Taxi Transfers To and From Zurich Airport

It is possible to make advance taxi reservations by calling the central reservation desk at +41 (0) 848 850 852. The airport's taxi rank can be found in front of Arrivals areas 1 and 2.

Zurich Airport taxis will charge around CHF 60.00 or EUR 49.00 for the short trip into the city centre. The official operators are clearly marked and among them are GLM General Limousine Management GmbH at Curb side Arrival 1, where operators Airport Taxi, Alliance Limousines and Chauffeur Drive Limousine Service, a Europcar sister company, can be found.

Depending on the company one chooses to travel with, there will always be around 5 to 10 cars waiting for the individual company. Some of them offer minibuses and people carriers, where large families or groups travelling together can enjoy some discounts. There is also a holding area at the airport, where most Zurich Airport taxis have additional drivers ready to take over, should there be a shortage of vehicles at the arrivals areas.

The operators usually allow payment by credit card, although there are ATM's in the terminal. It is also possible to receive a full VAT receipt, which is handy for business travelers needing them for their expense claims at the end of the month.

Official Zurich Airport taxis can easily be identified by the illuminated AIRPORT TAXI sign on their car roof. The individual operators also have their contact details and company names clearly displayed on the sides of the vehicles and all drivers carry identification as well as official permits. Taxi meters are clearly visible in the front of the taxi. The taxis Zurich Airport management requires that all drivers are well trained and take a taxi exam in nearby Kloten and that they must be multilingual to be able to converse with their passengers.

Within the city center it is possible to get by without a car, since the main tourist attractions and the main railway station are within easy walking distance. Public transport is available via the S-Bahn metro train network, via electrified trams and a fast and efficient bus system. It is also possible to rent bikes and skateboards from outside train stations. It costs just around CHF 20.00 deposit as the actual "rental" is free, but visitors do need their passport to identify themselves before rental is permitted.

Zurich lies on Lake Zurich and the Limmat River. Several boat operators provide very cheap travel on the lake via lake steamers and river buses. The boats can be boarded at Landesmuseum by the main train station (Landesmuseum = National Museum), from where they travel to Tiefenbrunnen on Lake Zurich.

The Old Town in the heart of Zurich is well worth seeing. The beautiful St. Peter Church as viewed from the picturesque Lindenhof or the Grossmünster Cathedral in the heart of the city are among the highlights, as is Zurich Zoo, located in Zürichbergstrasse 221. It even has a rain forest hall complete with animals from that region.

The aforementioned Landesmuseum at Museumsstrasse 2 is actually Switzerland's largest history museum aiming to educate visitors on the various cantons (districts) of the country, their differences in traditions and heritage and the nation as a whole.

In spring and summer the Lake Promenade is one of the best places to be in Zurich, as it is possible to walk around most of the lake on this 3 kilometre long trail.