Train stations in Zurich

Use Zürich HB for most long-distance and international trains, but confirm the full station name and platform level before you pay.

Zürich HB is the default station

For most journeys beyond the city, Zürich Hauptbahnhof is the right station. Tickets usually shorten the name to Zürich HB. It is Zurich's main long-distance hub and the station used by the international trains covered here. SBB, CFF and FFS are the German, French and Italian abbreviations for Swiss Federal Railways.

Read the full station name before paying. Zürich Flughafen and Zürich Oerlikon are separate stops, and choosing either one by accident can add a local journey or make you miss the train you meant to board.

Once at Zürich HB, match the train number and destination on the live board, then follow the displayed Gleis, or platform. Look again before heading underground because platforms can change late. If luggage or limited mobility will slow you down, plan the lift route in the SBB journey planner.

The platform number includes a level decision

Zürich HB has four platform groups. Platforms 3 to 18 are at ground level. The SZU station uses platforms 21 and 22 underground, while platforms 31 to 34 at Bahnhof Löwenstrasse and 41 to 44 at Bahnhof Museumstrasse are also below ground. Lifts and escalators link the public areas with the platforms.

There is one major temporary exception. SZU platforms 21 and 22 are closed from 29 April to 18 October 2026 for rebuilding work. S4 and S10 passengers need to follow the replacement arrangements instead of walking to the closed platforms.

An intercity or international train will not necessarily leave from the ground-level trainshed. Find the live platform number first, then allow enough time for the escalator or lift. Waiting near platforms 3 to 18 for a departure from a lower through station is an easy way to miss it.

International trains have different booking rules

Start with the operator and train category. TGV Lyria links Zürich HB with Paris in about 4 hours 4 minutes. Direct EuroCity trains reach Milan in as little as 3 hours 17 minutes, while direct ICE or EuroCity services reach Frankfurt in about 4 hours 10 minutes. Railjet runs through Innsbruck and Salzburg towards Vienna. Check the timetable for your actual travel date because engineering work can change journey times or interrupt through services.

Nightjet and EuroNight are separate night-train services. Nightjet serves routes including Berlin, Hamburg, Vienna, Graz and Amsterdam from Switzerland. EuroNight partner trains serve Prague, Budapest, Ljubljana and Zagreb. Each has its own accommodation options and booking conditions, so check the service name on your ticket before paying.

TGV Lyria requires a reservation on an international journey. A seat reservation on a standard daytime ICE or Railjet is optional, though it can be sensible on a busy train. Nightjet tickets include the booked seat or accommodation. Interrail and Eurail holders still pay for a reservation in the chosen Nightjet category, and EuroNight pass holders need to arrange and pay for their place before travel.

Compare the full point-to-point fare with the pass plus every reservation. Route coverage alone does not provide a bed, couchette or compulsory TGV reservation. Before paying, read the train number, class, flexibility and destination station, and make sure the booking includes the seat or accommodation you expect.

Zürich Flughafen serves the airport terminal

For a flight, use Zürich Flughafen. The rail station is part of the airport complex and is not another name for Zürich HB. Trains run to the main station about every 10 minutes, with a journey time of about 15 minutes. S2 and S16 are two of the direct S-Bahn lines.

The standard adult second-class ZVV single ticket between the airport and Zurich city costs CHF 7.20 for three zones. Confirm the current fare when you buy. Zurich city zone 110 counts as two zones, while the airport is in zone 121. Select your actual destination and any discount entitlement you can use, then read the zones and validity printed on the ticket.

Some long-distance trains call at Zürich Flughafen too. This can remove a change at HB, but it does not mean every long-distance train serves the airport. For a flight connection, add time for the terminal walk, baggage and the airline deadline rather than using the rail journey alone.

Stadelhofen and Oerlikon are useful exceptions

Zürich Stadelhofen can be more convenient than HB when the S-Bahn route or final address is close to it. It is a major node in the Zurich S-Bahn network, not a substitute for every long-distance journey. Check the exact line and final walk before choosing it.

Zürich Oerlikon handles more than local trains. IC1, IR13, IR36 and RE48 services call there regularly, which may save a backtrack for northern Zurich or a journey towards the airport, St Gallen, Schaffhausen or Basel. Read the stop list, since Oerlikon is not a universal substitute for HB.

For Paris, Vienna, Prague or Milan, plan around Zürich HB unless the booked itinerary names another Zurich stop. A secondary station can appear first in a search result without being right for the trip. Match it to the final address and confirm the boarding point before payment.

Tickets and passes need a complete cost comparison

For one or two Swiss journeys, price point-to-point tickets first. An SBB Supersaver Ticket can reduce the standard fare, but it is valid only on the selected connection and normally cannot be exchanged or refunded. It works best when the plan is fixed.

The Swiss Travel Pass includes unlimited travel by train, bus and boat on covered routes, plus local public transport in more than 90 towns and cities. The shortest adult pass covers three consecutive days and costs CHF 254 in second class. Check the latest pass price before paying. Reservations and supplements on certain panorama or international trains are separate, so inspect the area of validity and the exact train.

The visitor Swiss Half Fare Card costs CHF 150 and lasts one month. Use the price shown at purchase when you compare the card with full-fare tickets. It is for residents outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein and reduces eligible train, bus and boat fares by up to 50 percent. You still need tickets. Price the card and the discounted journeys together.

Interrail and Eurail do not guarantee a seat either. Compulsory high-speed reservations and night-train accommodation cost extra. Compare the whole trip rather than the pass headline price, and carry the reservation with the valid pass during travel.

Facilities matter most before a tight connection

Sort out luggage storage, tickets or food before heading to a lower platform. Zürich HB has lockers in the ShopVille area in five sizes, with card and mobile payment among the options. More than 190 shops, restaurants and services sit in ShopVille, but their hours differ. Confirm an essential facility if the connection depends on it.

For the city centre, take the exit that suits the final address. Bahnhofstrasse begins beside the station, and routes into the Old Town start around the HB area. Walking is usually the simpler choice with light luggage; trams and buses are useful for an address farther away.

Construction changes the final step. The Bahnhofquai/HB tram stop and some nearby station accesses are closed until mid-December 2026. Follow the temporary signs and check the live local route before leaving the concourse. A tight plan should not depend on a stop or entrance that is temporarily unavailable.