How to travel from Zurich to Lucerne
Travel optionsfrom Zurich to Lucerne
You can get from Zurich to Lucerne by train, bus or flight.
Our recommendation
To get from Zurich to Lucerne on Aug 09 we recommend taking a train because it’s the best combination of price and speed.
Cheapest
Other options
Find all the dates and times for this journey by train, bus, and flight, .
More than 1,000 travel companies trust us to sell their tickets all in one place.
Compare prices and tickets Prices for trains, buses and flights
Aug 09
Aug 10
Aug 11
Aug 12
Aug 13
Aug 14
Aug 15
Aug 16
Aug 17
Aug 18
Aug 19
Aug 20
Aug 21
Aug 22
Aug 23
Aug 24
Aug 25
Aug 26
Aug 27
Aug 28
Aug 29
Travel Information to Lucerne from Zurich
 | Distance | 24 miles (39 km) |
 | Available travel modes | Bus, flight, ferry or train |
 | Ticket price range | $28 - $92 |
 | Cheapest mode | Train • $28 (€26) • 41 min |
 | Fastest mode | Train • $28 (€26) • 41 min |
 | Popular travel companies | Geo Travel or SBB |
Travel 24 miles (39 km) by bus, flight, ferry or train from Zurich to Lucerne. If speed is a priority, then a train is the best option with an average duration of 41 min; whereas, if saving money is more important, then a train is the best option with prices starting as low as $28 (€26). The most popular travel companies which serve this trip are Geo Travel or SBB among others. Travelers can even take a direct bus or train from Zurich to Lucerne.
Travel from Zurich to Lucerne
The distance between the cities of Zurich and Lucerne is only 52 kilometers, making flying a nonviable option. Switzerland has a system whereby cities are joined by either trains or buses. As regular trains run between the two cities there is no available bus route. Trains from Zurich to Lucerne take just under one hour.
Return trips from Lucerne to Zurich are also available.
How to get from Zürich to Lucerne
The Best Way According to our Users
Trains from Zurich to Lucerne
Swiss Federal Railways operate direct trains from Zurich to Lucerne which run approximately every half hour throughout the day. The first train leaves at around 5:30 a.m. with departures continuing until just after midnight. The journey time between the two cities is just under one hour. Zurich Hauptbahnhof, or mainline station is a busy and important regional and international hub located in the Old Town and within walking distance of the city's tourist attractions. Zurich has an extensive and efficient public transport network which operates an integrated ticketing system making it very tourist friendly. The network consists of Swiss PostAuto buses, city buses, suburban and regional trains, as well as trams, cable cars and ferries. Trains arrive at Lucerne Hauptbahnhof which is centrally located next to Lake Lucerne and close to the city center. Lucerne has a network of frequent local buses which serve the city and the Lido beaches. Both train stations have car rentals and taxis available and both cities have night bus routes which run on Friday and Saturdays.
Travel Tips: Travel from Zurich to Lucerne
There are 4 ways that you can travel from Zurich to Lucerne. You can take a bus, flight, ferry or train.
The cheapest way to go to Lucerne from Zurich is by taking a train, which costs on average $28 (€26).
This is compared to other ways of getting to Lucerne:
Taking a train is about $63 (€59) less than taking a bus, which costs on average $92 (€85) for this route.
The fastest way from Zurich to Lucerne is by train with an average journey time of 41 min.
There are alternative travel options to Lucerne that can usually take longer:
In comparison, going by bus can take 50 min on average.
You should expect to travel around 24 miles (39 km) between Zurich and Lucerne.
The average frequency per day from Zurich to Lucerne is:
- Around 4 buses per day.
- Around 69 trains per day.
However, we recommend checking specific travel dates for your trip from Zurich to Lucerne as scheduled services by bus, flight, ferry or train can vary by season or day of the week.
These are the most popular departure and arrival points from Zurich to Lucerne:
- Buses mostly leave from Zürich, Sihlquai Bus Terminal (Carparkplatz Sihlquai) and tend to arrive in Lucerne, Luzern, Bahnhof.
Omio works with many trusted partners that can help you travel the best way from Zurich to Lucerne:
- You can travel by bus between Zurich and Lucerne with Geo Travel, and you can find Geo Travel Zurich to Lucerne tickets for $92 (€85) on Omio.
- You can take a train from Zurich to Lucerne with SBB. Cheap tickets can be found for $28 (€26) with SBB from Zurich to Lucerne.
Yes, there are direct routes from Zurich to Lucerne with the following travel companies:
- You can check for a direct bus to Lucerne with BlaBlaCar with 4 direct buses per day.
- You'll find 39 direct trains a day to Lucerne with SBB.
Direct services to Lucerne tend to save you time and add more convenience as you won't need to transfer at another stop in between, so it's worth paying attention to before booking tickets for your trip.
When planning your trip from Zurich to Lucerne, it’s good to keep in mind what tickets to buy and their prices in the next 7 days:
- Bus tickets are costing on average $92 (€85) one way.
- Train tickets cost on average $28 (€26) one way.
However, we recommend buying tickets from Zurich to Lucerne online a few months in advance to get the best deals and save money on your upcoming journey.
Travelling from Zurich to Lucerne: related information
Here are some other resources that might have the information you need
Most popular trains, buses and flights
Travel to popular destinations by train, bus or flight
The Omio App Makes Travel Planning Easy
We’ll get you where you want to go. From live train updates to mobile tickets, our innovative app is the ideal way to plan and keep track of your travel.
