The R Apartment Bodensee - Old Town · Schaffhausen, Switzerland

6Guests

5.0Rating

FlexibleCheck-in

Best RateDirect

A full apartment in a storied Swiss quarter

Unterstadt 40 sits in Schaffhausen's lower old town, a street-level address where centuries-old guild houses and painted facades line the lanes between the Rhine waterfront and the medieval core. The building itself belongs to this fabric — solid masonry, generous ceiling heights, and windows that frame the life of a working Swiss city rather than a tourist set piece. At 85 square metres, the apartment offers proper space: room to spread out, to cook a real meal, to arrive as six people and feel at ease rather than compressed.

The interior takes its cues from the surroundings without pretending to be a museum. Finishes are clean and considered — light walls, warm-toned floors, furnishings chosen for function and proportion. The kitchen is equipped for more than toast and coffee, and the layout means that the living area and sleeping quarters give each group of guests a degree of private rhythm within shared space. There is a difference between an apartment that holds six and one that works for six; this one is designed around the latter.

Schaffhausen is one of Switzerland's least-known medieval cities, and the Unterstadt location means you are genuinely inside it rather than adjacent to it. The Rhine Falls — the largest waterfall in Europe by volume — is a short ride away. The pedestrianised Altstadt, with its oriel windows, the Munot fortress, and a consistently good restaurant and cafe scene, is walkable from the front door. The city also sits at a Swiss-German border crossing, making it a practical base for day trips into the Black Forest or toward Lake Constance.

Elevate Schweiz manages the property with a focus on straightforward, professional hosting: reliable communication, a clean and well-maintained space, and an honest approach to what the apartment offers. It is a base that respects your time and your itinerary, without unnecessary theatrics.

Inside Unterstadt 40

85 square metres in the lower old town of Schaffhausen — living room, three bedrooms, a full kitchen, and a building that has been part of this city for a very long time.

What the apartment provides

📶

High-Speed WiFi

Reliable fibre-based WiFi throughout the apartment, suitable for remote work, video calls, and multiple simultaneous devices.

🍳

Full Kitchen

Oven, hob, refrigerator, espresso machine, and a complete set of cookware, utensils, and crockery for up to six guests.

🧺

Washing Machine

In-apartment washing machine available for guest use, practical for stays of any length especially for families or active travellers.

❄️

Climate Control

Heating throughout the apartment keeps the space comfortable across all seasons, including the colder Swiss autumn and winter months.

🛏️

Hotel-Grade Linen

Fresh bed linen and bath towels provided for all guests at check-in. Mid-stay linen exchange available on request for longer stays.

📺

Smart TV

Flat-screen smart television with streaming app access. Guests can log in to their own accounts during their stay.

🧴

Starter Toiletries

Basic toiletries including soap, shampoo, and conditioner provided at arrival. Additional supplies available locally within a short walk.

🪟

Old Town Views

Windows face the Unterstadt streetscape, offering direct views of one of Switzerland's best-preserved medieval urban streets.

🔑

Self Check-In

Flexible self check-in system allows arrival at a time that suits your travel schedule, coordinated in advance with the host team.

☕

Espresso Machine

Dedicated espresso machine in the kitchen. Coffee capsules or ground coffee provided as a welcome gesture at check-in.

Space arranged for six

Main Living Room

Open layout · dining table · city-facing windows

A generous main room with seating for the full group, a dining table proportioned for six, and windows that overlook the Unterstadt streetscape. Ceiling height and natural light make the space read larger than its footprint.

Equipped Kitchen

Full appliances · oven · espresso machine

A kitchen built for actual cooking — oven, hob, refrigerator, and the kind of utensil and crockery provision that makes feeding a group of six straightforward rather than improvised.

Primary Bedroom

Double bed · wardrobe · quiet aspect

The largest sleeping room, with a double bed, adequate wardrobe space, and a quieter orientation within the building. Bedding and towels are provided to hotel standard.

Second Bedroom

Twin or double configuration · natural light

A well-proportioned second bedroom with flexible bed configuration. Works equally for couples or two guests travelling together, with its own wardrobe and window.

Third Bedroom

Additional sleeping · suitable for two

The third sleeping space completes the apartment's capacity for six guests. Compact but properly furnished, with linen provided and a layout that keeps the room functional rather than merely occupied.

Bathroom

Full bath or shower · quality fixtures

A full bathroom serving the apartment, with shower, necessary fixtures, and good lighting. Towels and basic toiletries are provided for all guests at check-in.

How a stay in the Unterstadt unfolds

You arrive on Unterstadt Strasse and the scale of the old town registers immediately — the painted house fronts, the narrowness of the lanes, the sound of the Rhine a few blocks away. Check-in is smooth; the apartment is on a street that has been occupied for centuries, and the building's solidity is the first thing you feel when you step inside.

