Ice Hockey in Zurich: Your Guide to Visiting the ZSC Lions and Swiss Life Arena

A day in Zurich can end with a memorable sporting experience: a ZSC Lions home game. If you are visiting Swiss Life Arena for the first time, you probably have a few practical questions. Where should you buy tickets? Which seats are suitable for newcomers? How do you reach the arena, and how do you get home after an evening game?

This guide takes you through the planning process. It focuses on home games of the ZSC Lions’ first men’s team in Zurich-Altstetten, covering tickets, travel, admission and food, with suggestions for turning your hockey evening into a day trip or a weekend in Zurich.

Where Do the ZSC Lions Play?

Swiss Life Arena is in Altstetten, in the western part of Zurich. Its address is Vulkanstrasse 130, 8048 Zürich. Zürich Altstetten railway station is therefore an important reference point when planning your journey.

Opened in autumn 2022, the arena is the current home of the ZSC Lions. If you still associate the club with the Hallenstadion, make sure you select the correct venue when checking directions.

Before your first visit, take a look at the official arena and seating plans. Knowing where your section is located makes it easier to find your way without rushing shortly before the opening face-off.

Choosing the Right Home Game

Start with the official ZSC Lions schedule. Check more than the date: make sure you have selected a home game and confirm its starting time.

For a first hockey visit, we suggest choosing a game that fits comfortably with your travel arrangements. An afternoon fixture may be more convenient for families or visitors facing a longer journey home. For an evening game, check your late train options before buying tickets.

If you are planning a weekend in Zurich, choose the game first and then arrange accommodation and other activities. This avoids building your trip around a date when the team is playing away.

Buying Tickets and Choosing Your Seats

Single-game tickets are available through the official ZSC Lions online ticket shop and other authorised sales channels. The club states that ticket prices can increase at certain points before a game, so booking earlier may offer better value.

For a first visit, we recommend a seated ticket with a good overview of the rink. A slightly elevated position can make it easier to follow passing moves and the overall shape of the game. Use the arena’s virtual 3D seating view to compare perspectives before purchasing.

Pay particular attention to the away-supporter sections. The ZSC Lions identify standing Section C and seated Section D1 as visiting-supporter areas. The away standing section is reserved exclusively for supporters of the visiting team; neutral spectators should not select it simply as an alternative ticket category.

Before paying, check the date, starting time, section and any concession conditions. Bring the required proof of eligibility if you purchase a discounted ticket.

Getting to Swiss Life Arena by Train, Tram or Bus

Single-game tickets are available through the official ZSC Lions online ticket shop and other authorised sales channels. The club states that ticket prices can increase at certain points before a game, so booking earlier may offer better value.

For a first visit, we recommend a seated ticket with a good overview of the rink. A slightly elevated position can make it easier to follow passing moves and the overall shape of the game. Use the arena’s virtual 3D seating view to compare perspectives before purchasing.

Pay particular attention to the away-supporter sections. The ZSC Lions identify standing Section C and seated Section D1 as visiting-supporter areas. The away standing section is reserved exclusively for supporters of the visiting team; neutral spectators should not select it simply as an alternative ticket category.

Before paying, check the date, starting time, section and any concession conditions. Bring the required proof of eligibility if you purchase a discounted ticket.

Getting to Swiss Life Arena by Train, Tram or Bus

The arena recommends travelling by public transport. Zürich Altstetten is a convenient railway station for reaching the venue, with the final part of the journey made on foot.

The official transport map lists the walk from Bahnhof Altstetten as approximately 600 metres or eight minutes. Allow a little longer on your first visit so you can follow signs and locate your entrance without rushing.

Bändliweg and Seidelhof are other stops in the surrounding area. The most convenient connection depends on your starting point and the timetable on your chosen date. Check your specific journey using the SBB or ZVV journey planner.

If you arrive at Zürich Hauptbahnhof, the city’s main station, remember to include the onward journey to Altstetten. The main station is an interchange rather than the stop directly beside the arena.

Check the transport entitlement associated with your admission ticket. Budget for the necessary public transport tickets unless an included travel entitlement is explicitly stated on your ticket or in its conditions.

Driving to the Arena

If you need to drive, arrange parking before travelling. For ZSC home games, the arena lists a limited number of spaces at the Engrosmarkt and Aligro sites, which must be purchased online in advance.

Our planning tip is to confirm parking availability before committing to the car journey. Looking for a space shortly before the game can add unnecessary pressure.

Another option is to drive part of the way and complete your journey by public transport. Choose a suitable official park-and-ride location and check its operating hours and return connections.

Use the address of your booked parking area for navigation. Entering the arena address alone does not tell you where you are entitled to leave your vehicle.

When Should You Arrive?

For your first visit, we suggest arriving at the arena approximately 60 minutes before the game. This is a planning recommendation that gives you time for admission checks, finding your way around and reaching your seat.

Allow more time if you want to eat or visit the fan shop beforehand. Check the advertised door-opening time for your particular fixture.

Have your admission ticket ready before reaching the entrance and make sure your phone is sufficiently charged. If several tickets are stored on one device, agree in advance who will enter together.

Once inside, find your seat first. You can then organise food, drinks or a look around with a clearer idea of where you need to return.

Bags, Food and Cashless Payments

Travel light. The published visitor information limits permitted bags to a maximum size or footprint of DIN A4. Do not plan to bring a larger bag or backpack into the arena. Food and drinks brought from outside are also listed among prohibited items.

