Overview
The S16 is not a train you take for the thrill of it — it is a train you take because it quietly does its job, linking a lakeside village to an international airport without any fuss. That, in its own way, is the appeal. This is a working commuter line on the ZVV network, run by SBB, and it happens to pass through some genuinely attractive Swiss lakeside and urban scenery along the way.
Starting at Herrliberg-Feldmeilen on the shores of Lake Zurich, the S16 heads inland and north, eventually terminating at Zürich Flughafen — meaning that with one seat and no fuss, you can go from a quiet lakeside community to a check-in desk. For residents of the Gold Coast (the local nickname for this stretch of lakeshore) it is a daily lifeline; for visitors, it is a practical and rather scenic way to reach the airport or to explore the lake villages without hiring a car.
There is nothing exotic being promised here — no panoramic observation car, no legendary status. What you get instead is a genuine slice of Swiss regional rail life: clean, punctual (by reputation), and running through landscape that shifts from water to city to airport apron with very little drama in between.
Key facts
| From | Herrliberg-Feldmeilen |
|---|---|
| To | Zürich Flughafen |
| Operator | SBB |
The route: lake to landing strip
The S16 begins its journey at Herrliberg-Feldmeilen, one of the string of small towns and villages that line the eastern shore of Lake Zurich, an area known locally for its comfortable, moneyed calm rather than any tourist spectacle. From here the line moves away from the water and works its way toward Zürich itself, before continuing out the far side to Zürich Flughafen.
The character of the landscape changes noticeably over the course of the journey. Early on there is the lake — glimpsed rather than gazed at, given this is a commuter service rather than a sightseeing one — and a townscape of villas, gardens and church spires typical of Zurich's affluent lakeside communities. As the train pushes on toward the city and then out to the airport, the scenery becomes more built-up and functional, the rhythm of the journey shifting from leisurely lakeside to the busier, more utilitarian feel of transport infrastructure near Zürich Flughafen.
As a journey, it is unpretentious. This is not a scenic excursion train dressed up for visitors; it is a proper working S-Bahn service that happens to link somewhere pretty with somewhere useful.
Timetable and how to book
Because the S16 operates as part of the ZVV suburban network under SBB, services run at regular intervals rather than as a single showcase departure, though exact frequency and timing vary by season, day of the week, and ongoing engineering or timetable changes. For this reason, do not rely on any specific times you might see quoted elsewhere — always check directly with SBB, either through their official app or website, before travelling.
Booking, in the conventional sense, is largely unnecessary — this is a turn-up-and-go commuter service rather than a train requiring seat reservations. That said, it is worth confirming fare products and any current travel restrictions or engineering works with SBB, particularly if you are travelling with luggage to or from the airport and want certainty over your connection.
Fares and classes
As with other ZVV/SBB regional services, the S16 typically offers a choice between first and second class, and the difference is one of comfort and space rather than any transformation in the journey itself. First class generally means a quieter carriage, more generous seating, and a slightly calmer atmosphere — useful if you are travelling with luggage before a flight and want a bit more room to breathe.
Second class is perfectly comfortable and is what most regular commuters use day to day; you lose a little legroom and quiet, but nothing of the actual experience of the route. Neither class comes with a formal catering service of the sort you might find on long-distance trains, since this is a regional S-Bahn service rather than an intercity one.
On fares themselves, we won't guess — ticket pricing and any zone-based or day-pass options should be checked directly with SBB or the ZVV fare system, since they vary depending on how and when you travel.
Which side to sit for the views
If lake views matter to you, the priority is simple: choose the side of the train facing Lake Zurich during the section of the journey near Herrliberg-Feldmeilen and the other lakeside stops, rather than worrying about it for the whole trip, since the lake is only a feature of the early stage of the route.
As the train moves toward Zürich and then on to the airport, the scenery becomes more urban and infrastructural, so the choice of side matters far less — there is no dramatic panorama to chase once you're deep into the approach to Zürich Flughafen. Treat the lakeside stretch as the visual highlight and settle in for a more functional ride thereafter.
Onboard experience
Expect the standard, well-kept feel of a Swiss regional train: clean carriages, wide windows that give a decent view of the passing lake and townscape, and the sort of unfussy practicality that defines Swiss commuter rail. There is no dedicated panoramic carriage or special observation feature on this service — it is a regional S-Bahn train, not a designed-for-tourists scenic line.
Don't expect an onboard catering trolley or restaurant car; this is not that kind of journey. What you can expect is a reliable, comfortable ride with good sightlines out of the windows, level boarding at most stations, and the general calm efficiency that Swiss regional rail is known for.
Best season to travel
Lake Zurich's eastern shore has a different mood depending on the time of year, and that shapes how the S16 journey feels even though the train itself doesn't change. In spring and summer, the lakeside towns near Herrliberg-Feldmeilen are at their most appealing — gardens in bloom, the water often busy with boats, and long daylight hours that make the glimpses of the lake from the train much more rewarding.
Autumn brings a quieter, softer light to the same landscape, with the lakeside villages taking on a more subdued charm, while winter can mean shorter daylight hours and greyer conditions, meaning the visual highlight of the lake may be less pronounced on an early morning or evening service. If scenery is your main motivation for choosing this train, aim for a daytime journey in the warmer months.
Alternatives and onward connections
At Zürich Flughafen, the S16 delivers you directly into one of Switzerland's key transport hubs, meaning onward connections are straightforward — from airport check-in halls to further rail services heading into central Zürich or further afield across the Swiss and international rail network. This makes the S16 a genuinely practical link for travellers arriving by air and heading toward the lakeside communities, or vice versa.
As for alternatives, other S-Bahn services and mainline connections into Zürich's main station offer different routings toward the airport, and it is worth checking SBB's network map and journey planner if your starting point or destination differs slightly from Herrliberg-Feldmeilen. Road alternatives exist too, of course, but the appeal of the S16 lies precisely in avoiding the need for a car or taxi across this corridor.
History and context
The S16 belongs to the modern era of Zurich's integrated S-Bahn network, a system built up over recent decades to knit together the city, its lakeside satellite towns, and the airport into a single coordinated public transport structure under the ZVV umbrella. It reflects a broader Swiss approach to regional rail: dense, reliable, and designed around the rhythms of daily commuting rather than tourism.
In that sense, the S16's significance is quiet rather than historic — it is one thread in a much larger, carefully planned network that has transformed how people around Lake Zurich live, work, and travel, long after the era when such journeys would have depended on separate local lines or lake steamers.
Common questions
- Do I need to reserve a seat on the S16?
- No, this is a regional S-Bahn service, so seating is unreserved — you simply board and sit in your chosen class. Always check SBB for any current exceptions.
- Which class should I choose for the best experience?
- First class offers more space and a quieter carriage, while second class is perfectly comfortable for the length of this journey. Neither includes catering, so the choice is really about comfort rather than what's included.
- Is the S16 a scenic tourist train?
- No — it's a working commuter service that happens to pass attractive lakeside scenery near Herrliberg-Feldmeilen. There's no panoramic carriage or tourist-oriented features.
- What's the best time of year to ride it for the views?
- Spring and summer daytime journeys generally offer the best light and the liveliest lakeside scenery, though the route is pleasant in a quieter way throughout autumn as well.
- How do I check timetables and fares?
- Always check directly with SBB via their official app or website, since timetables and fares vary by season and are not something to rely on from third-party sources.
On the map
Sources & method
- OpenStreetMap route=train (ODbL) — route
See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.