Zurich Airport to City Centre: Train, Tram, Taxi Prices 2026

The fastest and cheapest way to get from Zurich Airport to the city centre is the train: SBB trains leave every few minutes, reach Zürich HB (the main station) in 10–15 minutes, and a standard ZVV single ticket costs CHF 7.20 (about €7.70). Tram 10 is a slower alternative at the same price, while a taxi costs around CHF 50–70 (about €54–€75) and takes 10–20 minutes. If you want a driver waiting with your name, compare operators on our Zurich Airport transfers page.

Zurich Airport to the city centre: quick comparison

Option	Price	Journey time	Runs	Best for
SBB train to Zürich HB	CHF 7.20 (≈ €7.70), 2nd class	10–15 min	Every 5–10 min, about 05:00–00:00	Almost everyone
Tram 10	CHF 7.20 (same ticket)	About 35 min to Zürich HB	Daytime and evening	Oerlikon, university district, Central
Airport Taxi	Around CHF 50–70 (≈ €54–€75)	10–20 min	24/7, Arrival 1 and 2	Heavy luggage, door-to-door
Uber (app)	Price shown in app	10–20 min	24/7, supply varies	App users
Pre-booked private transfer	Fixed price agreed in advance	10–20 min to the city; longer to resorts	24/7	Groups, ski resorts, child seats

Train and tram fares are per person; taxi and transfer prices are per vehicle. Even so, in Zurich the train usually wins on both time and cost unless you are travelling as a group with a lot of luggage. Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (CHF), not the euro; euro figures here are approximate.

Zurich Airport train to Zürich HB

Zürich Flughafen station sits underneath the Airport Centre, between the terminals, so you reach the platforms by lift or escalator a few minutes after leaving the arrivals hall. SBB says trains to Zurich’s main station leave every 10 minutes and take about 15 minutes; Zurich Tourism quotes 10 minutes on the fastest S-Bahn and InterCity services, with trains every 5–10 minutes from about 05:00 until around midnight. Many long-distance trains also stop here, so check the departure boards for the next train calling at Zürich HB rather than waiting for a particular line.

Zurich Airport train ticket price

The airport is in ZVV fare zone 121 and the city of Zurich is zone 110, which counts as two zones. That makes the trip a 3-zone single ticket, valid for one hour on trains, trams and buses. Under the ZVV fares valid from 14 December 2025:

• Adult single, 2nd class: CHF 7.20 (1st class CHF 11.80).
• Child 6–15 or with a Half Fare Travelcard: CHF 3.60.
• 24-hour ticket for the same zones: CHF 14.40 adult, CHF 7.20 child or half fare.

The 24-hour ticket is worth it if you will ride trams in the city later the same day. Tickets are sold at machines in the customs halls of Arrival 1 and 2, at more machines next to the SBB Travel Centre (counters open 06:30–22:00), and in the SBB and ZVV apps. Buy before you board: there are no conductors selling tickets, and travelling without a valid ticket costs a CHF 100 surcharge. Full fare tables are on the ZVV tickets and prices sheet.

Swiss Travel Pass and Zürich Card

A Swiss Travel Pass covers the airport train and Zurich trams, so pass holders simply board. The Zürich Card includes the airport-to-centre trip as well as local public transport and museum entry, and can be loaded in the Zurich City Guide app. Activate passes before you board.

Tram 10 from Zurich Airport

Tram 10 starts at the airport stop outside the Airport Centre and runs via Oerlikon, the university district around ETH and the University of Zurich, and Central to Zürich HB. It takes about 35 minutes, against 10–15 by train, but it is useful if your hotel is in Oerlikon or near the universities, and it gives a view of the city on the way. The same 3-zone ticket is valid. Tram 12 also serves the airport but runs out to Stettbach in the suburbs rather than into the centre.

Zurich Airport taxi fare

Official taxis are marked “Airport Taxi” and wait along the inner kerbside lanes of Arrival 1 and Arrival 2. The airport states that the fare to Zurich city centre is about CHF 65, and Zurich Tourism gives a range of CHF 50–70 (roughly €54–€75) for a 10–20 minute ride, based on a basic fare of CHF 6 plus CHF 3.80 per kilometre, with a possible surcharge for a lot of luggage. Airport Taxi accepts credit cards and issues a VAT receipt, and you can also book through its app.

