Zürich Airport (LSZH/ZRH)
Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich Airline Crew Layover Guide
Reviewed by Captain AL
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The ZRH crew card
| Fastest into town | SBB train from the railway station at the airport: the airport operator states that trains depart for Zurich’s main station every 10 minutes and the journey takes 15 minutes |
|---|---|
| Night option | There is no all-night network every night. ZVV runs its nighttime network from Friday night into Saturday morning, again from Saturday night into Sunday, and before public holidays and for special events, and states that users of it only need to have a valid ticket |
| Payments | Tap or buy before boarding. A single from the airport into the city is CHF 7.20 for an adult second class single, valid 1 hour. That is the ZVV 3-zone fare (airport zone 121 plus city zone 110, which counts double). CHF 3.60 with a Half Fare Travelcard, CHF 11.80 in first class. The same ticket covers anywhere inside zone 110, so Stadelhofen or Bellevue costs the same as the main station |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Emergency | 112 (Swiss national emergency numbers, plus the Canton of Zurich out-of-hours medical line for help that is not life threatening. Not sure which number to use? Dial 112.) |
| Solo & at night | Official Airport Taxis wait along the inner curbside lanes of Arrival 1 and Arrival 2, and the airport operator puts the fare from Zurich Airport to Zurich city centre at around CHF 65 |
| Crew knows | Zurich counts the city zone twice, so the airport run is a 3-zone ticket at CHF 7.20 and not the CHF 4.70 fare for 1 to 2 zones. That one ticket then covers all of zone 110, so Stadelhofen or Bellevue costs no more than the main station. Tram 10 rides on the same ticket but takes about 48 minutes to the main station against 12 to 15 by train, so keep it for the day the train is disrupted. |
| Crew deals | Verified car rental and hotel rates for airline staff: on this page, right below this guide. |
airlinecrewdiscount.net · ZRH crew card · Checked Aug 2026 · Next check Nov 2026 · Screenshot this card for offline
Every number on this page comes from an official source. Where no official source gives a number, we say so instead of guessing.
Getting from Zurich Airport into the city centre: the train, a tram, or a taxi?
One railway station sits at the airport and it does almost all the work: SBB trains reach Zurich’s main station in 15 minutes. Zurich runs no metro. The airport operator’s own transport pages name S-Bahn trains, long-distance rail, trams and buses, and nothing else, so treat S-Bahn, tram and bus as the whole public network. The Bahnhofquai tram stop at the main station is closed for rebuilding until 12 December. Use Sihlquai, Bahnhofplatz, Bahnhofstrasse or Stampfenbachplatz instead.
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| Mode | Time | Cost | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train (SBB, from the railway station at the airport) | 15 minutes to Zurich’s main station every 10 minutes to Zurich’s main station |
CHF 7.20 for an adult second class single, valid 1 hour. That is the ZVV 3-zone fare (airport zone 121 plus city zone 110, which counts double). CHF 3.60 with a Half Fare Travelcard, CHF 11.80 in first class. The same ticket covers anywhere inside zone 110, so Stadelhofen or Bellevue costs the same as the main station | The airport operator states that public transport gives a direct link between the airport and the rest of Switzerland with regular connections within Switzerland and to its neighbouring countries. It also states that every weekend an early-morning train runs from Bern via Olten, Zurich Main Station and Zurich Oerlikon to Zurich Airport, timed for the first flights of the day between 6:00 and 08:00, and that in 2026 these early-morning trains generally run on all weekends from Friday to Saturday and from Saturday to Sunday. Look the same trip up in SBB’s own timetable and you see the same ZVV fares: from CHF 7.20 in second class, from CHF 11.80 in first class, and from CHF 3.60 with a Half Fare Travelcard. |
| Tram (lines 10 and 12) | the operator publishes no journey time for the trams on this page; SBB times line 10 to Zurich HB at about 48 minutes every 7.5 to 15 minutes |
a ZVV zone ticket, same fare system as the train, which is CHF 7.20 for the airport to city journey | The airport operator states that tram lines 10 and 12 provide direct connections from key residential areas including Oerlikon, Glattbrugg and Wallisellen without the need to change. It does not say that either line runs into Zurich’s city centre, so do not count on the tram as a straight ride to the centre. The train is the published route into town. SBB’s timetable does list tram 10 towards Zurich, Bahnhofplatz/HB as a through connection from the airport to the main station, roughly 48 minutes against 12 to 15 by train. It is a real option, not a shortcut: take it if the train is disrupted or you want the surface route. |
| Bus | the operator publishes no journey times for the buses on this page 16 bus routes in total, generally operating at 15-minute intervals |
