How to get from Zurich Airport to the City

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If your point of arrival into Switzerland is Zurich Kloten Airport, you may be wondering how to get from Zurich Airport to the city centre. 

Whilst it is only ten kilometres (six miles) from Zurich Airport to Zurich Main Station (Hauptbahnhof), there are numerous options when it comes to transfers from Zurich Airport.

In this guide you’ll find details of the different Zurich airport to city transfer options including the journey times and fares.

Tip: The German word for airport is Flughafen so you may see signs referring to Zurich Flughafen.

Zurich Airport – City Transfers Comparison

	Journey Time	Fare
Train	10-15 minutes	CHF 7 per adult Free with Swiss Travel Pass and Zurich Card	Buy Swiss Pass Buy Zurich Card
Tram	35 minutes	CHF 7 per adult Free with Swiss Travel Pass and Zurich Card	Buy Swiss Pass Buy Zurich Card
Private Transfer	20 minutes	From CHF 100	Enquire Here
Taxi	20 minutes	CHF 60 (approx.)	More info
Uber	20 minutes	CHF 30 to CHF 40 (approx.)	More info
Rental Car	25 minutes	Varies	Compare Rates

Train

Probably the most convenient way to get from Zurich airport to city centre is by train.  The Zurich airport train station is located within the terminal building so once you have collected your luggage and are in the Zurich Airport Arrivals Hall, it’s simply a matter of following the signs.

Trains run every five to ten minutes from 5am to just after midnight every day of the year.  The journey from Zurich Airport to Zurich HB (Main Station) takes around fifteen minutes.

If you already have a Swiss Travel Pass or a Zurich Card, the Zurich Airport train ride is included.  Just hop on board any train and show your Pass or Zurich Card to a ticket inspector if requested.

Passengers that don’t have a Swiss Travel Pass or Zurich Card can buy tickets for the train at the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) ticket counter or from one of the ticket machines at the platform.

Zurich Airport to Zurich HB train fares:

• Free for holders of Swiss Travel Pass and Zurich Card
• CHF 7 for adults / CHF 3.50 for children

Tram

Another option to get from Zurich Airport to downtown Zurich is by tram (streetcar).

Line 10 runs between the airport and the city centre with the trip taking around 35 minutes.

Trams depart from directly outside the Arrivals Hall every 8 or 15 minutes.  Tickets can be purchased from the ticket machines inside the airport terminals.

Check timetables > here

Zurich Airport to city centre tram fares:

• Free for holders of Swiss Travel Pass and Zurich Card
• CHF 7 for adults / CHF 3.50 for children

You can also purchase a 1-day pass for Zurich’s public transport network (zones 110 and 121) for CHF 16 per adult and CHF 8 per child.

Private transfer

For the convenience of a driver and vehicle awaiting your arrival, a great option is to pre-book a private airport transfer.

Private transfers are great because not only will the driver be waiting for you in the Arrivals Hall, the vehicle is reserved only for your travelling party so you can be driven directly to your hotel or the location of your choice.

You should allow around 20 to 30 minutes for your Zurich Airport transfer to the city.

Vehicle sizes available include sedans as well as larger vehicles and minivans. > Click here to get a quote.

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Taxi

If you’d prefer to catch a taxi from Zurich Airport to the city, there are a number of taxi companies to choose from.  You’ll find them outside Arrivals Hall 1 and 2.

In some cases you can pay a fixed price for your trip (click here for more info) but in general, most taxis have a flat fee of CHF 6 plus CHF 3.80 per kilometre. 

If you are travelling with a lot of luggage, supplements sometimes apply.

You can expect to pay around CHF 60 for a taxi from Zurich Airport to the city.

Uber

The ride-sharing company Uber operates in Zurich and can pick up passengers from Zurich Airport.

Depending on traffic and demand, the fare from Zurich Airport to Zurich city centre will cost between about CHF 30 in an UberX. 

Rides can be booked via the Uber app.

Rental Car

Most of the international car rental brands, including Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Sixt, have depots at Zurich Airport.  Their offices can be found in the Airport Center (level 1).

If you are collecting a vehicle from Zurich Airport, allow plenty of time as this is one of the largest car rental depots in Switzerland and the rental counters can be very busy.

It is recommended that you book ahead (click here to compare rates) if you plan to rent a car from Zurich Airport to ensure there is a vehicle available for you on arrival.

You should allow around 30 minutes to reach the city centre after collecting your vehicle.

I hope this guide has helped you to decide the best way to get from Zurich Airport to the city.

It’s worth keeping in mind that as well as being a major hub for arrivals into Switzerland, Zurich is also a vibrant city well worth spending some time in.

🇨🇭Ready to finalise your visit to Zurich? Read our suggested things to do in Zurich > here and find where to stay in Zurich > here. You can also read our complete Zurich Travel Guide.

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