The cheapest and fastest trains from Zurich to Lucerne
Cheapest price
£21
Average price
£23
Fastest journey
41 m
Average duration
45 m
Trains per day
15
Distance
40 km
The best way to find a cheap train ticket from Zurich to Lucerne is to book your journey as far in advance as possible and to avoid travelling at rush hour.
The average ticket from Zurich to Lucerne will cost around £23 if you buy it on the day, but you can find cheap train tickets today for only £21.
Of the 15 trains that leave Zurich for Lucerne every day 6 travel direct so it’s quite easy to avoid journeys where you’ll have to change along the way.
These direct trains cover the 40 km distance in an average of 45 m but if you time it right, some trains will get you there in just 41 m .
The slowest trains will take 50 m and usually involve a change or two along the way, but you might be able to save a few pennies if you’re on a budget.
IR 70 2617 | 2617
IR 75 2112 | 2112
S 11 19133 | 19133 · IR 70 2617 | 2617
IR 75 2110 | 2110
S 5 18537 | 18537 · IR 75 2114 | 2114
IR 70 2617 | 2617
IR 70 2619 | 2619
IR 70 2615 | 2615
IR 75 2112 | 2112
IR 75 2110 | 2110Travel Information
Compare train and coach for Zurich to Lucerne
Omio recommends booking the train as it is the most popular option from Zurich to Lucerne among Omio's users. If you are prioritising price take the train with prices starting from £17. For those with little time consider booking a train which can get you there in 44m. In case you are seeking to minimise your carbon footprint the train is your best bet as it emits only 0.0 - 0.0kg. The ticket price range depends on the travel mode: a train costs an average of £17, and a coach costs an average of £36.
Distance: 40 km
Compare train with
Most popular Train | Coach |
|---|---|
£23 Average Price Cheapest | £36 Average Price |
1h 14m Average total duration Fastest 44m Onboard + 30m Additional time* | 1h 15m Average total duration 45m Onboard + 30m Additional time* |
0.0 - 0.0kg CO2 emissions Lowest | 0.0 - 0.1kg CO2 emissions |
![]() Most popular train company | ![]() Most popular bus company |
Direct Options | Direct Options |
Additional time: Average total travel duration to departure point, security checks and transfers.
Live departures
Zurich to Lucerne train times
The table below shows live departures for Zurich to Lucerne trains for today, Tuesday 24 February. You can also manually refresh the results below to see updated train journeys.
| Provider | Departs | Duration | Arrives | Changes | Tickets |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | 16:39 Zurich | 1h00 | 17:39 Lucerne | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 17:10 Zurich | 0h41 | 17:51 Lucerne | 0 changesdirect | |
![]() | 19:10 Zurich | 0h41 | 19:51 Lucerne | 0 changesdirect | |
| Wednesday 25 February | |||||
IR 70 2615 | 2615 | 07:10 Zurich HB | 0h41 | 07:51 Lucerne station | 0 changesdirect | |
S 5 18529 | 18529 · IR 75 2110 | 2110 | 07:16 Zurich Altstetten | 1h09 | 08:25 Lucerne station | 1 change | |
S 6 18629 | 18629 · IR 75 2110 | 2110 | 07:21 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h04 | 08:25 Lucerne station | 1 change | |
IR 75 2110 | 2110 | 07:35 Zurich HB | 0h50 | 08:25 Lucerne station | 0 changesdirect | |
S 6 18631 | 18631 · IR 70 2617 | 2617 | 07:51 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h00 | 08:51 Lucerne station | 1 change | |
S 11 19133 | 19133 · IR 70 2617 | 2617 | 07:54 Zurich Altstetten | 0h57 | 08:51 Lucerne station | 1 change | |
IR 70 2617 | 2617 | 08:10 Zurich HB | 0h41 | 08:51 Lucerne station | 0 changesdirect | |
S 5 18533 | 18533 · IR 75 2112 | 2112 | 08:16 Zurich Altstetten | 1h09 | 09:25 Lucerne station | 1 change | |
S 6 18633 | 18633 · IR 75 2112 | 2112 | 08:21 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h04 | 09:25 Lucerne station | 1 change | |
IR 75 2112 | 2112 | 08:35 Zurich HB | 0h50 | 09:25 Lucerne station | 0 changesdirect | |
IR 13 3260 | 3260 | 08:45 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h06 | 09:51 Lucerne station | 0 changesdirect | |
S 6 18635 | 18635 · IR 70 2619 | 2619 | 08:51 Zürich Oerlikon | 1h00 | 09:51 Lucerne station | 1 change | |
S 11 19137 | 19137 · IR 70 2619 | 2619 | 08:54 Zurich Altstetten | 0h57 | 09:51 Lucerne station | 1 change | |
IR 70 2619 | 2619 | 09:10 Zurich HB | 0h41 | 09:51 Lucerne station | 0 changesdirect | |
S 5 18537 | 18537 · IR 75 2114 | 2114 | 09:16 Zurich Altstetten | 1h09 | 10:25 Lucerne station | 1 change | |
This is the last train of the day. | |||||
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Compare prices and tickets Zurich to Lucerne by train or coach
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Journey information
Overview: Train from Zurich to Lucerne
Trains from Zurich to Lucerne run on average 23 times per day, taking around 44m. Cheap train tickets for this journey start at £17 if you book in advance.
