Switzerland

Zurich

Switzerland's largest city, set on a lake. Blue trams come every few minutes, right on time.

Tram (VBZ)

No gates, and no tapping a bank card to ride. Buy before you board, from the ZVV app or the machine at the stop - nothing is sold on the tram. The same ticket covers bus, S-Bahn and the river boat inside its zones.

Updated on August 5, 2026

How to ride

1
Buy your ticket before you board

Buy your ticket before boarding, at a blue machine at the stop or in the ZVV app. Nothing is sold on board the tram.
2
Enter your start and destination stop

Enter your start and destination stop on the machine or in the app and it works out the zones for you.
3
Stamp only the paper strip ticket

Only the paper Multikarte needs stamping - punch a field at an orange validator before the tram sets off. Singles and 24h do not.
4
Board through any door

There are no gates - step straight from the stop into any door of the tram.
5
Keep the ticket to hand until you get off

Keep your ticket to hand until you get off. If an inspector finds you without one, your personal details are always recorded.
6
Finish the ride before the ticket expires

Your journey has to be over before the ticket expires - the last ride must end while the ticket is still valid.

Fares

Single fares4

Short-distance ticket (30 min)

The eligible section is defined stop by stop. Not valid on scheduled ZSG lake boats.

2.8 CHF ≈ $3

Single ticket, city (1-2 zones, 1 hour)

Zone 110 (the city itself) counts as two zones on its own, so a trip inside Zurich needs the 1-2 zone ticket.

4.7 CHF ≈ $6

Single ticket, 3 zones (city to airport, 1 hour)

The airport sits in zone 121; with zone 110 counting double, that adds up to three zones.

7.2 CHF ≈ $9

Single ticket, all zones (2 hours)

The whole ZVV area, Winterthur included, with as many rides as you like inside it.

18 CHF ≈ $22

Passes & multi-ride4

24-hour ticket (by number of zones)

9.40 in the city, 14.40 for the 3 zones including the airport, 36.00 for all zones - same as two singles.

9.4〜36 CHF ≈ $11–44

9 a.m. day pass (all zones)

Weekdays from 9 a.m. until 5 a.m. the next morning; all day at weekends and on public holidays.

28 CHF ≈ $34

Multikarte 6-ride strip (1-2 zones)

Six rides in one strip. Punch a field before boarding on paper, or validate it in the app.

26.8 CHF ≈ $33

Zürich Card (24 / 72 hours)

Unlimited travel in zones 110, 111, 121, 140, 150, 154 and 155 - the airport among them.

29〜56 CHF ≈ $35–68

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 4, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride

There are no gates and no way to tap a bank card to ride.

IC card

No stored-value transit card for visitors; season passes ride on the SwissPass.

App tickets

Buy in the ZVV app, or use its check-in function for automatic billing.

Paper tickets

From machines and staffed counters; nothing is sold on board.

Cash

Machines take coins and cards; the official pages say nothing about banknotes.

Quick facts

Fares from

2.8 CHF+

Heads-up

Too few zones counts as partially valid

Miss even one zone and you are travelling on a partially valid ticket - CHF 75 on a first offence. Do not count zones yourself; type your start and destination stops into the machine or the app and let it pick.