The most beautiful river cruise in Europe

The ship glides leisurely along the Rhine, the water glitters in the sun, and apple orchards, vineyard terraces, and charming villages pass by on the banks. Anyone traveling here immediately senses the special rhythm of this landscape – calm, gentle, and wonderfully relaxing. Europe's most beautiful river cruise connects Lake Constance with Schaffhausen and leads right through the heart of Thurgau – an experience combining nature, enjoyment, and the Thurgau way of life.

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With heart at the wheel

Anyone traveling on Lake Untersee and the Rhine may encounter him at the helm of the ship: Martin Singer, a passionate skipper with a special connection to the water. A trained carpenter, he joined the Untersee and Rhine Shipping Company, where he maintained the boats in winter and worked as a sailor in summer. Later, he worked as a cashier and engineer until he successfully completed his training in September 2020. With a steady hand, he steers the ship through the most beautiful parts of Thurgau and knows every jetty, every bend, and every story along the shore. Five more years of accident-free sailing separate him from the official title of captain, but for many passengers, he has long been just that: a true captain with heart.

Fishing villages on Lake Untersee

Idyllic fishing villages line the shores of Lake Untersee, retaining their original charm to this day. In Gottlieben, Ermatingen, Steckborn, Mammern, and Diessenhofen, you will find well-kept half-timbered houses, small harbors, and cozy lakeside terraces where life unfolds at a leisurely pace. Early in the morning, the fishing boats set sail, and later guests enjoy fresh fish right by the water and watch the boats glide leisurely by. Here, Thurgau shows Thurgau most relaxed side, authentic, serene, and close to the lake.

"The trip from Kreuzlingen to Schaffhausen is a highlight for boat captain Martin Singer every single day."

Precision work in Diessenhofen

A special experience on the trip is passing under the historic wooden bridge at Diessenhofen. The covered bridge connects Switzerland with Germany and is so low over the water that ships have to lower their bow masts, the roof of the driver's cab, and the sun sail before passing through. When the water level is high, it gets particularly tight, and guests on board duck their heads as a precaution. Passing under the bridge is always an exciting moment and one of the many small highlights on Europe's most beautiful river cruise.

Spectacular turnaround

Below the bridge at Diessenhofen, the scheduled boats perform an impressive maneuver. In order to moor against the current, they turn around in front of the landing stage and then turn again after casting off to continue their journey. The boat captains use the entire width of the Rhine to maneuver the boat with precision. For the guests on board, this turn is always a fascinating moment and impressively demonstrates how much experience and skill are required on Europe's most beautiful river cruise.

A variety of experiences on Untersee and the Rhine

Bird watching trip

On selected dates

Pirate school at the URh

with Zaus and Huberta

brunch boat

From Schaffhausen / Stein am Rhein

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Bird safari in the Ermatingen Basin

The journey across the Seerhein offers fascinating natural scenery. With a little luck, you may spot beavers or even deer crossing the water from the ship. The diverse bird life along the river is particularly impressive. If you want to experience it up close, you can take part in a bird watching trip. Together with nature experts from Thurgau Bird Protection, you can observe the birds in the nature reserve around Reichenau Island – binoculars are available on board.

To the Altnau apple trail

"A special experience for guests on the ship is passing under the bridge at Diessenhofen."

Cast off and check the schedule

All departure times, connections, and special experiences on Lake Untersee and the Rhine can be found in the current timetable of the Swiss Shipping Company Untersee and Rhine (URh). Your gateway to the most beautiful river cruise in Europe.

To the timetable