a ZVV zone ticket, same fare system as the train | The airport operator describes the bus network as serving the communities surrounding the airport and residential neighbourhoods, not the city centre. The same page states that public transport is a reliable option for employees working early shifts, with the first connections arriving at the Airport Zurich from approximately 4:45 a.m. onwards. Read that as an arrival at the airport, not a departure into the city: no published bus departure time could be confirmed, so look up your own connection in the ZVV timetable. |
| Taxi | the airport operator publishes no journey time by taxi the airport operator publishes no rank hours or waiting times |
around CHF 65 from Zurich Airport to Zurich city centre, per the airport operator | The operator recommends using only the official taxis marked Airport Taxi, which wait along the inner curbside lanes of Arrival 1 and 2. It states you can pay by credit card and will receive a VAT-compliant receipt, and that Wi-Fi is available in all vehicles. The 50 percent app discount the operator advertises applies to the return leg only: it applies when you are returning to the airport, there is an Airport Taxi near to you, and you book via the app. GLM Limousine Service at Arrival 1 and ZRH Comfort are the named premium alternatives, with no prices published. |
| ZVV nighttime network | not published as a journey time from Friday night into the small hours of Saturday morning, again from Saturday night into the following Sunday, as well as prior to public holidays and when special events are taking place |
an ordinary valid ticket, with no night supplement | ZVV states that users of the nighttime network will only need to have a valid ticket, and its own customer service answer says the night supplement was dropped on 13 December 2020. That is a network-wide statement, not a statement that a specific night service calls at the airport, so check the actual departure on the day. |
Best Areas for Crew Stays in Zurich, from the Old Town and the lake shore out to the hotel belt at Oerlikon and Glattbrugg
Old Town and Bahnhofstrasse: The historic core and the main shopping street, running from the main station down towards the lake, which is the obvious first walk off the train.
Niederdorf: The narrow lanes on the right bank of the Limmat, the evening side of the Old Town for eating and bars.
Zurich West: The old industrial quarter turned bars, food halls and design shops under the railway viaduct, north west of the centre.
Seefeld and the lake shore: The lakeside promenade and the quieter residential streets behind it, the daylight option if you want air rather than shops.
Oerlikon and Glattbrugg: The hotel and business belt between the airport and the city, built around early report times rather than sightseeing.
What to Do on a Layover in Zurich, from a short sit in the terminal to a full day in the city
Under 5 hours: Stay at the airport. Eight hours of Wi-Fi are free, there is staffed left baggage and there are unstaffed lockers, and a round trip into town plus screening on the way back eats most of a short window.
5 to 9 hours: One clean move works: the train to Zurich’s main station, the Old Town and the lake end of Bahnhofstrasse on foot, and back on the same line. Fix the train you intend to catch back before you leave the platform, because the published frequency is a daytime figure.
9 hours plus: A full city run is realistic: the Old Town, one quarter beyond it such as Zurich West or the lake shore, and a proper meal. If it runs late, check whether your night falls inside the ZVV nighttime network days before you count on it, and keep the taxi figure in mind as the fallback.
Crew Tips for Zurich and ZRH Airport: the zone fare, the night network, and what a taxi costs
Paying for transit: Buy or validate your ticket prior to your journey. ZVV sells by zone, not by route: when you buy a ticket by entering the starting point and destination stop, in the ZVV app or on the ticket machine, the ticket will automatically cover the corresponding zones, so you do not have to count them yourself. Adult second class single tickets are CHF 4.70 for 1 to 2 zones (valid 1 hour), CHF 7.20 for 3 zones (1 hour), CHF 9.40 for 4 zones (2 hours) and CHF 18.00 for all zones (2 hours). Zones and validity period are printed on the ticket or displayed in the app, and within them you can travel as often as you want on any public transport until the ticket expires. Municipal fare zones 110 (Zurich) and 120 (Winterthur) count double in calculating the fare. Riding without a valid ticket costs a surcharge of CHF 100 on top of the fare. Prices are the ZVV table valid from 14.12.2025.
Which fare zone you are starting in: ZVV’s own directory of stops puts the airport in fare zone 121. It lists Zuerich Flughafen in zone 121, and separately Bahnhof Zuerich Flughafen (the railway station), Fracht, OPC, REGA and Werft, all in zone 121, in the commune of Kloten, with Werft listed under both Kloten and Opfikon. That is the number to give if a machine or a member of staff asks where you are travelling from. Note the ZVV rule that the system does not sell a ticket for a single zone outside the two city zones: when you buy a ticket for zone 121, you automatically get a second zone.
The night supplement that no longer exists: Older guidance and older signage still mention a night surcharge on Zurich’s night network. ZVV’s own customer service answer is that night supplements are no longer required, as of 13 December 2020, and that a regular ticket is sufficient to use the ZVV night network. Do not let anyone sell you an extra night ticket, and do not skip buying an ordinary one, because the ordinary ticket is exactly what you still need.
