San Francisco to Zurich (SFO–ZRH) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections
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No nonstop flights on this route. connecting options below.
SFO–ZRH is served by 1 airline with nonstop service. Swiss leads the route. The flight covers 5,826 miles in approximately 11h 15m. Beyond nonstop, 56 hubs offer 1-stop connections.
Airline Landscape
| Airline | Freq/wk | Aircraft | Duration | Dep OTP | Alliance | Codeshares |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LX Swiss Also: UA | 7 | 77W | 11h15 | Star Alliance | UA |
Weekly Schedule Pattern
Connection Landscape
Other ways to reach Zurich from San Francisco
| Metric | SFO→ZRH | SJC→ZRH |
|---|---|---|
| Distance from SFO | – | 30 mi |
| Nonstop airlines | 1 | 1 |
| Weekly flights | 14 | 1 |
| Flight time | 11h 15m | 9h 46m |
| Departure OTP | 48% | – |
Travel Essentials
SFO: PDT · ZRH: CEST
When it's 6:00 PM in San Francisco, it's 3:00 AM (next day) in Zurich.
US passport holders enter Switzerland visa-free for stays up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This falls under the Schengen area rules, so the 90-day limit is shared across all Schengen countries. No advance application is needed. Passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure from the Schengen area.
BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) runs from downtown San Francisco (Embarcadero, Powell St.) to the SFO station and then a free AirTrain shuttle to all terminals (30–40 min from Embarcadero, $10.45). BART also connects Oakland and Berkeley; useful for East Bay travelers. Trains run from ~4am to midnight.Taxis from downtown San Francisco cost $40–60. Ride-hails (Uber, Lyft) pick up in the designated area in the garage and are often $30–50 depending on surge pricing. SamTrans buses serve Peninsula cities. Highway 101 and I-280 are heavily congested during commute hours; BART is faster than driving at those times.
SBB trains from the airport station (below Check-in 2) to Zurich HB take 10 minutes and run every 10–15 minutes. Long-distance intercity trains to Geneva, Basel, Bern, and Lucerne depart directly from the airport station; Zurich Airport is one of the best-connected airports in Europe for onward rail travel. Taxis queue outside arrivals; fares to the city centre are CHF 55–75.Rental car desks are located in the arrivals area. Swiss customs exit is prompt for EU/Schengen arrivals. The Meet & Greet area is directly adjacent to baggage reclaim.
Temperate continental climate. Winters (November–February) are cold and frequently foggy on the Swiss Plateau; fog (Hochnebel) can persist for days and is the most common cause of delays, with the airport above the fog layer on clearer days but below it on others. Snow does occur but is well managed. Temperatures range from −2 to 5°C.
Summers (June–August) are warm at 22–28°C with afternoon thunderstorms that can be intense but brief. Spring and autumn are mild and variable. Hochnebel fog season (October–January) is the primary operational risk to plan around.
SFO–ZRH Quick Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Flights from SFO to ZRH
San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Zürich Airport (ZRH) are connected by nonstop service from Swiss. With 14 weekly departures, this is a well served route.
SFO to ZRH Flight Duration and Schedule
Nonstop flight time from SFO to ZRH ranges from 11 hours 15 minutes to 11 hours 17 minutes. The route covers a distance of 5,826 miles (9,376 km). There are approximately 14 weekly flights outbound and 14 return, totaling 28 flights per week in both directions.
Connecting Options and Alternatives
56 one-stop connections are available, with the fastest taking approximately 11 hours via TEB. Two-stop connections are also available via intermediate hubs. Nearby alternative airports include San Jose (SJC).