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ZRH → Zurich · head to head

SBB train to Zürich HBorIR36 to Baden?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The SBB train to Zürich HB reaches Zürich HB, the main station; the IR36 to Baden does not. Goes to Baden, not Zurich: it runs through Zürich HB to Baden, on an SBB point-to-point fare rather than the ZVV ticket.

The SBB train to Zürich HB is quicker: 11 min against 32 min. The IR36 to Baden varies between 32 and 34 minutes.

SBB train to Zürich HB: 05:00–00:42. IR36 to Baden: 05:56–20:56.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in CHF. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersSBB train to Zürich HBIR36 to BadenDifference
1CHF 7.20CHF 18.40CHF 11.20
2CHF 14.40CHF 36.80CHF 22.40
3CHF 21.60CHF 55.20CHF 33.60
4CHF 28.80CHF 73.60CHF 44.80
5CHF 36CHF 92CHF 56
6CHF 41CHF 110.40CHF 69.40
7CHF 48.20CHF 128.80CHF 80.60
8CHF 55.40CHF 147.20CHF 91.80

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
regional · SBB, on a ZVV zone ticketSBB train to Zürich HB
From
Zürich Flughafen railway station, platforms 1 to 4 — follow the train signs from arrivals
To
Zürich HB, the main station, in 9 to 13 minutes; most trains call at Zürich Oerlikon on the way
Luggage
Mainline Swiss trains: racks and standing space by the doors.
Runs
05:00–00:42
Journey
9–13 min

Take whichever train comes first. The S2, S16, S24, InterCity and InterRegio all reach Zürich HB in 9 to 13 minutes on the same CHF 7.20 ticket; there is no premium service and no supplement.

The last train toward the city is at 00:42, the first at 05:00. Between them no train runs, on any night of the week.

Buy a three-zone ticket, not a two-zone one. The city zone counts double, so airport to anywhere in Zurich is three zones; a cheaper ticket is not valid on arrival.

Coming back the same day? Buy the CHF 14.40 24-hour ticket instead of two singles. It costs the same and covers everything in the city in between.

Six or more of you: one CHF 41.00 Multikarte covers six rides and the tariff lets a group share it — CHF 2.20 less than six singles, and the only party-size saving Zurich has.

The airport says the ride takes 15 minutes and trains run every 10; the timetable says 9 to 13 minutes and 12 or 13 trains an hour. The airport's figure is the safe one for a connection.

The single is valid for one hour and the last journey must be finished inside it; the train plus a tram across town fits, a long wait does not.

SBB train to Zürich HB: price for every party size

See ZVV single tickets
IR36 · SBB, on a point-to-point ticketIR36 to Baden
From
Zürich Flughafen railway station, platforms 1 to 4
To
Baden station, by the old town, in 32 to 34 minutes; via Zürich HB
Luggage
Mainline Swiss trains: racks and standing space by the doors.
Runs
05:56–20:56
Journey
32–34 min

The ticket is SBB's, not ZVV's: Zürich Flughafen to Baden, CHF 18.40 an adult, CHF 9.20 for a child of 6 to 15 or with a Half-Fare card, under-6s free. It is cheaper than the CHF 41.00 to Basel, which the same IR36 goes on to.

One an hour, at :56, from 05:56 to 20:56. After that take any train to Zürich HB and change; the ticket is valid all day on any train along the route.

The full fare is fixed; the "Supersaver" for one named train is cheaper, demand-priced and refused on any other train, so it is not priced here.

IR36 to Baden: price for every party size

See the fare on sbb.ch

This compares two of 19 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

The other comparisons at Zurich Airport