---
title: "Trains from Zurich to Lucerne | EveryRail"
description: "Direct SBB InterRegio trains every half hour from Zürich HB to Luzern, in 41 or 50 minutes. No seat reservation needed."
image: "https://everyrail.com/api/route-image/zurich-to-lucerne/"
---
[Home]()[Europe by train]()[Switzerland]()Zurich to Lucerne by train
[Home]()[Europe by train]()[Switzerland]()Zurich to Lucerne by train
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**On this page**
- [About Zurich to Lucerne by train]()
- [Where to book]()
- [Find places to stay in Lucerne]()
- [Frequently asked questions]()
- [More routes]()
[Book now]()
Last updated November 2026
# Zurich to Lucerne by train
Direct SBB InterRegio trains every half hour from Zürich HB to Luzern, in 41 or 50 minutes. No seat reservation needed.
![Kapellbrücke chapel bridge with its flower boxes and the Wasserturm on the Reuss in Lucerne, Pilatus behind]()
Origin
[Zurich]()
Destination
[Lucerne]()
Main stations
Zürich HB to Luzern Bahnhof
Country
[Switzerland]()
Two direct SBB InterRegio trains an hour link Zürich HB and Luzern, taking 41 or 50 minutes. You never need a seat reservation.
## Every train is direct
Trains leave Zürich HB every half hour, alternating between two InterRegio lines. Both run straight through to Luzern.
| Train | Stops between Zürich HB and Luzern | Journey time |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Faster InterRegio | Zug | about 41 minutes |
| InterRegio via Rotkreuz | Thalwil, Baar, Zug, Rotkreuz | about 50 minutes |
Take the next train rather than waiting for the fast one. The 41-minute train is often the busier of the two in 2nd class, so the 50-minute one is a good pick with luggage. Direct trains keep running every half hour into the late evening, and the last one leaves around midnight.
From 13 December 2026 the half-hourly pattern between Zürich HB and Luzern is planned to stay the same, though the timetable is not final yet.
## From Zurich Airport
Both lines currently start further east and call at Zürich Flughafen before Zürich HB. From 13 December 2026 only the faster train is planned to run through from the airport on weekdays; on the train via Rotkreuz you will usually change at Zürich HB on weekdays, while weekend trains still run through. From the airport you can ride through to Luzern in about 1 hour 10 minutes. Some trains wait several minutes at Zürich HB. Stay on board.
## Tickets and saver fares
Supersaver tickets are the cheapest way to travel. SBB sells them on sbb.ch and in the SBB Mobile app up to six months ahead, in limited numbers, and each one is valid only on the train you choose. With a Half Fare card they can start from around CHF 9 to CHF 10 for this trip. If your plans might change, a Supersaver Flex ticket gives you 75% back if you cancel before departure.
Supersaver fares exist in 1st class too, and 1st class is often far quieter on these trains.
Planning a day of excursions around Lake Lucerne? A Saver Day Pass covers trains, buses and boats across the GA Travelcard network for the whole day. In 2nd class it starts from CHF 52 without a Half Fare card, but only when bought in advance.
## Swiss Travel Pass and Interrail
The Swiss Travel Pass covers this journey with no extra ticket. It is sold only to people who live outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and you must carry your original passport or ID card. Interrail passes are valid as well.
Staying a while but not travelling every day? The Swiss Half Fare Card costs CHF 150 for one month. It halves most fares, Supersaver tickets included.
## Luggage on board
Put large cases between or under the seats, where you can keep an eye on them. Double-deck trains also have a luggage rack at the top of the stairs to the upper deck. The 50-minute train usually has a quiet zone and a family compartment.
## Works on 7 and 8 November 2026
SBB is lifting the last renovated section of the Reuss bridge at Fluhmühle back into place, with work from 22:00 on Friday 6 November to 06:00 on Monday 9 November 2026. Trains still run direct on Friday evening. From the early hours of Saturday 7 November until the last trains on Sunday night, trains from Zürich HB terminate at Ebikon, where a replacement bus continues to Luzern station. Allow about an hour in total, and check your connection in the SBB timetable before you travel that weekend.
