Whether you have a layover, overnight sleepover or you are just quickly passing through, our Zurich Airport Guide is a great place to start planning your visit. Here, you’ll find information on services and facilities available inside the airport – including details about airport lounges, WiFi, mobile charging points, lockers, 24-hour food options, nearby hotels, and everything in between.
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I found the airport very beautiful. It’s big and a lot of very helpful people who spoke with me in my language. -mayss94
ZRH Airport Overview
To help you plan your layover or overnight sleepover, here is a quick run-down about what to expect during your time at Zurich Airport.
What to Expect
Zurich Airport (code: ZRH) is divided into the Airport Center and the Airside Center. The Airport Center houses landside activities like check-in counters and security checkpoints. The Airside Center serves as the hub for the three terminals/gate areas: A, B/D, and E. Gates E are housed in a separate building connected by the Skymetro underground train.
Dining and shopping are plentiful (and expensive), though all close by 10:00 PM. Plan ahead for late-night snacks, as no eateries stay open 24 hours. Other amenities include free WiFi, a designated rest area with pay-to-use reclining chairs for napping, and pay-to-use showers. Economy class passengers can pay to access a few of the airport lounges.
Sleeping in Zurich Airport
Airport security is generally tolerant of the few overnight campers, and they’ll likely check your ID and boarding pass. The airport also has a pay-to-use napping area if you’re interested in more comfort – for a price. Travellers agree that the airside is more comfortable than the landside. One of our readers reported that the security checks close at 22:30. Keep this in mind if you are planning to sleep in the airside area. Most gates quiet down by 11:00 PM, and benches offer some spots to stretch out
Here are good sleep spots that travellers have reported:
- Gates B seem to have some armrest-free benches and padded seating with outlets to recharge your electronic devices (September, 2024).
- Gates D also seems to feature seats without armrests. The upper area, where Gate D43 is located, is quieter (July, 2024).
- Some of our readers spent the night in the waiting area on Level 1, located on the landside, and reported, “The comfy black padded seating makes for a decent makeshift bed” (June 2024).
Common complaints are the cold temps and bright lights — nothing that an extra layer and an eye mask can’t fix.
For uninterrupted sleep, check out the transit hotel at Gates B/D and the traditional hotel connected to the Airport Center. Nearby hotels also offer free or paid airport shuttles. See the Airport Hotels section below for locations.
Read the latest traveller airport reviews for more tips. For more airport information, continue scrolling down to explore more in our Zurich Airport Guide.
To help us keep this guide up-to-date, you can add or update information or write a review to submit airport tips.
In this guide we may refer to locations as “landside” and “airside”. Landside is the public area of the terminal located in the non-secure zone, before security. Airside is the secure area of the terminal that you must reach by going through security.
Airport Hours
The airport is open 24 hours.
Rest & Relaxation Zones
The airport operates a designated, pay-to-use rest zone in the Transit Hotel at Gates D. This consists of 12 reclining chairs, wool blankets, access to a personal locker as well as tea and coffee.
Zurich Transit Hotel & Nearby Airport Hotels
Quick Facts
- Nearest Hotel: Inside the Airport
- Sleep Cabins or Pods: Yes
- Day Rooms: Yes
- Nearby Hotels with Free Shuttles: Yes
When the prospect of sleeping on the floor or in a chair is giving you nightmares, there is good news for those of you who are looking to sleep at Zurich Airport in comfort. If you are on a layover, you don’t have to go through security, as a transit hotel offers both short-term and overnight rates. Other options include a hotel within walking distance and several more nearby hotels offering free airport shuttles.