There are 9 trains per day. The earliest train runs at 00:02, the last at 23:58. The fastest train covers the 40 km distance in 41m.
Distance 40 km |
Average train duration 44m |
Cheapest ticket price £17 |
Trains per day 23 |
Direct trains 9 |
Fastest train 41m |
First train 00:02 |
Last train 23:58 |
Train companies: SBB, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS), Südostbahn from Zurich to Lucerne trainsSBB, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS), Südostbahn trains will get you between Zurich and Lucerne from £17. With over 1000 travel companies on Omio, you can find the best train times and tickets for your trip.
SBB
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS)
Südostbahn
Trains from Zurich to Lucerne: Journey Details
Swiss Inter-Regional trains run from Zurich to Lucerne with a journey time of just under one hour. The same timetable operates seven days a week with departures every half-hour from just after 5:30 a.m. until the early hours of the morning.
Return trains from Lucerne to Zurich are also available.
Taking the Train from Zurich
Trains from Zurich to Lucerne depart from Zurich Hauptbahnhof, a busy regional and international transport hub. The station is conveniently located for all of Zurich's tourist attractions and is well integrated into the city's extensive and efficient transport network. This is made up of local trains, trams, cable cars, ferries and a bus network which includes night routes on Friday and Saturday evenings. Taxis and car rentals are available at Zurich station.
Getting into Lucerne by Train
The beautiful city of Lucerne lies in the heart of Switzerland at the edge of Lake Lucerne and across the water from the small town of Altdorf, famous for the legend of William Tell. Lucerne is small and compact enough to enjoy exploring on foot, taking in such sights as The Chapel Bridge, the oldest wooden bridge still standing in Europe, the fascinating Swiss transport museum and the Modernist art collection at the Rosengart Gallery. The city also makes an excellent base for exploring the stunning scenery of Mount Rigi and the Rütli Meadow. Trains from Zurich arrive at Lucerne Station, one of the country's major rail hubs, located on the banks of the lake and within an easy walk of the city center. Lucerne has a network of city coaches covering both the town and the Lido beach a bit further out, with services running throughout the night on Friday and Saturday evenings. A taxi rank is located outside the station.
FAQs: Zurich to Lucerne train
Find answers to the most common questions about traveling from Zurich to Lucerne by train. From journey times and ticket prices to direct connections, first and last departures, and even whether the route is scenic, our FAQs cover everything you need to plan your trip. Whether you’re looking for the fastest train, the cheapest option, or tips for making the most of your visit at Lucerne, this guide helps you travel smarter and with confidence.

popular train stations
Important Stations and Airports in Zurich and Lucerne
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- The car park is open 24/7. Access via Gessnerallee and Sihlquai.
- Restaurant Au Premier
- Brasserie Federal
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
- CHF 2
- Hotel Schweizerhof Zürich
- Hotel St. Gotthard
- Central Plaza Hotel
- Cost CHF 12
- Located in the main hall
- Located in the main hall
- 1,300 places, mostly covered
- Avis
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platforms 3-18 for long-distance trains
- Hall 2: S-Bahn platforms 21-24
- Hall 3: underground S-Bahn platforms 41-44
- Tram: Lines 3, 4, 6, 7, 10, 13, 14
- Bus: Several lines available
- S-Bahn: Lines S2, S3, S5, S6, S7, S8, S9, S11, S12, S15, S16, S24
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- The car park is open 7 days a week, with access from Andreasstrasse and Franklinstrasse.
- Negishi Sushi Bar
- Le Muh
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators, ramps, restrooms.
- CHF 2
- Courtyard Zurich North
- Swissotel Zurich
- Hotel Sternen Oerlikon
- Located in the main hall
- 72 places, 60 places
- Avis
- Europcar
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platform 1-4 for S-Bahn trains
- Hall 2: platform 5-8 for regional and long-distance trains
- Tram: Line 10, Line 11
- Bus: Several lines available
- S-Bahn: Lines S2, S6, S7, S8, S9, S14, S16, S19, S24
- 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- Parking is available 24/7 with access from the main road.
- Restaurant Markthalle
- Restaurant LaSalle
- Outside the main entrance.
- Elevators.
- CHF 1
- Placid Hotel Zurich
- Best Western Hotel Spirgarten
- H+ Hotel Zürich
- Located in the main hall
- 240 places, covered
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platforms 1-5 for S-Bahn and regional trains
- Hall 2: ticket office and waiting area
- S-Bahn: Lines S3, S9, S12, S15
- Tram: Line 4
- Bus: Several lines available
- 6:00 AM - 9:00 PM Monday - Sunday
- Free
- The car park is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Access via Zentralstrasse.
- Restaurant La Cucina
- Restaurant Bellini Locanda Ticinese
- Outside the main entrance.
- CHF 1
- Hotel Monopol Luzern
- Waldstätterhof Swiss Quality Hotel
- Hotel Central Luzern
- Located in the main hall
- Located in the main hall
- 420 places, covered
- Avis
- Europcar
- Hertz
- Located in the main hall
- Free
- Hall 1: main entrance, platform 1-9 for trains to Germany, Italy, and regional destinations
- Hall 2: S-Bahn platforms
- Hall 3: Boat connections
- Bus: Several lines available
- Boat: Lake Lucerne boats
- Train: SBB services to various destinations
Most popular train connections from Zurich
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