The distance from Zürich to Lucerne is 32 miles or 52 kilometers. That’s a long walk.
I’ve put together a detailed guide of the three most popular ways to get from the city of Zürich to Lucerne. The options I’ll cover are traveling via train, taxi, and car.
Table of Contents
- Best Way to Get from Zürich to Lucerne
- Zürich to Lucerne by Train
- Zürich to Lucerne by Taxi
- Zürich to Lucerne by Car
Best Way to Get from Zürich to Lucerne
I strongly recommend taking the train because it is a much more comfortable ride, will save you a hefty sum of money and is gloriously scenic.
Keep on reading in order to learn more about why I say taking the train will save you money and give you an overall better experience while traveling from Zürich to Lucerne.
Zürich to Lucerne by Train
Taking any of the trains from the Zürich is the most efficient way to get to Lucerne.
There are railway stations at the Zürich Airport which is called Zürich Flughafen (flughafen translates to airport in English) and takes 1 hour and 10 minutes to get to the railway station in Lucerne.
The other railway station is Zürich HB which is located in the downtown part of the city. This train ride only takes about 45-50 minutes.
At a Glance
From Zürich Flughafen (Zürich Airport)
| Cost | CHF 30.- without a Discount Card |
| Duration of Trip | 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Frequency of Departure | Trains depart for Lucerne every 30 minutes |
From Zürich HB (Main Zürich Rail Station)
| Cost | CHF 25.- without a Discount Card |
| Duration of Trip | About 45 minutes |
| Frequency of Departure | Trains depart for Lucerne every 30 minutes |
How much does the Train from Zürich to Lucerne Cost?
From Zürich Flughafen (Zürich Airport)
An adult second class ticket without a discount card will cost CHF 30.- and a first class ticket will cost CHF 53.-. For children ages 6 to 16 the ticket is reduced to CHF 15.- for 2nd class and CHF 26.50 for 1st class. Children under the age of 6 ride for free on most Swiss trains.
From Zürich HB (Main Zürich Rail Station)
An adult second class ticket without a discount card will cost CHF 25.- and a first class ticket will cost CHF 44.-. For children ages 6 to 16 the ticket is reduced to CHF 12.50 for 2nd class and CHF 22.- for 1st class. Children under the age of 6 ride for free on most Swiss trains.
With different travel passes, discounts can be applied for travel by train. The Swiss Half Fare Card gives holders a half price tickets on most public transportation in Switzerland, this trip included. Another option to potentially save you money is the Swiss Travel Pass which gives you near unlimited travel on public transportation in the country.
Check out my guide to Lucerne for more information on how to save money on Lucerne trains.
How do I get Train Tickets from Zürich to Lucerne?
Tickets can be purchased at the railway station, online at SBB.ch, over the phone, or via the smartphone app. To get to the train station at the airport, just follow the signs from your terminal. The Zürich HB railway station is in downtown Zürich and can be reached from most places by walking or riding the bus.
Zürich to Lucerne Train Schedule
There are many options for trains from Zurich to Lucerne.
Trains leave from the Zürich Airport to Lucerne every 30 minutes. For a complete timetable on the day you plan on traveling from Zürich to Lucerne, look here (make sure to specify which station you plan on departing from, Zürich Flughafen or Zürich HB).
Zürich to Lucerne by Taxi
There are a few benefits to traveling from Zürich to Lucerne by taxi.
The first is the shorter travel time. This could benefit those who want to take a day trip from Zürich to Lucerne so they could spend additional time in the lake-side city.
The second benefit is the bonus of the flexible time of taxis. The trains are on a set schedule and depart every 30 minutes. If you don’t want to have to worry about missing your train, this might be the travel method for you.
At a Glance
| Cost | Stars at CHF 140.- for a one way ticket |
| Duration of Trip | 45 minutes |
| Frequency of Departure | Taxis are available 24/7 |
How much does the Taxi from Zürich to Lucerne Cost?
Going from Zürich to Lucerne by car is not the cheapest method of travel, as you will be paying much more than you would be if you traveled by train. The price starts around CHF 140.- for a 3-seater taxi and only goes up from there. Check the prices for driving to Lucerne from Zürich in a taxi here.
Zürich to Lucerne by Car
Another option is to rent a car and drive from Zürich to Lucerne.
The drive will take 40 minutes as it covers a distance of 32 miles of Swiss country roads and cute little towns.
Renting a car to drive yourself gives you more freedom about where you go and if you want to stop at locations along the way to Lucerne. If you are only renting a car for a single day, this option is likely more expensive than a train ride would be.
At a Glance
| Cost | Ranges from CHF 100.- to CHF 200.- |
| Duration of Trip | 40 minutes |
| Frequency of Departure | However often the car rental is open |
How much does renting a Car from Zürich to Lucerne Cost?
Prices of car rentals in Zürich varies widely on the size of car, what type of car, how long it will be rented for, and the popularity of the season.
With all of these variables, it is hard for me to give a definitive answer for how much a rental car will cost, but on the cheap end expect to pay from CHF 100.- to CHF 150.-. For larger cars or luxury or sport brands, expect prices to be much higher.
Where can I rent a Car in Zürich?
Major rental car companies in Zürich include Avis, Budget, Hertz and Europcar. Each company has various rental locations around the city, but a common place to obtain a rental car in Zürich is the Zürich airport or rail stations.
If you are planning on renting a car from the Zürich Airport, look here for pricing and availability. For renting a car from the main Zürich rail station, look here.
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