Mornings here have a particular quality. Light comes through the windows at an angle that suits slow starts. You make coffee in a properly equipped kitchen, someone reads, someone checks a map. The Altstadt is less than ten minutes on foot, and the morning market or a bakery run is the most natural thing in the world before the day begins. Schaffhausen wakes up at a reasonable Swiss pace — unhurried, orderly, genuinely pleasant.

Afternoons branch out. The Rhine Falls at Neuhausen are twenty minutes by local train or a short drive; the impact of standing beside that volume of water in motion is not something that photographs prepare you for. Back in the city, the Munot fortress path gives a wide view over the rooftops and the river bend. The Allerheiligen Museum, set in a former monastery, is worth two hours of any afternoon. The city's oriel windows — more than 170 of them — become a kind of self-guided architectural walk if you let them.

Evenings settle back into the apartment naturally. The kitchen handles a proper dinner for six without friction. Alternatively, the restaurants along the waterfront and in the Altstadt cover the range from Swiss regional cooking to Italian and contemporary European. By the time the city quiets down, the apartment on Unterstadt 40 feels less like temporary accommodation and more like somewhere you actually live — briefly, well, and with the whole of Schaffhausen still to return to.

In the lower old town, where the city is most itself

Rhine Falls (Rheinfall)

20 minutes by train

The largest waterfall in Europe by volume. The approach path and viewing platforms at Neuhausen bring you close enough to feel the spray.

Munot Fortress

12 minutes on foot

A 16th-century circular fortress with a wide platform view over the Rhine and the city's rooftops. Free to enter, maintained by a local guild.

Museum zu Allerheiligen

8 minutes on foot

Set within a preserved Benedictine monastery, this museum covers natural history, archaeology, and art in rooms that reward slow exploration.

Fronwagplatz Market

6 minutes on foot

The weekly market in Schaffhausen's central square, with local farmers, cheese vendors, and bakers operating under the medieval fountain.

On Schaffhausen and the upper Rhine

May 2026 · 4 min read

The Rhine Falls in Every Season

Most visitors arrive in summer, when the volume is highest and the crowds thickest. But the Rheinfall in late autumn, with low mist and fewer people on the viewing platforms, offers something quieter and arguably more impressive. Here is what to expect in each month.

March 2026 · 5 min read

Walking the Oriel Windows of Schaffhausen

Schaffhausen has more than 170 oriel windows — the projecting bay structures that decorate its medieval guild houses. Each one was built to display civic pride and merchant wealth. A walk through the Altstadt becomes an architectural survey if you know where to look.

January 2026 · 6 min read

Day Trips from Schaffhausen Worth Planning

The city sits at a triangle of possibility: Zurich is fifty minutes south, the German Black Forest begins across the bridge, and Lake Constance opens east. Three day trips that make the most of this geography, without requiring a car for any of them.

Frequently asked questions

What is the check-in time?

Check-in is flexible and coordinated in advance with the Elevate Schweiz team. Self check-in is available, which means your arrival time does not need to conform to a fixed window. You will receive full access instructions before your travel date.

What is the check-out time?

Standard check-out is by 11:00 AM. If your onward travel requires a later departure, late check-out may be available on request, subject to the following guest's arrival. Please contact the host team at least 24 hours in advance to confirm.

How many guests can stay?

The apartment accommodates a maximum of 6 guests across three bedrooms. The living and dining area is likewise proportioned for the full group. Guest counts above 6 are not permitted under the house rules.

Is parking available?

The apartment is located in Schaffhausen's old town, where street parking is limited and regulated. Public car parks are available within a short walk of Unterstadt 40. The city centre is also well served by public transport, and arriving without a car is straightforward from Schaffhausen main station.

Do you accept pets?

Pets are not permitted in the apartment. If you are travelling with an animal, please contact Elevate Schweiz in advance of booking to discuss your situation, as exceptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

How does direct booking work?

Booking directly through this site ensures you receive the best available rate without platform service fees. You will communicate directly with Elevate Schweiz GmbH, who manage the property professionally. Payment is handled securely, and you receive full booking confirmation and pre-arrival information directly from the host team.

What is your cancellation policy?

The cancellation policy is confirmed at the time of booking and outlined in your booking confirmation. For specific terms applicable to your dates, please contact Elevate Schweiz directly or refer to the policy displayed during the booking process.

How can I reach the host?

Elevate Schweiz GmbH is reachable by message through the booking platform or by the contact details provided in your confirmation. The team is responsive during standard business hours and provides emergency contact information for issues that arise outside those hours.