Rapperswil-Jona
Rapperswil-Jona is about 316 km from Geneva Airport, a drive of around 3 h 15 min on Swiss motorways via Bern and Zurich and then along Lake Zurich. Known as the City of Roses, the old town of Rapperswil sits on a small peninsula crowned by a castle, with the merged town of Jona spreading inland behind it. AirportsTransfers.ch offers the trip with a private chauffeur, arriving at your door rather than at a station.
- Distance from GVA: about 316 km by road
- Drive time: around 3 h 15 min
- Border crossing: none, the route stays in Switzerland
- Known for: the castle, rose gardens, the lake footbridge to Hurden
- Nearby: Zurich, Einsiedeln, the Glarus Alps
Getting there from Geneva Airport
The route follows the A1 motorway from Geneva through Lausanne and Bern towards Zurich. Rather than entering the city, it continues around Zurich and down the eastern side of Lake Zurich, or crosses towards the southern shore, depending on traffic, to reach Rapperswil at the narrow upper end of the lake.
Zurich's ring roads are the main source of delay, particularly on weekday mornings and late afternoons. On a Friday evening, allow a little more time. Your chauffeur follows the traffic and picks the route on the day, so you can rest or work from the back seat.
The old town, castle and roses
Rapperswil's medieval old town is small and easy to explore on foot: arcaded streets, a main square, and the parish church beside the castle on the hill. The castle, built by the counts of Rapperswil in the Middle Ages, has long had a link with Poland and houses a museum dedicated to Polish history and culture. From its terraces, there are fine views over the lake towards the Glarus Alps.
The town's nickname comes from its many rose gardens, which together hold several thousand rose bushes. The gardens near the monastery and the old town are free to visit and are at their finest from June to early autumn. A short walk away, the Capuchin monastery sits on the tip of the peninsula, surrounded by greenery.
The lake and its footbridge
Lake Zurich narrows at Rapperswil, where a causeway known as the Seedamm carries road and rail across the water. Beside it, a long wooden footbridge links Rapperswil with Hurden on the opposite shore. It follows the line of a prehistoric and medieval crossing and is part of the pilgrim route towards Einsiedeln. The walk across the water is one of the most pleasant short outings in the area. It takes around half an hour at an easy pace, with reed beds, swans and wide views up and down the lake, and you can return by the same path or by train across the causeway.
Lake steamers connect Rapperswil with Zurich in summer, and a boat trip is a relaxed way to see the lakeside villages. Ufenau, a small island with a church and chapel, lies just off the shore and can be reached by boat.
Where to stay, business and day trips
Visitors who want atmosphere usually stay close to the old town and the lakefront. Jona and the surrounding hillsides offer quieter options and modern accommodation. The town also hosts the Rapperswil campus of the Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences, and the wider area has many companies in technology and engineering, so business travellers often combine meetings here and in Zurich.
- Einsiedeln and its abbey, a short drive into the hills
- Zurich's old town and lakefront
- The Glarus valley and Klöntalersee
- Ufenau island by boat
- The Linth plain and Lake Walen on the way east
Practical tips
Rapperswil is a popular weekend outing for Zurich residents, so the lakefront is livelier on sunny Saturdays and Sundays. Summer is the season for roses and boats; winter is quieter and often misty on the lake. Shops close on Sundays, though cafés and restaurants on the waterfront tend to stay open. Local specialities include lake fish such as perch and whitefish, often served simply with lemon and butter in lakeside restaurants.
Trains connect Rapperswil with Zurich frequently, so once you are there a car is not essential for city visits. If you are arriving with skis for the eastern Swiss resorts or with large bags, mention it when booking.
Booking a private transfer to Rapperswil-Jona
You see the fixed price for your vehicle before paying online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the chauffeur meets you in arrivals with a name sign. Flight tracking means a delay is handled without a call from you, and waiting time is included. AirportsTransfers.ch can also provide a chauffeur by the hour, from two hours, for meetings in Zurich or around the lake, with invoices for companies. Child seats are fitted on request. Phone or WhatsApp: +41 78 346 56 77.
