jan

My husband and I will have from 0930 till 1340 in Zurich while changing planes to return to the US. Please recommend what we can do in that time span. even if only to see a little of Switzerland seem like a bonus to our vacation in Greecd

M Taylor

<BR>I love Zurich - We are going in October. Take the train from the airport to town. The Banhofstrasse is one of the most glamorous shopping streets in the world. Eat at the Zueghauskellar. Its big, busy and delicious! Prices are moderate - an old arsenal - lots of atmosphere. There are boat rides on the river that should be beautiful or take a Cityrama bus tour. Have fun.

Cheryl Z.

<BR>Jan, 4 hours may seem like long enough to leave the airport, but if your flight leaves at l340, you really don't have much time. However, if that's your check-in time, and you're allowing the normal two hours (to clear security again etc) possibly you can do something. We've been in the same boat in Zurich, Amsterdam, Honolulu and others and it often doesn't work out to leave.

kate

I agree with Cheryl...we just had a five-hour layover in Puerto Rico but found no time to leave. Our first flight ran a little late, then we worried about being late for the 2-hr. period before our next flight if we went out....See if you can get a <BR>later flight out of Zurich. Or, enjoy the duty-free <BR>shopping in the airport there--it is supposed to be phenomenal for watches and jewelry!!! Unfortunately for us, the San Juan airport duty-frees were AWFUL and not discounted at all. What a waste! But good luck in Zurich!

Thomas

- Make shure you have your schedule under control <BR> <BR>- Take train to town: <BR>http://wapps.sbb.ch/hafase/saule.htm <BR>From: Zurich Airport <BR>To: Zurich HB (which is the central station) <BR> <BR>- Stroll down BAHNHOFSTRASSE for Window- or Real Shopping <BR> <BR>- Definitely Stop at PARADEPLATZ. The Restaurant ZEUGHAUSKELLER has hearty traditional food and is a favorite with both tourists and locals (which means during lunchtime the place is floated with bankers thus reserve ahead). Another cool place right on PARADEPLATZ is SPRUENGLI Shop. Can't miss their sweet specialties TRUFFES DU JOUR and LUXEMBURGERLI (I would even risk my butt to smuggle them through customs). Upstairs SPRUENGLI has a decent Cafe. <BR> <BR>- From there it is close to the lake (the PEDALO's ROWING BOATS or MOTORBOATS (slow) are a good deal, even for half an hour). <BR> <BR>- Depending on time left, return back on BAHNHOFSTRASSE or cross BELLEVUE BRIDGE and stroll down on the right side of the LIMMAT RIVER either along the river or inside the NIEDERDORF on NIEDERDORFSRASSE towards the CENTRAL. CAFE SCHOBER has excellent coffee, hot chocolate, tea and ....wow!.. pastries... BIERHALLE WOLF and other smokey places have low priced, totally hearty traditional swiss food and are popular with blue collar, students and biz people alike (very crowded over lunchtime, try to be early). <BR> <BR>- CENTRAL is close to the station. <BR> <BR>Obviously you can make this circle also the other way round. Ask people for directions, they love to practice their languages. And forget for a second any low fat, low cholesterol or low sodium issues. (Fortunately) this hasn't made it to Zurich.

Donna

I, too, would strongly advise against trying to get to Zurich and back during a four hour layover. Too risky.

Eileen

If you have time to spare, then you should really get out of the airport and see Zurich. From the airport, take the escalator going down to the train station. Take a train that will bring you to Zurich HB. Once you reach the main station, go out and cross to Bahnhofstrasse. You can walk around and see all those shops or if you prefer, take tram 11 which stops at Paradeplatz. Get down from there and walk to Fraumunster and Limmatquai. <BR>If you don't have enough time to go to the city, just go down to the train station and go to Confiserie Sprungli. Try their Truffe Brioche, Truffe Cake, Luxemburgerli, and bring home a box of Top Ten. If you get hungry and feel like having Thai food, try the Asian Restaurant in the airport near the immigration counter. It's authentic. <BR>Hope you'll get the chance to see Zurich; it's really beautiful! <BR>

kam

Please, please confirm and reconfirm just how early you have to check in for your return flight to the States!! Each airline differs and they are permitted to give your seats to someone else, if you aren't there on time. Just because your flight departs at 13:40 doesn't mean you show up by 13:00. I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself with such a short time. If you go out of the airport you must clear customs and immigration. If you just transfer flights you are considered "in transit" and don't have to bother with this. It's true Zurich is a pretty city and you could see a great deal in one day. Can you delay your departure to do that, and leave the next day?? <BR>