Zurich Airport Guide

Zurich airport

Zurich Airport is the large modern hub of Swiss International Air Lines, and located just 8 miles north of central Zürich. It is still known as Kloten Airfield to many locals, but is still very close to the city, with flights that fly a picturesque route through the mountains on landing.

There is a 'single terminal' concept: you can walk around the airport which is in an H layout, with a central spine and two arms (A, and B/D), plus a midfield terminal (Dock E). However, about a third of the terminal is the non-Schengen area (flights to the UK and international) after passport control (Gates D, of the B/D arm). London is by far the most popular destination, closely followed by Dubai, and many flights depart non-Schengen.

All passengers initially check in at Zurich Airport Airside Center, and then after security either go to A, B/D, and E.

The Center building is by far the most impressive and largest, with two very trendy bars at each end, and a huge A frame running up the middle with a balcony on top and shops below. It certainly has the wow factor.

Zurich Airport Terminal A

Terminal A is mainly domestic and very short flights. It is quite old, and will be demolished next year.

Zurich Airport Terminal B/D

Terminal B is also old, opening in 1975. All gates have one number and are prefixed B and D, and passengers are switched between B (Schengen) and D(non-Schengen) which can be quite confusing. However, to add to the confusion, the D gates lounges are totally separate, and only accessable after passport control.

Zurich airport

Zurich Airport Terminal E

Terminal E was brand new a decade ago, and is a midfield terminal connected to the Airside Center by the Skymetro, an automated underground people mover.

Zurich Airport Pay in, First & Business Class lounges

Emirates Lounge

The brand-new Zurich Emirates Lounge has great views over the runway, and vast floor to ceiling windows. The lounge is furnished with Italian marble floors, plus designer blue carpet, Gold Rolex clocks and mahogany room dividers. There are plenty of comfortable leather armchairs and a choice of formal or relaxed seating, with the usual design of Emirate ...read more.

Location: Terminal E (inside security). Above Gate E45. Open: 1000-1400, 1700-2115

Swiss Alpine Lounge

The 500 square metre SWISS Alpine Lounge is in the heart of the Schengen area of the airport at Terminal A, and can accommodate up to 100 passengers who are offered a 'multi-sensual airport lounge experience'. It blends all the charm of a rustic yet contemporary mountain hut with the design of Swiss lounges. There are plenty of light bleached pine eleme ...read more.

Location: Open:

Swiss Business Lounge A

The Swiss Business Class Lounge Zurich A gates is the latest Swiss lounge at the Zurich hub, and one that is well worth while visiting, as it is spread over three levels with a great dining room, a lovely bar, and good views. If you can see it through the crowds of people, that is. The Zurich A gates Swiss Business Class Lounge is brand new, having been ...read more.

Location: Open:

Swiss Business Lounge D

The Zurich Swiss Business Class Lounge D is an OK, if not exceptional lounge at the Zurich Hub of Swiss. Finding the lounge is a bit of a track - and as such you might want to go to the Swiss Business Class Zurich Lounge at the A gates first. T ...read more.

Location: Open:

Swiss Business Lounge E

The Swiss Business Class Lounge Zurich E gates is the latest Swiss lounge at the Zurich hub, and one that is well worth while visiting, as it is spread over three levels with a great dining room, a lovely bar, and good views. If you can see it through the crowds of people, that is. The Zurich E gates Swiss Business Class Lounge is brand new, having been ...read more.

Location: Open:

Swiss Senator Lounge A

The Swiss Senator Lounge Zurich A gates is the latest Swiss lounge at the Zurich hub, and one that is well worth while visiting, as it is spread over three levels with a great dining room, a lovely bar, and good views. If you can see it through the crowds of people, that is. The Zurich A gates Swiss Senator Lounge is brand new, having been opened in the ...read more.

Location: Open:

Swiss Senator Lounge E

It is well worth while hunting out the Zurich Swiss Senator lounge at Concourse E. Normally, I'd spend as much time as possible in the main part of the airport, as the new remote E gates have only a couple of Duty Free shops, however they do also boast three of the most superb lounges at Zurich. The Swiss Business and Senator lounges share an entrance, u ...read more.

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Zurich Airport transport

Zurich Airport tram

Many people just hop on the tram to the airport. Single tram tickets from the airport to the city cost 5 euro 60 and the trip usually takes 35 minutes to Zurich city centre.

Zurich Airport train

The station has frequent InterCity, and Eurocity services, to many places including Basel, Bern, and Geneva.

Zurich Airport taxi services

A regular Zurich airport taxi ride will cost around 60 euro for a 15-minute trip into the city.

Car Hire at Zurich Airport

When dropping off your hire car, The airport is served by the A51 motorway which links to the airports where there are drop-off areas by the Airport Centre.

Zurich airport

Zurich Airport Hotel

there is a transit hotel, in the middle of the airport. The Transit Hotel Zurich Airport offers double rooms for 135CHF for night, or single rooms in blocks of 3 hours from 49CHF. It's in the small corridor leading to the B/D gates, before B/D security and immigration.

There is just one airport hotel landside right at the terminal at Zurich airport, the Zurich Airport Radisson Blu Hotel.

A Modern, upscale hotel with an Italian restaurant & spa services, it has no less than a 16m-high atrium wine tower.

The Mövenpick Hotel Zürich Airport is also a 4-star hotel, a good 1km walk away, while the Novotel is a further 1km on from here.

Zurich Airport Left Luggage

Zurich airport luggage storage is handled by a company in the car park 2 level 1.

Lockers area are available 24 hours a day, but can only be operated using CHF or EUR coins, and only for up to 72 hours.

No lost property or missing suitcases are stored in the left luggage office.

Zurich airport Sports Bar terrace

Car parking

Zurich airport car parking is quite good. 14,000 spaces are available in six car parks for short and long term parking.

Zurich Airport Bars and Restaurants

Zurich Airport Sports Bar terrace

There is a brand new Sports Bar terrace at Zurich Airport with amazing views.

Right in the middle of the terminal, you can view flights and have a beer.

It's pricey however, and the food is basically burgers, club sandwiches and simple salads.

Zurich airport Walter Bar

Zurich Airport Walter Bar terrace

To the right of the Zurich Airport Airside Center, the Walter bar is more an Italian restaurant, with a huge wine list. Indeed there is a "flying" wine cabinet above the stylish bar.

Incidentally, the double V stands for W - as in Walter, but also as a symbol for "ViVa", an expression of joy and zest for life.

At least, that's what the bar says.

Zurich airport Centre Bar

Zurich Airport Centre Bar terrace

Another bar in the middle of the Zurich Airport Airside Center, airside.

This one mainly deals in gin, more gin, and Swiss gin. You can sample authentic Swiss gin such as "The Alpinist", distilled with pure water from the Jungfraujoch glacier, or "Turicum", a prize-winning small batch gin from Zurich.

Try the "Züri Mule" cocktail before a flight: it is really good.

Zurich airport ZRH: Zurich Airport Guide - Terminal map, airport guide, lounges, bars, restaurants & reviews with images Airport review with maps by loungeindex
Loungeindex rating: 6 out of 10
Zurich Airport Code: ZRH
ICAO Code:	LSZH	Timezone:	UTC+1 (DST+4)
Elevation:	1416 ft (432 m)	Runways:	3
Latitude:	47.465	Longitude:	8.549