Updated January 12, 2024
Zurich may be one of the most expensive cities in the world, but it’s one of the best layover destinations. These eight tips on how to make the most of a Zurich layover will help you leave the airport and experience some of what the city has to offer.
Table of Contents
The airport is very close to the city centre
Rated eighth among the world’s top airports in 2023, the Zurich Airport is a short distance from the city centre.
Zurich is a refreshing contrast to transportation hubs where the airport is a considerable distance from the city. Zurich’s central station, the Hauptbahnhof, is a short 10-minute ride by train from the airport. Depending on the time of day, trains may leave as frequently as every 10 minutes, with the schedule as dependable as a Swiss watch.
Or the Line 10 tram service takes 35 minutes.
Leaving the airport
How long is your layover? These tips work best if you have five hours or more between connecting flights. Where you’re travelling from and where you’re heading next will influence these time frames, and if you need to store luggage before leaving the airport.
- The airport is compact, with short distances and moving walkways connecting the three terminals.
- If you need to store luggage, lockers are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, located next to the service centre on Level 1 in Car Park 2. SBB lockers are at Check-in 3 in the Airport Shopping area.
- Switzerland is not a member state of the European Union, so may need to collect Swiss Francs (CHF). There are ATMs in the shopping concourse on the way to the station. Chances are you won’t need any cash if you use credit cards.
- English speakers have it easy in Switzerland. English is widely spoken, and locals are more than happy to assist. In addition, Switzerland is one of the world’s safest countries, ranking #10 on the 2023 Global Peace Index.
- The airport train station (Bahnhof Zürich Flughafen) is below the airport. Just follow the signs. The journey to the Zürich Hauptbahnhof (HB) takes 10 minutes.
- Zurich’s public transportation system is very efficient and easy to navigate.
- One option for getting around by public transportation is to buy a Zürich Card, with 24- or 72-hour passes. A 24-hour pass costs CHF 29 (USD 33 / GBP 26) and includes free and discounted access to many museums and attractions. It also includes unlimited travel by tram, bus, train, boat, and cableway in the city and surrounding region. A 72-hour pass costs CHF 56 (USD 64 / GBP 51). These are 2024 prices.
- A single ticket from the airport to the Hauptbahnhof costs CHF 6.80. Also, there are 24-hour passes available, good for unlimited travel on public transportation. Passes are handy for exploring places you might not visit otherwise. Costs are zone-based. Depending on how many zones you choose, the pass could pay for itself with a return trip to and from the airport. Passes are available via the ZVV app, ticket machines in the concourse at the airport, online, or at sales outlets. A downloadable map outlines the various zones.
8 Tips on how to make the most of a Zurich layover
Here are some recommendations to consider. All are within easy walking distance of the Hauptbahnhof.
1. Familiarize yourself with an area to explore
I enjoyed exploring a rectangular-shaped area that takes in the Altstadt (‘Old Town’). The Hauptbahnhof is at one end, and Lake Zurich at the other. Bahnhofstrasse is on one long side, and the Altstadt is on the other. Running down the centre of the Altstadt is the River Limmat. Several bridges offer convenient access to both sides. To give you a rough idea of distances, Bahnhofstrasse from the Hauptbahnhof to Lake Zürich is only 1.4 km (just short of a mile).
The Hauptbahnhof is large, hectic, and can be confusing. Follow the signs for Bahnhofplatz (Station Square) where you’ll have a choice of tram routes (and Bahnhofstrasse).
2. Stroll along Bahnhofstrasse
Bahnhofstrasse is Zurich’s main downtown thoroughfare and one of the most famous luxury shopping streets in Europe. It’s lined with upscale fashion stores, restaurants, banks, investment firms, and souvenir shops. If you don’t have deep pockets, window shopping can be enjoyable.
From the Hauptbahnhof, it’s a short 20-minute walk down to the end of Bahnhofstrasse at Bürkliplatz, at the edge of Lake Zurich.
3. Explore side streets
If you can spare the time, explore some of the side streets off Bahnhofstrasse. Augustinergasse is about halfway down on the left. The narrow street dates to medieval times, and the houses have well preserved, colourful facades.
4. Join the free walking tour
If the timing of your layover allows you to take the free Downtown Zürich Tour, it’s well worth the time. It’s offered every day at 11:00. The meeting point is next to Credit Suisse at Paradeplatz along the Bahnhofstrasse. It takes 1.5 hours and covers interesting points within the Altstadt. Our guide did a superb job. In fact, he passed around chocolates for a poll on which chocolates were better: Swiss or Belgian. There’s no need to register; just show up.
5. Plan your own self-guided walking tour
Zurich is one of the world’s best walking cities. If necessary, insert a couple of tram rides to help manage time constraints.
Here are two resources to help you plan your own self-guided walking tour:
The free walking tour included many of the places described in these three references. Here are some of the spots we passed on the free walking tour. The photos reflect an overcast day in March.
Grossmünster Church, with its twin neo-Gothic towers, dominates the eastern bank of the River Limmat. It’s possible to climb to the top for arresting views of the city.
Zurich must be one of the cleanest cities in the world. Water from the city’s innumerable fountains is clean enough to drink.
Lindenhof was once the site of a Roman customs post back in the first century BC. Today, it’s an open green space under the shade of linden trees with lovely views overlooking the Limmat River below.
