• Nothing Found

Transfer Options from Zurich Airport to the City Centre of Zurich

The transportation network of Zurich is considered as the most efficient system in Europe. From Zurich airport there are three commonly used transit methods to the city centre / Zurich HB (Zürich Hauptbahnhof station): various private and regional taxis, a tram line which passes through popular city attractions and lastly an exceptional train system. A regular Zurich airport taxi ride will cost 40€ to 60€ for a 15-minute trip with light traffic. Single tram tickets from the airport to the city cost 5.60€ and the total trip usually takes 35 minutes. Lastly, train tickets costs 5.60€ for a single 10 to 15 minute ride to Zurich HB station.

Welcome Pickups offers meet and greet services and a friendly introduction to Zurich at the same price as a regular taxi. Click here to see the cost.

Comparison of the options

PRICE FOR 2PASSENGERS
OPTION PRICE DURATION AVAILABILITY
Welcome Pickups €73 15min 24/7 Book
Book
Taxi €50 10min 24/7
Train €11.20 10min 17:00–00:40
Tram €11.20 35min 09:00–21:00

How to get from Zurich airport to city centre by taxi

Zurich’s taxi industry is composed of many private taxi companies and most of them operate from Zurich airport as well. Although taxis can be found in various colors, the most common ones at the airport are either white or black. Moreover, all vehicles offering taxi services carry the distinctive black and yellow taxi rooftop sign. Fares to the centre of Zurich will usually range from 40€ to 60€ depending on the provider, while trips under normal traffic conditions should not take more than 15 minutes.

Taxi fare from Zurich airport to city centre

Fares for an economy class car will usually cost around 50€ from the airport to city centre.
Factors that further affect the overall trip price are: taxi providers and their special deals, traffic conditions, amount and size of luggage per person, waiting times as well as the type and capacity of the vehicle. The general rule most taxis follow is 5€ initial charge and 3.2€/km for the rest of the trip.

Cost

50€

Trip Duration

15 Min.

*Rates may vary unless you book your taxi in advance.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

Taxis at Zurich airport are available 24/7, 365 days a year.

Where do I get it from?

The taxi ranks at Zurich airport are located in front of arrival terminals 1 and 2 of the main building.

Convenience

Taxis are generally considered very safe and comfortable means of transportation in Zurich. On the other hand, the price per km is one of the highest ones in Europe, resulting in overly-expensive fares especially from the airport. Furthermore, the trip duration is almost identical to the train network’s.

Editor’s Note

Unfortunately, due to the overpriced taxi fares people generally avoid regular taxis and prefer private taxi service providers to get better deals and fixed prices based on their destination.

Useful Tips

When traveling with a regular city taxi always ask for a receipt at the end of the trip.
Make sure that the taximeter is properly zeroed when you enter a vehicle.
When possible, try to agree on a fixed price with the driver to avoid unpleasant surprises.

How to get from Zurich airport to city centre by train

Zurich’s train network is one of the most sophisticated public transportation systems of Europe. From the airport, the network offers numerous train and metro lines to Zurich HB station, which is located in the heart of Zurich. All the available lines (S16, S2, IR75, IC5, IC1, IC8, IR37, IR70, IR36) take around 10 minute to reach the central train station. The price for a regular one way ticket is 5.60€. The waiting time is normally under 5 minutes between available trains and the whole network operates from 5:00 am until 00:45 am.

How much is the train from Zurich airport to city centre?

A single ticket (2nd class) to Zurich City costs 5.60€ for adults and 2.80€ for children (aged 6–16). A single ticket (1st class) to Zurich City costs 9.30€ for adults and 4.60€ for children (aged 6–16). A day pass, valid for 24 hours, costs 11€ for adults and 5.60€ for children (aged 6–16).

Tickets for the trains can be purchased at the ticket machines located in Arrival 1 and 2, at the SBB ticket counters, open from 6:15am to 10:30pm, at the Service Center, or even from your smartphone.

Cost

5.60€

Trip Duration

10 Min.

Waiting time is 5 minutes.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

All train and metro lines are available from 5:00 am until 00:45 am.

Where do I get it from?

