Zurich public transport: tickets, passes and apps

Zurich's fares are zone-based: the city is one zone, the airport and outer suburbs are others. A ticket is valid for the zones printed on it, and inside those zones you can change between tram, bus, S-Bahn and boat without paying again.

Prices below are 2026 estimates for adults, second class, and the exact zone boundaries and products change from year to year. Treat the table as a shape, not a quote: confirm the current fare at a ticket machine or in the ZVV app before you buy. Children usually pay a reduced fare, and some offers let a child ride free with a paying adult — check at the machine.

You can buy at ticket machines at tram and bus stops, at station counters, or in the SBB and ZVV apps. Machines generally take coins and bank cards; the app is the easiest option if you have data, and it also shows which zones your trip crosses.

Buy before you board. Inspectors work in plain clothes and check randomly, and a ticket bought after the doors close does not count. Keep your ticket until you leave the last vehicle, and validate a paper ticket if the machine issues one that needs stamping.

Some hotels issue guests a free or discounted city transport card — ask at check-in before you buy anything. Contactless bank cards and phones are accepted on some services, but coverage is uneven, so check locally rather than assuming you can tap in.

The ZVV network is divided into zones. One zone covers the city of Zurich, including the main station, the old town, the lakefront and most museums; the airport and the outer suburbs sit in other zones. Zone numbers and boundaries are revised from time to time, so check the map at your stop or in the app rather than relying on a number from an old guide.

If you stay inside the city zone, a city ticket is enough. If your hotel is outside it, or you plan to visit the airport, Uetliberg or a lakeside village, check which zones you cross and buy a ticket that covers all of them. A single ticket is valid for one direction within its zones; a 24-hour ticket covers unlimited travel in its zones for 24 hours.

Zurich Airport has its own station under the terminal, with trains to Zurich HB, the main station, and onward across Switzerland. Buy a ticket that covers both the airport zone and the city zone, or a 24-hour ticket for both if you are coming back the same day.

If you arrive late, night services are limited; check the last connection before you book a late flight. Journey times and frequencies vary by line and time of day, so look up your specific departure rather than assuming a fixed interval.

If you are in Zurich for one day, a 24-hour city ticket is usually the cheapest sensible option, unless you only make one or two trips, in which case singles win. If you plan to visit museums, the Zurich Card can be better value because it includes entry to many museums and a lake boat.

For longer stays, look at the ZVV multi-day pass or a Swiss-wide pass if you are also travelling to other cities. The Half Fare card and the Swiss Travel Pass are national products; they can make sense if you take several long train journeys, but they are usually overkill for city travel alone.

Validate your ticket if the machine issues a paper one that needs stamping, and keep it until you leave the last vehicle. If you are unsure, ask at a station counter — staff are used to visitors and will tell you which zones you need.