On September 19, 1946, Winston Churchill gave his globally acclaimed speech from the University of Zürich. It outlined his vision of a post-war European union that would restore peace and security to a battle-torn continent. Unthinkable at the time was his suggestion of reconciliation between France and Germany. It was a union he indicated would form the basis of a united Europe. Churchill closed his plea with ‘Let Europe Arise!’ now etched in stone on a commemorative plaque in Münsterhof Square.
6. Take a boat cruise
There are several cruises to consider.
The Lake Zürich Navigation Company operates cruise boats on the River Limmat and Lake Zurich. The Zurich Card covers some of the cruises; some are discounted with the 24-hour transit pass.
The Short Round Trip on Lake Zurich leaves from Bürkliplatz. It takes 90 minutes.
The River Limmat cruise starts from the National Museum.
For a very short ten-minute boat ride, the Bürkliplatz-Wollishofen and Bürkliplatz-Zürichhorn routes are are included in any public transportation ticket covering Zone 110.
7. Ride the little red funicular
The Polybahn is an old funicular train that takes just 100 seconds to travel from the Limmatquai Bahnhof up to Zurich University and the Polyterrasse overlooking the Old Town and Lake Zurich.
The service started in 1889. Convenient for students and tourists alike, it carries up to two million passengers each year. The little red funicular runs every two to five minutes and is free with the Zurich Card.
8. Enjoy traditional Swiss food
I was able to squeeze in two meals during my layover.
(i) Cheese fondue at Swiss Chuchi
On the clichéd side but having cheese fondue in Zurich felt like the thing to do. The fondue is woven into the country’s social fabric. For generations, people created cheese fondue during the colder months by blending the two key staples of cheese and bread. Today, it’s at the heart of social gatherings, accompanied by conversation and white wine pairings.
On the walking tour, I met another solo traveller who was game to share a cheese fondue. We asked our guide for recommendations and he was quick to suggest Swiss Chuchi. I’m glad we went; it was an excellent choice. The Traditionelles Waadtländer Fondue, made with four kinds of cheese, white wine, cherry liquor, and garlic, was delectable.
Attached to the Adler Hotel in the back streets of the Altstadt, Swiss Chuchi is at Rosengasse 10. The nearest tram stop is Rudolf-Brun-Brücke.
(ii) Sausages at Zeughauskeller
For me, sausages are comfort food. After spotting the menu posted outside Zeughauskeller, I couldn’t resist.
Housed in a former Swiss armoury, Zeughauskeller is now a cavernous beer hall with an extensive menu of traditional and seasonal favourites. Naturally, I went for the sausages. There are over a dozen sausage dishes to choose from, including a sausage sampler comprising six different varieties. It comes with potato salad and onion sauce.
Zeughauskeller is in the Old Town, just across from Paradeplatz. Expect to be seated with others during busy periods. Old military embellishments decorate the walls, adding to the historical ambience of the place. You’ll find it at Bahnhofstrasse 28. The nearest tram stop is Paradeplatz.
The verdict
In most cities, a short layover of six or eight hours would see me playing it safe and hanging out at the airport. The proximity of the Zürich Airport to the city centre and the dependability of the train service make it possible to safely leave the airport and venture into the city.
Zurich is a major European hub for travellers with connections on multi-segment flights. If you’re a miles-and-points enthusiast and your preferred program is with one of the Star Alliance partners, you’re bound to pass through Zurich at some point. SWISS is a reputable airline within the Star Alliance, offering plenty of options for a Zurich layover.
The suggestions above are but a small sample of what’s possible on a Zürich layover.
If you found this post useful, please share it by selecting one or more social media buttons. Have you enjoyed a Zurich layover? If so, did you venture into the city centre? Please add your suggestions in the comments. Thank you.
Care to pin for later?
I had a 12h layover in Zurich on the way to Singapore; arriving at 6am and spent the entire day wandering Zurich. It was Christmas time, so the Christmas market was a fantastic experience!
The showers at the airport were very welcome before boarding another long flight!
Thank you, Matthew, for dropping by. I imagine you accomplished quite a lot in those 12 hours. It must have been magical at that time of year with all the decorations. Cheers.
Thank you for this post! I have an upcoming 4 hour layover. Do you think it’s enough time to explore?
It feels tight, and influenced by your next flight and how much time the airline recommends you allow for passing through security (and perhaps passport control if you leave the airport) and being at the gate. Also, not all arrivals and departures are adjacent to the terminal and connected by an air bridge; I seem to recall that one of my arrivals involved being transported to the terminal by bus. Business class passengers had priority and reached the terminal faster than many passengers in economy class. Another factor is that some airports seem to have trouble dealing with the challenges of post-pandemic travel that translates into delays for travellers. I suggest looking into how ZRH is coping. Good luck with your research and decision-making.
We will have a 12 hr layover in Zurich but we don’t land until 10:20pm…Will there be things open at that hour and does the train operate that late?
There’s a link in this post showing timetables from the airport (Flughafen) to the main railway station (Hauptbahnhof or HBF). https://ethz.ch/content/dam/ethz/special-interest/usys/ias/plant-nutrition-dam/documents/IPW9/IPW9_Directions.pdf Hope this helps.