Adliswil lies in the Sihl Valley in the district of Horgen, a few kilometres south of the city of Zurich. The built-up area stretches along the Sihl; the Zimmerberg rises to the east, while the Albis range with Felsenegg lies to the west. The river, valley and surrounding hills provide clear geographical reference points. During your stay, you can therefore explore both a mountain destination and paths along the Sihl.

Felsenegg and the Planet Trail

The Adliswil–Felsenegg aerial cableway takes visitors from Adliswil to Felsenegg, at an altitude of 800 metres, in about five minutes. Check operating conditions before your journey. The Felsenegg cableway has been operated by the SZU since 1954 and is integrated into the Zurich Transport Network (ZVV). The Uetliberg–Felsenegg Planet Trail ends at its mountain station; the other end of the trail is at Uetliberg station.

Along the Planet Trail, models of the planets are located beside erratic boulders left by the Linth or Reuss glaciers. The trail is laid out to a scale of 1:1 billion: one metre on the route corresponds to one million kilometres in the solar system. This gives you a direct sense of the distances as you walk. An approximate journey time is given for the cableway; for the Adliswil Trail, the focus is instead on the elevation gain. It leads from the valley station of the Felsenegg cableway to the Felsenegg restaurant and mountain station, gaining 300 metres in altitude.

Paths along the Sihl and in the Albis area

The Sihl ErlebnisWeg follows the Sihl over seven stages: from its source in the Schwyz Pre-Alps, through Adliswil, to the confluence of the Sihl and Limmat in the heart of Zurich. With good public transport connections, you can hike the route in stages or in its entirety. Along the way, the landscape alternates between alpine meadows, farmland, villages, and natural and forested areas. If you are planning one stage or the entire route, check the route details before setting off.

Another way to get active is the Nordic Walking Park in the Felsenegg/Albis region, established with support from the City of Adliswil. Alongside the long riverside trail, you can choose a regional route in the Albis area or the shorter Adliswil Trail, with its stated elevation difference. The route information helps with different aspects of planning: for the ErlebnisWeg, the stages and route are important; for the Adliswil Trail, it is the connection between the valley station, restaurant and mountain station.

Local history and architecture

Adliswil is documented in written records from the 11th century, when it was known as “Adelenswile”. The village relied on agriculture and used the Sihl to power mills and support local trades. With industrialisation, spinning and weaving developed in the valley. Older settlements stand alongside residential neighbourhoods built later, reflecting the transformation of a farming village into a suburb of Zurich shaped by industry.

Individual buildings also tell the story of the area’s history. The Reformed Church and its cemetery building were constructed in 1898 and are listed in the cantonal inventory. The Sihlausteg was built in 1907 as a reinforced-concrete bridge and is considered a notable pioneering achievement in bridge construction in the Sihl Valley. The Adliswil Historical Society makes local history accessible through talks, publications and exhibitions. It also regularly organises visits and excursions on historical topics.

Sports and leisure in the valley

Disc golf can be played daily at the sports facility in the valley. The Tüfi BMX and skate park and the Kopfholz bike course near the Kopfholz reservoir can also be used daily. Check the facilities’ current access arrangements again before travelling. A beach volleyball court is available at the indoor and outdoor swimming pool in the valley during opening hours.

The indoor pool at the Adliswil indoor and outdoor swimming facility has a 25-metre pool with diving boards, a teaching pool and a heated children’s play pool. The outdoor pool includes a 25-metre pool with diving boards, a current channel, a slide, a fun pool and a children’s paddling pool. Check the current access arrangements before your visit; outdoor pool facilities may vary by season.

Discover more destinations: Schönenberg, Horgen, Kilchberg, Richterswil, Langnau Am Albis, Rüschlikon, Thalwil, Hirzel.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Horgen.