The transport system in Switzerland is generally regarded as the best in Europe and possibly one of the best in the world, with an extensive rail and bus system that not only runs on time, but also reaches every corner of the country. The main point of entry for most international visitors is the efficient Zurich Airport, which is the largest and busiest airport in Switzerland.

Visitors to Zurich arriving by air will enter the city via Zurich International Airport; the airport is the busiest in Switzerland and it handles in excess of 17 million passengers a year. The airport is located just over seven miles north of the city and is linked to the centre by an excellent network of trains, buses and taxis. 

The airport consists of two terminals which handle all domestic and international flights, with internal walkways offering a convenient connection between the two areas. Passengers requiring assistance at the airport will find information desks situated in both terminals. 

Facilities at Zurich Airport are excellent, with the Swiss love of order and efficiency ensuring that all passenger needs are catered for. You will find Fast Point terminals located throughout the airport, which provide information to passengers regarding available services and facilities as well as information on transport and assistance for the disabled. 

The airport offers extensive shopping options, with over 100 shops doing business around the airport site. Eating options are also extensive, with a wide range of bars, restaurants and cafés to suit every taste and budget. Passengers with a long stopover between flights can rent one of the airport’s air-conditioned stopover rooms. These rooms come complete with beds, television and kitchen and bathroom facilities. 

Arriving passengers have several choices in transport for the short journey into the city, with the most popular and convenient means being the rail service from the airport train station to Zurich Central. Trains depart from the airport every 10 minutes for the 10-minute journey. Passengers choosing this option can buy one ticket that gives unlimited access to the Zurich rail system for the rest of that day. You will find the airport rail station located in the basement of Terminal B. 

Another popular option is the punctual and efficient bus system, which provides 11 bus lines between the airport and the surrounding areas; you will find the bus terminal situated beside car parks 2 and 3. Passengers requiring a more direct service can catch a taxi from outside both terminal buildings, while those with a larger budget can hire a personal limousine to deliver them to their destination in style.

Even though the city of Zurich is relatively small and easy to navigate, the city still provides one of the most widespread and efficient public transport networks in the world. Every corner of the city is completely covered by a mixed system of trams, buses and trains that are of such a high quality that even the city’s many millionaires are said to prefer them to their own expensive vehicles. 

In the 1970s, the people of Zurich rejected a plan for an underground rail system in favour of the more eco-friendly tram system that exists today. These trams cover all areas of the city and are largely responsible for the low level of private cars on the city’s streets. Travelling on Zurich’s tram system is not only a pleasant way to explore the area, but also good value, as visitors can buy a one-day pass which covers the use of the city’s trams, buses and trains. 

As well as the excellent tram system, Zurich also offers an extensive network of buses and trains. All trains and buses work in conjunction with tram services to provide coverage to every area of the city, with all trains originating or passing through the main station that’s located on Bahnhofplatz in the city centre. The main bus station can be found next to Central Train Station; from here, you can catch buses to destinations in and around Zurich as well as to all the main centres throughout Switzerland. The city’s extensive transport network is in operation from 05:30 to 24:00, Monday to Saturday, with some late services running into the night on the weekends. 

Another popular transport option for the physically fit is to take advantage of the city’s free bicycle hire scheme. For a small returnable deposit, you can have free use of a bicycle between the hours of 07:30 and 21:30. There are six free bike hire centres dotted around the city, with the main depot being located at the train station on Zolstrasse. 

Due to the efficiency and value of the public transport system, taxis are not a common sight in Zurich. In fact, taxis can prove so expensive in the city that locals generally only use them as a last resort. Visitors requiring a taxi should ask at their hotel reception for a booking or call one of the phone numbers advertised