Greifensee on the Lake: Nature, Trails and History

Greifensee lies on the lake of the same name, about nine kilometres east of Zurich, between Schwerzenbach and Uster. The nature reserve offers trails and boardwalks for enjoying the outdoors; the Reformed Church and Greifensee Castle add historic buildings to the scene. You can plan your stay around activities by the water and architectural history.

Exploring Greifensee

The Greifensee Nature Reserve has numerous official trails and boardwalks, as well as observation platforms, fire pits and bathing areas. The circular trail runs through the protected area and along reed meadows; it is considered easy and has no major elevation changes. There are also many places to sit and opportunities for wildlife observation along the route. The facilities allow for different priorities: you can make the route itself the focus, or include wildlife watching and a bathing area as part of your stay.

The circular trail around the lake is about 18 kilometres long. A paved route just under 20 kilometres long runs around Greifensee and is open to cyclists and inline skaters. It takes about one to two hours to complete the full circuit by bicycle. The comparison depends on how you get around: for the walking route, its easy rating and minimal elevation changes are useful points of reference; for the paved route, the surface, permitted uses and approximate circuit time are the key considerations.

Church and Castle

Greifensee Reformed Church dates back to the early 14th century. Its layout incorporates an existing circular wall, curved in a quarter-circle, as its end wall; two other walls, set at right angles to each other, form the church interior. The unusual layout can be seen in the combination of the curved circular wall and the perpendicular walls. The church is generally open to the public from 09:00 to 17:00; confirm access before your arrival.

Greifensee Castle stands on a sandstone outcrop at the edge of the old town centre, near the lakeshore. Its present form dates to around 1520. The medieval predecessor was built in the 13th century under the Counts of Rapperswil and destroyed in 1444, together with the fortified town, after a siege. Significant megalithic walls are still visible. Today, the castle is a place for cultural encounters, continuing education and information; exhibitions are regularly held in the castle cellar, which has been converted into an exhibition space.

Getting There and Boat Trips

On the Zurich–Uster route, S-Bahn lines S9 and S14 stop at Greifensee-Nänikon. From there, you can walk or take bus route 727 to the Greifensee, Städtli stop. The Greifensee Navigation Company offers scheduled services between Maur and Niederuster; check the timetable before travelling. Special trips with a culinary or musical focus round out the services, though dates and availability vary.

Discover more destinations: Volketswil, Maur, Fällanden, Uster, Schwerzenbach, Mönchaltorf, Dübendorf, Egg

Back to the main travel overview: Uster.