Bought a new bike, a friend gave me some paniers, now I am thinking about what I could do for weekend trips starting from Zürich.

Since exertion does not appeal, and Switzerland is hilly, I was thinking of a route following lakesides and rivers as these routes will by definition be on the flat. So maybe south along Lake Zürich or north along the Limmat or Sihl to the Rhein, then downstream to France, or upstream to Lake Constance.

The maps are available for free on www.veloland.ch

Any suggestions for pleasant routes? Away from traffic, cheap and easy accomodation?

Has anyone tried cycling along rivers / lakes already?