Quick answer. ZRH has UBS and Raiffeisen Bancomats inside the airside arrivals corridor, a UBS branch at The Circle landside development, and a PostFinance Postomat inside the Sihlpost-branded post office at Zurich Airport rail station. All charge zero operator fee on foreign cards and use the actual Visa or Mastercard interbank rate. Switzerland has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, so BoA debit cards still pay the BoA-side 3 percent non-network surcharge, but the Swiss side is free at any UBS, Raiffeisen, or PostFinance Postomat. Skip the Travelex and Western Union counters in arrivals (5 to 12 percent markup) and walk past the standalone Travelex ATM between baggage claim and the Airport Center retail corridor. The SBB direct train from ZRH to Zurich Hauptbahnhof in 10 minutes accepts contactless tap-to-pay via SBB EasyRide (register a card in the SBB Mobile App, tap to start, tap to stop), so you can leave the airport with zero francs and withdraw at the UBS or PostFinance Postomat inside Zurich HB once you arrive.
Where to get Swiss franc at ZRH
ZRH has the standard Swiss airport mix: zero-fee UBS, Raiffeisen, and PostFinance Postomat Bancomats inside the airside and landside concourses; the standalone Travelex ATM unit along the baggage-claim walking path; and the Travelex and Western Union counters inside the Airport Center landside. The cost math below assumes you withdraw Fr. 100 starting from a USD account.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| UBS / Raiffeisen Bancomat (ZRH airside + Airport Center) | Airside arrivals corridor + Airport Center Level 1 | Fr. 0 operator fee + interbank rate | ~$112 + Fr. 0 fee |
| PostFinance Postomat (Sihlpost at rail station level) | Below Airport Center, inside the SBB station post office | Fr. 0 + interbank rate | ~$112 + Fr. 0 fee |
| UBS / Raiffeisen / ZKB Bancomat at Zurich HB | After 10-min SBB train via EasyRide | Fr. 0 + interbank rate | ~$112 + Fr. 0 fee |
| Pre-ordered Swiss francs (CEI) | Delivered to your US address | ~2-3% | ~$115-117 |
| Travelex counter (Airport Center landside) | Airport Center Level 1 | 8-12% over mid-market | ~$121-125 |
| Western Union counter (Airport Center) | Airport Center near Travelex | 8-12% | ~$121-125 |
| Standalone Travelex ATM (DCC trap, baggage-claim walkway) | Between baggage claim and Airport Center retail | Fr. 3-5 + 4-12% DCC | ~$118-127 |
Where to find UBS, Raiffeisen, and PostFinance ATMs at Zurich Airport
Zurich Airport (ZRH) is Switzerland's largest international gateway, handling roughly 30 million passengers a year through Terminal 1 (the original main terminal serving SWISS, Lufthansa Group, and most European carriers), Terminal 2 (mainly Star Alliance long-haul and Edelweiss), and the Dock E satellite (Schengen and non-Schengen long-haul served by a transfer train called the Skymetro). All international and domestic arrivals exit into a shared landside arrivals concourse called the Airport Center on Level 1, which connects directly to the Zurich Airport rail station one floor below. The UBS and Raiffeisen Bancomats sit inside the airside corridor between immigration and baggage claim, plus inside the Airport Center landside. UBS dominates Swiss retail banking post-Credit Suisse merger (2023) and charges zero operator fee on foreign-card withdrawals at the actual Visa or Mastercard interbank rate. The catch at ZRH is the standalone Travelex ATM unit sitting in the visible walking path between baggage claim and the Airport Center retail corridor, plus the Travelex and Western Union counters inside the Airport Center itself.
Terminal 1 (Schengen and non-Schengen short-haul)
SWISS short-haul, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, KLM, Iberia, Austrian, Brussels, plus most Schengen connections
From Schengen arrivals, the UBS Bancomat is on the wall directly after passport control on the way down to baggage claim. Non-Schengen arrivals from Terminal 2 transfer to T1 baggage halls via the airside Skymetro; a Raiffeisen Bancomat sits at the Skymetro terminus on the T1 baggage level. Walk past the standalone Travelex unit positioned between baggage claim exits and the Airport Center sliding doors.
Terminal 2 (mainly Star Alliance long-haul and Edelweiss)
United, Air Canada (Star Alliance), Singapore, Thai, Edelweiss long-haul, SWISS long-haul to North America. Arrivals from T2 are routed through the Skymetro back to the central baggage claim area on the T1 side
T2 arrivals all funnel through the Skymetro to the T1 baggage halls (no separate T2 baggage claim). The UBS and Raiffeisen Bancomats are in the same locations as Terminal 1: against the wall after passport control, and at the Skymetro terminus on the baggage level.
Dock E satellite (long-haul non-Schengen)
Most long-haul widebody departures and arrivals (SWISS long-haul to Asia and Africa, plus selected non-Schengen carriers); Dock E is a physically separate satellite connected to T1 by the Skymetro people-mover
Dock E arrivals ride the Skymetro back to the T1 baggage claim area. No standalone ATMs on the Dock E satellite (it's gate space only). The UBS and Raiffeisen Bancomats in T1 baggage claim are the closest options.
Do you actually need cash at Zurich Airport?
