(Read Part 1 here)

If you’re doing the Foxtrail in Rapperswil, be prepared to go beyond the Altstadt (Old Town), as some of the checkpoints are located to the south of the train station. Unlike the rather hilly Old Town, this area is mostly flat with a lot of shades and nice views of the lake, so it makes a lovely walk especially during the warmer months. 

Knies Kinderzoo 

Don’t be surprised if you suddenly hear the snorts and squeaks of elephants – that’s because there’s a small children’s zoo! You may even be able to see a few giraffes peeking above the walls when you walk along Oberseestrasse. We didn’t have time to enter the zoo, but I would have loved to pet and feed some of the animals there.

Strandweg

This part of the trail is probably the most relaxing. You get the feeling of being immersed in nature  while taking a stroll along the shore of Lake Zurich. As far as I know there aren’t many notable “things to see” around this area, but I did enjoy the leisurely walk and the serene landscape, including a tiny “island” near the campus of a Fachhochschule (a university of applied sciences). There are several checkpoints on Strandweg, though and we found some of the puzzles quite challenging!

Holzbrücke Rapperswil-Hurden

Before going back to the Old Town, you’ll pass by the Rapperswil-Hurden Wooden Bridge. Now the Foxtrail doesn’t actually have a stop on the bridge, but I think it’s still worth visiting as it offers some of the most picturesque views of the lake and the town. Measuring 841 metres, it’s the longest wooden footbridge in Switzerland, connecting Rapperswil and the village of Hurden through the narrowest point on Lake Zurich.

Useful Info

Getting to Rapperswil: 

From the Zurich Main Station (Zürich HB), take S5, S7, or S15 to Rapperswil SG. All of these are direct trains that take you to Rapperswil’s main station in roughly 40 minutes from CHF 8.9 (as of January 2024). 

Alternatively, you may take a ferry from Zürich Bürkliplatz to Rapperswil. The journey takes around two hours and costs CHF 27 per adult and CHF 13.50 per child (second class). For details, visit https://www.zsg.ch/en/. 

Joining a Foxtrail: 

You can easily book your Foxtrail adventure on their website (https://foxtrail.ch/en/) by choosing the city (in this case, Rapperswil) and route. Make sure you have a smartphone with internet connection as various tasks will require you to connect to their server – to get tips or unlock a gate, for example. Do wear comfortable shoes and clothing, and bring some pens and a pair of scissors as they may come in handy. 

Where to refuel: 

Since I’ve only been to Rapperswil a few times, I wouldn’t say I know all the good places to eat. But by the lake in the Old Town area there are many cafes and restaurants; I always love to get ice cream there! For our group dinner, we made a reservation at the Diece on Fischmarktplatz. My friends had pizza and I had a gnocchi, which was 10 out of 10!