On hot summer days, many people in Zürich will float down the Limmat river on inflatable boats. It’s a mild river and easy to navigate, suitable for beginners and families. The only tricky part is one small dam where you need to exit the river and walk your boat to the other side of the dam.
There are lots of places to stop for a picnic and swim. Some parts of the river are deep enough to float in the water outside your boat, preferably with a life-vest.
The route is accessible with public transportation, making it easy to get back to your starting point without a car shuttle. We’ve done it many times and look forward to more hot days for floating.
Contents
- Route overview
- Equipment
- How to get there
- Navigating obstacles
- Photo story
| Location: | Zürich City |
| Start: | Option A: Platzspitz park near Zürich HB train station Option B: Wipkingerpark, Zürich, near Wipkingerplatz tram stop |
| End: | Glanzenberg train station |
| Route: | 10 km one way, about 2 hrs (plus travel time to/from, total about 3-4 hours) |
| Skill: | easy |
| Open: | best May through October |
| Cost: | float is free, minimal costs for return train to starting point and/or parking |
Route overview
Here is a map of the Limmat river floating route.
We prefer to start floating near the Zürich main train station, just south of the Platzspitzpark (option A below – see on map). We find this location more convenient by public transportation and easier to enter the river.
However, the “official” launch point is a bit farther up river at Wipkingerplatz (option b above – see on map).If the river water is low, you may need to start here where the river is deeper.
The float ends near the Glanzenberg train station (see exit point on map). The exit point is very clearly marked with signs. There is a large grassy park where you can deflate boat and pack your gear. Then a short walk to the train station.
Equipment
You’ll need an inflatable boat, ring or other floating device suitable for rivers. Pool toys generally are not sturdy enough and pop a leak too easily.
With adults and teenagers, we like to float on this Intext individual lounge chair. It’s very comfortable and you can stay dryer than if you are in a tube. We bring a single paddle to help navigate.
Purchase: Ochsner Sport
When the kids were younger, we use an inflatable boat. A boat allows the group to stay together, you can carry more supplies, and you can stay dry. But they are heavier to transport, particular on public transportation. So best if you bring a trolley.
For a family of four, we prefer the Intex Excursion 5. We had Excursion 4 for a couple years but it felt to cramped when we were all in the boat.
Purchase: SportXX
See more about floating equipment, like dry bags, pumps, and life vests.
Renting equipment
I found one website Löö Böötli offering to rent inflatable boats and rings for the Limmat river. I haven’t used them so I can’t vouch for their services.
How to get there
We recommend accessing this route with public transportation, which is more convenient and faster than a car shuttle. However, that means you have to carry your boat on the train/bus. We bought a collapsible trolley to make that easier.
By public transport to Platzspitz entry point (option a):
Take a train to Zürich HB or tram to the Sihlquai/HB stop. It’s a short walk along the river to the entry point right before the Platzspitz bridge, as shown below. Do NOT enter the east side of the river marked with red X below. That section has multiple dams, you can’t float there.
By public transport to Wipkingerplatz entry point (option b):
Alternatively, you can enter the river at Wipkingerplatz park. Take tram 13 from Zürich HB to Wipkingerplatz stop, which is the closest stop to the launch point. From this stop, it’s a short walk down a ramp to the water.
Return from exit point at Glanzenberg
The float ends at a park near the Glanzenberg train station. See exit point on the map. There is a big grassy park where you can pack up your boat. Then a 5 mins walk to the train station where you can catch a train back to Zürich, about a 12 min ride.
Getting there by car:
If you are coming by car, the easiest option is to park at the end of the float, near the Glanzerberg train station (47°23’58.8″N 8°25’14.4″E). Then ride the train to the Zürich HB with your boat and start your float there, as described above. Your float ends at your parking.
This option is nice because you can load your equipment directly into the car. It’s also nice to not have to ride the train wet at the end of the float.
Alternatively, you can park at the start of the float, at Parkhaus Hauptbahnhof (Sihlquai 41 8001 Zurich). It’s a short walk from the parking to the Platzspitz launch point, as described above. In 2021, the parking cost about CHF 14 for 3 hours. At the end of the float, return by train to Zürich HB (with your boat) and walk over to the parking.
