Where To Stay In Schaffhausen, Switzerland

Schaffhausen doesn’t get nearly the hype it deserves. Most visitors treat it as a two-hour pit stop on the way to see the Rhine Falls, snap a few photos, and hop back on the train. But this small charming city in northern Switzerland, right on the German border, has one of the best-preserved Old Towns in the country, oriel windows, frescoed facades, and a fortress on the hill that most tourists that visit Switzerland never bother to climb up to.

If you’re wondering where to base yourself for a visit, here’s my breakdown by neighborhood and travel style.

Stay in the Old Town if you want to walk everywhere

The old town is compact, car-free in most parts, and genuinely pretty to wander through at night once the day-trippers are gone. If you stay here, you’re within walking distance of Munot Fortress, the main train station, and most restaurants. This is the right call if you don’t want to think about transport at all during your stay.

Look for guesthouses tucked into the old buildings: many have kept their original wooden beams and window frames, which gives them way more character than a bigger hotel would.

Find hotels here:

Stay near the train station if you’re using Schaffhausen as a base for day trips

Schaffhausen is a genuinely great hub if you’re exploring the region by public transport, which (as a Swiss local) is how I’d always recommend doing it anyway. From the station, you’ve got direct trains to the Rhine Falls (just one stop, a few minutes), regional trains into Germany (Singen, Konstanz), and connections back to Zurich in under an hour.

Staying within a few minutes of the station means you’re not wasting time getting to your first train of the day, which matters if you’re planning to see the Falls, the Klettgau wine region, and Stein am Rhein all in the same trip.

Stay closer to the Rhine Falls if that’s your main reason for visiting

Neuhausen am Rheinfall, the town right next to the falls, has a handful of hotels with actual views of the water. It’s a short train or bus ride from central Schaffhausen, so you’re not cut off from the city, but you get to skip the tour-bus crowds by walking down to the falls early in the morning or after sunset, when it’s just you and the noise of the water.

Find your perfect tour for the Rhine Falls:

Stay at a beautiful Youth Hostel, if that is your style

Still in the city, but not in the old town, there is a beautifully located youth hostel. They offer multi-bed rooms as well as private family rooms. To get here, a car or a bus ticket is worth it, since the walk from the main station is steep, although not very long. The hostel is located right next to multiple bus stations, so getting there is easy. The cool thing about this hostel is, that it’s located right next to where the locals live. So you can go on a walk around the area and get a feeling for the locals really fast.

Getting around without a car

You genuinely don’t need a car. Schaffhausen’s train station connects to the Rhine Falls, Stein am Rhein, and Zurich, and local buses cover the rest of the city. If you’re staying anywhere within the city, a regional day pass will save you a lot if you’re planning more than one day trip.

My take

If it’s your first time in Schaffhausen, stay in the Old Town, it’s the most atmospheric option and puts you close to everything. If you’re using the city as a home base for exploring the wider region, prioritize proximity to the train station instead. Either way, you’re a short ride from the Rhine Falls, so don’t let hotel location stress you out too much.