Traffic in Zurich

Zurich, known for its efficient public transport system, sees a diverse range of commuting methods.

In 2024, trains and cars are the most popular modes of transport, with significant usage of bicycles and buses as well.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves 3 minutes of waiting, 7.8 minutes of driving, and 6.97 minutes of walking, covering a distance of 18.93 km.

  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 20.68 minutes on the bus, with additional time spent walking and waiting.
  • Car - Car users drive for an average of 50 minutes, with minimal walking involved, covering a distance of 41.78 km.
  • Train - Train commuters spend approximately 27.77 minutes on the train, with additional time for walking and waiting.
  • Walking - Walking commuters spend about 12.87 minutes on foot, covering a distance of 3.44 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Train
23%
Walking
15%
Car
15%
Bus
14%
Bicycle
14%
Tram
10%
Home
4%
Motorcycle
4%

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 153 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
11.8 miles
Walking
7.0 mins
Waiting
3.0 mins
Driving Car
7.8 mins
Bus / Trolley
4.7 mins
Bicycle
2.5 mins
Motorcycle
1.8 mins
Train
7.5 mins
Tram
3.1 mins
Other
0.6 mins
Total:
38.1 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
7.5 miles
Walking
5.3 mins
Waiting
5.0 mins
Bus / Trolley
20.7 mins
Train
2.7 mins
Tram
1.7 mins
Other
1.2 mins
Total:
36.6 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
26.0 miles
Walking
4.3 mins
Driving Car
50.0 mins
Total:
54.3 mins
Average when primarily using Train
Distance
16.1 miles
Walking
10.0 mins
Waiting
5.0 mins
Bus / Trolley
3.9 mins
Train
27.8 mins
Tram
1.0 mins
Other
1.3 mins
Total:
48.9 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
2.1 miles
Walking
12.9 mins
Waiting
3.0 mins
Bus / Trolley
2.4 mins
Bicycle
0.2 mins
Motorcycle
0.0 mins
Train
2.7 mins
Tram
1.3 mins
Total:
22.4 mins

More Information

Seasonal Trends

Winter months see increased car usage due to weather conditions, impacting traffic flow.

Summer encourages more bicycle and walking commutes, reducing congestion.

Commuter Pain Points

Peak hours lead to overcrowding on trains and buses, causing discomfort.

Traffic congestion during rush hours affects car commuters significantly.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings before 7 AM and late evenings after 7 PM are ideal for avoiding peak traffic.

Midday travel is generally smoother for public transport users.

Event Impacts

Major events like the Zurich Film Festival can cause temporary traffic disruptions.

Public holidays see reduced traffic, offering smoother commutes.

Sustainability Efforts

Zurich is investing in electric buses and expanding bike lanes to promote sustainable commuting.

Public awareness campaigns encourage the use of public transport to reduce emissions.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have eased some congestion by reducing the number of cars on the road.

These services complement public transport, offering flexible commuting options.

Worldwide
Switzerland

Traffic Rankings

Zurich ranks 3rd on the Traffic rankings in Switzerland.
The Traffic Index for Switzerland combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in Switzerland, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.
Worst to BestUpdated: Oct, 2025