Rapperswil-Jona, Lake Zurich Day Trip

The medieval Rapperswil-Jona known as the town of roses, lies at the upper part of Lake Zürich in the canton of St Gallen. This little gem offers a day of tranquillity, touristic sights and beautiful, relaxing scenery away from the bustle of the city. My best Zürich area experience was visiting this medieval town.

If two strange men had not asked me to accompany them there I would have missed Rapperswil-Jona. This is how it begun, I was on my Lake Zürich cruise (covered by Swiss Travel pass) when two Russian men asked me whether I wanted to visit the Rose garden in Rapperswil-Jona with them and then join their picnic by the lake to celebrate a Military holiday in their home country. My original plan was just to spend the entire time on the boat and before this chance meeting I hadn’t heard of Rapperswil-Jona but my interest was piqued.

Well after asking whether they were Russian spies, which they denied we disembarked in the town of roses. By the way, I just had to ask because of the nonstop brouhaha on the topic and why miss the opportunity of posing such an original question to real Russian men who were in the military!

We went to the Rose gardens and did a bit of walking.

There is a 13th century castle overlooking the town which is now a Polish museum. It is worth a visit and you will definitely not miss finding it.

The town is pretty and the area by the lake perfect for relaxation, a picnic or a swim. My new friends did all three. After the picnic of Sushi and wine, lots of wine, they went for a swim. It was the first time I saw the naked rear of a sane, strange man in public. One just changed into his swimming shorts with a wall blocking the front but leaving the back exposed. I found it interesting since most people I know are prudes even with bare rear.

After the swim I headed back to the city after a fabulous day in a gorgeous place with new friends. When you visit do check the boat schedule. The last one leaves quite early in the evening, on my visit this was a little after 6pm.