Schaffhausen is 45 minutes from Zurich by direct S-Bahn on lines S9 and S16, making it a straightforward day trip from the city. Trains run frequently throughout the day. From Germany, DB trains connect via Singen (Baden-Württemberg), with onward connections from Stuttgart or Freiburg. The German border is a few kilometres north of the city centre, and the crossing is seamless for EU and Swiss passport holders.
The Rhine Falls are not in Schaffhausen itself but two stops further on the S-Bahn to Neuhausen am Rheinfall, or about a 20-minute walk along the Rhine from central Schaffhausen. The walk along the bank is pleasant in good weather and passes through the suburb of Neuhausen. In summer, river boat services operate on sections of the Rhine, connecting some of the regional towns.