How to get from Zurich to Lugano
- 154 km as the crow flies
- Fastest: train, 1h 55m
- 28 train departures a day with SBB
Compare the train, bus and flight options. Then check them for your own date.
At a glance
Fastest
1h 55m
direct
Train
€42
Cheapest
2h 40m
direct
Bus
€12
Calculated by Routavio, refreshed 9 Oct 2026
Start with the whole journey.
We compared the ways to travel from Zurich to Lugano. The most useful door-to-door route takes 2h 40m by bus with no transfer. The two cities are about 154 km apart in a straight line. The price and operators below come from a real route search.
This is the lowest fare we have recorded for this route in the last 14 days.
154 km
Which way suits you?
| Transport | Observed fare | Duration and scope | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train | €41Omio catalogue, Oct 11 | 1h 55mdirect | See Train details |
| Bus | €18Omio catalogue, Oct 11 | 2h 40mdirect | See Bus details |
- Train€41Omio catalogue, Oct 111h 55m · directSee Train details
- Bus€18Omio catalogue, Oct 112h 40m · directSee Bus details
These figures were observed on different days. This table is not a live price ranking for your date.
Zurich to Lugano: cheapest or fastest?
All from the same recent search. Pick a tab: the legs, the timing and the difference from the others all change with it.
- 1Zurich Airport → Luganobus
FlixBus·2h 40m
The best balance of price and time we found on this route.
Which date should you go?
The amounts on each day are fares seen earlier, not live offers. A day with no figure is one we have not priced, not one without a service.
Departures from Zurich to Lugano
SBB runs 28 scheduled departures a day, the first at 06:05 and the last at 21:05.
| Operator | Departures a day | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBBtrain | 28 | 06:05 | 21:05 |
| FlixBusbus | 4 | 02:05 | 13:05 |
| BlaBlaCar Busbus | 20 | — | — |
All departuresSBB
- 06:05
- 06:33
- 07:05
- 07:33
- 08:05
- 08:33
- 09:05
- 09:33
- 10:05
- 10:33
- 11:05
- 11:33
- 12:05
- 12:33
- 13:05
- 13:33
- 14:05
- 14:33
- 15:05
- 15:33
- 16:05
- 16:33
- 17:05
- 17:33
- 18:33
- 19:05
- 19:33
- 21:05
All departuresFlixBus
- 02:05
- 06:30
- 07:30
- 13:05
Departure times come from operator timetables and are local time at the origin. Where a row shows no times, the frequency is the operator's own and the timetable is not published to us. Times can change on holidays and at short notice; confirm with the operator before you travel.
Departure and arrival
Ticket prices on this route
What each way of travelling costs, as the operator publishes it. These describe the route rather than a date you pick, and they refresh once a day. Booking opens at our partner Omio.
Omio last refreshed these on Sun, Oct 11
Operators seen on these journeys
On this route you travel with FlixBus, SBB; Routavio does not add a booking fee.
How the trip from Zurich to Lugano works
Start with a FlixBus bus from Zurich Airport to Lugano, about 2h 40m. In total it's roughly €12 over 2h 40m, direct, no transfers.
Zurich to Lugano: common questions
How long does it take to get from Zurich to Lugano?
The most useful route takes about 2h 40m by bus, with no transfer.
When is the first train from Zurich to Lugano?
The first train with SBB leaves at 06:05 and the last at 21:05, according to the published timetable.
How many train departures a day are there from Zurich to Lugano?
28 a day with SBB, between 06:05 and 21:05.
When is the first bus from Zurich to Lugano?
The first bus with FlixBus leaves at 02:05 and the last at 13:05, from Zurich Airport, according to the published timetable.
How many bus departures a day are there from Zurich to Lugano?
4 a day with FlixBus, between 02:05 and 13:05.
Which station does the bus from Zurich to Lugano leave from?
Zurich Airport with FlixBus, according to the published timetable.
How far is Lugano from Zurich?
About 154 km in a straight line. The real route on the ground or in the air is longer.
How much does Zurich to Lugano cost?
Our latest search put the route we recommend at €12. Other options on this page can cost less, and the exact fare depends on your travel date.
Which operators run Zurich to Lugano?
On this route you travel with FlixBus, SBB.
Can you get from Zurich to Lugano without flying?
Yes. A ground route by train takes about 1h 53m.
What is the cheapest way to get from Zurich to Lugano?
Usually a flexible date, or leaving from a nearby airport. A live search puts every option for your dates side by side.
Can I book directly?
Yes. Routavio sends you straight to the operator or an independent third-party provider. We never add a booking fee. The final fare and availability are confirmed by that provider.
Where to next
Other ways people search Zurich to Lugano
- how to get from Zurich to Lugano
- Zurich to Lugano travel time
- Zurich to Lugano distance
- cheapest way from Zurich to Lugano
- Zurich to Lugano by bus
Sources and method
Routes are calculated by Routavio's multimodal engine from operator timetables and flight data. Durations come from timetables, and prices are the most recent observation, not a guarantee.
Operators: FlixBus
Route calculated: 9 Oct 2026