Rail/transit pass for 2 days in Zurich?
A traveler named Helen will be visiting Zurich for 2 nights in November and is looking for advice on public transport options. She wants to travel from the airport to her hotel and then visit Uetliberg, needing to know which travel pass would be best for her short stay.
- Consider getting the ZurichCard if you plan to visit museums along with using public transport.
- Purchase a 3 zone day pass for access to the airport and Uetliberg; it costs around 14CHF.
- Dress warmly for mid-November as it will be chilly, especially at higher altitudes like Mt. Rigi.
- Uetliberg doesn't have cable cars; you can train up and enjoy a nice walk for great views.
AI-generated summary-
Hi
i will be travelling to Zurich in November for 2 nights only. ive done a lot of reading online about how to travel around Zurich but I cant quite get my head around it. I will be travelling from the aiport to my hotel via rail which only takes 15 minutes or so (Zurich airport to Oerlikon Train Station).
we then want to then travel to uetliberg from the main station and back.. (get the train up to the mountain and the cable car back down).. we will only be travelling around in public transport on one day and wouldn’t really be going any far so what pass would I need to get??
please help!
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Hi Helen123 and welcome to MySwissAlps!
You can use the Swiss railways timetable here to plan your trips around Zurich and the country.
There are a couple options for passes. If you plan on visiting a few museums etc as well as transport you may be interested in the ZurichCard.
Otherwise, a simply day pass for Zurich can work well for you.
Our page on getting around Zurich will have any links you need. Be sure to click on the ZVV link on that page to bring you to the official Zurich transit page (ZVV) with zone map and fares for the city of Zurich.
If you are just in downtown Zurich/Oerlikon you need the 1-2 zone pass (the downtown core counts as 2 zones). If you are going to the airport or Uetliberg you will need a 3 zone day pass.
These can all be bought at the ticket machines at the airport (just before you go down to the train stop under the airport) or at any bus/rail stop in Zurich.
Lucas
Thank you so much for your reply.
would the zone 3 pass include the cable cars in uetliberg? And how much would it cost approximately?
Hi Helen,
The fares can be found on the zvv.ch page on my above link about getting around Zurich. You would be looking at around 14CHF.
There are no cable cars at Uetliberg itself (you take a train to the top).
You can however, walk from the top of Uetliberg to Felsenegg in a little under 2 hours (nice, easy walk along the ridge of the mountain with great views of Lake Zurich).
There is a restaurant at Felsenegg and a gondola you can take down to Adliswil. From there you can train back to Zurich. It is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.
Lucas
ok that is really useful and helpful thank you.
Would you happen to know what the weather would be like in mid November? Will uetliberg be quite clear and how cold would it be by Mt Rigi? I am planning an excursion with a company to visit mt rigi but wanted to know how to dress?
regards
helen
>> Would you happen to know what the weather would be like in mid November?
It will be very chilly, even in Zürich. Cap, scarf, gloves and a warm jacket will be needed to keep you comfortable outdoors.
>> Will uetliberg be quite clear and how cold would it be by Mt Rigi?
Mt Rigi will be very cold, but won’t necessarily have any snow. Both places could be either clear or cloudy. You won’t know until 24-48 hours in advance.
>> I am planning an excursion with a company to visit mt rigi
It is a very easy excursion to do on your own if you change your mind about doing the guided tour: very easy to get to, and you can suit yourself how long you stay there and what else you do during the day. You also have the flexibility to go somewhere else instead if the Rigi is in the clouds that day.
Alpenrose
Hi Helen,
Yes, you should expect quite cold weather here. Have a read through our weather page here.
If you do decide to try Mt. Rigi on your own you can read about how to get there here.
Other popular mountains you may want to think about are Mt. Pilatus and Mt Titlis.If one of the mountains looks to be clouded over, look at traveling to another one that day instead (you don’t want views of the clouds)!
Lucas
Thank you for your reply. Would you suggest Mt. Tilitis will offer better views than Mt Rigi in November?
Hi Helen,
>> Would you suggest Mt. Tilitis will offer better views than Mt Rigi in November?
Both mountains have wonderful (but different) views, and you wouldn’t be disappointed with either in clear weather. Titlis is at a higher altitude (3,020 metres) than Rigi (1,798 metres). You will see snow and ice at Titlis, but not necessarily at Rigi. Titlis has a more rugged, rocky, dramatic look; Rigi, being at a lower altitude, has grassy meadows and some trees on the top.
It will be very cold at both, but there is no way of knowing what the weather will otherwise be like, or whether the mountain tops will be in the clouds, until 24-48 hours beforehand.
The exact date in November that you intend to do your mountain excursion will also affect what choices you can make:
Rigi
6 – 17 November: The cable car between Weggis and Rigi Kaltbad will not be operating.
You can still get to the Rigi during this time by train from Vitznau or Arth-Goldau, including doing a round trip up one way and down the other.
Titlis
6 – 17 November: You can’t get to the top of Titlis, as the cableway to the top will be closed for maintenance.
Pilatus
23 October – 10 November: The cable way between Kriens and Pilatus will be closed for maintenance, but you can still go up and back via the cogwheel train.
11 – 19 November: Both the cogwheel train and cable way will be operating, so you can do a round trip up one way and down the other.
20 November onwards: The cogwheel railway will be closed for the winter, but you can still get up and back via the cable way from Kriens.
When reading about how to get to each mountain in the links Lucas gave you earlier, keep the above dates in mind so you are aware of what choices you have for the particular day of your visit.
Alpenrose
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