How to take the rail journey from Zurich to Lugano

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Zürich / Zurich to Lugano by train

Heading to the beautiful Swiss city on an Italian lake from Switzerland's largest city is fabulously simple, thanks to a fairly frequent service of comparatively comfortable express trains.

Routes you can take to go from Zürich / Zurich to Lugano

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Looking for connections?

Journey guides for travel to Zürich / Zurich

Route Information

Station Guides

The frontage of Zurich Hb station by the Bahnhofplatz tram stops

Zürich HB / Zurich main station Rail Station Guide

Lugano station - the escalators lead down to the main station hall that has access to the funicular

Lugano Rail Station Guide

Travel Time (approx)

from around 1hr 55min

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

10 x IC trains per day
8 x EC trains per day

Is this journey from Zurich to Lugano direct?
Yes, there is no need to make a connection when taking this route.

Is the journey scenic?
Yes, despite the trains travelling through the Gotthard Base Tunnel - see the Journey Information for images and videos and insights on how to make the most of the views.

When is the usual approximate earliest arrival at Lugano?
Around 09:30 daily
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to travel on from the station in Lugano?
The station has an elevated position above the town, but it is linked to by a funicular - See the Station Guide above

When is the usual approximate latest departure from Zurich to Lugano on this journey option

After 20:30 on Saturday and Sunday
Around 21:05 on Monday to Friday
Though on Saturday there is typically a slower train which departs after 23:00.
Source = European Rail Timetable

How easy is it to get to the station in Zurich?
Zurich HB is at the northern edge of the heart of the city, the old town area is within a 10min walk and more than a dozen routes / lines use the two sets of tram stops.
See the Station Guide for more info, plus easy access to booking accommodation in its neighbourhood.

Are tickets cheaper if booked in advance for these Zurich to Lugano trains?
Yes

How soon ahead of travel are tickets typically placed on sale for these Zurich to Lugano trains?
Typically up to 6 months ahead of the travel date; though this period of time can be shorter, particularly when searching for journeys more than three months ahead during October and March.

What are the child ticket terms for these Zurich to Lugano trains?

Children aged 5 or younger travel free of charge
Children aged 6-15 and travelling with a person aged 16 and over, pay 50% of the adult rate per journey - see the Ticket Guide for more info.

Does the ticket for these Zurich to Lugano trains include assigned seats?
No, reservations are available, but are not mandatory.
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information for insights on how to board the train

Do rail pass users need to book reservations for these Zurich to Lugano trains?
No

Is catering available on the Zurich to Lugano trains?
Yes, there is a bar/bistro car and a restaurant
See the Train Guide in the Journey Information.

What else is good to know about Swiss rail travel?
Check out the guide to travelling by train in Switzerland.

Travel Information

Final Destination: Lugano (IC trains on route IC 2), Milano or Venezia or Genova or Bologna (EC trains)

All trains also call at: Arth-Goldau and Bellinzona (connect for Locarno)

Taking the train from Zurich to Lugano:

There are two types of express train service on the Zurich to Lugano route:

(1) Swiss IC trains which will be heading to Lugano; a mix of trains is used on this route, with the new Twindexx double-deck trains appearing on some departures; though the same trains which are used for the international EC services are used on many IC departures.

(2) International EC trains, which will be heading to Milano or other destinations in Italy
(Some of EC train departures MAY will still be by the Astoro trains)

Swiss 'rules' apply to this journey, so whether you will be buying tickets or using a rail pass, it doesn't particularly matter which of these train services you choose to travel by; seat reservations aren't compulsory on Zurich to Lugano journeys by the EC trains.

The timetable is slightly eccentric because in most odd hours both an IC AND an EC train depart, but in most even hours there are no direct trains from Zurich to Lugano.

Though in most even hours there will be an IR train heading to Bellinzona on a more spectacular route, so if getting to Lugano in the fastest possible time isn't your primary criteria, take that train and connect there.

Or another option in the even hours, is to take that IR train as far as Arth-Goldau and connect there for an IC or EC train that takes the more direct and faster route

The IC and EC trains to Bellinzona and the IR trains to Arth-Goldau should all depart from the street level platforms/tracks in Zurich HB (gleis 3 - 18).

From Zurich Flughafen/Airport:

There are no direct trains between the station at Zurich Flughafen/Airport and Lugano.

You will have to change trains at Zurich HB station.

Making the transfer will be much easier if you take a train from Zurich Flughafen to Zurich HB which uses the same part of Zurich HB station (platforms/tracks/gleis 3 - 18) that the trains on to Bellinzona will depart from.

So when taking a train from the airport target either;

the trains on route S24 heading to Zug - every 30 mins.
the IR trains to Luzern - every 30 mins.
the IR train to Basel via via Brugg - 1 x train per hour.

This is a direct journey

You will be travelling on one of these trains...

EC Giruno Train Guide

IC (Switzerland) Train Guide

Journey Features

Scenic - YesLake viewsLandscape (Hills / Mountains)

Good to Know

The alternative more scenic route:

If you will be travelling with a rail pass, you can still travel from Zurich to Lugano on the much more spectacular route via Biasca and the older Gotthard Tunnel.

Take an IR train to Bellinzona and make a straight forward connection there into regional trains on to Lugano.

Journey description:

Now that these trains travel through the epic Gotthard Base Tunnel, these journeys* are now less scenic than they used to be.
But this still a route with some wow moments.

The train will spend most of the first 10 mins of its journey travelling in a tunnel, but soon after it emerges into the daylight, the train will ascend upwards from the sure of Lake Zurich.

So from the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel) there are sweeping vistas to be enjoyed down over the lake.

Then, if the weather is behaving itself, after departure from Zug station comes the first highlight of the journey, the view over the Zuger See.
This lake with its mountain peaks on the far shore can be seen on the right for more than 15 mins between Zug and Arth-Goldau station.

The next beautiful vista to look out for comes after departure from Arth-Goldau station, when on the right, the train will pass by the Lauerzersee.

The train then travels through a dramatic landscape to the north of Schwyz, which used to be a preview of what was to come when the trains still used the older Gotthard route, to Bellinzona via Goschenen.

Just to the south of here, also look out on the right for glimpses of the Luzernsee.

South of Bellinzona these trains now travel through the new Ceneri Base Tunnel.

Looking down over Lake Zurich from the left of the train

Looking over the Zuger see to the south of Zug station

Between Zug and Arth-Goldau Lake Zug is on the right

To the south of Arth-Goldau, passing the Lauerzersee, which is on the right

Then look out for glimpses of the Luzernsee also on the right

Heading towards the Gotthard Base Tunnel

Between the Gotthard Base Tunnel and Bellinzona

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