A fascinating trip through the Swiss Mittelland, on the longest river entirely in Switzerland and the one that also carries the greatest volume of water. Whether you travel several days in one go or pick out individual stages, you’ll experience an impressive natural and cultural landscape. And despite the Mittelland’s densely populated areas, you’ll also find an amazing amount of peace and seclusion.
The Aare was already an important transport route in much earlier times and the backbone of Switzerland’s development. Numerous towns and villages were built along the river and are still worth seeing today.
After the decline of boat travel, the Aare was eventually used to produce power in the service of industrial development. The river became a sequence of storage reservoirs - a mammoth construction. So you can canoe on a leisurely current all year round. The river is mostly channelled, but a forgiving Mother Nature has laid her thick green robe over the traces of human activity.
Enjoy a journey of discovery through Swiss landscapes and history...
Stages
Places
Arrival / return travel
Our recommendations for arrival by public transport.
We recommend the following rail, bus and boat connections for return travel between boat launching and landing locations.
List of recommendations »
Restricted passage Obergösgen (Olten–Aarau) due to bridge construction.
Construction period: February–november 2012.
The river signalization at the construction site is updated according to work status and must be strictly observed. Thank you for your understanding.
Helpful hints
Power plants and weirs can be passed effortlessly with a folding boat trolley.
Canoeing in Switzerland