## Where to book
![]()
### Book with Omio
Find times and prices for Zurich → Lucerne.
[Check times & prices]()
### Other places to book
Ticket websites
- [Trainline]()
These links open the provider’s website. Search for your journey there.
### Train service
- [SBB CFF FFS]()
SBB is Switzerland's national railway, connecting cities, towns and mountain villages. InterCity trains generally do not require reservations.
[Official website]()
[Check times & prices]()
## Find places to stay in Lucerne
[![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in Lucerne**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]()
## Frequently asked questions
### How long is the train from Zurich to Lucerne?
About 41 minutes on the faster InterRegio, which stops only at Zug, or about 50 minutes on the train via Thalwil and Rotkreuz. Both are direct, and they leave Zürich HB every half hour.
### Do I need to reserve a seat?
No. InterRegio trains on this route have no reservation requirement, whether you hold an ordinary ticket, a Swiss Travel Pass or an Interrail pass. Just get on.
### Is there a direct train from Zurich Airport to Lucerne?
Yes. The faster InterRegio to Luzern calls at Zürich Flughafen before Zürich HB, and the ride from the airport takes about 1 hour 10 minutes without a change. Until 12 December 2026 the train via Rotkreuz also runs through; from 13 December it is planned to need a change at Zürich HB on weekdays.
### What is the main station in Lucerne called?
Luzern. That is the German name you will see on tickets and departure boards, and every direct train from Zürich HB ends there.
### How do I get the cheapest ticket?
Book a Supersaver ticket for a specific train on sbb.ch or in SBB Mobile. With a Half Fare card these can start from around CHF 9 to CHF 10, but numbers are limited and the ticket only works on the train you booked.
## More routes
[![Historic buildings along the Limmat River in Zurich's old town]()![SBB CFF FFS]()Geneva to Zurich by trainDirect SBB IC1 trains leave Genève hourly for Zürich HB, calling at Lausanne and Bern, in just under 3 hours. No seat reservation needed.]()[![View of the old town in Zurich, Switzerland]()![SNCF Voyageurs]()![SBB CFF FFS]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Interlaken to Zurich by trainTrains from Interlaken to Zurich take about 2 hours, direct or with one change at Bern. Services run at least hourly; a second-class ticket costs about CHF 76.]()[![Paris skyline with the Eiffel Tower]()![TGV Lyria]()Lucerne to Paris by trainOne change at Basel SBB: about an hour from Luzern, then the TGV Lyria to Paris Gare de Lyon. Around 4 hours 45 minutes, six a day.]()[![Historic buildings along the Limmat River in Zurich's old town]()![SBB CFF FFS]()Lucerne to Zurich by trainDirect SBB InterRegio trains leave Luzern every half hour for Zürich HB, taking 42 or 50 minutes. No seat reservation is needed.]()[![View of Zurich, Switzerland]()![Trenitalia]()![SBB CFF FFS]()Milan to Zurich by trainDirect EuroCity trains take about 3h11 from Milano Centrale to Zürich HB via the Gotthard Base Tunnel. A seat reservation is compulsory.]()[![View of the old town in Zurich, Switzerland]()![Deutsche Bahn]()Munich to Zurich by trainDirect EuroCity trains link Munich Hbf and Zurich HB in about 3 hours 32 minutes, with 8 to 10 daily departures. Advance fares start from around €30.]()[![Kapellbrücke chapel bridge with its flower boxes and the Wasserturm on the Reuss in Lucerne, Pilatus behind]()![TGV Lyria]()Paris to Lucerne by trainNo direct train: TGV Lyria from Paris Gare de Lyon to Basel SBB, then about an hour to Luzern. Around 4 hours 45 minutes, six a day.]()[![View of the old town in Zurich, Switzerland]()![SNCF Voyageurs]()![SBB CFF FFS]()Paris to Zurich by trainDirect TGV Lyria trains take about 4 hours from Paris Gare de Lyon to Zürich HB, with advance fares from €29.]()
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