[tux1968]

Zsh has quite a nice option "auto_cd". If the first word you type doesn't resolve to a command, it tries to change the current working directory to it instead. So just typing ~ will get you to $HOME, and .. will take you up one.

[samf]

I love this option. I type "/tmp" when I'm about to create some short-lived scratch files. Those saying "you can just alias that" are missing the point. Where do you stop with the aliases?

[SomeCallMeTim]

At one point I had ".." aliased to one directory up, "..." to two, and so forth. For navigating I found that preferable to cd ../../.. etc.

[lisivka]

    alias '..=cd ..'
    alias '~=cd "$HOME"'

[tux1968]

Yes. Although you get it for free with Zsh where it works with any directory you type. Not just the ones you think to make an alias for beforehand. :-)