All cycling routes in Zurich Region

Along the Rhine, the border between lands and landscapes, heady at the thought of wine through Swiss-German Klettgau, a roomy valley between Wutach, Rhein and Randen before a sober awakening in the spray of the thundering Rhine Falls.

From Tösstal with its meadows, vineyards and evidence of industrialization, through the outskirts of Winterthur and on into Tössbergland, a narrow main valley with rugged side valleys. The landscape opens out with an Alpine panorama, the Zürichsee is getting close.

The Zürichsee keeps tempers and tax coffers even, at Hirzel, glacial drumlins sit in a green moraine landscape and tiny idyllic marshy hollows and impressive villas lie as if simply tossed into a grandiose panoramic setting.

This loop, popular with local cyclists training for competitions, starts in Zurich and passes through the local countryside.

A peaceful ride beside the small Chatzen and Büsisee lakes, on through the Furttal valley of the Limmat, the bathing spot Baden, and on to marvel at the Gothic stained glass windows in Königsfelden and yellow irises of the River Aare floodplain, followed by a leisurely ride on the Aare dam to Aarau.

The aroma of Maggi soup has long since evaporated in Kempttal, now the motorway affects eyes and noses. Green recreational areas only hint at the urban sprawl, Zurich’s unusually village-like districts have a friendly feel.

The thundering natural spectacle of the Rhine Falls is followed by space, then the Thur and flower-adorned, timber-framed houses at Andelfingen, a city district with a village character leads to Winterthur. A few twists of the Töss and the Zürich Oberland begins.

From the Limmattal valley at the heart of primeval Switzerland: From the village town of Dietikon in the tranquil Reppischtal valley, along the forested slopes of the Albis chain. Past the Zugersee and Lauerzersee lakes towards the mountains, left the Rigi, right the Mythen, and on to Schwyz.

The climb through the rugged Lorzentobel to the idyllic Ägerisee is pleasantly cool in summer. Little country roads lead through the rolling Zug region and over the wide moorland near Rothenthurm to the monastery town of Einsiedeln.

Along the shallow shores of the Greifensee with its reed beds, gradually giving way to the busy, rolling landscape of the Zurich Oberland. Panoramic views of the Alps and buzzing brakes to Rapperswil on the waters of the Zürichsee.

The lake of Pfäffikon is a recreation area for all those who love nature. The lake with its reed belt is of national significance. The highlights of this bike tour are the Roman castle, the Robenhauser moor, and the Juckerhof farm in Seegräben.

From Winterthur along the Töss and over wooded hills to Hulftegg, the pass into Toggenburg. Travelling through the rural, pleasantly remote area, it’s easy to forget that bustling Zurich city is only a stone’s throw away.

After Dietikon, the town with village-like charm, things get quieter. Through mostly unconstructed land, the Reppisch winds its way along the valley fed by the idyllic Türlersee lake. The way now leads past reed landscapes, the Zwingli monument, Kappel am Albis cloister down to the Zugersee lake.

Starting in the Bad Zurzach wellness oasis, the stage leads to Koblenz, the historic old town with 4 bridges close to the Klingnau reservoir. The Rheinfelden destination - Switzerland's oldest Zähringer town - follows soon after the picturesque little town of Laufenburg.

Biking over the Albis chain, you reach the Knonau district, farming country, a rural idyll at the gates of the big city. Particularly attractive stretch when long-distance views are good: Alpine ranges of Glarus and Central Switzerland and the Bernese Oberland high Alps.

Along Zugersee lake with a backdrop of peaks. Deer between boulders from rock slides in Goldau animal park. The Rigi and Mythen mountains overwhelm the Lauerzersee lake. Resolutely on to the heart of Switzerland, to Schwyz, keeper of the Swiss Federal Charter.

Freiamt: a wide valley basin, farming country. In the centre the Reuss meanders through a bird and plant paradise, carves into Ice Age moraine and demands bridges: the historic town of Bremgarten is followed by Mellingen, Mülligen and Brugg.

Reed meadows and marsh clover at the Pfäffikersee lake then a harmonious glacial landscape with hilly drumlins and marshy hollows. After the Stadttobel in Rüti, a panoramic climb on an ancient pilgrims’ path to the Rikenpass, watershed to Toggenburg.

The green Thur floodplain bursting with life, fertile fields, a wide meadow foreshore... the former dread of Thur floods has gone, the river is a trusty companion on this scenic trip over the flat plain.

This 40-kilometer long stretch leads from Zug via Unterägeri and the Rothenturm moor to Einsiedeln.

From Rapperswil the route runs along the north-eastern shores of the Zürichsee, past country estates and expensive villas. After Zurich’s lakeside promenade, the curves of the Limmat leads through the urban sprawl. Baden awaits at the end of the tour, its spas inviting you to rest and relax.

This medium-difficulty tour leads from the Linth plain into the foothills of the Speer, a pyramid of conglomerate rock. The route culminates with the town of Egg, at 1204 metres above sea level.

The multi-faceted Thur is your constant route companion, leading from where it flows into the Rhine, over the dams in Thurgau, through rugged Toggenburg woodland and up to its headwater near the Alpstein massif.

Idyllic Tössegg at the bend in the Rhine, first a rural interlude then initial signs of industrialization, proud machine and locomotive builders in Winterthur and rows of lovingly converted workers’ cottages.

From cheerful, sleepy little Kaiserstuhl am Rhein through the turbulent Wehntal and Furttal industrial landscapes. After a stop at the Chatzensee lake, on to Switzerland’s throbbing business heart, «we are living Zurich» to plagiarize Zurich’s Euro 2008 slogan.

The River Limmat winds steadfastly westward, the monastery looks on unperturbed. The Aargau mega shopping mile is only touched at its perimeter. Always following the Limmat, you reach the spa town of Baden.

The route follows the meandering River Glatt in the Zurich Unterland, only briefly interrupted by the noise from the airport. Urban activity gives way to the rolling countryside of the Zurich Oberland, then gently on down to Rapperswil.

The Hörnli-Bike route through the Zürcher Oberland and Toggenburg leads through one of the loveliest pre-Alpine regions in Switzerland. It’s hard to believe that the big city is so close. Particularly attractive in times of autumn fog.

The winding Töss could be a raging torrent after a storm but has been tamed by numerous industrial canals, creating a lot of power and some regret. Tössbergerland is shaped by forested hills, steep slopes and rugged ravines.

From the Uznach stork colony to Oberricken and Farner: the Farner route offers unspoilt nature and a lot of altitude on the edge of the agglomeration of Zürich.

Varied bike tour before the gates of Zurich, proving how quickly rural life begins past the edge of the large city. The tiny monastery town of Einsiedeln makes an impressive finishing point and a great contrast to Zurich’s busy city life.

A cool underwater world in cave grottos, a grim battle world at crystal-clear Ägerisee, an orchid, peat and insect world on the Rothenthurm high moor and a busy world of pilgrims in Einsiedeln, place of pilgrimage.

The Glatt and the cycling path wind through the flat Zurich Unterland, unnoticed by the thriving busy residential and industrial settlements, seen only by the unavoidable airborne mass of giant silver-aluminium «birds».

Between Kaiserstuhl and Ziegelbrücke peaceful valleys, plains, moraine landscapes and lake shores alternate with industrial areas and the hectic buzz of Zurich, the business metropolis.

A short splash in the Obersee, the world becomes flat, the fields at March are huge, green and clearly laid out. The former floodplain has a well-developed motorway and railway system, electricity races through the area on dozens of cables.

This 55-kilometer stretch leads from Rapperswil through original pre-Alpine landscapes to Wattwil.