Switzerland Activitieswith theMX-Academy

Switzerland activities are at their best when you move yourself. Around Schaffhausen and the Rhine you can ride motocross and enduro, hike signposted trails, cycle along the river, take a boat to a rock in the falls or climb a rope park.

Schaffhausen around 11 minMotocross from age 4Hiking trails: over 65,000 kmRhine boats: April to October

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Switzerland activities on the water: red, blue and white tour boats at a landing stage below a half-timbered house — Photo: JoachimKohler-HB, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Action activities in Switzerland on a motocross bike

For real action close to Schaffhausen, head to Schlatt TG, where the MX-Academy trains only around 11 minutes' drive from the town. Its ground appears in NASAK, which the Swiss Confederation and Swiss Olympics keep as their national concept for sports facilities, and has four tracks, one of them kept for kids and beginners. A driving licence is not required, since the ground is private.

Honda CRF bikes and full protective gear, from children's sizes up to XXL, are ready to rent. Courses run on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with 3.5 or 4 hours on the track including breaks and instruction. Coaching is compulsory for anyone who rides for the first time.

Action activities in Switzerland: three riders follow a winding sandy track between trees and a green field

Motocross in Switzerland: rider jumping a Honda against a blue sky above green countryside

MX-Academy Switzerland

Your own motocross day in Switzerland

Between the sights, swap the camera for the handlebars: at the MX-Academy in Schlatt TG you ride a Honda on green tracks with professional coaches – around 16 minutes by car from the Rhine Falls and 39 minutes from Zurich Airport.

Ages 4 to 74, no driving licence needed
Honda and protective gear from kids’ sizes to XXL for hire
Course days on Wednesday and Saturday
A day with rental bike from €390 (CHF 360), non-binding

Motocross trip to Switzerland Calendar of events

Outdoor activities in Switzerland for experienced riders

Riders who already know what they are doing can bring their own bike on a Wednesday or Saturday. The MX-Academy also runs enduro training at different levels on its grounds in Schlatt TG; advanced riders tackle logs, steep climbs and descents and high banked corners in harder sessions.

Whether you come for a first taste or to sharpen your skills, the day follows the same rhythm: check in at the shop, complete the registration, pick up your kit, follow the theory and then ride, with breaks and tips from the coaches. With your own bike you can book extra coaching on top.

Outdoor activities in Switzerland for experienced riders: a rider climbs a flight of concrete steps on a red bike

Outdoor activities in Switzerland on foot

Switzerland has more than 65,000 kilometres of marked hiking trails with yellow signposts, and mountain trails add white-red-white markings. At the Rhine Falls, around 16 minutes away by car, the Panoramaweg leads from Laufen Castle down to the falls, and the Belvedere platform shows the whole width of the waterfall. Both are barrier-free.

In Schaffhausen, combine a walk with the Munot, the round fortress above the old town that is surrounded by vineyards. Good walking shoes, a rain jacket for the spray at the falls and a look at the yellow signposts are all it takes to get started on foot.

Outdoor activities in Switzerland on foot: yellow hiking signposts at the Rhine Falls showing walking times — Photo: Pududuss, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Switzerland activities by bike: the Rhine Route

Cyclists can follow the national Rhine Route, number 2 in Switzerland's cycling network, which runs from Andermatt in the Alps to Basel as the Swiss section of EuroVelo 15. Between Stein am Rhein and Basel it also carries EuroVelo 6, and it passes Schaffhausen and the Rhine Falls on the way. Stein am Rhein is around 17 minutes from Schlatt TG by car, Schaffhausen around 11.

Before you set off, check the route information of SwitzerlandMobility, as detours or closures can apply on some sections. A ride along the river pairs well with a swim or a boat trip, both described below, and with a coffee stop in the painted old town of Stein am Rhein before you turn back.

Switzerland activities by bike: cyclists with panniers cross a railway line beside a route 2 cycle sign — Photo: zehnfinger, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Activities near Schaffhausen on and in the water

At the Rhine Falls, boats from both banks carry you to the central rock, and a stairway takes you up to a viewing deck while the water roars on both sides. Further upstream, the URh ships sail between Schaffhausen and Kreuzlingen from April to October, and their route touches Stein am Rhein on the way.

