On a clear day, there’s no better place in Zurich to check out the alps than Uetliberg, a low elevation mountain overlooking Zurich. It’s a short train ride from town then a short walk up to the viewpoint. There’s a small playground next to the train stop and a cafe at the viewpoint. It’s an easy choice for visitors where you don’t have time or energy to drive all the way to the mountains.
NOTE: The Uetliberg train from Zürich is not running due to construction at least until early October 2025. They are running replacement buses to reach Uetliberg viewpoint, but it’s a bit of a hassle. I would probably skip this until the construction is done (learn more). Check replacement connections on SBB.ch.
| Location: | Zurich Region |
| Address: | Uetliberg mountain view point: 47°20’58.3″N 8°29’30.3″E |
| Car: | Closest parking: Langwiesstrasse 35, 8142 Uitikon or: Birmensdorferstrasse 12, 8142 Uitikon Waldegg |
| Train: | S10 train to Uetliberg 20 mins from Zurich HB |
| Trail: | 600m to viewpoint |
| Condition: | dirt, obstacle-free |
| Skill: | easy |
| Services: | cafe, playground, WC, |
| Open: | year round |
| More info: | www.uetliberg.ch |
How to get to Uetliberg
Uetliberg is located just west of Zürich city. You can only reach the top by train or by foot.
By public transport: Take the S10 (low floor, stroller-friendly) from Zurich HB (or other stops along the way) to the end of the line. It runs every 15 mins. It requires two zones more than a Zurich city day pass.
By car: You cannot drive directly to the top of Uetliberg. There is a large parking lot on Birmensdorfstrasse, Uitikon (47°22’10.9″N 8°28’01.4″E). From there, it’s a seven min walk to the Uitikon Waldegg train station, where you can catch the train up to Uetliberg, just two more stops and about 7 mins.
Train ticket price
To ride the train up to Uetliberg from Zurich, you’ll need a regular ZVV ticket for Zone 110, 154 & 155. You can buy this at any public transportation machine in Zurich.
In 2024, a round trip ticket costs CHF 18.40/adult. A 50% discount for SBB Half-fare card and children aged 6-15. Under age 6 ride free. Free with GA or Swiss Travel Pass.
Trail to Uetliberg viewpoint
Follow the crowd up a short road (about 10 mins, stroller friendly) to the lookout point.
You’ll pass these funny lampposts on your way up.
Lookout point – can you find your house?
It now costs CHF 5 to climb the tower. It’s not a particularly better view than below, more of a novelty. You’ll have to decide if it’s worth it.
There’s a sit-down restaurant as well as a snack stand for bratwurst, fries, and pricey drinks. Be smart and bring your own. On weekends with good weather, this can get ridiculously busy. There are park benches and some lounge chairs, but on busy days you have to be really aggressive to get a spot. We circled for about 10 mins before we snagged this prime picnic spot.
If you have energy to burn, you can hike south along the ridgeline to Felsenegg and beyond. You can join the trail by climbing down a lot of stairs from the Uetliberg lookout or walking back toward the train station and turning left when the trail forks, following signs to Felsenegg. For details, see my Uetliberg Planet Trail post.
