Zurich Airport Layover Guide
Zurich Airport · Layover Guide
Things to Do at Zurich Airport During a Layover
The S-Bahn reaches Zurich HBF in 12 minutes, every 3-5 minutes. The Altstadt, Fraumunster and Lake Zurich are all walkable from the station. Named Europe’s Leading Airport 17 years running.
12 min
To Zurich HBF by S-Bahn
Free
Altstadt — no entry fee
3 lounges
Including non-Schengen options
Highlights
S2 or S16 — 12 min to Hauptbahnhof
Train every 3-5 min, CHF 6.80. Direct to HBF, then the Altstadt is a 10-min walk from there.
Priority Pass lounges airside
Aspire Lounge (Schengen Centre) and both Aspire and Primeclass in Terminal E for non-Schengen flights.
Altstadt and Lake Zurich
Grossmunster and Fraumunster are a 15-min walk from HBF. The lake promenade is directly alongside.
Getting into Zurich
Transport from Zurich Airport
The S-Bahn platform is directly below the terminal building. No outdoor walking required to board. S2 and S16 both run direct to HBF without a change.
| Option | Destination | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| S-Bahn S2 / S16 | Zurich HBF | 10-12 min | Every 3-5 min. Platform directly below terminal. No change required. CHF 6.80 approx. Best option. |
| Tram 10 | City centre via Flughafen tram stop | 35 min | Scenic route through northern Zurich neighbourhoods. Slower but a pleasant alternative. |
| Taxi | City centre | 20-30 min | CHF 48-72 depending on traffic and time of day. Available 24h outside arrivals. |
Layover itineraries
At the airport
Aspire Lounge (Schengen) or Primeclass Lounge Terminal E (non-Schengen) for food, drinks and a comfortable wait. Aspire is Priority Pass; Primeclass accepts walk-in.
Runway 34 restaurant inside a vintage Swissair DC-3 and Convair CV-990 aircraft in the terminal. A genuinely unusual lunch or coffee stop.
Skymetro to Concourse E plays Swiss folk music and yodeling during the underground ride. Worth the trip even if your flight departs elsewhere.
City timing note
The S-Bahn is 12 minutes to HBF but you need a 45-60 min security buffer before your flight. Under 3 hours leaves very little city time. Stay at the airport unless you know the layout well and your security queue is reliable.
Solo Primeclass Lounge in Terminal E is worth the walk-in fee for a short non-Schengen layover. Showers, hot food, quiet seating.
Altstadt (Old Town)
0:00
S2 or S16 from airport to Zurich HBF. 12 minutes, every 3-5 min.
0:15
Altstadt, 5 min walk from HBF. Fraumunster church has five Chagall stained glass windows (small entry fee). Grossmunster twin towers visible across the Limmat river (exterior free).
1:30
Coffee at a Confiserie on Bahnhofstrasse or in the Altstadt. Zurich has a strong cafe culture and the pastry selection is excellent.
3:00
S-Bahn back from HBF to airport. Allow 90 min airport buffer from this point.
Lake Zurich
0:00
S-Bahn to HBF. Walk 10 min south to Burkliplatz on Lake Zurich.
0:25
Lakeside promenade at Burkliplatz. In summer, outdoor lidos (Freibad) are open for swimming. In winter, a pleasant walk with views of the Alps on clear days.
3:30
S-Bahn back to airport from HBF.
Solo Grossmunster tower gives the best city views and costs very little to climb. Combine with Fraumunster for a 2h Altstadt circuit.
Couple Lake Zurich promenade and a coffee in the Altstadt is a relaxed 4h loop without rushing.
Altstadt and Kunsthaus
0:00
S-Bahn to HBF. Walk to Altstadt.
0:20
Fraumunster (Chagall windows) and Grossmunster tower. Allow 1.5h for both including the climb.
2:00
Kunsthaus Zurich — one of Switzerland’s most important fine art museums. The Chipperfield extension opened in 2021. Allow 2 hours. 10 min walk from Fraumunster.
4:30
Lunch at a Zunfthaus (guild hall restaurant) on the Limmat river.
6:30
S-Bahn back from HBF. Allow 90 min airport buffer.
