Transfers in Zurich

About Zurich

Zurich is Switzerland’s largest city and the country’s financial centre, with about 440,000 residents and a wider metro area of 1.4 million. The Limmat river splits the historic core, with the Grossmünster and Fraumünster churches facing each other across the water and the Bahnhofstrasse running south to Lake Zurich. The city consistently ranks among the world’s most liveable, helped by clean public transport, drinkable tap water and a 70-degree alpine backdrop on clear days.

Getting around

Zurich runs an integrated tram, bus, train and ferry system under ZVV tickets, with a short-distance fare at CHF 2.80 and a 24-hour pass at CHF 9.20 inside the city zone. S-Bahn trains connect ZRH to Hauptbahnhof in 10 to 13 minutes, while taxis from the rank charge CHF 60 to CHF 80 to the centre. A pre-booked transfer fixes the cost up front, which suits travellers wary of metered fares in one of Europe’s most expensive cities.

Best time to visit

Late May to September brings dry, mild weather with daytime highs of 20 to 25 degrees and lake-swimming temperatures of 19 to 22 degrees at Strandbad Mythenquai. December and January draw skiers using Zurich as a gateway to Flumserberg, Engelberg and the wider eastern Alps, with snow more reliable above 1,500 metres. Spring sees apple-blossom in the Sihl valley, and autumn delivers crisp afternoons ideal for Uetliberg hikes.

Transferring from Zurich’s airports

ZRH at Kloten is the only commercial airport for the city and handles around 31 million passengers a year across three terminals (A, B, E) linked by SkyMetro. The A51 runs south into Zurich and meets the A1 ring, with the busiest traffic on weekday mornings into the centre. Hauptbahnhof (HB) is the rail counterpart and a common pickup for travellers arriving by train from Italy, France or Germany. Drivers monitor flights, meet at the named point with a sign and allow 60 minutes free after landing.

Common transfer routes

• ZRH to Zurich city centre (Bahnhofstrasse): 13 km, 20 to 35 minutes
• ZRH to Zurich HB: 12 km, 20 to 30 minutes
• ZRH to Lucerne: 65 km, 55 to 70 minutes
• ZRH to Davos: 150 km, 130 to 150 minutes
• ZRH to St Gallen: 90 km, 70 to 90 minutes
• ZRH to Engelberg: 100 km, 80 to 100 minutes

Booking your Zurich transfer

Confirm your flight number, pickup point and drop-off address, then choose a saloon, estate or van class to match the group. Payment runs on Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Alipay, iDEAL, Wero or PayPal, and the booking confirmation lands in your inbox with the driver’s contact details. Every operator holds a Swiss federal transport licence and the vehicles are insured for passenger carriage at the booked price.