Almost never. The SBB train direct to Zurich HB, the Glattalbahn tram line 10, every VBZ tram and city bus in central Zurich, every Uber, and every Zurich taxi accept contactless tap-to-pay. Even airport vending machines and the Migros Take Away and Starbucks outlets at ZRH take contactless. The first cash-only situation you are likely to hit (an SAC mountain hut night, a public toilet coin slot at a smaller Swiss station, a small-town parking meter in Appenzell or the Bernese Oberland) is well outside central Zurich. Here is what works on tap:
SBB train (ZRH to Zurich Hauptbahnhof) (Fr. 6.80 with SBB EasyRide): Every 5 to 10 minutes, 10-minute run. SBB EasyRide tap-to-pay via the SBB Mobile App handles the fare automatically; same EasyRide tap continues to Geneva, Lucerne, Basel, Bern, and the entire SBB national network..
Glattalbahn tram line 10 (ZRH curbside to Zurich HB via Oerlikon) (Fr. 6.80 with contactless): Every 7 to 15 minutes, 35-minute run, more scenic but slower than the SBB train. Tap contactless on the platform reader before boarding..
SBB regional services (Winterthur, Baden, Schaffhausen) (Fr. 5 to 20 depending on destination): SBB EasyRide contactless works at every Swiss station gate. Useful for travelers continuing east to Winterthur or north to Schaffhausen..
Zurich Taxi (Taxi 444, Taxi 7x7, Airport-branded ranks at curbside Level 0) (Fr. 60-90 to central Zurich): Pre-book or use the rank at curbside Level 0. Card readers in every vehicle..
Uber (Fr. 50-75 to central Zurich): Card-only via the app. Pickup from the dedicated rideshare zone at curbside Level 0. Bolt does not operate in Zurich..
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Zurich Airport to Zurich?
No. SBB train (ZRH to Zurich Hauptbahnhof) accepts contactless. Most taxis accept cards. Uber and other apps are card-only.
Can I order Swiss franc before flying?
Yes. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical Swiss franc to your US address in 2-5 days at rates well below airport counters. Order 50-100 Swiss franc for taxis and tips on day one.
Which Bancomat is best at ZRH arrivals?
The UBS or Raiffeisen Bancomats inside the airside corridor and the PostFinance Postomat at the Sihlpost office on the rail station level are functionally identical: same zero operator fee on foreign cards, same Visa/Mastercard interbank rate. The densest cluster is inside the Airport Center on Level 1, between the arrivals exits and the rail station entrance. If you can wait until Zurich HB (10 minutes by SBB train), the UBS, Raiffeisen, and ZKB Bancomats inside Zurich HB main hall cost the same and are surrounded by the rest of the city center.
Should I use the Travelex or Western Union counters at Zurich Airport?
No. The Travelex and Western Union counters inside the Airport Center at ZRH are the source of consistent traveler complaints about poor rates. They post Swiss francs at 5 to 12 percent off the interbank rate plus fixed transaction fees. A real UBS or Raiffeisen Bancomat is 60 to 90 seconds further along the Airport Center concourse and will save you roughly Fr. 10 on a typical Fr. 100 withdrawal. The same applies to the Travelex standalone machine near baggage claim.
What is the standalone Travelex machine near baggage claim?
Walk past it. Travelex operates a standalone ATM unit inside ZRH that sits in the visible walking path between the customs exit and the Airport Center retail corridor. It charges a Fr. 3 to 5 surcharge per withdrawal plus stages a hard DCC pitch ("charge in USD" at 6-12 percent over mid-market). The UBS and Raiffeisen Bancomats are 60 to 90 seconds further along the same walking path and cost zero on the operator side. Look for the bank logo on the housing, not just the word "Bancomat" or "Cash".
Can I leave ZRH with zero Swiss francs?
Yes, and most travelers should. The SBB direct train from Zurich Airport rail station to Zurich Hauptbahnhof runs every 5 to 10 minutes and takes 10 minutes, accepting contactless tap-to-pay via the SBB EasyRide function inside the SBB Mobile App (register a contactless Visa, Mastercard, or Amex in the app, tap to start at boarding, tap to stop at Zurich HB). The same SBB EasyRide tap continues to Geneva, Lucerne, Basel, Bern, and beyond. The Glattalbahn tram (line 10) from ZRH to Zurich Hauptbahnhof via Oerlikon takes about 35 minutes for Fr. 6.80 with contactless. Uber from the dedicated rideshare zone is card-only via the app. If you have a no-FX-fee card you can land at ZRH, tap onto the SBB train, and withdraw at the UBS or PostFinance Postomat inside Zurich HB for the same zero operator-fee structure.
How do I get from Zurich Airport to central Zurich?
Three good options. The SBB train direct from Zurich Airport rail station to Zurich Hauptbahnhof runs every 5 to 10 minutes, takes 10 minutes, and costs Fr. 6.80 with SBB EasyRide contactless. The Glattalbahn tram line 10 from the airport curb to Zurich HB via Oerlikon takes 35 minutes for Fr. 6.80 with contactless. Uber or Zurich Taxi 444 from the dedicated zones at the curbside Level 0 runs Fr. 60 to 90 to central Zurich depending on destination and traffic, accepting contactless via in-car terminal or card-only via the Uber app.
Can I order Swiss francs before flying to Zurich?
Yes, and Switzerland is a particularly smart pre-order destination because of the SAC mountain hut tradition (overnight stays at Swiss Alpine Club huts are mostly cash-only) and the rural valley restaurants that occasionally have offline card terminals. CEI Currency Exchange ships physical Swiss francs to your US address in 2 to 5 days at rates roughly 2 to 3 percent over interbank. A small CHF 100 to 200 pre-order covers the first hut night plus parking meters and tip cash without needing a Bancomat withdrawal at all.