Zurich Zoo and lake
0:00
S-Bahn to HBF then tram to Zoo or Zurichberg.
0:30
Zurich Zoo — a genuinely good zoo with Masoala rainforest, Lewa savannah and penguins. Allow 2-3 hours. Popular with families and worth a visit for adults too.
3:30
Lake Zurich promenade in the afternoon. Take the tram back down to Burkliplatz.
6:30
Return via HBF.
Family Zurich Zoo plus the lakeside is the most straightforward full morning for children. No museum queues, outdoor space, easy tram return.
Couple Altstadt, Kunsthaus and a riverside lunch covers culture and food without a heavy schedule.
Full Altstadt day
0:00
S-Bahn to HBF. Walk to Altstadt.
0:20
Fraumunster and Grossmunster tower climb. Morning light is best for the Chagall windows.
2:00
Kunsthaus Zurich. Allow 2 hours for the main collection and the Chipperfield building.
4:30
Uetliberg — Zurich’s city mountain, accessible by S10 train from HBF (25 min). Panoramic views over the city and Lake Zurich. Walk back down or return by train.
8:00
S-Bahn back from HBF. Allow 90 min buffer.
Day trip: Lucerne or Rhine Falls
0:00
Lucerne by direct train from HBF (45 min, every 30 min): Chapel Bridge, old town, Lion Monument. Allow 3-4 hours in the city.
0:45
Or Rhine Falls (Schaffhausen) — 40 min by train from HBF. Europe’s largest waterfall by volume. Boat rides and viewpoints. Allow 2-3 hours.
Return
Return to HBF and then airport. Day trips need 10h+ layovers to work comfortably.
Solo Kunsthaus Zurich plus Uetliberg covers both art and a proper outdoor walk. Buy a day pass for unlimited trains and trams.
Family Rhine Falls is the most impressive natural sight near Zurich and accessible in under 1 hour from HBF. A day trip for 10h+ layovers.
Airport lounges
Aspire Lounge Airside Centre
Aspire Lounge Airside Centre
Schengen — Airside Centre
05:15–21:00. Food, drinks, Wi-Fi. Access via Priority Pass (complimentary for members). For Schengen departures.
Aspire Lounge Terminal E
Aspire Lounge Terminal E
Non-Schengen — Terminal E
Priority Pass (complimentary). For non-Schengen departures. Check current hours at your gate on arrival.
Primeclass Lounge Terminal E
Primeclass Lounge Terminal E
Non-Schengen — Terminal E
06:00–22:30. Walk-in available. Hot food, drinks, showers. Higher-quality finish than the Aspire lounges.
Left luggage
Left luggage is available at Check-in 2, open 06:00 to 22:00. Pricing is by bag size. Useful if you want to explore Zurich city without carrying hand luggage.
Airport hotels at Zurich
Seven hotels are within 1.5km of Zurich Airport. The Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle is the closest at 0.3km, inside The Circle complex connected to the terminal. For Park and Fly, Hilton Zurich Airport and Movenpick Hotel Zurich Airport are the top picks. Novotel Zurich Airport also has Park and Fly.
Common questions
How fast is the train to the city?
The S2 and S16 run every 3-5 minutes and reach Zurich HBF in 10-12 minutes. The platform is directly below the terminal building with no outdoor walking required. It is one of the fastest airport-to-city connections in Europe.
Are the lounges open to non-business passengers?
Both Aspire locations accept Priority Pass members for free. The Primeclass Lounge in Terminal E accepts walk-in passengers at a per-person fee. Check the current walk-in rate on arrival as it varies by season.
Do I need to change trains to reach the city?
No. The S2 and S16 both run direct from the airport station to Zurich HBF without any change. From HBF you can connect to trams, other S-Bahn lines and intercity trains.
Is Fraumunster worth visiting?
Yes. The five Chagall stained glass windows are genuinely striking and unlike anything else in the city. Morning is the best time when the light comes through from the east. The entry fee is small and the church is compact, so you can visit in 20-30 minutes.
Information sourced from flughafen-zuerich.ch and zuercher-verkehrsverbund.ch. Check official sites for current lounge hours and fares.