Need some ideas on where to go ice skating in Zurich? Then you are definitely in the right place because this detailed guide covers all the best spots for ice skating in the city of Zurich!
The best indoor rinks, outdoor rinks, and the most special ice skating opportunities in (and around) Zurich are all covered in this detailed guide. Whether you’re an experienced ice skater or you just enjoy watching others as they glide on the ice, you’ll find all the information you need in this detailed guide to Ice Skating in Zurich!
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Ice Rink Rapperswil
The Ice rink in Rapperswil is situated right next to the lido on the shore of Lake Zurich. It is adjacent to the St. Galler Kantonalbank Arena, which also boasts a large ice rink that happens to be open year-round. The indoor rink is usually used by hockey and ice-skating teams, but it’s worth noting that it’s possible to rent it for private hockey games.
The outdoor rink in Rapperswil is usually open from late October to March. The entrance fee is 6 CHF for adults, and the outdoor rink is almost always open to the public, with a few exceptions. It’s best to visit the rink on Friday nights when there’s special lighting on the rink that makes skating even more special.
Rapperswil is easily accessible by public transport from Zurich. It takes about 40 minutes to reach it from the main train station in Zurich, and the Rapperswil train station is just a couple of minutes away from the popular ice rink.
Dolder Open-Air Ice Rink
The Dolder Ice Rink is one of the best places for ice skating in Zurich. Situated next to the Dolder Grand Hotel just outside the city, you can enjoy some spectacular panoramic views of downtown Zurich while displaying your ice skating prowess.
The Dolder sports rink was originally built in 1930 and it boasts a surface area of some six square kilometers. It’s one of the largest open-air ice skating rinks in Europe, so it’s definitely the best option for people who prefer to have their own space while ice skating. The rink usually boasts a big Christmas tree in the middle, for a magical winter wonderland feel.
The Dolder ice skating rink is quite easy to reach from Zurich city center. You can take the Dolderbahn train, and it’s also possible to travel by bus. Walking is also possible but not recommended, since it would take you nearly an hour to get to the hilltop hotel on foot.
It’s important to note that this isn’t one of the free ice rinks. Entrance prices are some 9 CHF for adults and even spectators are charged 2 CHF just for being there! This ice rink is open from early October to mid-March, and it operates from 9 AM to 10:30 PM every day except Sundays. The ice rink closes early on Sundays – at 5:45 PM.
Kunsteisbahn Oerlikon
Kunsteisbahn Oerlikon is an artificial ice skating rink in Zurich, usually open from October to mid-March. It has both an indoor and an outdoor ice skating rink with options for skate rental, so it’s a great option for most people in Zurich. It’s not as amazing or beautifully decorated as the Dolder Sports rink, but at the same time, it’s usually less crowded.
The entrance fee is 8 CHF for adults for a single ice skating session, so it’s not really that much more affordable than the other ice skating rinks in Zurich. The main upside is that the area is very easily accessible from downtown Zurich – it takes about 12 minutes to reach it by train from the main station in the city center.
It’s possible to ice skate at this rink from 9 AM to 4 PM, but it’s worth noting that the closing time can change depending on the day. Free ice hockey games are also held on the weekends, and both kids and parents can participate in them without any extra charges.
Wallisellen Rink Winter World
In Wallisellen, in the outer part of Zurich near the airport are two outdoor ice skating rinks ready to rock all winter long. Open from October until March, you can enjoy anything from just skating, group events, and even curling.
The curling field has four lanes and there is even a warm fire on the side where you can grab a hot drink while you wait for your next turn!
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They are open from 1 pm to 9.45 pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. They open a little earlier at 9 am on the other days. Just be aware that they have reduced services on the 24th & 31st of December, as well as the 1st of January. They are closed on the 25th.
Heuried Ice Rink
The Heuried Ice Rink is a large outdoor rink at the Heuried Sports Center. It is open from October to March, but it’s worth noting that the operating hours differ nearly every day, so it’s best to check them immediately before going skating.