If you are exploring Zurich beforehand, leave shopping and travel luggage at your accommodation or a suitable luggage-storage facility.

Payments inside the arena are cashless. Bring a suitable payment card or supported mobile payment method. Listed options include debit and credit cards as well as TWINT.

For clothing, we recommend layers that you can adjust between walking around the city, waiting outside and watching the game.

Eating Before the Game: Restaurant ZETT and Sportsbar 1930

Restaurant ZETT and Sportsbar 1930 offer options for combining your hockey visit with a meal or drink. According to the operator, both welcome guests without a match ticket.

ZETT is an option for a sit-down meal before the game. If that is part of your plan, we suggest reserving a table and allowing enough time before the opening face-off.

Sportsbar 1930 caters to supporters looking for sports coverage, drinks and snacks. It may also be of interest if you want to follow the ZSC Lions during an away game.

Check the opening hours for your chosen date, as the published arrangements distinguish between ordinary days and game days.

Decide beforehand whether you want a relaxed meal or something during your arena visit. Keeping this part of the evening organised can make a first visit much more comfortable.

Visiting the ZSC Lions with Children

The club offers Familytickets for a designated family area in Section K1. Check the current combinations, age conditions and booking arrangements before purchasing.

One important seating detail: the published conditions generally allow children aged six and under to enter without their own ticket, but this does not give them a separate seat. Exceptions apply in certain premium sections. If your child needs a seat, clarify the appropriate booking in advance.

Bring any required proof of age. Family-ticket conditions and concessions should be checked for the relevant season.

For a first family visit, we suggest choosing a convenient starting time and keeping the rest of the day manageable. Allowing time for travel, food and finding your seats makes the experience less rushed.

Discuss what you will do if your child becomes tired or wants to leave early. The first hockey outing should above all be an enjoyable shared experience.

Accessible Visits: Arrange Your Place and Journey in Advance

If you are visiting with a wheelchair, contact the club’s ticketing team directly. The ZSC Lions publish a free-admission arrangement for wheelchair users and one accompanying person. Places are limited, and reservations can be made from two weeks before the relevant game under the published conditions.

Ask which entrance is appropriate and discuss the best arrival arrangements. The ticket information also mentions taxi and Tixi drop-off and pick-up points.

Our recommendation is to organise the reservation, any accompanying assistance and your transport together. A confirmed admission place is one part of planning a comfortable journey from your starting point to your arena position.

Planning Your Journey HomeKlicke hier, um einen Text zu schreiben.

Plan your return journey before leaving for Zurich. A hockey game does not have a guaranteed finishing time: stoppages and, depending on the competition, overtime or a penalty shootout can extend the evening.

Look up a later alternative as well as your preferred connection. This is particularly important for longer journeys involving several changes.

Allow time to leave the building and walk to the station after the game. Your return journey does not begin on the platform the moment the final horn sounds.

If the last useful connection would be uncomfortably tight, an overnight stay may be a more relaxed choice. Compare accommodation locations, the journey from the arena and your onward travel the following morning.

Combining Hockey with a Visit to Zurich

For a day trip, we suggest keeping your sightseeing plans straightforward. A walk through the Old Town, along the Limmat or beside Lake Zurich can be combined with a later hockey game. Choose one main activity rather than trying to fit too many stops into the hours before the match.

One possible itinerary is to arrive in the early afternoon, explore the city, have something to eat and then travel to Altstetten with time to spare. Adjust the plan around your confirmed game time.

For a weekend visit, make the hockey evening a fixed point and leave the other day for exploring Zurich. Accommodation with convenient connections to the arena and railway station may be more useful than choosing solely by the lowest room price.

This is an itinerary suggestion from IceHockeyAtlas. Adapt it to your interests, budget and travel arrangements.

Can You Take a Tour of Swiss Life Arena?

Swiss Life Arena offers public tours on selected Saturdays with games, as well as private tours by arrangement.

The published public tours last approximately one hour and are conducted in German. The minimum age is six. Access to particular areas depends on arena operations; the first team’s dressing room, for example, is not always part of the route.

If you would like to combine a tour with a home game, first check that a suitable tour is actually offered on your chosen date. Book the tour and match admission according to their respective conditions.

When available, this can turn a hockey evening into a broader look behind the scenes of the venue.

Your Checklist for a First Hockey Visit to Zurich

Before your visit:
• Confirm the home game, date and starting time in the official schedule.
• Choose suitable tickets and the correct section.
• Arrange family tickets or a wheelchair place if needed.
• Plan your outward and return journeys, including a later alternative.
• Confirm parking arrangements if travelling by car.

On game day:
• Have your admission ticket, required identification and payment method ready.
• Charge your phone.
• Bring as little luggage as possible.
• Follow the current admission and bag rules.
• For a first visit, aim to arrive approximately one hour before the game.

After the game:
• Allow time to leave the arena and walk to the station.
• Check current departures and onward connections.

A Good Hockey Evening Starts with Straightforward Planning

A ZSC Lions home game can be a standalone sporting evening or part of a wider visit to Zurich. The most important decisions come beforehand: choosing a suitable fixture, finding the right place to watch and arranging a return journey that still works if the game runs longer.

With those points organised, you can spend more time enjoying the experience itself: following the action, taking in the atmosphere and discovering another side of Zurich.

Sources and Further Information