Switzerland’s largest and Europe’s busiest railway stations, a multi-level transport hub where the Spanisch Brötli Bahn—the nation’s first railway—terminates at the edge of the old city.
At a glance
Zürich HB (or simply HB in local usage) anchors the northern end of Bahnhofstrasse and ranks among the world’s most heavily trafficked railway stations. Up to 2,915 trains arrive and depart daily, connecting Switzerland to Germany, Italy, Austria and France. The station was recognized as Europe’s best in 2023 and 2024.
History
The station was originally built as the terminus of the Spanisch Brötli Bahn, the first railway constructed entirely within Switzerland. Today it serves as the principal hub for national and international rail traffic, anchoring Zurich’s transport network.
What you see
The station occupies multiple levels, with platforms at ground and below-ground level connected by underground passages and the ShopVille shopping mall. The Sihl River runs through the complex in a tunnel with railway tracks both above and below. Railway yards extend approximately 4 kilometres west. The complex connects with the separate SZU subsurface station but shares no tracks with it.
Cultural significance
Zürich HB represents a crucial node in European railway infrastructure and Swiss heritage. Its inclusion in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National Significance reflects its architectural and historical importance to Switzerland’s identity as a modern transport nation.
Key facts
- Country: Switzerland
- City: Zurich
- Coordinates: 47.37816944, 8.54017778
- Daily trains: up to 2,915
- Ranking: Best European railway station (2023, 2024)
- Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National Significance
Practical information & getting there
The station is located at the northern end of Bahnhofstrasse in central Zurich, near the confluence of the Limmat and Sihl rivers. It serves as the primary departure point for trains across Switzerland and to neighbouring countries. Multiple platforms and comprehensive amenities are available to travellers.
Sources & resources
Find it on the map
See this place and what’s around it →📷 Become a Cultural Heritage Online photographer
Share your photos of places: they stay published under your name as the author. The more they're seen, the more you get noticed — and soon a contest will reward the most appreciated photos.
Log in or sign up free to add a photoDo you manage this place?
This page is read by travellers and heritage enthusiasts who find it on Google. Keep it accurate — and make it work for you. Free for non-profit heritage institutions.