Yes, you can buy a physical tourist SIM at Zurich Airport: Swisscom offers a confirmed purchase route, while Salt and Sunrise also have shops in the public area. Buying after arrival suits visitors who want a Swiss number or help with setup; preparing an eSIM is more convenient if you mainly need data or arrive outside shop hours.
Where to Buy a SIM Card at Zurich Airport
Head toward Airport Shopping after baggage collection and customs. The mobile shops below are landside, meaning they are in the public area rather than beside the departure gates.
| Shop | Location | Daily opening hours | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swisscom | Airport Shopping, public area | 08:00–21:00 | Confirmed route for buying a physical Swisscom tourist SIM |
| Salt | Airport Shopping, public area | 08:00–21:00 | Ask for the available PrePay starter and package |
| Sunrise Pop-Up Store | Airport Shopping, public area | 09:00–20:00 | Separate from the Sunrise shop at The Circle |
| Sunrise | The Circle, public area | 10:00–19:00 | An alternative location with earlier closing hours |
Locations and hours checked against Zurich Airport’s official shop listings on September 16, 2026. The airport shop directory provides individual listings and maps.
These locations are useful for passengers entering Switzerland. If you are staying airside between flights, reaching them would require leaving the transit area and meeting the applicable entry requirements.
Keep any declarations separate from the SIM-shopping stop: the shops are beyond the customs process. Review the Swiss airport customs rules before arrival if you are bringing goods that may need declaring.
Swisscom: the clearest physical tourist-SIM option
Swisscom is the most straightforward starting point if you want a physical tourist SIM and a Swiss number. Its Prepaid Flat tourist offer is available through Swisscom shops, and the operator specifically identifies Zurich Airport as a place for face-to-face assistance.
The shop’s 08:00 opening also makes it an earlier option than either Sunrise location. Allow time for the purchase and registration after you reach the public area; your flight’s landing time is not the time you will arrive at the counter.
Salt: ask for the complete PrePay purchase
Salt’s shop is in the same Airport Shopping public area and stays open until 21:00. Its PrePay service uses prepaid credit, with a daily data rate or separate data packs.
Ask which starter and data option the shop can supply, and how much you must pay to leave with it working. The branch is confirmed, but live starter stock and an airport-specific purchase total are not reliably published.
Sunrise: Airport Shopping or The Circle
Sunrise has two distinct airport locations. The Pop-Up Store in Airport Shopping opens from 09:00 to 20:00, while the shop at The Circle opens from 10:00 to 19:00.
Use the location name when checking directions. The Circle shop’s hours should not be applied to the pop-up, or vice versa. Neither listing establishes the current stock of a particular prepaid starter.
What Should You Expect to Pay?
Current airport price not reliably published. The figures below are national operator tariffs checked on September 16, 2026. They are useful benchmarks for assessing a quote, but they are not independently verified ZRH checkout totals.
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Swisscom Prepaid Flat 7: CHF 20 for seven days, with unlimited data in Switzerland at up to 50 Mbit/s download, domestic calls, and SMS within Switzerland and abroad. The advertised CHF 19.90 activation charge is currently waived.
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Sunrise prepaid: CHF 19.90 for a starter with CHF 20 credit. The Unlimited CH basic rate deducts CHF 2.50 per charged 24-hour period for domestic data, calls and SMS.
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Salt PrePay: the national offer advertises a free SIM with CHF 10 credit. Domestic data options include CHF 1.99 per day or a 5GB pack for CHF 14.95, valid for 30 days.
These prices work differently. Sunrise’s starting credit can fund eight CHF 2.50 usage periods if nothing else reduces the balance; it is not a fixed eight-day package. Salt’s CHF 10 starting credit does not fully fund the 5GB pack, so the required additional recharge affects what you pay upfront.
Before paying, have the seller separate the starter cost, included credit, selected package and any service charge. Get the full amount payable in CHF, especially if a headline price describes the data pack.
Longer stays and larger allowances deserve a broader comparison of Swiss prepaid SIM cards. The airport decision is mainly about getting the right service within the time you have after landing.
What You Need to Buy and Activate a SIM
Bring your passport and an unlocked phone. Local prepaid registration requires accepted identification; Sunrise explicitly accepts a valid ID or passport. Document acceptance and the registration process depend on the operator.
