The Swiss airports of Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern 

Zurich Airport (“Zürich Flughafen”): introduction

“Zürich Flughafen”, abbreviated by “ZRH”, is the largest airport in Switzerland. Most intercontinental flights arrive here. It’s located 12 km from downtown Zurich. The airport offers lots of services, including many shops, car rental options, taxi services, a convention center, hotels and a health care unit.

Zurich Airport to Zurich by train

Where is the train station of Zurich Airport located?

The train station is conveniently located in the airport building. It’s at the lowest level: “L-2”. This can be found right below the “Check-in 3” area at “L-1”.

How long does the train ride Zurich Airport-Zurich take?

It’s just a 10-minute train ride to the Zurich main station “Zürich HB”. It’s right in the city center, at walking distance from many hotels and highlights.

What does the train ride from Zurich Airport to Zurich cost?

The price of a full-fare train ticket for the trip Zurich Airport-Zurich is about CHF 7. Note that you don’t need a ticket if you have a pass that allows free traveling, such as the Swiss Travel Pass or Saver Day Pass. You’re entitled to a discounted ticket with a Swiss Half Fare Card.

How to get from Zurich Airport to other destinations in Switzerland?

There are direct trains to many Swiss towns from the airport. If there’s no direct train, you usually change at the main station of Zurich. All connections are available in the timetable.

Zurich Airport to Zurich by tram

There are tram connections too. Tram line 10 runs roughly parallel to the train line, but offers many stops between the airport and Zurich. The tram connections take 35 minutes, so the trains are a better option in most cases.

A tram ride can be useful if you’re not heading for the center of Zurich, but for one of its suburbs such as Glattbrug or Oerlikon.

Zurich Airport: planning your journey in the timetable

This is what to enter in the timetable when planning your journey from Zurich Airport:

• “Zürich Flughafen” for the airport’s railway station.
• “Zürich HB” for the main station in the center of Zurich.
• “Zürich Flughafen, Bahnhof” for the platform from which trams depart.
• “Zürich, Bahnhofplatz HB” for the tram platform at Zurich’s main rail station. If your destination is another location along the tram line, enter that. You can even enter an exact (hotel) address if you want.

Zurich Airport to Zurich by car transfer or rental car

Another option is to book a private or shared transfer from the airport to Zurich. This is convenient if you have a lot of luggage. Find options here:

• car and taxi transfers from/to Zurich Airport

Several offices for rental cars can be found at “L1”.

Zurich Airport: transportation to selected destinations with SWISS Air Rail

Travelers who arrive at Zurich Airport with the airline SWISS can book a “SWISS Air rail ticket”. This is a ticket that includes:

• a boarding pass for a flight to or from Zurich Airport;
• a train ride from Zurich Airport to several major towns in Switzerland. Examples are Basel, Bern, Lausanne, Geneva, Lucerne, Interlaken and Lugano.

The train ticket is flexible. So if your plane is delayed and you miss your train, that’s no problem: the ticket is valid all day long.

Note that you don’t need this offer if you already have a rail pass that covers your journey from or to Zurich Airport.

Public transport in Zurich

All public transport is free with a Swiss Travel Pass and several other rail passes. More information about traveling in Zurich can be found here.

Hotels near Zurich airport

There are many hotels very close to the airport. They’re ideal for a comfortable late arrival or early departure. Some airport hotels offer a free shuttle bus ride to and from the airport.

As the Zurich city center is very close, you can easily stay in one of the hotels there as well. The hotels we recommend in the center can be found here.

Geneva Airport (“Genève-Aéroport”): introduction

“Genève Aéroport”, abbreviated by “GVA”, is a relatively small airport very close to Geneva and the French border. Switzerland and France share this airport. Geneva (Switzerland) is 5 km away, Lyon (France) is 150 km away.

Most flights originate from countries in and around Europe, although there are some intercontinental destinations too. Most intercontinental flights arrive at Zurich Airport.

Geneva Airport to Geneva by train

Where at the airport of Geneva is the train station located?

The rail station of Geneva is located at level G: underground, right under the terminal building. You can get there from the “Access” levels (A) and “Departure” levels (D) of Terminal 1.

How long does a train ride from Geneva Airport to Geneva take?

The easiest way to reach Geneva and the main station is by train. It’s a 7-minute ride. From the Geneva main station, you can take trains to France and further into Switzerland. The rail station can be found at the lowest level of the airport.

How much does a train ride from the airport Geneva cost?

A cheap “Unireso zone-10” ticket is available to get to the Geneva main train station. It costs CHF 3 and is valid for 1 hour. Note that you don’t need a ticket if you have a rail pass that allows free traveling throughout Switzerland, such as the Swiss Travel Pass.

Geneva Airport to Geneva by bus

You can take a bus from the airport to Geneva as well. Bus lines 5 and 10 get you to Geneva’s main rail station in about 30 minutes. The buses cross the suburbs between Geneva Airport and Geneva, whereas the trains go around them.