Hotel inside Zurich Airport
Transit Hotel – Located in the transit area at Gate D, 1st Floor (non-Schengen). The transit hotel offers private rooms and a rest area. The private rooms have beds, a television and a sink with running water. The rest and relaxation area has 12 recliner chairs.. Blankets, access to a locker, as well as tea and coffee are provided. Showers are included in the cost of the room. Bath towels, toiletries and hair dryers are provided. Single Rates (Day): CHF 70 (3 hours) • CHF 90 (6 hours) • CHF 120 (more than 6 hours) • CHF 130 / (Overnight stay: 4:00 PM – 8:30 AM). Double Rates (Day): CHF 90 (3 hours) • CHF 110 (6 hours) • CHF 130 (more than 6 hours) • CHF 170 / (Overnight stay: 4:00 PM – 8:30 AM). Rates are available for triple rooms as well. The rest & relaxation area day rates are CHF 40 (three hours) • CHF 50 (six hours) • CHF 60 (more than six hours) • CHF 70 / (Overnight stay: 4:00 PM – 8:30 AM). Important: the Transit Hotel is inaccessible from the Schengen area between 11:00 PM and 5:30 AM. Email the hotel at transithotel@zurich-airport.com to make a reservation. » Read Reviews
Hotels at the airport
- Alpine Garden Capsule Hotel – Sleep capsules are opposite check-in 1 on the landside/public zone. Available for the day (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM) and overnight use. As of January 2025, when we checked online, the rates were from 39.00 CHF (Day-use) and 58.90 (upper level) – 62.70 (lower level). » Check Rates
- Radisson Blu Hotel Zurich Airport – The hotel is connected to the airport terminal via a walkway. No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
- Hyatt Place Zurich Airport The Circle – Five-minute walk to the terminal. No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
- Hyatt Regency Zurich Airport The Circle – Five-minute walk to the terminal. No airport shuttle. » Check Rates
More hotels near the airport with free shuttle
- Mövenpick Hotel Zurich-Airport » Check Rates
- Holiday Inn Express Zurich Airport » Check Rates
For more options, visit Tripadvisor to see a list of hotels near Zurich Airport that can be sorted by price, distance, traveller rating and popularity.
Airport Lounges
Pay-per-use, Single Visit Passes & Lounge Memberships
Regardless of what class of service you are flying, there are lounges that you can enter by paying at the door, purchasing a lounge pass or through a lounge membership program. Visit the individual lounge page for more details about the lounge itself and learn how to gain access with just an economy class ticket!
- Aspire Lounge (Non-Schengen) – Location: Airside, Midfield Terminal E, Non-Schengen Area, 3rd Floor, above Gate E52. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs.
- Aspire Lounge (Schengen) – Location: Airside, Schengen Area, 3rd Floor of Airside Center. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs.
- Marhaba Lounge – Location: Airside, B-Gates, 2nd Floor. Lounge Access: Pay at the door • Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs.
- Primeclass Lounge – Location: Airside, 2nd Floor, located by Gate E46. Showers are available. Lounge Access: Prepaid lounge passes • Lounge membership programs.
- Swiss Lounge D – Location: Airside, Non-Schengen Area, Transit Area D. Showers are available.
- ZRH Club – Location: Airside Center, right after Security, near the Center Bar. Lounge Access: Pay at the door. Rate: CHF 50 per person.
Airline Lounges
If you are a First or Business Class traveller, you may have access to the lounges listed below. For more information, check the airline’s website.
Emirates Lounge • SKYTEAM Lounge • Swiss Arrival Lounge • Swiss Business Lounge • Swiss First Lounge • Swiss Senator Lounge • Swiss Senator/Business Lounge.
Drinking Water
A reader tells us that water fountains are available, and you can drink the tap water. (July 2024)
Food & Drinks
With no 24-hour food concessions available, you must stock up on food and water before eateries and convenience stores close for the night. You will find some restaurants opening at 5:30 AM and most close by 10:00 PM.
Luggage Storage & Lockers
Store your luggage in the left luggage storage room or the lockers available.
- Left Luggage Room – Rates are as follows: CHF 10 – CHF 20 per bag for six hours • CHF 15 – CHF 25 per bag per day • CHF 105 – CHF 175 per bag per week. Location: near Check-in 2. Hours: 6:00 AM – 10:30 PM.
