As Switzerland's business center and aviation hub, Zurich is extremely well connected to the rest of Europe and beyond. Here's what you need to know about your arrival in Zurich.
Getting Into Zurich
Arriving by Plane
The Zurich Kloten Airport is located about 12 minutes by train and 25 minutes by car from the city center.
Trains connect the airport to the city around the clock, departing as often as every 10 minutes during peak hours. A one-way ticket to the Central Station costs CHF 6.20.
Taxis from the airport to city city center are—not surprisingly—expensive. A taxi will run you around CHF 50.
In addition to Switzerland's flag carrier, SWISS, the Kloten airport is served by numerous international airlines, as well as budget fliers like easyJet and Air Berlin. London, Berlin, Cologne and Barcelona are some of the notable connections available by dirt-cheap budget carriers.
Arriving by Train
Zurich's Hauptbahnhof, or Central Station, is located in the heart of downtown, close to shopping, museums and hotels. From here, it’ll be an easy walk or tram ride to wherever you wish to go.
With an average of 1,900 trains stopping here each day, the station provides efficient connections to all around Switzerland and beyond. Schweizerische Bundesbahnen (SBB) is the national Swiss train company, and the SBB's Web site provides helpful fare and schedule information.
But for rail schedules across Europe, we contend that nothing beats the German Bahn site.
Arriving by Bus
The intercity bus terminal—sometimes known as "Sihlquai" Terminal—shares the main train station's building. Balkan cities can be reached from here by long-distance, overnight buses. For most destinations, though, your best bet is still the train in terms of both time and comfort.
Related posts from our blog
- Eurolines: International coach journeys in Europe
- European Train Schedules: New trains for 2012
- Train Travel in Europe: The substitute bus
- Switzerland by Train: Alternatives to the Glacier Express
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