Getting around · Zurich · Switzerland
Getting around Zurich
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Roland zh, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Central Zurich is compact and walkable, and the ZVV network of trams, buses, S-Bahn trains, funiculars and lake boats is punctual and fully integrated. Most sights are in zone 110, the city zone. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Tram
- Airports
- ZRH
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- ZürichCARD
Ways to get around
Tram
Trams are the backbone of city transport, running every few minutes through the centre, along Bahnhofstrasse, to the zoo, Zurich West and the lake shores.
Buy tickets in the ZVV or SBB app or at machines before boarding; inspectors check often.
Train
S-Bahn trains link the main station with Uetliberg, Kilchberg, Oerlikon and the airport, and long-distance trains reach most Swiss cities within two hours.
Walking
The Old Town, Bahnhofstrasse, the lakefront and the main station are all within 15 minutes' walk of each other.
Boat
Lake boats from Bürkliplatz serve shoreline villages and Rapperswil, and small Limmat boats run from the Landesmuseum to the lake in summer.
Cable car
The Polybahn and Dolderbahn funiculars climb the hills above the centre, and a cable car links Felsenegg on the Uetliberg ridge with Adliswil.
Cycling
Bike-sharing schemes and lanes along the lake make cycling a pleasant option in summer, though some streets are hilly.
Tickets and passes
ZürichCARD
Covers public transport in the city and region, including airport transfers, plus free or reduced entry to many museums, for 24 or 72 hours.
Swiss Travel Pass
Unlimited trains, buses and boats across Switzerland, plus free entry to many museums; useful if you combine Zurich with other Swiss destinations.
ZVV day passes
24-hour tickets for the zones you need, valid on all trams, buses, trains and boats in those zones.
From the airport
Zurich Airport is about 10 km north of the city. Trains run to Zurich main station every few minutes and take about 10–15 minutes; tram 10 is a slower but scenic alternative. Taxis are expensive.
Do you need a car?
No. Public transport is excellent and parking in the city is scarce and costly. Trains reach almost every Swiss destination; hire a car only for remote mountain valleys.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Lucerne | About 45 minutes by train | Direct train from Zurich main station |
| Rhine Falls | About 50 minutes by train | Train to Neuhausen am Rheinfall or Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall |
| Rapperswil | About 35 minutes by S-Bahn, about 2 hours by boat | S-Bahn from the main station, or boat from Bürkliplatz |
| Rigi | About 1 hour 30 minutes by train | Train to Arth-Goldau, then the Rigi cog railway |
| Stein am Rhein | About 1 hour by train | Train from Zurich main station |
| St. Gallen | About 1 hour by train | Direct train from Zurich main station |
| Baden | About 15–20 minutes by train | Train from Zurich main station |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Zurich?
No. Public transport is excellent and parking in the city is scarce and costly. Trains reach almost every Swiss destination; hire a car only for remote mountain valleys.
+How do you get from the airport to Zurich?
Zurich Airport is about 10 km north of the city. Trains run to Zurich main station every few minutes and take about 10–15 minutes; tram 10 is a slower but scenic alternative. Taxis are expensive.
+What is the best way to get around Zurich?
Tram: Trams are the backbone of city transport, running every few minutes through the centre, along Bahnhofstrasse, to the zoo, Zurich West and the lake shores.