen or Restaurant Johannisburg in Altendorf.
- For a hipster vibe: I love Haus Wabi Sabi in Lachen. Grab a coffee or lunch, and stay for the neat co-working space and Yoga classes.
- For something more international: Although Lachen is a small town, we have a great Asian food scene – Oh Sushi offers great sushi boat meals, Thai Kitchen offers authentic thai cuisine and Ox Asian Cuisine offers various pop-up menus (right now, dumplings).
- For when you need something light: In addition to a great evening drink spot, Hai Happen also offers smaller plates of food you can enjoy at the lake.
- Vegetarians will feel at home at: The top vegetarian spot in the area that I know of would be Haus Wabi Sabi.
- Try the local speciality: My favorite spots for local specialties would be Restaurant Johannisburg or Restaurant Pöstli. Both spots offer seasonal and regional specialties.
- For Date night: For date night, I would again choose Johannisburg or Pöstli – both are such great spots! Johannisburg is wonderful in clear weather as it offers an amazing view of the lake.
- For girls’ night out: Girls night out would not be complete without a stop at RIYAS wine loft
- For drinks: For a casual drink, we love Hai Happen right on the lake. For something a bit more elevated, the Lago Lounge at the Marina hotel is a great spot.
- Grab something sweet at: For a perfect Kaffee und Kuchen break, we usually head to Steiner or Knöbel.
Where to Shop in Lachen and Züri-Obersee
- Buy your groceries at: Options for grocery shopping range from your standard Migros and Coop in the Obersee Center to the weekend Farmer’s Market. You can also find all your natural food needs at Greenbird Natura.
- Visit the Farmers Market: Every Saturday from April to November you will find a wonderful farmer’s market at the Seeplatz in Lachen. The market is extra large the first Saturday of each month.
- Grab a loaf from: We always pick up our Zopf and Gipfeli from Steiner
- Chocolate lovers shouldn’t miss: The handmade chocolates at Bäckerei Knöbel are wonderful. In addition, the Läderach chocolate factory tour is only a few train stops away in Bilten.
- Grab a nice bottle at: You can find a great wine at Chäs Weber or RIYAS wine loft.
- The best Cheese can be found: Chäs Weber offers wonderful cheese and other local delicacies (sweets, wines, meats, etc). They even have 23 varieties of raclette from November to March (“only” 9 varieties are offered April to October).
- Local specialities can be found at: Local and regional items can be found at Chäs Weber and the Saturday market.
- Find something for the home at: We bought our Advent calendar for 2021 at Blumengeschäft Vinofiori – but order in advance, their beautiful creations are reserved quickly! Another wonderful flower shop is Blumengarage.
- Buy the kids something at: You can buy something for kids or adults at Spiel + Läselade – books, board games, cards, all kinds of interesting things!
Acitivites In and Around Lachen and Züri-Obersee
- Hop on a bike and cycle: Cycling is a great way to explore Züri-Obersee, and luckily it offers both flat and hilly options. Riding flat along the Linth offers stunning views of St. Gallen, Glarus and Schwyz. If you are more adventurous, there are steep hills to climb over the Etzel pass, both road and mountain bike trails.
- Families love to visit: During Easter season, Altendorf has an Osterweg that is about 4 kilometers long and offers a fun story for kids and parents to follow along the way.
- Take a dip: There are a variety of swimming areas and beaches along the Züri-Obersee: Seebad Rapperswil (really large swim area), Strandbad Lachen and Badi Altendorf (playground, bike path, grilling area all nearby) are some of our favorites.
- Pull on your hiking boots and: The Lachen “Hausberg” is the Stöcklichrüz. You can start from the town or drive part of the way up. You will be rewarded with an incredible view at the top!
- For something different explore: For a different type of adventure, checkout the Hölloch Cave Experience at Stoos-Muotathal.
- If it is raining: On a rainy day, I would head to Bilten and take a chocolate tour at Läderach.
- An easy day trip: Easy day trips from Lachen (by train, no less) include Luzern, Bern, Zürich, St. Gallen, Chur, Bad Ragaz, Flumerberg and Walenstadt/Churfirsten area to name a few.
- A great playground: Altendorf offers a great playground and pump track right at the train station. There are also various playground scattered throughout Lachen near the school house (also another pump track).
- Locals ski at: All the locals in Lachen ski primarily at Flumserberg, because it is less than 30 minutes by train directly to the first gondola! The other top ski area nearby is Hoch Ybrig.
- For the best views: Best views in Züri-Obersee include top of Stöcklichrüz, top of the Etzel, Restaurant Johannisburg and top of the Bachtel (technically Züri-Oberland).
- When guests visit: When my parents visited me last fall, I had them stay at the Marina Hotel in Lachen, we ate at Restaurant Johannisburg one night and another night we had Raclette with cheese from Chäs Weber. We had drinks by the lake and did day trips to the nearby areas.
All the Locals of Lachen Know
- Local festivals not to miss: Lachen is known for its Fastnacht celebrations and Weihnachtszauber, while Rapperswil has a great Blues N Jazz festival and Christmas Market.
- The locals eat at: The Marina Steakhouse and Osteria are always packed with locals, you can also find plenty of folks enjoying drinks at See la Wyy and (when it’s open) small snacks and drinks at Schlössli.
- It is busier on: The busiest times tend to be during the Rapperswil Blues and Jazz festival, Fastnacht and on an extra warm and sunny day (everyone goes to the lake on those days!)
- The best time of year to visit is: Lachen is beautiful in spring and summer, it has a real “Ferienstimmung” on the lake, and there always seem to be pop-up concerts and small parties in and around the Seeplatz.
- Best place to watch the sunset: On the Seeplatz right by Hai Happen. They say Lachen has the best sunset view on the entire Lake Zürich!
Getting Around Lachen and Züri-Obersee
- Best to get around on: The S-Bahn is a super reliable option in the Obersee area. Plenty of train connections pass through Lachen and Pfäffikon.
- Closest airport/train station/bus stop: Lachen Bahnhof – other major connections and transfers happen at Pfäffikon and Rapperswil.
- A place to rest your head and not break the bank: Hotel Bären in Lachen is a cozy and affordable option, and is within quick walking distance from Lake Zürich.
- A place to rest your head when you want to splurge: Nicest hotel in the Lachen area seems to be the Marina Hotel. Great restaurants, breakfast and lake views.
