Horgen on Lake Zurich: Trails, History and Culture

If you are looking for a hotel in Horgen, you can shape your stay around local interests: local history, mining and a walk along the Aabach each offer a different focus. Horgen is on the western shore of Lake Zurich, around 15 km from the cantonal capital, Zurich. You can consider whether you would prefer to explore museums and industrial heritage or take a trail through the landscape during your stay.

Local history at the Sust

The Sust Museum Horgen is housed in the oldest known building in the municipality, which is over 500 years old. Until 1835, the Sust building served as a goods transshipment point and customs station. The Sust is the municipality’s local history museum and is located near the former harbour and Horgen See railway station. This site thus brings together the building’s history and its former role in the movement of goods.

Since 2022, the Sust Museum has presented changing themed exhibitions on Horgen’s history and on life and people in Horgen. The building and exhibitions offer different perspectives: the building points to the house’s long history, while the changing programme explores the history and life of the town. Themes may change, so check the current exhibition programme before your visit.

Mining history at Käpfnach Visitor Mine

Käpfnach Visitor Mine is part of what was once Switzerland’s largest coal mine. A 1.4 km tunnel ride illustrates the harsh work of mining. An original film from 1943 depicts the difficult times of that era. The two formats offer different perspectives: the tunnel ride focuses on mining work, while the film provides historical context. Here, you can encounter both the working world of mining and a cinematic portrayal of the period.

A walk along the Aabach

The Horgen–Aabachtobel–Au Peninsula walk starts in Horgen. From the edge of the forest, a gravel path leads down along the Aabach. Along the way, the Aabach exposes sandstone and marl layers of the Upper Freshwater Molasse. The route also leads to a tributary stream with a waterfall. Geological features and the waterfall are two distinct aspects of this walk. Check the current route description before setting out.

Exhibitions and the Parkbad

Villa Seerose is also a place for culture: under the motto “Art Spring by the Lake,” the Zurich Lake Arts Foundation holds regular exhibitions there for the general public. Dates and themes may change, so it is worth checking the current programme if you have a particular visit in mind. Seerose Parkbad has diving towers at heights of 1 m and 3 m. As availability may vary by season, check before visiting.

Getting around Horgen

Public transport connections in Horgen include three S-Bahn stops, various bus and PostBus routes, as well as a ferry and a scheduled boat service. If your plans depend on a connection, check the current timetable before travelling. This lets you factor the transport options into your day’s plans without having to decide on a specific connection in advance.

Discover more destinations: Richterswil, Kilchberg, Thalwil, Adliswil, Hirzel, Wädenswil, Schönenberg, Rüschlikon.

See the main travel overview: Horgen.