Lucerne to Interlaken and Schaffhausen: Private day trip

First mentioned in the 11th century, Schaffhausen was a city state, and even minted its own coins. It owes its success to the impassible Rheinfall waterfall - shippers would need to unload their goods in Schaffhausen to bypass the falls. Dominating the town is the 16th century Munot fortress, which provided great views of the town and surrounding landscape. In the car-free Old Town, visitors can wander the cobbled streets, admiring the oriel windows and lavishly painted facades from the Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. Near the river, visitors can stop by the IWC museum, where Schaffhausen’s most prestigious local business exhibits over 230 of their legendary watches, walking visitors through their history and development.