🇨🇭 Getting Around Zurich

Swiss precision meets lakeside beauty — Zurich's trams, trains, and lake boats run with legendary punctuality through one of Europe's most liveable cities.

Main Transport Options

Trams (Tram Zürich)

Zurich's elegant blue trams glide through the city centre — punctual, clean, and quintessentially Swiss

CHF 2.70 short trip / CHF 4.40 single (Zone 110)

•15 tram lines covering the entire city
•Trams every 5–7 minutes during the day
•Runs from ~5:00 AM to midnight
•All trams are low-floor and accessible

Pro Tip: Tram 11 runs along the Limmat river through Niederdorf — the prettiest tram ride in the city!

S-Bahn & Trains

Switzerland's legendary rail network connects Zurich to the lake, mountains, and beyond

CHF 4.40 single trip (Zone 110)

•26 S-Bahn lines covering Greater Zurich
•Zürich HB is Switzerland's busiest station
•Direct trains to airport every 10 minutes
•SBB long-distance to Lucerne, Bern, Basel in ~1 hour

Pro Tip: The S-Bahn to Rapperswil along Lake Zurich is one of Switzerland's most scenic commutes!

Buses & Trolleybuses

Electric trolleybuses and diesel buses filling the gaps between tram and train lines

CHF 4.40 single trip (Zone 110)

•60+ bus routes across Zurich and suburbs
•Electric trolleybuses are whisper-quiet
•Night buses (N-lines) on weekends until 4 AM
•Same ZVV tickets as trams and trains

Pro Tip: Night buses run Fri–Sat until 4 AM with a CHF 5 surcharge — cheaper than taxis!

Lake Zurich Boats

ZSG boats cruising Lake Zurich — commuter ferries and scenic round-trip cruises

CHF 8.80–CHF 26.40

•Regular ferry service to lakeside towns
•Short round trip: 1.5 hours to Rapperswil
•Long round trip: 4 hours full-lake cruise
•Valid with ZVV day passes and Swiss Travel Pass

Pro Tip: A lake cruise is included with your ZVV day pass — the best free bonus in Zurich!

Passes & Tickets

ZVV Day Pass

Unlimited travel for one day on all Zurich public transport

Best for: Day-trippers and tourists

✓Zone 110: CHF 9.20/day
✓All trams, buses, trains, boats
✓Buy at machines or on the SBB app

Swiss Travel Pass

Unlimited travel across all of Switzerland for 3–15 consecutive days

Best for: Multi-city Swiss trips

✓Includes all ZVV transport
✓Free mountain railways and lake boats
✓Free entry to 500+ museums

Single / Short Ticket

Individual ride tickets for occasional use

Best for: Light users making few trips

✓CHF 4.40 single / CHF 2.70 short trip
✓Valid for 1 hour / 30 minutes
✓Buy at machines, app, or contactless

Navigation Apps & Tools

SBB Mobile

Official Swiss rail app — the gold standard for train/tram/bus planning

ZVV App

Zurich-specific transit with live departures and ticket purchase

Google Maps

Reliable backup for walking, cycling, and transit

Citymapper

Multi-modal planner with real-time disruptions

Most Instagrammable Transport Spots

Tram along Bahnhofstrasse

Blue tram on one of the world's most exclusive shopping streets

Lake Zurich boat cruise

Snow-capped Alps in the distance with Zurich's spires in the foreground

Zürich HB Main Hall

Grand 19th-century station with stunning arched roof

Polybahn funicular

Tiny red funicular climbing to ETH with lake views

S-Bahn along Lake Zurich

Train hugging the lakeshore with vineyards and mountains

Insider Tips

1Switzerland is expensive — the ZVV day pass pays for itself after just 3 trips
2Validate your ticket before boarding — Swiss inspectors are thorough and fines are steep (CHF 100+)
3The Swiss Travel Pass includes lake boats — don't pay separately if you have one
4Zurich is very walkable — the old town (Altstadt) is best explored on foot
5Sunday shops are closed but transport runs normally — stock up on snacks Saturday