- Lockers – Luggage can also be stored in coin-operated lockers for a maximum of 96 hours. CHF and main credit and debit cards are accepted. Hours: open 24 hours. Location: Train Station.
Mobile Charging
A traveller advised us that “there are a set of 3 plugs together every 3 chairs and power outlets in the bathrooms – airside”. (SFT, May 2018)
Showers
Freshen up (and loosen those stiff muscles) with a shower before your flight. Locations of pay-to-use shower facilities:
- Radisson Blu – Landside, outside of the terminal. Three shower rooms with hand towels, a hairdryer, and a shower set with shampoo and shower gel. Rate: CHF 35. Hours: Unknown.
- Service Center – Landside, multi-storey car park 2, Level 1. Rate: Unknown. Hours: 24 hours.
- Airport Fitness and Wellness Center – Ground floor of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Airport Center. Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Mon, Wed, and- Fri) • 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Tue and Thur) • 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Sat-Sun). Rates: CHF 15 for 30 minutes.
- Transit Hotel & Dayrooms – Airside, 1st Floor, Non-Schengen, D Gates. Hours: 24 hours. Rate CHF 20, includes a towel and bodycare products.
- Primeclass Lounge – Airside, near Gate E46
WiFi/Internet
Free WiFi is available at Zurich Airport for four hours. Connect to the “ZurichAirport” network. After you register, you will receive a code by text message (if you cannot receive an SMS, use the ‘register by boarding pass’ option and head to one of the WiFi Stations or information desks to receive your access code). After the four-hour time limit, you can wait seven hours for another free four-hour period or purchase additional time at 6.90 CHF for one hour, 9.90 CHF for four hours, or 14.90 CHF for 24 hours.
Security & Safety
Airport staff have no problem with sleepers and overnight campers, although they would prefer that travellers stay in the transit hotel. If you are spending the night, do expect security staff to check your ID and boarding pass at least once.
At the time of this update, we have no reports from travellers commenting on safety issues at Zurich Airport. However, sleeping in any airport can include a certain level of risk, especially when travelling alone. It’s essential to take certain precautions to ensure your safety and the security of your valuables. Here are a few tips:
- Safety First. It’s a good idea to know where the security office is and look for video cameras where you plan to sleep. You can also ask the security personnel for advice on the safest places to spend the night.
- Don’t Seclude Yourself. If you’re travelling alone, we recommend you stay near other travellers or close to security. This will help you feel more secure and deter potential thieves.
- Hide Your Valuables. It’s also important to hide your valuables. Please don’t leave them out in plain view, as this could make you a target for theft. Additionally, if you are a deep sleeper, you may want to padlock your bag to something or sleep with your bag up against a wall to make it harder for someone to access zippers and pockets. We have received reports of sleepers who awoke without their phones and laptop bags. The travellers were left with just their headphones and laptop bag strap.
- Stay Alert. It’s best to stay alert and awake if you feel unsafe or uncomfortable. Drink coffee or other caffeinated beverages to help you stay sharp, and remember that you can always catch up on sleep during your flight. These simple precautions can help you enjoy a safe night at the airport.
Pro-tip: If you sleep in the public zone, don’t be surprised if you receive an early morning wake-up call. Security is known to make the rounds, waking people up as travellers arrive for morning flights.
More Airport Information
Baggage Carts – Need a hand with your luggage? Baggage Carts are available free of charge throughout the airport.
Business Centre – Spaces is a coworking space featuring creative meeting rooms and offices of all sizes if you need to get work done between flights. Location: Landside, The Circle. Hours: 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM.
Currency Exchange – Travelex provides currency services in the Airside, Arrivals Area 2 (Hours: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM) • Airside Center (Hours: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM) • Landside, Check-in 2 (Hours: 6:00 AM – 9:30 PM).
Drinking Water – see “Drinking Water” above.
Duty-Free and Shopping – The airport offers multiple Zurich Duty-Free shops and enough shops for a small shopping center.
