Is Bern to Rhine falls doable in 1/2 day?

Question

I am thinking of doing a trip to Rhine falls in about 1/2 day as follows:

Reach Zurich from Bern by Train around 9 AM. and then take the 9:14 train to Schaffhausen reaching there at 9:50AM. Take the bus to the falls and reach there by 10:30-11AM. Spend maximum 2 hrs. at the falls and then back to the train station to catch the 2:09PM train back to Zurich (a must since I need to reach Geneva by 6:30PM to catch the last TGV for the day, at 7:17PM to Paris). I know this sounds very ambitious but is it doable? Also, should I make Swiss train reservations to make sure I get the seats on the trains since missing any of the trains is not acceptable.

Answer 1

Yes it's doable, but have you considered the new TGV from Zurich to Paris? Leaves 18:02 and gets in at 22:34. Or you can take the one through Basel, which takes an hour longer, but still faster than going via Geneva.

Don't bother to make reservations, you have to pay and it doesn't get you there any faster. If there are no seats (which is usually only for skiing runs anyway), people stand.

Answer 2

Did you consider that you have a much better view onto the Rhine falls from the Eastern side - which is on the other shore of river Rhine? If you want to do both sides, plan half a day only for visiting the falls.

Answer 3

Its doable. You can watch it from both sides and even take the ferry.

But Goddess is right. Don't go back to Geneva. Take the TGV from Basel or from Zürich. If you go back to Geneva you loose a few hours.

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