To get into the river yourself, try the Rhybadi in Schaffhausen. This wooden river bath has been a favourite swimming spot for more than 140 years, its pools lie right in the Rhine, and it opens from May to September with a view of the Munot.

Activities near Schaffhausen: the wooden Rhybadi river bath on the Rhine below the Munot and its vineyard — Photo: Roland Zumbuehl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Switzerland activities in the treetops

The Adventure Park at the Rhine Falls in Neuhausen sits just above Wörth Castle. It counts more than 165 climbing elements and over 1.5 kilometres of zip lines, among them the Panorama Express, which is more than 400 metres long. Courses for ages eight and up sit alongside two courses for children between four and seven, and every climber stays secured with a harness system at all times.

A good active weekend in the area could look like this: one day on the motocross track in Schlatt TG, one morning in the rope park and an afternoon on the Rhine, by bike, by boat or in the water at the Rhybadi. All the Switzerland activities in this weekend plan lie within around 20 minutes of Schlatt TG by car, so you spend your weekend moving rather than sitting in traffic. If you would rather watch than take part, our page on Switzerland sports covers wrestling festivals and motor racing.

Switzerland activities in the treetops: climbers cross wooden beams and platforms high up between tall trees — Photo: Klaus wyss, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Switzerland activities further afield: paragliding, toboggan and bungee

With a full day to spare, drive to Flumserberg in the canton of St. Gallen, around 1 hr 50 min from Schlatt TG by car, or to the Glarnerland, where the town of Glarus is around 1 hr 30 min away. Both regions offer tandem paragliding flights that suit first-timers: a licensed, certified tandem pilot flies the glider, and some pilots even let you steer for a short while yourself. At Flumserberg, tandem flights take off from Prodkamm and Maschgenkamm, with views across to the Churfirsten range and down to Lake Walensee. Every flight depends on the weather on the day.

Flumserberg is also home to the FLOOMZER summer toboggan run. A four-seater chairlift carries you up to the Chrüz mountain station at 1,600 metres, where the sledges set off on a 2-kilometre ride with 250 metres of descent, through two tunnels, over bridges and waves and round 360-degree circles at up to 40 km/h. Children older than nine who are at least 1.25 metres tall may ride alone, while those aged three to nine must be accompanied by someone aged 12 or over who already knows the track. The run operates in the summer season.

For a leap you will not forget, plan an overnight trip to Ticino. The Verzasca Dam, around 3 hrs 20 min from Schlatt TG by car, is a 220-metre-high arch wall that became world-famous in 1995 as a set for the James Bond film GoldenEye. Bungee jumps start from a station in the middle of the dam. The operator generally runs the site from Easter until the end of October; instead of a minimum age it sets a weight range of 45 to 115 kilograms, and anyone under 18 needs the signed consent of a parent. Booking ahead is strongly recommended.

FAQ: Switzerland Activities

Which outdoor activities in Switzerland suit beginners?

Signposted hiking trails, the Rhine cycle route and a motocross day all work without experience. At the MX-Academy, coaching is compulsory for first-timers.

Can you cycle along the Rhine near Schaffhausen?

Yes. The national Rhine Route, number 2, runs from Andermatt to Basel and passes Stein am Rhein, Schaffhausen and the Rhine Falls on the way.

How old do you have to be for the Adventure Park at the Rhine Falls?

The kids' courses are for ages four to seven; the other courses start at age eight, and the most demanding ones at 14 or 16.

Are hiking trails in Switzerland signposted?

Yes. More than 65,000 kilometres of trails carry yellow signposts, and mountain trails add white-red-white markings.

Can I do enduro in Switzerland as a guest?

Yes. The MX-Academy runs enduro training at different levels on its grounds in Schlatt TG, with harder exercises for advanced riders.

Can you try tandem paragliding in Switzerland as a beginner?

Yes. On a tandem flight a licensed tandem pilot flies the glider for you, for example from Flumserberg, around 1 hr 50 min from Schlatt TG by car. Every flight depends on the weather.