Family Services –
- Baby Care Facilities – A Family Services room comes equipped with diaper changing tables, baby care products for sale, rooms for sleeping and breastfeeding, a kitchenette with microwave and utensils, and a large and colourful playroom with toys for the little ones and Playstation and computer games for older children. Babysitting is unavailable, but the rooms have childcare specialists for assistance and support. Locations: Airside, at the A Gates (next to the transfer desk). Hours: 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM. See also Strollers below.
- Children’s Play Areas – When you want to ensure your kids burn off all their energy before their flight, take them to one of the children’s play areas. Locations: Airside, A81 • Airside, A71 • Airside, B38.
Fitness – Need to burn off some energy before your flight? Drop-in fees are available at the Airport Fitness and Wellness Center, including fitness equipment/classes, sauna access, personal training and much more. Location: Ground floor of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Airport Center. Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Mon, Wed, and Fri) • 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Tue and Thur) • 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Sat-Sun). Rates: CHF 45. You can also pay to use the showers facilities, see showers above.
Food & Drinks – see “Food & Drinks” above.
Hotels – see “Airport Hotels” above.
Information Desk – Locations: Landside, Level 0, Arrival 1 • Landside, Level 0, Arrival 2 • Airside, Level 1, Airside Center • Landside, Level 2, Check-in 2 • Landside, Service Center • Landside, The Circle. Hours: vary by location, with a few opening as early as 6:00 AM and closing at 11:30 PM.
Lounges – see “Airport Lounges” above.
Luggage Storage & Lockers – see “Luggage Storage & Lockers” above.
Luggage Wrapping – Protect your bags from theft and damage by having your bags wrapped in plastic by Safe Bag. Location: Check-in Area 2. Hours: 6:00 AM – 9:00 PM. Rates: Unknown.
Medical Services – All the clinics below can be found in the Airport Center, near Check-In 1.
- Urgent and emergency medical care is available at the Airport Medical Center. Hours: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM. Location: Airport Center, near Check-In 1.
- Urgent and emergency dental care is available at the Airport Dental Services Clinic. Hours: 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM (Mon-Sat). Location: Airport Center, near Check-In 1.
- Urgent/emergency eye care is available at the Airport Medical Center Eye Clinic from 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM (Mon-Fri). Location: Airport Center, near Check-In 1.
- Kieser Physiotherapie provides physiotherapy, occupational therapy, rehabilitation, and strength training. Location: The Circle. Hours: 7:30 AM – 7:00 PM (Mon-Thu) and 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM (Fri).
LUNGE ZÜRICH offers consultations on lung health, information on how to quit smoking, and other similar services. Location: The Circle. - The Balgrist University Hospital also offers patients consultations, assessments and treatments in several fields including orthopedics, sports medicine and chiropractic. Location: The Circle.
Mobile Charging – see “Mobile Charging” above.
Pharmacy – Amavita operates three pharmacies. Locations: Airport Center (7:00 AM – 9:00 PM) • Check-in 1 (6:00 AM – 9:00 PM) • Airside Center (7:00 AM – 9:00 PM).
Post Office – Send your last-minute postcards to friends and family from the airport’s post office. Swiss Post Location: Airport Center Hours: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Daily).
Prayer Room – Location: Airside, Gate D, 1st Floor (non-Schengen), next to the Transit Hotel. Airport chaplaincy is also available Location: Landside, Check-in 2.
Rest Zones – see “Rest & Relaxation Zones” above.
Shoe Repair – Break a heel? Need a key cut or a souvenir engraved? Head to Mr Shoe Care. Location: Airside Center. Hours: 5:30 AM – 8:00 PM.
Showers – see “Showers” above.
Smokers Lounges – Nineteen smoking lounges are located throughout the terminal, both on the airside and landside areas.
