Zurich Airport (ZRH) Flights & Information

Zürich International Airport (ZRH) is the largest airport in Switzerland, providing easy train connections to the city of Zürich, the nearby European countries like Austria and Germany and beyond. Zürich Airport is also the hub for the country’s flag carrier, Swiss Airlines. Winning the annual World Travel Award over 20 times in a row, this modern airport is convenient, efficient, and compact. Because of this, I prefer flying through Zürich over the larger, busier options like Frankfurt or Paris. Here is why.

Terminal info at Zürich

Zürich Airport has 1 main terminal, where 2 of its 3 gate concourses, A and B/D, are located. To the right of the terminal post-security, gate concourse A services flights to and from the Schengen area of Europe. So does the main level of gate concourse B/D to the left of the terminal, where you’ll find the B gates.

On the lower level, gates D service flights outside the Schengen area. Both concourses A and B/D are connected to each other through the terminal’s Airside Center with plenty of shops and restaurants. You can walk to the end of each concourse in about 25 minutes; walkways are also available.

Finally, there is also a satellite concourse outside of the main building for gates E. Passengers traveling from the US will most likely arrive to and leave from this concourse. It’s connected to the main terminal via a 3-minute ride on SkyMetro, the driverless Zürich Airport train with service every few minutes that plays charming Swiss cow mooing sounds onboard.

Transferring between gates E and the main terminal is easier than it sounds. There are clear signs for gates at both locations which will direct you to the SkyMetro station, located on the lower levels, via a series of escalators. Plan for about 35 min total transfer time (more info on transferring between concourses for connecting passengers below).

Check-in procedures at ZRH

You’ll find all the check-in areas at Zürich Airport at the main terminal. Check-in area 1 is located to the right of the terminal and area 2 is to the left. Above the train station that connects the airport to the city, there is also check-in area 3, so if you’re arriving into the airport by train, this is the one you’ll want to use.

Swiss Air uses check-in areas 1 and 3. With a few exceptions, the rest of the Star Alliance members like Lufthansa and Austrian Airlines use the same check-in areas too. It’s best to refer to the check-in boards, located throughout the terminal, that display the most up-to-date information about each airline’s check-in desk location.

Check-in 2 is typically reserved for non-Star Alliance airlines like Delta, British Airways, or Emirates. Occasionally, other Star Alliance members like Turkish Airlines use this check-in area too. The actual airline desks in check-in area 2 are spread on 2 floors pre-security, so be sure to consult the boards for your airline and appropriate floor.

Pro tip: Swiss Airlines and select Star Alliance partners offer a convenient perk at ZRH. Here, you can check in and drop off your bags the day before your flight, up to 23 hours before departure. Travelers returning from neighboring countries, for example, can arrive at the airport by train, drop their bags and explore Zürich for an additional day without having to worry about luggage storage.

Security at ZRH

The global Skytrax airport rating agency has recently named Zürich Airport the world’s best airport for security controls. Indeed, the security lines at ZRH are typically fast and efficient. After scanning your boarding passes, you’ll proceed through security with an option to use a standard lane or priority lanes, located nearby.

Access to priority security lanes at ZRH is offered through select airline status like Star Alliance Gold or cabin of service such as Swiss First or Business. No status or flying economy? For a price that amounts to ~ 10 lattes, you can also purchase an upgrade service called ZRH Comfort, bookable through the airport’s website. It includes priority security lanes and access to the ZRH Club lounge.

While I typically recommend purchasing fast track access, I’d skip it in Zürich. In my experience of multiple trips and transfers through this airport, the regular lanes are fast enough. I’d only recommend purchasing ZRH Comfort if you don’t already have lounge access through your credit card, airline status, or cabin service - in that case, getting both priority security lanes and a lounge stay in 1 purchase is worth it.

Connecting passengers

If you’re flying with Swiss Airlines beyond Zürich, you will be connecting through the airport to your final destination. ZRH is one of the best airports to connect at: it is compact and efficient, and, unlike other major European airports, smaller connection times are possible here (in fact, ZRH has one of the shortest minimum connection times in the travel space).

Depending on your final destination, you may need to go through passport control when transferring in Zürich. If your final destination is outside of the European Schengen area like Delhi or Dubai, you won’t have to go through passport control. If you’re connecting in Zürich to continue elsewhere in the Schengen area, you will need to go through passport control before catching your next flight.

Any time you enter or leave the Schengen area, passport control is required. Be aware of this when planning your trip. For example, on a recent flight to Greece, I had a 5-hour layover in Zürich. I left Concourse E via SkyMetro and, since I was entering the Schengen area, went through passport control upon exiting the train, before continuing to Concourse A to catch my flight to Greece.

On the way back to the US, my connection time was only 45 minutes. Since I was now leaving the Schengen area in Zürich, I went through passport control again before getting to my US-bound flight. Take note that typically, there is no security re-check at Zürich for US travelers (unlike Heathrow, for example). This helps greatly with making even the tightest connection times work.

Getting to and from ZRH

Zürich Airport is located about 7 miles north of the city. There are a number of ways to get to and from the airport, but the best one, by far, is via a train.

The airport’s train station connects to Zürich HB, the central station in Zürich, via the SBB trains which belong to the Swiss national rail system. Once you pass the baggage claim and customs area and get to the arrivals hall, follow the signs for the train station, located on the terminal’s lower level.

Single ride costs ~ 2 cups of coffee and it’s free for children under 5. You can purchase tickets at the station machines, SBB ticket counters or information desks in the arrivals area. Trains depart every 10 minutes and there are several lines that service this route, which means that you won’t wait long for a ride. The journey takes about ~ 12-15 minutes.

If you aren’t pressed for time, consider taking the streetcar tram into the city. It’s a more scenic way to transfer and the ride, which costs the same as the train, takes about 35 minutes. Once inside the train station, look for the signs to the trams which are located on the upper level, next to the bus station.

Pro tip: if you’re planning on visiting Zürich’s many city attractions, the Zürich Card and the Swiss Travel Pass by SBB both have unlimited public transport and free admission to a number of museums included in the price.

ZRH is also serviced by taxis and car-sharing apps like Uber and Bolt. A taxi ride can cost about 10 times more than the train, so I don’t recommend it. If you have a lot of luggage and prefer a car transport, Bolt is the best option - it’s typically twice as cheap as taxis or Uber.

Passenger experience at ZRH

There’s no shortage of shopping and dining options at ZRH. The airport’s Airside Center has a plethora of spots to choose from; the Swiss chocolatier brand Läderach and La Prairie cosmetics are my favorites. Pre-security, I recommend stopping by bio local, a gourmet store which carries a selection of fine Swiss cheeses for your last-minute gifts.

If you have time to leave the secured area, check out The Circle, a new shopping and dining center just across from the terminal. It’s home to a floating spa, 2 Hyatt properties - Hyatt Place and Hyatt Regency - and a number of outstanding places to eat like the French rooftop restaurant, Sablier.

There are 16 lounges at ZRH, 9 of which belong to Swiss Airlines. I’ve found that concourse E has the best lounge options. The Swiss business lounge (open to Star Alliance Gold members) has plenty of quiet areas and open spaces. For Priority Pass holders, the Prime Class lounge is an excellent option - after a long trans-Atlantic flight, I particularly appreciate its outdoor terrace overlooking the airfield.