Ruth Haines
If you have a layover in Zurich, you can leave the airport and explore the city, as long as your layover is at least 4.5 hours. This will give you a couple of hours to explore the city, plus allow for transportation time back to the airport, clearing airport security, collecting any stored bags, and being at your gate at least 30 to 45 minutes before departure. The Zurich airport has its own train station, which is located on the bottom floor of the shopping centre under the car park. Trains from here take about 12-15 minutes to get to the main station in the city, called the Hauptbahnhof or HB.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minimum layover time | 4.5 hours |
| Transportation time to and from the airport | 12-15 minutes each way |
| Time required for clearing airport security | 10 minutes |
| Time required for collecting stored bags | N/A |
| Time required to be at the gate before departure | 30-45 minutes |
| Time available for exploring the city | 2 hours |
| Visa requirements for US passport holders | None |
| Baggage requirements for layovers | Bags should be checked through if all tickets are on one reservation (PNR). If not, show the agent your onward ticket and ask that the bags be checked through. |
| Location of the train station | Bottom floor of the shopping centre under the car park across from the drop-off/pick-up lanes from the terminal |
| Ticket price | 15 CHF for an all-day ticket |
What You'll Learn
How to get through border control quickly
To get through border control quickly, follow the crowds heading towards it as soon as you get off your flight. It should take around 10 minutes to get through. If you are a US passport holder, you don't need a visa to enter Switzerland. If your bags are not checked through, show your onward ticket from Zurich and ask that they are checked through.
Once you have cleared customs, follow the signs pointing towards the train in Terminal B. You can buy your ticket at the ticket window or at the self-serve stations on the platforms. The train to Zurich HB, the main station in the city, takes 12-15 minutes.
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How to get into the city from the airport
If you have a layover of at least 4.5 hours in Zurich, you'll have enough time to leave the airport and explore the city.
To get into the city from the airport, follow the signs with a train on them to the airport's train station. You can buy your ticket at the ticket window or from a self-serve station on the platform. The train will take you to Zurich HB, the city's main station, in about 12-15 minutes. An all-day ticket costs around 15 CHF.
If you have checked luggage, make sure your bags are checked through to your final destination. If your layover is shorter than 4.5 hours, you may not have time to leave the airport, clear security, and collect your bags.
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How to buy a train ticket
If you have a layover in Zurich airport and want to explore the city, you can get a train from the airport train station, which is located on the bottom floor of the shopping centre under the car park.
To buy a train ticket, you can either use the SBB Mobile app, or buy a ticket at the station. The SBB app can be downloaded in advance, and you can register and enter your credit card details at home. You can also buy a ticket at the SBB counter, or at the ticket machines. Tickets are the same price whether you buy them in advance or at the station.
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How long you need for a layover
If you want to leave Zurich airport during a layover, you should make sure your layover is at least 4.5 hours long. This will give you a couple of hours to explore the city, plus allow for transportation time back to the airport, clearing airport security, collecting any stored bags, and being at your gate at least 30 to 45 minutes before departure.
Once you get off your flight, follow the crowds of people heading toward border control. This should take around 10 minutes. Then, follow the signs pointing toward the train in Terminal B. You can buy your ticket at the ticket window or from a self-serve station on the platform. The train station is located on the bottom floor of the shopping centre under the car park directly across the drop-off/pick-up lanes from the terminal. It takes about 12-15 minutes to get from the airport to the main station, called the Hauptbahnhof or HB.
If your bags are not checked through, show the agent your onward ticket from Zurich and ask that the bags be checked through. If not, see if Swiss will let you check them as soon as you get them from the carousel.
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What to do with your bags
If you have a layover in Zurich, you can leave the airport and explore the city, but you should make sure your layover is at least 4.5 hours to allow for transportation time back to the airport, clearing security, collecting any stored bags, and being at your gate at least 30 to 45 minutes before departure.
If your tickets are all on one reservation (called a PNR), your bags should be checked through. If not, show the agent your onward ticket from Zurich and ask that the bags be checked through. If this doesn't work, see if Swiss will let you check them as soon as you get them from the carousel.
The Zurich airport has its own train station, which is located on the bottom floor of the shopping centre under the car park across the drop-off/pick-up lanes from the terminal. It takes about 12-15 minutes to get from the airport to the main station called the Hauptbahnhof or HB. You can buy your ticket at the ticket window, and there are also self-serve stations on the platforms.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes about 12-15 minutes to get from the airport to the main station in the city centre, called the Hauptbahnhof or HB.
Your layover should be at least 4.5 hours, which will give you a couple of hours to explore the city, plus allow for transportation time back to the airport, clearing security, collecting any stored bags, and being at your gate at least 30 to 45 minutes before departure.
The Zurich airport has its own train station, which is located on the bottom floor of the shopping centre under the car park. Follow the signs pointing towards the train in Terminal B and buy your ticket at the self-serve stations on the platforms.
An all-day ticket costs about 15 CHF.
Simply tell the agent you are visiting Zurich during a layover and they will wave you through.