The train station is located on the underground level of a separate building across the street when coming out of the arrivals terminal. Clear signs will direct you to the appropriate platforms heading to the centre of the city.

Convenience

Zurich’s popular SBB network offers a plethora of state of the art local and intercity trains connecting all regions and districts of Switzerland. Furthermore, the networks runs most of the day with frequent departures from all stations.

Editor’s Note

Most trains come with amenities such as: Mobile service, Wheelchair-accessible toilet, Business zone, Restaurant Bistro, Space for prams/pushchairs, Quiet zone, Self-service loading of bicycles and Luggage space.

Useful Tips

For more information about prices/ destinations/ bookings/ services and timetables please refer to https://www.sbb.ch/en
Day passes are recommended for visitors who will use the train network more than once during the day exploring the city of Zurich.

How to get from Zurich airport to city centre by Tram/Streetcar

A tram or streetcar is the third transportation option from Zurich airport to the centre of the city. The No10 tram line is the ideal way to experience the city of Zurich when first arriving from the airport to the city. Trams are available from the airport every 15 minutes from 09:00am until 09:00pm. The average travel time is around 35 minutes and a one way ticket costs 5.60€.

How much is the tram from Zurich airport to city centre?

A single ticket to Zurich City costs 5.60€ for adults and 2.80€ for children (aged 6–16).
A day pass, valid for 24 hours, costs 11€ for adults and 5.60€ for children (aged 6–16).

Tickets can be purchased form machines inside the airport.

Cost

5.60€

Trip Duration

10 Min.

Waiting time is 15 minutes.

Convenience
Safety
Value for Money

The tram tine No10 is available from 09:00 am until 09:00 pm.

Where do I get it from?

The tram station is located right outside the airports arrival terminal.

Convenience

The tram is considered the least convenient travel option, especially after a long and tiring flight. However, the upside is that you get to experience the city of Zurich and pass through some popular locations and sight-seeings before reaching Zurich HB.

Editor’s Note

The tram network is not as punctual as the train's, thus, it is generally recommended to avoid trams when you are on a tight schedule.

Useful Tips

The metro day pass is also valid for tram rides in the city and up to zone 3.
If you travel with a lot of luggage trams are not the recommended transit option since the luggage storage space in the carts is very limited.

Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups

Book a trained, English-speaking taxi driver to pick you up at the same price as a regular cab from the line

If you feel more relaxed knowing that somebody is waiting for you, you may as well book a Welcome Pickups transfer. As soon as you arrive at the airport you will be greeted by your driver. He will be waiting for you at the terminal of your arrival with a sign that has your name on it. Your driver will help you out with your luggage and together you will make your way to the vehicle. While he is driving you to your accommodation, the driver can give you some tips and recommendations on what to do during your holidays in Zurich. Our drivers are hand-picked and speak fluent English. No need to worry about miscommunication issues that you may face with the local taxi drivers regarding your destination. Relax and enjoy your ride.

Best drivers

Hand-picked english-speaking drivers

Flight monitoring

Drivers are always on time

Quality support

24/7 email & phone support

Cancel up to 24 hours before the pickup and get an 80% refund

Edit or cancel transfers

Read more Book Welcome Pickups transfer

Welcome Pickups has a Net Safety Score of 99 of 100

We’ve introduced a metric indicating how safe travellers feel when using our services during the COVID-19 pandemic. After every ride, we ask each traveller to leave a review.

  • 20 minute gap between transfers

  • Regular Car Sanitisation

  • Contactless ride

  • Sanitiser in every car

Read More

Frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi from Zurich airport to city centre?

The average taxi fare from Zurich airport to the city centre is 50€. Factors, such as the time of the day and type of vehicle can further affect the taxi fares.

How much is a train ticket from Zurich airport to city centre?

Regular one-way train tickets cost 5.60€ for adults. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket machines inside the airport, at the SBB ticket counters, at the Service Center, or online.

How much is a tram ticket from Zurich airport to city centre?

Regular one-way tram tickets cost 5.60€ for adults. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket machines inside the airport, at the Service Center, or online.

How far is it from Zurich airport to the city centre?

The total distance from Zurich airport to the city centre is 11 km. The total trip with a car usually takes around 15 minutes.

Was this helpful?

Pre-book online