Travel guide: Olten, Switzerland

Hotels, cars, visas, lounges — everything you need before you land in Olten.

Compare transfers in Olten

Plan the trip

Start with a transfer, stay or car, then fill in the rest.

Search rides ↗

Search stays ↗

Search cars ↗

Paid links: Aurum may earn a commission if you book through these partners, at no extra cost to you.

At a glance

Local facts

Travel essentials for Olten, Switzerland — what to expect on the ground. Olten sits in Switzerland (Europe), in a temperate climate band — temperate northern-hemisphere zone with four distinct seasons. Nearest airport: ZJU serves the area. Local timezone is Europe/Zurich, which matters for arrivals and check-ins. It sits at 47.35°, 7.91° — useful for weather, daylight, and route planning. Recognised as a major tourist destination — expect higher demand in peak windows. Use the live tools below to plan around these facts.

RegionSwitzerland, Europe
Climate bandtemperate northern-hemisphere zone with four distinct seasons
Nearest airportZJU
TimezoneEurope/Zurich
Coordinates47.35, 7.91
Located in the Northern Hemisphere

Olten is a town in the canton of Solothurn in northern Switzerland, on the river Aare at the southern foot of the Jura mountains. Picturesquely set on both banks of the Aare, with an attractive old town and a historic covered wooden bridge, Olten is best known as one of the great railway hubs of Switzerland: its station stands at the junction of the main lines to Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne and Biel, and although the town itself is small, the station is among the busiest in the country. Olten grew from a medieval bridge town into an important railway and industrial centre in the 19th century. It makes a convenient central base in the Swiss Mittelland, within reach of the country's major cities. Olten is reached by frequent trains from all directions and by road, with the nearest airports Zurich and Basel. The climate is temperate, with warm summers and cool, sometimes snowy winters.

Book an airport transfer to Olten

Compare private transfers from licensed partners. Meet-and-greet included.

Get a transfer quote

Tours & experiences

Top tours & experiences in Olten

Browse Viator’s catalogue of Olten tours, day trips, and experiences. Most include free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity.

See Olten tours on Viator →

Aurum may earn commission on completed bookings, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

More partner options for Olten

Paid links: Aurum may earn a commission if you book through these partners, at no extra cost to you. Partners set their own prices and terms.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Olten?
Olten is a town in the canton of Solothurn in northern Switzerland, on the river Aare at the southern foot of the Jura mountains. It lies in the Swiss Mittelland, the central plateau, roughly between Zurich, Bern and Basel, which makes it a very central and well-connected place within the country.
Why is Olten known for its railway?
Olten is one of the most important railway junctions in Switzerland: its station stands where the main lines to Zurich, Bern, Basel, Lucerne and Biel meet. Although the town has only around 18,000 inhabitants, the station is among the ten busiest in the country, a legacy of Olten's growth as a railway town.
What is there to see in Olten?
Olten has an attractive old town on the banks of the Aare, with a much-photographed historic covered wooden bridge linking the two sides of the river. It is a pleasant, low-key Swiss town rather than a major tourist centre, and its central location makes it a convenient base for exploring the cities and countryside nearby.

Nearby destinations

Back to the global hub

This page contains affiliate links. If you make a booking through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

More destinations

Show all 41 destinations