Connectivity at the airport: Passengers and visitors to Zurich Airport receive eight hours of free Internet and Wi-Fi access. The eight hours count without interruption as of the first login, and free access refreshes automatically after one hour. Activate the network named Zurich Airport, then register by SMS with your mobile number, or register by boarding pass and collect the code at a WiFi Station or an information desk. WiFi Stations sit both landside (Check-in 1, 2 and 3, Arrival 1, Arrival 2, and Parking 2 Level 1) and airside (Airside Center, Gates A, B, D and E, and both baggage claim halls). If eight hours are not enough, extra credit by credit card costs CHF 6.90 for 1 hour, CHF 9.90 for 4 hours and CHF 14.90 for 24 hours, including VAT.
Where to leave the bags: The staffed left baggage office is at Arrivals 2, Terminal 2 (Level 0), next to the Airport Information Desk, open every day from 06:00 to 22:00. Prices are per item, in CHF including VAT, for a maximum of 4, 8 or 24 hours: hand baggage up to 8 kg costs 10, 13 or 17; baggage up to 25 kg costs 15, 18 or 22; bulky baggage from 25 kg or bigger than 90 x 60 x 35 cm costs 20, 24 or 28; clothing items, jackets and winter coats cost 8 at every duration. Payment is in advance and card is preferred, though cash in CHF or EUR is accepted. If the office is shut, unstaffed SBB lockers at Check-in 3 in Airport Shopping are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in sizes S, M, L, XL and XXL.
What a taxi actually costs: Price the taxi before you decide, because it is the one leg with a published figure attached. The airport operator states that Airport Taxis will transport you from Zurich Airport to Zurich city centre for around CHF 65, and that you find them along the inner curbside lanes of Arrival 1 and 2. Use only the official cars marked Airport Taxi. Read the 50 percent app discount carefully: the operator ties it to the return leg, when you are returning to the airport and an Airport Taxi is near you and you book via the app, so do not expect it on the way into town.
Emergency Numbers for Zurich, ZRH Airport, and Switzerland
👉 Swipe sideways if the numbers do not fit
| Emergency, any situation; works on a foreign SIM and on a prepaid card with no credit | 112 |
| Police | 117 |
| Fire service | 118 |
| Ambulance, emergency medical call | 144 |
| Poisons hotline | 145 |
| Out-of-hours medical, dental and pharmacy help across the Canton of Zurich, non-life-threatening, free, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (AERZTEFON) | 0800 33 66 55 |
| SBB Transport Police, at railway stations and on trains | 0800 117 117 |
| Swiss foreign ministry (FDFA) consular helpline, calling from abroad | +41 58 465 33 33 |
| Switzerland country code (calling from abroad) | +41 |
Save these before you fly; numbers work from any phone.
How do I get from Zurich Airport to the city centre?
Take the SBB train from the railway station at the airport. The airport operator states that trains depart for Zurich’s main station every 10 minutes and the journey takes 15 minutes. Buy a ZVV zone ticket before you board, from the ZVV app or a ticket machine: enter your starting point and destination and the ticket automatically covers the right zones. Zurich has no metro, so beyond the train it is tram, bus or taxi.
How much is a train ticket from Zurich Airport into Zurich?
A single second class adult ticket from Zurich Airport into the city is CHF 7.20, valid for 1 hour. That is the ZVV 3-zone fare: the airport is zone 121 and the city is zone 110, which counts double. With a Half Fare Travelcard it is CHF 3.60, and first class is CHF 11.80. The same ticket is good anywhere inside zone 110, so Stadelhofen or Bellevue costs no more than the main station. Riding without a ticket carries a CHF 100 surcharge.
Is tap water safe to drink in Zurich?
Yes. Wasserversorgung Zuerich states that Zurich drinking water is hygienically impeccable, tastes good and is relatively low in lime, with over 10,000 samples a year tested in the utility’s own laboratory and independent cantonal laboratories checking on top of that. The city also states that more than 1,200 public fountains stand in Zurich, that first-class drinking water flows from all of them, and that every fountain is checked and cleaned once a week, so a street fountain is a legitimate refill.
How much is a taxi from Zurich Airport to the city?
The airport operator states that Airport Taxis will transport you from Zurich Airport to Zurich city centre for around CHF 65. The official cars are marked Airport Taxi and wait along the inner curbside lanes of Arrival 1 and 2. The 50 percent app discount the airport advertises is tied to the return leg, when you are heading back to the airport and book a nearby Airport Taxi through the app, so do not count on it inbound.
What is the emergency number in Switzerland?
112. The Swiss federal portal states that 112 is the most important emergency number in Switzerland and in Europe, that it connects you with the police emergency control centre, and that you can call it on a foreign SIM card or on a prepaid card with no credit. Several parallel national numbers also run in the same system: police 117, fire service 118, ambulance 144 and poisons 145. For a non-life-threatening medical problem in the Canton of Zurich, which is where the airport sits, the AERZTEFON on 0800 33 66 55 is free and staffed around the clock, 365 days a year.
Spotted a change? Tell us and we fix it for the next crew.
Crew Discounts in Zurich: verified car rental and hotel rates for airline staff sit right below this guide. Bookmark this page before you head down to the railway station at the airport. Next Zurich rotation you start on the rates instead of from scratch.
