Zurich Card City Pass with Public Transport 24 or 72 Hours

Zurich public transport with the Zürich Card

Zurich has one of the densest and most punctual public transport networks in Europe: blue-and-white trams criss-cross the city every few minutes, buses fill the gaps, S-Bahn trains link the districts and suburbs, and funiculars climb the hills to the university and the Dolder woods. With the Zürich Card you use them all in 2nd class within the valid zones, which cover the city of Zurich, the airport and the Uetliberg area.

That means you can land at Zurich Airport, activate the card and take the train into the city in about 10 minutes without buying a ticket. Children 6 to 15 have their own card, and children under 6 travel free on Swiss public transport. For trips beyond the zones, such as Lucerne or the Rhine Falls, you buy a separate ticket; an upgrade to 1st class can also be paid.

Lake Zurich and Limmat river cruises

Lake Zurich stretches south-east from the city between gentle hills, villages and elegant villas, with the snow peaks of the Alps on the horizon on clear days. The Zürich Card includes the short round trips on the lower lake as well as the small river boat on the Limmat, which glides from the Swiss National Museum through the old town under its low bridges and out onto the lake.

A Lake Zurich cruise is one of the best ways to see the city from the water: the spires of the Grossmünster and Fraumünster, the lakeside promenades of Utoquai and Mythenquai, the parks at Zürichhorn and the swimming lidos that fill up in summer. Boats run more often in the warm season; the timetable at the Bürkliplatz pier shows the departures for your day.

Zurich museums included in the card

Many of Zurich's most visited museums let Zürich Card holders in free. The Swiss National Museum, in a fairy-tale castle-like building right beside the main station, tells the story of Switzerland from prehistory to today, with medieval rooms, armour, costumes and changing exhibitions. Art lovers will find major collections of painting and design in the city, and smaller museums cover subjects from toys to cultures of the world.

Because the list of included museums can change, check the current Zürich Card guide when you activate the card and plan around opening days; many museums close on Mondays. Entry is valid during normal opening hours only. With a 72-hour card, it is easy to combine two or three museum visits with a lake cruise and a trip up the Uetliberg.

Uetliberg, Zurich's lookout mountain

The Uetliberg rises to 871 metres on the western edge of the city and is Zurich's favourite viewpoint. A train from the main station climbs to the top station in about 25 minutes, and a short walk leads to the summit and its lookout tower. From there the city spreads along the curve of the lake, and on clear days the whole chain of the Alps lines the horizon.

The train is included with the Zürich Card, so a trip up the Uetliberg costs nothing extra. In autumn and winter the summit often rises above the fog that covers the city. A popular easy walk, the Planetenweg, follows the ridge from the summit towards Felsenegg, with models of the planets placed along the way, in about two hours.

Zurich Old Town on the Limmat

The Old Town spreads along both banks of the Limmat river. On the east side, the twin towers of the Grossmünster church rise above the Niederdorf lanes; on the west side stand the Fraumünster with its slender green spire and St. Peter's church, whose clock face is the largest of any church in Europe. The Lindenhof terrace, on the site of a Roman fort, gives a classic view over the rooftops.

Trams stop at Paradeplatz, Bellevue and Central, so you can hop on and off as you explore. Bahnhofstrasse, one of the world's best-known shopping streets, leads from the main station to the lake. The card's half-price city tours and discounts at partner shops and restaurants make it easy to fill a day in the centre.