SUP Tips
One of the best things about renting an inflatable SUP board is that it goes wherever you go. Our Aqua Marina Vapor boards pack down into a 15 kg backpack - hop on the S-Bahn and you can be paddleboarding on half a dozen different lakes and rivers within an hour of Zurich.
Here are our favourite spots, ranked by ease of access from the city.
Start where it all begins. While most people use the Limmat for the classic float (drifting downstream), paddleboarding upstream from Wipkingerpark gives you a completely different experience - active, scenic, and surprisingly peaceful once you get past the first few hundred metres.
The water is calm in the mornings before the city wakes up. You can paddle up past the Hardbrücke and back, or cross over toward Werdinsel for a quieter stretch of river.
💡 On the Limmat, Swiss law requires you to have your name and address on your board. Do not use a leash on a river as it can get caught on obstacles. We'll remind you of all this at pickup.
The big one. Lake Zurich stretches 28 km toward the Alps, and on a clear day the views are genuinely breathtaking. The lake is wide, the water is warm from June onwards, and there are multiple great entry points around the city.
Zürichhorn is the closest and most popular - a beautiful park on the east shore with easy water access and a view back toward the old town and the Alps. Kilchberg on the west shore is quieter and has shallower water near the entry point - great for beginners.
Note: stay within 300m of the shore unless you're wearing a life jacket (Swiss regulation). The lake can get windy in the afternoons - mornings are generally calmer.
The Greifensee is our personal favourite for SUP. It's smaller and much quieter than the Zürichsee - no motorboats, no paddle steamers, no freak waves. The water is flat and calm even on windy days, making it ideal for beginners and anyone who wants a relaxed, meditative paddle.
The lake is surrounded by protected wetlands and farmland, so the scenery is pure Swiss countryside - herons, swans, and the occasional deer on the bank. Take the S-Bahn to Maur or Greifensee village and it's a short walk to the water.
Another hidden gem north of Zurich. The Pfäffikersee is even smaller and more sheltered than the Greifensee, with a lovely nature reserve on the eastern shore. The village of Pfäffikon ZH (not to be confused with Pfäffikon SZ) has a small badi with easy water access.
For those willing to make a proper day trip of it. Lake Zug is stunning - crystal clear alpine water with the town of Zug reflected in it and the mountains visible behind. It's a bit more exposed to wind, so check the forecast before you go. Lake Greifen (Greifensee) is already covered above - well worth the S-Bahn ride.
💡 Day trip tip: Book your SUP the evening before with the evening pickup option. You'll have the board ready at home overnight and can head straight to whichever lake you choose in the morning without needing to come back to Wipkingerpark first.
Rent from Smile Swim and choose your own adventure. Evening pickup available.
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