Zurich airport to city centre: train, tram, taxi

Zurich Airport lies in Kloten, about 11 km by road north of the city centre, and it is one of the best-connected airports in Europe: the railway station Zürich Flughafen is right below the airport centre. The short answer: take the train to Zürich HB, the main station – it is the fastest option, runs every few minutes and costs the same as the tram. Take tram 10 if your hotel is near ETH and the university or in Oerlikon, and a taxi only with a lot of luggage or small children.

Zurich Airport to the city centre: the options

Times: train according to Zurich Airport, tram 10 according to Zürich Tourism, the city's tourism organisation, taxi as pure driving time to Zürich HB based on OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Prices according to Zürich Tourism (as of October 2026).

By train: the fastest way

According to the airport, SBB trains leave for Zurich main station every 10 minutes, and the journey takes 15 minutes. Zürich Tourism counts all the trains together – S-Bahn lines S2 and S16 and various regional and long-distance trains – and gives a departure about every 5 to 10 minutes between about 5:00 and midnight, with a journey time of 10 to 15 minutes. In the other direction, trains from the city to the airport start at about 4:45.

Every train to Zürich HB will do, whether S-Bahn, InterRegio or InterCity: within the Zurich transport network (ZVV) the same ticket is valid on all of them, and seat reservations are not needed. From Zürich HB the Bahnhofstrasse and the old town are a short walk away, and many trams leave from the station square.

At weekends, according to the airport, extra early-morning trains also run from Bern via Olten and Zürich HB to the airport – useful for very early flights.

Tickets: ZVV and Zürich Card

The trip from the airport to the city centre needs a ZVV ticket. According to Zürich Tourism (as of October 2026):

• Single ticket: CHF 7, children CHF 3.50 – valid on the train and on tram 10.
• 24-hour ticket: CHF 14, children CHF 7 – worth it if you travel on by tram or bus the same day.
• Zürich Card: the trip from the airport to the city is included, as is all local public transport and free entry to many museums. It can be loaded in the Zurich City Guide app.
• Swiss Travel Pass: according to the airport, the pass for visitors from abroad covers trains, buses and boats throughout Switzerland, including this trip.

Tickets are sold at the machines in the station and in the SBB and ZVV apps. Buy your ticket before you board; there are inspections on the trains.

Tram 10: slower, with a view

Tram 10 runs from the airport via Oerlikon and past the ETH and the University of Zurich to the main station. According to Zürich Tourism, the ride takes about 35 minutes. It is not the fastest way, but it is the right one if your hotel is in Oerlikon or near the universities, and you see something of the city on the way. The ticket is the same as for the train.

Taxi and transfer

The taxi ranks are outside Arrivals 1 and 2. According to Zürich Tourism, the ride to the city centre takes 10 to 20 minutes and costs about CHF 50 to 70; most taxis charge a basic fare of CHF 6 plus CHF 3.80 per kilometre, and a lot of luggage can cost extra. Without traffic the drive to Zürich HB is about 11 km and 13 minutes.

Because the train is so fast, a pre-booked transfer rarely pays off in Zurich – except with small children who need car seats, a lot of luggage or a group. Airport transfers^* can be booked with Kiwitaxi, with the price fixed in advance. Our article on when an airport transfer pays off compares the options for ten airports.

Which option suits whom?

• Hotel near Zürich HB, the Bahnhofstrasse or the old town: the train to Zürich HB.
• Hotel in Oerlikon or near ETH and the university: tram 10.
• Several museums and trips planned: a Zürich Card, which includes the airport trip.
• Small children, a lot of luggage, group: a taxi or a pre-booked transfer.

Switzerland is not covered by the EU roaming rules, so check your mobile plan before you travel. If it does not include Switzerland, a travel eSIM for Switzerland^* (Airalo) is usually cheaper than roaming; our eSIM price index compares the prices per gigabyte.

On the day you leave

Trains run to the airport from Zürich HB several times an hour, from early morning until late evening. Plan the 15 minutes plus a buffer for the walk from the platform to check-in. If you have already checked out and fly in the evening, you can use luggage storage in the centre^* (Radical Storage).

Zurich trip planDay by day, with map and tips

How YesTrip helps you plan

In YesTrip you add your flight and hotel to your trip and plan each day around them, with a map of your places in Zurich and the weather for your travel days. The ready-made plans for Zurich can be copied into your trip with one tap. With the offline package you have the map without a connection, also on the train from the airport. YesTrip is free.

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