Spa & Salon Services – Get your hair or nails done at one of these salons: Ceremony (Landside, The Circle. 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM) • Dlux Hair (Landside, The Circle. Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM) • Ella Beauty Saloon (Location: Landside. Hours: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM) • McCoiffure (Location: Landside. Hours: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM) .
You can also enjoy spa services and other wellness treatments while waiting for your flight: Airport Fitness and Wellness (Location: Ground floor of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Airport Center) • Flooat (Landside, The Circle. Hours: 5:00 AM – 00:30 AM).
Sports Equipment Rentals – Enjoy the outdoors? If you are an active traveller, the area around Zurich Airport is ideal for outdoor activity and fresh air between flights. Bicycles are available for rent from PubliBike. Location: Car park P2.
Strollers – Getting around the airport with your child is much easier with the help of an airport stroller. Strollers are available for use for children four years old and under. You can pick one up at check-in and leave it at your gate before departing. The rate is CHF 5.00 per stroller (cash only). Location: Landside, Check-In 1, 2 or 3.
WiFi – see “Airport WiFi/Internet” above.
E-Sports Simulator – Racing Unleashed gives travellers the chance to try a state-of-the-art racing simulator. Location: Landside, The Circle. Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Mo – Thu and Sun) • 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM (Fri and Sun).
Observation Deck – Watch pilots in the cockpits through special multimedia binoculars from Observation Deck B, the airport’s main observation deck. A miniature airport playground is available for the little ones. Observation Deck E is open for viewing long-haul airplanes all year round 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM. Observation Deck E can be reached by free shuttle bus from Observation Deck B. Tickets for Observation Deck B are CHF 5.00 for adults and CHF 2.00 for kids (kids under age 10 are free). Location: entrance next to Check-In 2, but you must clear security first. Hours for Observation Deck B: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (closed at 5:00 PM during winter months). Shuttle buses for Observation Deck E run in 30-minute intervals.
Bus
The covered bus terminal at Zurich Airport is Switzerland’s largest and best-connected bus terminal, providing direct access to Check-In, the Zurich Airport Railway Station, the Glattalbahn Tram stop, and the Airport Center.
Shuttler offers transportation from central Switzerland to Zurich Airport, arriving at the airport as early as 5:00 AM to catch those morning flights. For more information, visit the Shuttler website.
Special services buses operate during the winter, transporting passengers between ZRH airport and ski resorts in the Swiss Alps and across the border.
Car Rentals
A large selection of well-known hire car companies are on hand to provide assistance. Car rental companies include: Avis • Budget • Dollar/Thrifty • Enterprise • Europcar • Hertz • National • Sixt. A few of the counters remain closed due to Covid. Location: Airport Shopping, Level 01. Most operate from 6:30 AM – 11:30 PM.
Hotel Shuttles
These area hotels provide courtesy airport shuttles for their guests (bus stop on curbside lane near Arrivals 2): Hilton Zurich Airport • Holiday Inn Express Zurich Airport.
Check-In All Ways provides a shared ride service exclusively serving hotels in the city center. Shuttles depart every 30 minutes between 6:30 AM – 11:00 PM. Like regular shared ride services, the rates for a ride with Check-In All Ways depend on the amount of passengers riding and the destinations requested per shuttle.
See also Airport Hotels above.
Taxis
Taxis are readily available in front of Arrivals 1 and 2. Official airport taxis are all-white, with an illuminated sign that says “Airport Taxi.” All official airport taxis take credit cards, provide VAT-compliant receipts and have multi-lingual drivers. At the time of this update, the average one-way fare from the airport to the city center is CHF 50.
Train
With about 350 rail connections, the Zurich Airport Railway Station is one of the best-connected rail stations in Switzerland.
Last updated: 2024-08-26
This guide is for informational purposes only to assist with your planning. All information, including rates and hours, is subject to change at any time without notice. The information in this airport guide is based on information collected and/or received from the airports, lounges, hotels, transportation providers, and their websites. We are not representatives of any of the above-mentioned service providers. To report errors or to add/update any items mentioned in the guide: update the airport guide or write a review.