The price climbs quickly for longer trips: with a per-kilometre rate at this level, a taxi to Lucerne or the mountains is very expensive, which is why visitors heading out of Zurich usually take the train or book a transfer at a fixed price.

Uber at Zurich Airport

Uber operates at Zurich Airport around the clock, though driver supply varies with the time you land. Pickups are in the limousine and taxi spaces near Check-in 1 for Terminal 1 (a 2–3 minute walk from baggage claim) and just outside Check-in 2 for Terminal 2; the app confirms the exact spot. Several ride types are offered, from UberX to larger vans and premium cars. The fare is shown before you confirm and depends on demand.

Pre-booked private transfers from Zurich Airport

For the 10-minute trip into Zurich itself, the train is hard to beat. A pre-booked transfer becomes worth considering when:

• You are heading to a ski resort such as Davos, St. Moritz or the Bernese Oberland and want to avoid changing trains with skis and suitcases.
• You are a family or group: one fixed price for a minivan can compare well with several train tickets plus taxis at the other end.
• You need child seats fitted in advance, or are carrying bulky items such as ski bags, golf clubs or a pram.
• You land late at night, after trains thin out, or early in the morning before your connection starts.
• You want meet and greet in the arrivals hall, flight tracking and a price agreed before you travel.

Compare the companies serving the airport on our Zurich Airport (ZRH) transfers hub, or browse drivers based in the city on the Zurich transfers page. Companies listed in our directory include GLM General Limousine Management (the airport lists GLM’s limousine service at Arrival 1), Swiss Top Transfer, 7×7 Fahrdienste, FoppAndGo Davos, RB Limousine St. Moritz and Airport City Taxi Luzern. You book directly with the company, so confirm the price, vehicle size, child seats and included waiting time in writing.

Zurich Airport to Lucerne, Davos, St. Moritz and other destinations

Zurich Airport station is a hub of the Swiss rail network, with around 350 train connections a day, so many destinations are reachable without going into the city first. Timetables are on the SBB website and app.

Zurich Airport to Lucerne

Trains run regularly to Luzern, taking a little over an hour, either direct or with a change at Zürich HB. By car the trip takes roughly an hour outside rush hour. Local drivers are listed on our Lucerne transfers page.

Zurich Airport to Interlaken, Bern and Basel

A direct train to Interlaken Ost runs every two hours, avoiding a change with luggage; at other times you change at Bern. Direct InterCity trains also link the airport with Bern, and Basel is reached either direct or via Zürich HB, each in roughly 1–1½ hours. For drivers in the Bernese Oberland, see Interlaken transfers.

Zurich Airport to Davos

Davos is about 156 km from the airport. By train, take SBB to Landquart and change to the Rhaetian Railway for Klosters and Davos; allow around 2½ hours in total. By road, the route follows the A3 and A13 motorways towards Chur as far as Landquart, then the cantonal road up to Davos. Operators are on our Davos transfers page.

Zurich Airport to St. Moritz

St. Moritz takes about three hours by train from Zürich HB, changing at Chur for the Rhaetian Railway over the Albula line, and about three hours by car in normal conditions. In winter, with ski luggage, many visitors prefer a door-to-door car; see St. Moritz transfers.

Tips for arriving at Zurich Airport

• Night arrivals: trains run until around midnight and restart at about 05:00. On Friday and Saturday nights the ZVV night network runs from 01:00 with an ordinary ticket and no night supplement, but on other nights a taxi, Uber or pre-booked car is the realistic option.
• Buy a ticket before boarding: Swiss trains and trams run on an honour system with frequent checks, and the penalty for travelling without a valid ticket is CHF 100.
• Use official taxis: take cars marked “Airport Taxi” from the ranks at Arrival 1 and 2, or a car you have booked, rather than accepting offers inside the terminal.
• Paying: cards are accepted almost everywhere, including ticket machines, apps and airport taxis. Euros are often accepted in shops, but change is usually given in francs.
• Tipping: service is included in Swiss prices. Rounding up a taxi fare or a few francs for help with luggage is a normal courtesy, not an obligation.
• Luggage: 24-hour SBB lockers are available at the airport, and SBB offers a flight luggage service between many Swiss stations and the airport for return journeys, from CHF 24 per item; check conditions on sbb.ch.
• Peak traffic: the motorway between the airport and the city is busy at weekday rush hours, when the train is noticeably faster than any car.

For more information on trains, trams and buses at the terminal, see the airport’s public transport page.