How to Get from Zurich Airport to Zurich City
Arriving at ZRH?
A pre-booked driver meets you in arrivals with a name sign, at a price fixed when you book.
Transfers via Welcome Pickups
All transport options from ZRH — train, bus, taxi & Uber (2026)
Quick Facts: All Transport Options
| Option | Cost (CHF) | Cost (USD) | Journey Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🚆 Train (SBB / ZVV) | CHF 7.20 | — | About 15 min to Zürich HB |
| 🚌 Bus (ZVV network) | Same zone ticket | — | 25–35 min |
| 🚕 Taxi (metered) | Around CHF 65 | — | 15–25 min |
| 🚗 Uber | App price | — | 15–25 min |
| 🏨 Private Transfer | Fixed when you book | — | 15–20 min |
Train / S-Bahn (Highly Recommended)
Zurich Airport has a direct underground train station (Airport Train Station) connected to arrivals. Trains to Zurich Hauptbahnhof (HB) leave every 10 minutes and take about 15 minutes (Zurich Airport, read 16 Oct 2026) — the fastest and most reliable option by far.
- Follow Bahn / Train signs from the arrivals hall to the underground station.
- Buy a ticket from the machine or the ZVV app: city to airport is 3 zones, CHF 7.20 for an adult in 2nd class (zvv.ch, read 16 Oct 2026; ZVV has proposed a fare rise from December 2026).
- Board any S-Bahn line (S2, S16, IR) towards Zürich HB.
- Arrive at Zürich Hauptbahnhof (HB) in about 15 minutes — the city's main transport hub.
Trains run every 10 minutes, and your zone ticket also covers trams and buses inside its zones while it's valid. Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) also operates InterCity services connecting to Basel, Bern, and Geneva from the same station.
Taxi & Uber
Zurich is famously expensive and taxis are no exception. Airport taxis to the city centre cost around CHF 65, from the inner kerb at Arrival 1 and 2 (Zurich Airport, read 16 Oct 2026). Uber is available and typically 15–20% cheaper, picking up from the designated rideshare area outside arrivals.
- Taxi to the city centre: around CHF 65 (Zurich Airport's own figure)
- Taxi rank: inner kerb lanes at Arrival 1 and Arrival 2
- Uber: price shown in the app; pickup from the rideshare area at arrivals
Budget tip: The train at CHF 7.20 is about a ninth of the taxi fare and takes about 15 minutes. Only take a taxi if you have heavy luggage and need a precise drop-off address.
Bus
ZVV buses serve destinations beyond the main train corridor. Bus routes 768 and 789 connect the airport to Zurich city and surrounding areas. The bus uses the same ZVV zone ticket as the train.
- Bus stops are at the ground level outside arrivals (follow ZVV bus signs)
- Same zone ticket as the train (city to airport: 3 zones, CHF 7.20)
- Less convenient than the train — takes 25–35 min to the city
- Useful for destinations in Kloten, Dübendorf, or suburbs not on the train line
Watch: Zurich Airport to the city in 15 minutes
A one-minute guide to Zurich Airport transport: a train every 10 minutes, about 15 minutes to Zürich HB, CHF 7.20 for the 3-zone ticket (also valid on trams), and a taxi at around CHF 65. Read on 16 Oct 2026 from flughafen-zuerich.ch and zvv.ch.
Video transcript
Fifteen minutes. That's Zurich Airport to the main station, by train. And there's a train every ten minutes. City to airport is three zones. Seven francs twenty for an adult, second class. Fares are due to change in December, so check before you go. While it's valid, that ticket covers trams and buses in those zones too. A taxi to the city centre is around sixty-five francs. You'll find them on the inner kerb at Arrival 1 and 2. Heavy bags, or a late landing? Book a transfer ahead, and your driver meets you in arrivals. Fifteen minutes later, you're by the river, and the lake. Zurich Airport to the city, on AirConnect. Fares read on the sixteenth of October 2026.
FAQs
How much does a train from Zurich Airport to the city cost?
City to airport is 3 ZVV zones (the city zone 110 counts as two): CHF 7.20 for an adult in 2nd class (zvv.ch, read 16 Oct 2026). Buy at the machine in the airport station or in the ZVV app. Trains run every 10 minutes and take about 15 minutes to Zürich Hauptbahnhof. ZVV has proposed a fare rise from December 2026, so check before you travel.
How much is a taxi from Zurich Airport to the city?
Zurich Airport puts a taxi to the city centre at around CHF 65 — among the most expensive airport taxi fares in Europe. Ride-hailing apps show their price before you book. Always use the train unless you need a precise address drop-off.
What is the journey time from Zurich Airport to the city centre?
By train: about 15 minutes to Zürich HB. By taxi or Uber: 15–25 minutes (varies with traffic). The airport is only 11 km from the city centre, making it one of the closest major European airports to its city.
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