Travelling from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Zurich Airport (ZRH): what you need to know
Jump on a direct flight from San Francisco International Airport to Zurich Airport and you'll be in the air for an average of 11 hours 10 minutes.
Zurich's timezone is UTC+1, which makes Zurich eight hours ahead of San Francisco.
Flights from SFO to ZRH start at 14:00 — the first with United Airlines. The latest departure is at 20:25 with SWISS. Overall, there are 16 weekly San Francisco International Airport to Zurich Airport flights.
Arrive at the airport on time so you don't miss your SFO to ZRH flight. Be there at least two hours ahead for international flights and an hour early for domestic departures to prevent a last-minute sprint to your gate.
You'll likely experience bigger queues in popular months such as August. Arriving up to four hours ahead of an international flight and two hours for a domestic departure is a smart move.
Travelling to Zurich (and then seeing more of Switzerland!) is a breeze with SWISS. This popular carrier offers direct flights from San Francisco International Airport to Zurich Airport.
The majority of passengers choose to fly with SWISS on this route.
SWISS ranks as the leading on-time carrier for SFO to ZRH flights, with 93.22% of services landing on schedule.
We make it simple to book a flight with a stopover. To see your options for tickets from San Francisco International Airport to Zurich Airport, uncheck 'Direct flights only.' Then, choose a flight that has a stop long enough to visit your chosen city. Some great stopovers between SFO and ZRH include:
Frankfurt Airport
London Heathrow Airport
Charles de Gaulle Airport
How to find the cheapest flights from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Zurich Airport (ZRH)
The lowest price we've seen for a one-way San Francisco International Airport to Zurich Airport flight is ر.ق. 1,433. A return plane ticket right now is ر.ق. 2,136. Depending on the availability and when you book, these fares can change.
Score cheap tickets from SFO to ZRH by booking 11 months ahead. According to our research, that's the sweet spot for finding the biggest deals.
October is the cheapest month for flights from San Francisco International Airport to Zurich Airport. If you need to travel during a different time of year, the 'Whole month' tool will show you the lowest prices for every month.
You don't need to check back in every day to find out if fares have gone down when you create a Price Alert. We'll send you an update the moment the price changes on cheap flights from SFO to ZRH.
Select your preferred departure and arrival times, number of stops and airlines with the filters. Or sort your results by 'Cheapest' to see the best deals on flights from San Francisco International Airport to Zurich Airport.
Handy information about San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
Of all flights departing from San Francisco International Airport, 77.36% arrive as scheduled at their destination.
Central San Francisco to San Francisco International Airport is around 21 kilometres. Depending on traffic, it'll take about 20 minutes to get there if you're ride-sharing, catching a cab or driving.
The trip when using public transport takes roughly 45 minutes.
Taking an early flight from San Francisco International Airport to Zurich Airport? Avoid the last-minute rush to the terminal (and catch some extra z's) by picking one of these stays near SFO:
Arriving at Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Consider staying in a hotel near ZRH if you're on a late San Francisco International Airport to Zurich Airport flight. Pick one of these accommodation options and avoid the hassle of a long transfer:
Get your adventure underway by picking up a Zurich Airport rental car. Grab your wheels from Alamo, Europcar or Green Motion and explore beyond Zurich's usual tourist stops.
For the best deal, reserve your vehicle from Zurich Airport about two weeks ahead.
Getting from Zurich Airport (ZRH) to central Zurich
Zurich Airport to the centre of Zurich has a drive time of about 20 minutes. It's approximately 13 kilometres away.
Getting to the centre on public transport takes around 1 hour 35 minutes.
When to fly to Zurich Airport (ZRH)
The quietest month for a flight from San Francisco International Airport to Zurich Airport is January, while July is the most popular. Pick the best time to visit Zurich based on whether you prefer a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
Book your flight from San Francisco International Airport to Zurich Airport for July if you'd like to explore Zurich during its warmest month. You can expect temperatures of between 10ºC and 27ºC.
If you like cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from SFO to ZRH in January. Temperatures average between -6ºC and 7ºC then.
Explore more of Switzerland
Basel is just one of the many cities in Switzerland waiting to be discovered after you've seen Zurich. Around 72 kilometres away to the west, top sights here include Basel Minster, Bistro Kunstmuseum Basel and Rhine River Cruises.
If you want to check out another well-known destination in Switzerland, consider Bern, about 97 kilometres south-west of Zurich. Old Town Bern, Zytglogge and Bern Cathedral are highlights.
