Alpamare Pfäffikon
Right on the upper reaches of Lake Zurich in Pfäffikon lies the Alpamare, the largest water park in Switzerland. For almost fifty years it has delighted families and slide enthusiasts with its wave pool, outdoor pool and a collection of water slides that rank among the longest in Europe.
Highlights of the Alpamare
- Twelve slides: from the family slide to free-fall and tube slides.
- Wave pool: waves roll through the large indoor pool at regular intervals.
- Outdoor pool: in the warm brine pool you lie outside in any weather, in winter with a view of snow and mountains.
- Wellness: sauna area, steam bath and massages for adults.
- Children's area: paddling pools and small slides for the youngest.
A pool with a history
The Alpamare opened in 1977, which makes it one of the oldest leisure pools in Europe. What was a novelty then is now standard in many pools: slides that do more than simply run straight down, a wave pool and a warm outdoor pool where you can lie outside even in winter.
Over the decades the complex has been rebuilt and extended time and again. Its location on the upper reaches of Lake Zurich has remained, and with it its role as the bad-weather destination for the whole region between Zurich, Zug and Schwyz.
Who it suits
The Alpamare is first and foremost a family destination. Smaller children have their own area with shallow water and short slides; older ones have the big runs with tubes and free-fall sections. If you would rather avoid the bustle, the brine pool and the sauna area offer a calmer counterpart.
A visit easily fills half a day to a full day. Bring swimwear, a towel and plenty of time; lockers and refreshments are available on site. Rainy days, school holidays and weekends are the busiest.
Practical information
Open all year round. Pfäffikon SZ station is a few minutes' walk away, and there is ample parking on site. The Seedamm-Center shopping centre is right next door.
From Zurich, Pfäffikon is a little over half an hour away by train, and from Rapperswil just a few minutes. To make more of the day, combine the visit with a walk across the Seedamm causeway to the wooden bridge into Rapperswil, or with one of the lakeside paths on the Obersee.
Pfäffikon lies on the border between the Schwyz lakeshore and the Zurich conurbation and is correspondingly well connected. For families from the wider region, that makes the pool a realistic day trip even without a car, and the dense S-Bahn timetable means the journey home in the evening is no problem.
Tip: On rainy days and in the school holidays, arrive early or book an online ticket with a time slot.
Getting there
Public transport: Train to Pfäffikon SZ, then five minutes on foot.
