Plizio Visual Lab
Meilen
ℹ️Practical info — Meilen
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Take the car ferry from Meilen to Horgen to save driving time around Lake Zurich and enjoy a scenic ride.
- Visit the local history museum to learn about the fascinating UNESCO-protected prehistoric pile dwellings.
- The Pfannenstiel mountain ridge is easily accessible and provides one of the best panoramic views of Lake Zurich and the Alps.
- Wine lovers should explore the vineyards along the Gold Coast (Goldküste), where excellent local Riesling-Sylvaner is produced.
- Park near the train station, as parking near the ferry terminal can be heavily congested on sunny weekends.
🍽 Food
Try the freshly caught whitefish from Lake Zurich at a lakeside restaurant.
A classic Zurich dish with veal and mushroom cream sauce, available at traditional taverns in town.
Pair your meal with a glass of Räuschling or Riesling-Sylvaner from the Meilen vineyards.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
The village square has specialty cheese and pastry shops for high-quality Swiss goods.
Buy wine directly from the producers on the sunny slopes above the town.
A beautiful, relaxing path right on the water, away from the main road traffic.
A calm hike up the ridge leads to this tower with wide-open, peaceful views.
Water temperature…
Meilen is located on the sun-drenched Gold Coast of Lake Zurich, approximately halfway between the city of Zurich and Rapperswil. As the capital of the district of the same name, the municipality plays a central administrative and economic role in the region. Meilen's history is of global significance for archaeology: in the winter of 1853/54, Ferdinand Keller discovered the first remains of pile-dwelling settlements here, sparking the study of prehistoric pile-dwellers across Europe. These sites are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage. The first written mention dates back to 848 as Meilana. The townscape is characterized by magnificent villas, historic inns, and the prominent Reformed church. Economically, Meilen is a key location for service companies and is home to a long-standing wine-growing culture on the slopes of the Pfannenstiel. The municipality is a highly sought-after residential area, reflected in above-average property prices and excellent infrastructure. A logistical highlight is the Meilen-Horgen car ferry, which has connected the two shores since 1933, serving as a vital cross-link in the Zurich agglomeration. Meilen also gives a wide range of leisure activities, from lakeside swimming spots to hiking trails in the ravines and on the Pfannenstiel.
- Location: Switzerland
- Top sights: Ortsmuseum Meilen · Rorenhaab · Schloss Au
- Nearby: Wädenswil (5 km)
- Population: ~14.483
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -1 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 0 |
| Rain mm | 94 | 74 | 92 | 91 | 141 | 139 | 144 | 146 | 103 | 100 | 87 | 102 |
Geography
Facts
- First pile-dwelling finds worldwide by Ferdinand Keller
- Meilen-Horgen ferry connection since 1933
- District capital with a regional court
- Area of 11.93 square kilometers on the lake
- Station on the right-bank Lake Zurich railway line
- UNESCO World Heritage site Meilen-Rorenhaab
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Meilen (16)
Moos Fine Art🏛 museum
An art gallery in Meilen exhibiting works by contemporary artists.
Frequently asked questions
What are the pile dwelling sites in Meilen?
Is there a ferry in Meilen?
What is the wine production like in Meilen?
What is the Pfannenstiel?
How do you get from Zurich to Meilen?
Meilen: where is it located?
Meilen: what is there to see?
Meilen: when is the best time to visit?
Meilen: why is it worth visiting?
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