From the plane to the train in Zurich
A traveler is planning to arrive in Zurich by plane in late May and wants to know how to get from the airport to the train station, as well as how much time to allow for getting through customs and collecting baggage. It's important for them to have clear and practical advice to ensure a smooth transition to their next destination.
- The train station is conveniently located beneath Terminal B at Zurich Airport, and you can reach it in about 5 minutes after leaving baggage claim.
- Allow at least 1.5 to 2 hours between landing and your train departure to account for customs and baggage collection.
- Follow the signs for easy navigation from the arrivals area to the train station, as it is directly accessible with minimal walking involved.
- Using the Swiss Travel Pass can provide additional travel benefits once you’re in Switzerland.
- Trains run frequently to Zurich's main station, so you won't have to wait long for your connection.
AI-generated summary-
Prudent planning question:
Suppose we are arriving in Zurich by plane, late May, at 9am, with a Eurail Global pass.
1) How do you get from the airport arrivals area to the train station?
2) What’s a prudent amount of time to allow for all of the things involved in getting off the plane, getting baggage, going through customs, and getting to the train station?
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HI PnBA and Welcome to MySwissAlps,
There is a train station right at Zurich Airport with frequent connections to Zurich main station (Zurich HB). Duration of the journey is around 15 minutes.
Check the timetable for details:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metableThe airport in Zurich needs a regular time for processing all the procedures you mention but once you have your luggage and are through the customs you will be at the train tracks within maximum 5 minutes.
http://www.myswissalps.com/ai rports/zurich
Hope this helps.
Get back to us for further input.
Best,
Steph
Thanks, but I’m trying to get information of a different nature.
Yes – info about the time from the airport to Zurich city is on all the schedules. When I look at maps, there is quite a distance from the airport terminal to the airport train station – at least the length of a runway, which is over a mile. How do you get from the arrivals area to the airport train station?
- If I was answering for Baltimore, JFK, or SFO, I would be directing someone to an airport tramway. In Philadelphia, the train runs right through the terminal, but it’s not the same train system that would take you to another city, only to the main train station.
You mention a “regular time for processing”, but that is precisely the question … what is a regular / typical / prudent amount of time to allow at the Zurich airport?
- If I was answering this question for a major US airport like Baltimore, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Boston, I would say to allow a minimum of 90 min after landing before expecting to get anywhere, and probably 2 hrs to be safe. Heathrow, Dallas, & Atlanta – up to 3 hours (based on personal experience). If I was answering for JFK, I’d say go somewhere else, because you might never get through, and you might even be sorry when you do.
Is Zurich relatively small and efficient, like Stockholm, Helsinki, or Istanbul, where you can usually count on 30 min or less from plane to curb?
“When I look at maps, there is quite a distance from the airport terminal to the airport train station”
I don’t know what maps you are looking at, but the train is in the airport terminal, on a different floor. Just follow the signs. A quick google search presents the following – “The airport train station is located underneath Terminal B and offers direct service every hour or half hour to most major cities and tourist destinations across Switzerland.”
As for going through customs, it’s relatively fast. Not anywhere on the order of an hour. As for JFK, I was really embarrassed by its condition when I went through two months ago, like a third world nation. And the wait for luggage was l. o. n. g.
When you’re in Switzerland, you’re not in Kansas anymore!
Actually, Kansas City airport is quite fast, but point taken. Thanks!
ahhh, you got me there!
It’s so easy disembarking at Zurich. Follow the passengers in front. A delightful train/tram takes you to arrivals. Check which baggage carousel pick up luggage and basically leave. It’s so easy and pleasant.
The escalators or lifts take you down to the shopping level. Can have a coffee, buy your train tickets for anyone who hasn’t yet purchased one. That’s easy too but there might be a bit of a queue but the staff are very efficient as is everything about Switzerland.
Check the train departure board for the platform you need. Down you go on the escalator or lift. Trains run so regularly and on time there won’t be a problem.