Car shuttle: You could do a car shuttle, dropping off most of the crew and equipment at the launch point. Then someone drives the car to the end point and returns by public transportation. Although this might seem more convenient, the people at the launch point end up waiting a long time (about 1 hour) for the driver to return. But on the plus side, you don’t have to haul the heavy boat around on public transport.
What to bring & wear
For warm weather, we wear our swimsuits and perhaps a light shirt to protect from the sun, plus a life-vest. We wear flip-flops, sandals or water shoes that can get wet and protect our feet if we need to walk in the river.
We bring small quick-dry towels to dry ourselves and equipment at the end of the ride. Don’t forget sun hats and sun cream. You can burn quickly on the boat. Pack everything in a dry-bag to protect from the water.
We bring snacks and drinks in a soft-sided cooler. We try to pack light because those boats are small and can’t fit a lot of cargo.
For more info, see my post: How to float on a Swiss river
Safety & regulations
Note: Conditions may change, especially after heavy rains. So use good judgment, follow the rules of the river, and respect the water.
Zürich city requires that each person on board must have a life-jacket. You may be fined if they happen to be controlling the river when you float by.
They also require that you clearly label your boat with your name and contact information. This helps in rescue operations in case empty boats are found and they must search for survivors.
See LimmatBuddy.ch for more info.
Navigating obstacles
This river is usually very mild and slow-moving. There are small rapids, but usually not so big that they will flip your boat.You need to avoid the bridge pylons, rocks in shallow areas, and trees and brush on the sides of the river.
The river can be very shallow in parts. We’ve been stuck briefly on on some rocks and had to push off, but not a big problem. We only needed to paddle occasionally to redirect the boat.
Important: Dam crossing
There is one dam on the river that you must walk around. Right before you reach the Werdinsel, you must exit the river on the west side at the stairs shown below.
Then carry your boat to the launch on the other side of the dam. This obstacle is clearly marked starting 2 km before you reach the dam. You cannot miss it.
The end of the float in Glanzenberg is clearly marked and you must exit the river on the left/west. There is another big dam after the exit point and you cannot pass through or walk around it.
Photo story
Launching the boat
Here is the boat launch area at Platzspitz.
There is a large river bank where people pump up their boats.
The water can be really shallow here so you may need to wade in the water a bit before you can float.
It’s fun to start the float in the city and pass by old factories and interesting bridges.
Wipkinger park boat launch
After about 20 mins, you’ll pass Wipkingerpark, where many people launch their boats from these stairs.
Sometimes they have this sign at the park explaining the dam later down the river.
Ready to paddle.
Trees line the river, with walking and bike paths on both sides.
Lots of time to relax.
A few deeper places where you can float outside the boat. Stay close to the boat and best to have a safety line to throw into the water to pull people back in.
Lots of people floating on hot days.
Dam crossing
At the fourth bridge, you need to pull to the left and exit the river as the signs indicate below. There is a dam after this bridge that you cannot float over. You exit at these stairs under the bridge. This is a temporary exit in summer 2022 while the city builds a new exit for river floaters.
Here’s the dam you are avoiding.
You have to carry your boats about 150m to the next bridge. There is a ramp where you can put your boats back in the water.
Note: During summer 2022, the city is asking you to put in your boat a little further down the path as they will soon do construction on this ramp to improve it for river floaters. There is a sign near this entry point showing where to put in.
Second half of the river
You can easily pull off the river and picnic on the shores. At Werdinsel, there are fire pits, a playground and cafe.
So many boats on hot summer days.
Lots of quality family time along the way.
A few little rapids to create some excitement for the kids.
But mostly just chillin’.
Happy river rats.
You pass under a lot of bridges, some have signs indicating where best to go under them.
Exit the river
As you near Glanzenberg, you’ll see signs pointing you to the exit point on the left.
Here is the exit point at Glanzenberg, clearly marked with signs. There is a dam after this point so you cannot continue to float.
There is a large grassy area where you can dry and pack up your boat. Then a short walk to the Glanzenberg train station where you can catch the train back to Zürich.
For more float routes in Switzerland, see the Kanuland section of SchweizMobil.ch, which describes routes on the Aare, Reuse, Rhein, and Thur rivers.