A bus trip is less comfortable if you’re traveling with luggage, but it might be what you need if you’ve booked accommodation north of Geneva’s city center.

Geneva Airport to Geneva: planning your trip in the timetable

This is what to enter in the timetable when planning your train or bus transfer:

• “Genève-Aéroport” for the train station at Geneva Airport.
• “Genève” for the main train station of Geneva.
• “Genève-Aéroport, Terminal” for the bus station of Geneva Airport.
• “Genève, gare Cornavin” for the bus platforms in front of Geneva’s main train station.

Geneva Airport to Geneva by private transfer or rental car

If you have a lot of luggage, you may want to book a private or shared taxi. Find options at:

• car and taxi transfers from/to Geneva Airport

Rental cars are available at the “Arrival” level (A) of the airport. Use the Swiss sector. If you continue into France, you can get a rental car in the French sector of the “Check-in” level (C).

Free public transport in Geneva

Hotel guests in Geneva can travel by public transport for free. The Swiss Travel Pass and several other rail passes also cover the train and other public transport in Geneva. Learn all details in our Geneva travel section.

Hotels near Geneva Airport

There are several hotels very close to the airport. They’re a good option for a late arrival or early departure, especially since some of them offer a free shuttle bus service to and from the airport.

Geneva is really close to the airport, so you can easily stay in one of the hotels in Geneva as well.

Basel Airport (“Basel EuroAirport”): introduction

The “EuroAirport”, with the international abbreviation “BSL”, is a relatively small airport located just across the Swiss border in France. It’s the shared airport of the cities of Basel (Switzerland), Mulhouse (France), and Freiburg (Germany).

Most flights originate from countries in and around Europe. Most intercontinental flights arrive at Zurich Airport.

The entire airport, including the arrival hall and departure hall, is split into Swiss and French sections.

Basel Airport to Basel by bus

Where at the airport is the bus platform located?

The airport’s bus platform “Basel EuroAirport, Ankunft” can be found outdoors, directly in front of the Swiss sector of the terminal. It’s located at level 2.

How long does the bus ride take?

Bus line 50 takes you to the Basel main rail station (Basel SBB) in under 20 minutes. From there, you can reach the town center on foot or by tram, or take a train to any other town.

How much does the bus trip from Basel Airport to Basel cost?

The price of a regular bus ticket is about CHF 6. Note that you may not need a ticket at all. Even though part of the ride is in France, the entire bus trip is included in the Swiss Travel Pass/Swiss Travel Pass Flex and the Saver Day Pass. It’s discounted with the Swiss Half Fare Card.

Can I get from Basel Airport to Basel by train?

There’s no train station at Basel Airport and there are no train connections to the city. Instead, you can use the bus.

There is a small rail station in nearby Saint Louis, France. That’s an alternative if you travel to France instead of Switzerland. You can reach it by bus or taxi.

Basel Airport to Basel: planning your trip in the timetable

These are the names to use when planning your bus trip from the airport in the timetable:

• “Basel EuroAirport, Ankunft” for Basel Airport.
• “Basel” or “Basel SBB” for the main station of Basel, where the buses arrive.
• “Basel, Bahnhof SBB” is the official name of the bus platform across from the station of Basel. But if you just fill out “Basel” or “Basel SBB”, the timetable understands where you want to go and automatically presents bus connections to “Basel, Bahnhof SBB”.

Basel Airport to Basel by private transfer or rental car

You can take a taxi from the airport to Basel as well. Find options here:

• car and taxi transfers from/to Basel EuroAirport

There are rental cars available at level 2 of the terminal building, in both the Swiss sector and the French sector.

Free public transport in Basel

Many of the rail passes include free traveling in Basel. If you book a hotel in Basel, you’ll get free transportation as well. The bus ride from the airport is included.

Consult our Basel travel guide for further details about getting around in the city.

Hotels near Basel Airport

There are several hotels very close to the airport. They’re ideal for a late arrival or early departure. Find our hotel suggestions here.

As Basel is very close, you can easily stay in one of the hotels in town as well. Hotels in the town center and near the rail station can be found here.

Bern Airport (“Bern Flughafen”): introduction

“Flughafen Bern”, abbreviated by “BRN”, is a small airport near the capital Bern. Most flights originate from Europe. Intercontinental flights arrive at Zurich Airport.

Bern Airport to Bern by bus and train

There is no train station at the airport. A 10-minute bus ride takes you from the bus stop “Bern Flughafen” at the airport to the rail station of Belp, from where you can continue by train to Bern or Thun. Also, there’s a bus to the rail stations of Rubigen.

The Swiss Travel Pass and several other rail passes cover the buses for free, as well as the trains. The trip from the airport to Bern via Belp is also free if you have booked a hotel or other accommodation in Bern, since they will issue you a Bern Ticket.

Consult our Bern travel guide for details.

Bern Airport to Bern by private transfer or rental cars

There are rental cars available at the airport too. If you need a private transfer instead, see:

• car and taxi transfers from/to Bern Airport

More helpful info to plan your flight and your stay