The Heuried Sports Center also features an indoor ice skating rink that’s open year-round, but this is accessible only to ice skating and ice-hockey clubs. The sports center is situated in Wiedikon, a quiet residential area at the foot of Mount Uetliberg. It is easily accessible by public transport from the center of Zurich, and you can be there in about 15 minutes if you take the bus or the tram.
It’s worth noting that you can rent ice skates at the center, so you don’t necessarily have to bring your own. There’s no cafe/snack bar at the ice rink, but there is a restaurant just next door that is very popular during the ice skating season.
Lachen Ice Rink
The Lachen ice rink is situated in Lachen, on the southeastern shore of Lake Zurich. Ice skating directly next to the lake is a truly fabulous experience, and worth the 30-minute trip from the main station in Zurich.
This outdoor ice rink is generally open from November to March, and it has an entrance fee of 5.5 CHF per (adult) person. Multi-use and seasonal tickets are also available for purchase, and they’re a good way to save some money if you plan on skating at this rink more than once.
This is one of the smaller ice rinks in Zurich, so it can sometimes get a little crowded, especially with children. One of the main reasons why this rink is so popular despite being half an hour outside the city center is that there are drinks and food on location. You can practically skate to the hut at the edge of the rink, which is very convenient.
Live on Ice Küsnacht
Küsnacht is a municipality on the shore of Lake Zurich that traditionally hosts the Live on Ice spectacle. If you enjoy watching experienced ice skaters perform amazing moves and tricks while effortlessly gliding on ice, it’s definitely a great idea to visit Romantik Seehotel Sonne just outside the city of Zurich.
Reaching Küsnacht from Zurich is super easy – you can be there in about 12 minutes (by train) from the main station. The ice skating rink is at Romantik Seehotel Sonne, directly on the shore of Lake Zürich. It’s surrounded by thousands of sparkling lights and Christmas decorations, with fabulous views of the lake in the background.
However, it’s worth noting that the live ice skating event in Küsnacht will not take place in the 2022 winter season. The energy crisis in Europe is the main reason for the cancellation – it’s not really possible to set up thousands of sparkling lights when most countries are trying to cut down on their energy consumption, so fingers are crossed that the event is reestablished in 2023 onwards!
Eispark Erlenmoos
Eispark Erlenmoos is a large open-air ice skating rink in Wollerau, just south of the city of Zurich. The rink is open from November to February, it spans an area of some 900 square meters, and it is one of the best places for ice skating near Zurich. The rink is approximately 50 minutes outside the city and you can travel there by train from the main station in Zurich.
This open-air ice skating rink is suitable for anyone who wants to have some fun on the ice. Kids, families, and even hockey players are all welcome, thanks to the mobile boards that allow the large rink to be separated into multiple areas. Kids can ice skate in one corner, while others enjoy a game of hockey or curling.
Entrance fees are 5 CHF for kids and 7 CHF for adults for a single skating session. It’s also possible to purchase seasonal tickets, which allow entrance on specific days during the entire season.
Einsiedeln Ice Park
Head to the monastery village of Einsiedeln for a different ice skating experience near Zurich. The village is situated southeast of the city of Zurich and it is easily accessible by public transport. It takes about an hour to travel from the Zurich main station to this ice skating rink.
The Einseidel Ice Park is open from November to March and it is particularly popular with kids. If you’re looking for kid-friendly ice skating rinks near Zurich, this is definitely one of the top options to consider. Admission is free for all kids under the age of six, and children between the ages of 6 and 12 pay just 5 CHF for an ice skating session. Also, the rink is right next to a gymnasium, so there are usually lots of kids and teens in the area.
One thing to note is that this rink is often busy, so unless you specifically want to check it out, it’s not the best idea to just blindly travel here. Often times there will be a curling tournament or a hockey game, and only a small portion of the rink will be available for free skating.