What's the smartest way to use public transit in Zurich?

Buy a day pass (Tageskarte) at any ZVV machine or the ZVV app before you board anything — a single zone-1 ticket costs around CHF 2.70, but a 24-hour pass covering the city runs about CHF 8.80 and pays for itself after three rides. Zurich's trams are the backbone of the system: lines 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, and 14 blanket the central districts, and the main hub is Central, just north of the Hauptbahnhof. Validate your ticket before boarding trams and buses; inspectors work plainclothes and the fine is CHF 100, no exceptions. The S-Bahn is the fastest way to reach the airport (S2 or S16, roughly 10 minutes from HB), the lakeside towns, and Winterthur. Night trams run on weekends until around 4 a.m., labeled with an "N" prefix. Google Maps handles ZVV routing accurately, but download the ZVV app if you want real-time disruption alerts.

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• How do I get from the airport to the city in Zurich?