What to do in Zurich if you only have a few hours?

21 amazing things to do in Zurich
  • © Martin Stollenwerk. Take a stroll down the Niederdorf. ...
  • Explore Zurich West. ...
  • Go on a bar crawl. ...
  • Visit the Flussbad Oberer Letten Badi. ...
  • Walk down Bahnhofstrasse. ...
  • Rent and ride a bike. ...
  • Gaze at the Limmat river from a tram. ...
  • © Zürich Tourismus / Bruno Macor / FB.




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With quick connections between the airport and the city center, even a short layover allows you to take in many of Zürich's highlights. Stroll the cobblestone streets of the compact, well-preserved Altstadt (Old Town) to get a taste of the city's medieval heritage.

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WHAT TO SEE & DO DURING A LAYOVER IN ZURICH
  1. BAHNHOFSTRASSE. As soon as you exit Zurich's Central Station, you will immediately see Bahnhofstrasse – the city's most famous street. ...
  2. LIMMAT RIVER. ...
  3. NIEDERDORF. ...
  4. GIACOMETTI MURALS. ...
  5. LINDENHOF. ...
  6. FRAUMUNSTER. ...
  7. ZURICH OPERA HOUSE.


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WHAT TO SEE & DO DURING A LAYOVER IN ZURICH
  • BAHNHOFSTRASSE. As soon as you exit Zurich's Central Station, you will immediately see Bahnhofstrasse – the city's most famous street. ...
  • LIMMAT RIVER. ...
  • NIEDERDORF. ...
  • GIACOMETTI MURALS. ...
  • LINDENHOF. ...
  • FRAUMUNSTER. ...
  • ZURICH OPERA HOUSE.


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A 4-hour layover may be enough time to leave the airport and explore the city. But it also depends on the airport's location, the time of day, and the immigration and customs procedures.

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More Ideas for City Tour of Zurich
  • Head to the Landesmuseum station for a one-hour cruise on the Limmatschifffahrt in one of the flatboats built to pass below the seven bridges that cross the river.
  • Make time to spend a couple of hours exploring the exhibits, artifacts and the armory tower at the National Museum.


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Zurich Airport is just 10km (6 miles) from the city center, so it is quick and easy to get there after your plane has landed.

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Leaving the airport during a layover without a visa is a violation of airport policy. Nevertheless, if you just want to get through customs and onto the next flight, you won't need a visa. In short, if you have a valid visa for the nation you are visiting, it is safe to leave the airport upon arrival.

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From a transatlantic flight, it usually takes me 30-40 minutes max from plane landing to me exiting the customs area, including picking up luggage. From a European flight, more like 20 mins.

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Zurich Airport (IATA: ZRH, ICAO: LSZH) is the largest international airport of Switzerland and the principal hub of Swiss International Air Lines.

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How long does a layover need to be to leave the airport? Because layovers are your choice, you can leave whenever you like, but seasoned travelers, including McGee, seldom leave airports for less than six hours. After all, airports themselves aren't usually in bustling, interesting areas.

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How much should I budget for food in Switzerland? If you eat out every meal during your Switzerland trip, I would budget about CHF 25-35 for lunch and CHF 40-50 for dinner per person including drinks. If you picnic, I would budget about CHF 10-15 per person per meal.

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If you want pizza/pasta, salad, desert, water and a glass on wine, it's going to cost CHF50-60 per head. If you want meat dishes, the price goes up a lot (where a pizza might cost CHF18, a steak would be CHF45). But it's really variable, as everywhere.

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