Keep these points together at the counter:
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Request prepaid service, and explain whether you need a physical SIM, a local number or domestic calls.
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Establish when the package starts and whether data is charged daily or covered for a fixed period.
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Ask which payment methods the branch accepts before registration begins; airport-specific payment details are not reliably published.
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Test mobile data with Wi-Fi switched off before leaving. If calls are included and matter to your trip, test those too.
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Keep the receipt, SIM carrier and account details for top-ups or support.
Store opening hours do not promise immediate activation. Leave room for registration and setup rather than planning the purchase in the final minutes before closing.
Buy at the Airport or Wait Until Zurich?
Buy at ZRH if you need a physical SIM before continuing your journey and the relevant shop is open. Waiting until the city makes sense if you can reach your accommodation without mobile data and would prefer to handle registration later.
One concrete city alternative is the Swisscom shop at Zürich HB, Museumstrasse 1. Its published hours are 09:00–21:00 Monday to Friday and 09:00–20:00 Saturday and Sunday, checked September 16, 2026.
That makes it a useful fallback during the day, but not a reliable solution to a late-night arrival. Waiting until the city also does not establish a saving: an airport premium has not been verified for the offers discussed here.
The wider choice depends on your existing service, too. If your home plan already includes Switzerland, you may not need a new SIM at all. Compare the internet options in Switzerland to weigh roaming, local SIMs, eSIMs and Wi-Fi before adding another purchase to arrival day.
Using a Roafly eSIM Before Arrival
Roafly’s Switzerland eSIM plans suit trips where maps, messaging, tickets and bookings are the priority. You can prepare the eSIM before flying and avoid depending on a physical starter card or an open airport shop.
The Switzerland product lists Sunrise and Salt as supported networks. Plans are data-only, support top-ups, and allow hotspot use within the purchased allowance. They do not include a Swiss phone number or conventional calls and SMS.
Your device must be carrier-unlocked and eSIM-compatible. Follow the installation instructions before departure, then select the Roafly line for mobile data when you need it in Switzerland. Keep your home line’s data settings under control to avoid using the wrong plan.
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Local prepaid remains useful when a Swiss number, domestic calling or a large local allowance matters more than avoiding the shop visit. If you are still deciding between travel-eSIM providers, compare eSIM plans for Switzerland before selecting an allowance.
Free Wi-Fi and Late Arrivals at ZRH
Zurich Airport provides eight hours of free Wi-Fi, counted continuously from the first login. Connect to the “Zurich Airport” network and register by SMS, or use the boarding-pass option with a code obtained at a Wi-Fi station or information desk.
If your phone cannot receive the registration text, use the boarding-pass and ID route. Public-area Wi-Fi stations include Arrival 1, Arrival 2 and the Arrival 2 customs exit. The official Wi-Fi instructions explain both login methods.
Late arrivals should plan around the shops’ closing times. it is past 21:00, all four mobile shops listed above are outside their published hours. Use the airport connection to contact your accommodation, load directions or finish an eSIM setup on a compatible phone.
Save tickets and essential directions before leaving the building. Airport Wi-Fi can help with the first steps after landing, but it will not provide mobile data throughout your journey.
Zurich Airport SIM Card FAQ
Can I buy a SIM without leaving the transit area?
The verified operator shops in this guide are in the public area. If you are remaining airside, use airport Wi-Fi or an eSIM your device supports rather than relying on access to those stores.
Is there a 24-hour SIM shop at Zurich Airport?
None of the four verified operator shops listed here has published 24-hour opening. Prepare another connection method if you expect to reach the public area late at night.
Will a Swiss SIM package cover Italy, France, Germany or Austria?
Domestic Swiss data and European roaming are separate benefits. Look at the exact country list and roaming allowance before buying for a trip that crosses the border.
Which option would we choose?
Swisscom is the clearest airport starting point for a physical tourist SIM with a local number. Roafly is more convenient for an unlocked, compatible phone when mobile data is the main requirement, particularly if shop hours do not fit your arrival. Waiting until the city works best when you already have enough connectivity to complete the first part of your journey.