I do it on my own and just follow the signs but there is always someone ready to help if need be.
Have a wonderful trip…
Jacqui in Australia, heading off in June again :o)
Hi PNBA-
I assume that you are coming from the USA, which is not a Schengen country.
So, you will have a longer process. Too bad.
Off the plane, walk to tram station – 5 to 10 minutes. Ride underground tram – 5 minutes.
Off the tram, through pass control – 10 minutes/ Maybe 5.. Walk to nearby baggage carousels 3 minutes. By then, it is likely , but not guaranteed that your bags will be on the carousel. If not -5 to 10 minutes. Free luggage carts by the carousels. They will go up and down escalators. Don’t pile luggage too high, they tip going on top and off of the escalators.
3-5 minutes to walk from carousel through customs, out into arrivals area and onward to the the train station, across the street, which you cross under a covered walkway..
You will be at the top floor of the train station. Food court.
Down escalators to train levels- 2-3 minutes.
Add time if you have to get tickets or change money.
http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/atmforex-at-zurich-airport
Yo can add it up. Signs are in German and English.
5 to 10 trains per hour to Zürich main station.
it is a fast airport. Almost as fast as Singapore. Very well organized, of course..
Hope that helps
<<“When I look at maps, there is quite a distance from the airport
terminal to the airport train station – at least the length of a runway,
which is over a mile. How do you get from the arrivals area to the
airport train station?”>>
Comments here are mostly accurate:
community.ricksteves.c om/travel-forum/switzerland/loca tion-of-zurich-airport-train-station
I tried to find a clear map, and all of the ones I looked at a re confusing.
So, just follow the signs. The train station is not exactly in the terminal buildings, but very very close…right across the street under the Airport Center. The buildings are connected at a higher level.
Slowpoke
Very clear and helpful, thanks!
Glad to hear it. I think that you’ll find that the Swiss Travel System works hard to make things go smoothly. E.g., luggage carts that go up and down escalators. Free at the airoport. At Zürich main station, they exist in abundance, but have a clever way to deposit 2 CHF ( you need the coin) which gets returned when you are done.
Slowpoke
Hi again,
As stated, to get from the arrival building to the SBB train tracks of the airport station you will need no more than 5 minutes by foot.
There is one arrival terminal a little bit away, but there you have an airport subway as part of the standard transportation to get you to the main building.
The time you ask for so very much depends on the time of the day, the season, the flight you’re on and on if luggage is lost, you have lots to declare at the custom, etc, but if you want a number I would say with 1.5 to 2 hours time between landing and train departure you should be fine.
Best,
Steph
HI Steph
<<“but if you want a number I would say with 1.5 to 2 hours time between landing and train departure you should be fine.”>>
I agree – because it never takes me more than an hour, and I come from Terminal E ( via the underground train) because that is where flights from the USA land and depart. I never have anything to declare, so I walk through the customs area and look innocent.
Three obvious places where delays can occur are:
1.-Passport Control – it’s faster if you are from the EU or Switzerland – and, if you get someone with a passport problem in your line, it can add several minutes. I count on 5 minutes.
2. Luggage carousels –
My luggage used to always beat me to the carousels. Nowadays, it is only there sometimes before I am. I’ve never had more than a 5 minute wait. Much faster than Atlanta for example, even with Elite status on Delta. But, it is possible, and I’m sure it does take longer sometimes.
3.- Customs –
I’ve never been stopped or stopped to declare anything. If you go through wearing your mink coat, with fancy luggage, arriving from a country where prices for luxury goods are lower than in Switzerland….such as the USA…..and a lot of gold jewelry, perhaps you might attract attention. You would in the USA. I’ve never been in that situation. 😉
And, one optional delay point. When I have met people arriving at the airport from the USA, they often want a coffee or a bite to eat. The food court on the ground floor of the train station is always tempting. And useful, if your selection of trains means that you will have a several minute wait.
Slowpoke
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