Semih
Travel editor at Reisedrop · 2026-06-04
Zurich is one of the easiest arrivals we know: the railway station sits directly beneath the airport, and you can be at the main station in around ten to thirteen minutes. Even so, there are situations where a driver is the better option.
Train directly beneath the terminal
S-Bahn services and long-distance trains run very frequently, you do not need to change, and from many Swiss cities you can reach the airport without a stop. For hotels in Zurich, Winterthur, Baden or Lucerne, this is clearly the best solution.
Private transfer: fixed price and a driver who waits
A pre-booked private transfer means: the driver knows your flight number, waits if you are delayed, the price is fixed before booking, and luggage is included. This is the right option for late arrivals, for families needing child seats, and for anywhere farther out than the city centre. If you are travelling light and want to stay flexible, you do not need it.
Uber in Zurich: available, with pick-up by the check-in areas
Uber operates in Zurich around the clock, with standard and premium categories, plus a second international app. At the airport, you are not picked up at arrivals but by the check-in areas one level higher. Traditional taxis are comparatively expensive in Switzerland, which makes the train all the more appealing.
When a private transfer makes sense
If you have ski equipment, golf bags, very young children, or are heading to a mountain destination without a good rail connection, a pre-booked driver is the most comfortable option. It is also a dependable choice for business meetings straight after landing.
Hire car: for mountains and passes
In Zurich, a car is unnecessary, and parking in the city centre is expensive and hard to find. For Graubünden, Valais or an Alpine road trip, it can be worthwhile — just remember the motorway vignette and, in winter, winter tyres.
How Reisedrop handles the question after booking
After your hotel booking we do not ask whether you want to buy a transfer, we ask how you are getting to your accommodation in Zürich. You see two options side by side: a private transfer you lock in beforehand, and a direct link into the Uber app with your destination pre-filled if you would rather stay flexible. No flood of suppliers, no invented guide prices. Private transfers and rental cars are booked with external providers, and with Uber you are forwarded straight to Uber. Price, availability and booking sit with the respective provider. We are not a partner of Uber and deliberately show no Uber prices.
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