I am able to use frequent flyer miles to go from New York to Budapest via Zurich. The only problem is the flight schedule, which leaves me with a 9 hour layover in Zurich (8:15 AM - 5:15 PM). Will the 9 hours enable me to go into Zurich for the day? If so, what is the best transportation method from the airport to the city? Also, are there lockers at the airport to store our carry-ons? I's also love suggestions of what to see in that amount of time.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Happy,
Really the best way to schedule your flights, that is if you have the time, is not to do the 9 hour layover but rather stay in Zurich for the night and fly on the next day. You'll have much a better and relaxed time to see the city, not to mentioned relax and get a shower. There is train service from the airport.

I don't think that I have that as an option.

Happy,
You never know unless you check, but do check. It could also be that you can't fly on to Budapest until 5:15pm because you might just miss a morning flight. Check to see if what other possible scheduling there is for the morning, its a shot...you never know. For ticketing with ff miles generally they don't restrict you to the 23 hour layover rule, but if you can get a morning flight that may negate that. Good luck with it and exercise all possibilities you never know.

There is excellent train service between the airport and the main train station. With 9 hours you will have plenty of time to stroll the shops, have a nice meal, maybe even take a spin on a steamer on the lake.

Thank you, Seamus

Hi happy2travel,

With such a lot of time, I suggest you take the train all the way to Rapperswil, which will be about an hour's ride, or to Luzern, which will be about 1h16. You'll have plenty of time to stop and enjoy downtown Zurich on your way back.

Rapperswil is a lovely town on Lake Zurich, and you can walk along the lakefront or visit the castle and shop in the old town.

Luzern is a larger city, with more spectacular scenery of mountains-spilling-into-lakes and a beautiful old town.

You may want to know that there are public/pay showers in the Zurich main train station. I think you'll feel a lot better taking a shower after an 8-hour flight then a 9-hour layover. They provide soap, shower, etc.

Hope this helps.

s

there are lockers in the airport and in Zurich's main train station, just 20 minutes by frequent train from the airport. Zurich's great but Luzern, about an hour away by train is fantastic, one of Europe's loveliest cities - set on an Alpine lake girdled by high Alps. In Zurich itself be sure to trek down Bahnhofstrasse, by the station, and see the fashion boutiques and fancy Swiss banks and stroll down to the lake and walk through the neat old town around the cathedral. If boats are running, yes float to Rapperwsil then train back to Zurich.

I have seen several threads on this topic in the past. Try searching on Zurich. Here is one I found to get you started:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...mp;tid=1372363

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions. Ronda, thanks for the link. I did do a search on Zurich, but I guess I didn't go back far enough. I stopped at 2003 and the link that you suggested is from 2002. Nevertheless, it has very good information.

Any other suggestions are most welcome. Thanks again!

I would agree that Luzern is truly a beautiful city. But, IMO, I would not recommend you spend so much time on the trains going/coming back, with such limited time. Remember that you have to check in for your continuing flight onward probably at least an hour before scheduled flight time, and maybe even more. (Zurich airport has lots of shops to peruse while spending time there)

Zurich is easy to stroll, as the main shopping street (Bahnhofstrasse) is right out the door of the main train station. Yes, you can reach the main station in a quick ride from the airport, no problem. Trains run very frequently and ON TIME.

The Bahnhofstrasse is one of my favorite streets to (window) shop in Europe. It is a wonderful street to stroll and have a look, grab a nice lunch...

I think you should try to see some of this beautiful city while on a long layover!

Have fun.

Happy2travel,
You're hell bent on that painful 9 hour layover, have at it....trust me trust me you don't have to do that, seriouly look into flying into Zurich one morning but instead of flying out that evening get a flight the following morning! This is if time allows! No matter what you decide, have a great trip!

simpsonc510, thank you for your suggestion.

Traveler863, it is either this travel itinerary, or I will not be able to use my frequent flyer miles. There are no FF awards flights available for the next day.

I really think that this 9 hour layover is better than, say, a 6 hour layover, which would be my only other option. At least the longer layover provides me with an opportunity to get out of the airport and enjoy some of the sights. I don't think that I would chance leaving the airport with the shorter layover.

All in all, the itinerary could be worse. And, I have the bonus of saving $1000 by being flexible and utilizing my FF award.

Thanks again to all who have taken the time to post. I continue to be open to additional tips and suggestions.

We had a 6 hour or so layover in Zurich and had a fine time running around. Zurich just isn't that big and very easy to get around. Do look at the previous posts on this subject because there are excellent ideas on "how to".

I would also recommend the 6 hour layover if you only want to see Zurich since it is only an 18 minute direct trainride into downtown Zurich. Bahnhofstrasse to me is just another boring street with one department store after another. The street you should go to is Rennweg which has more picturesque shops/restaurants and it takes you to the curvy cobblestone lanes as you approach the Rathaus bridge. There's nothing really special in Zurich, but you can walk towards the operahouse and walk along the lakefront and have breakfast with a lakeview from one of the fancy hotel row terasses. Honestly the lakeview is not the breathtaking swiss lakeview you would imagine.

If you have 9 hours you should definitely go to Luzern( 80 minute train ride). It has a fantastic lakeside charm. The old town has a maze of cobblestone lanes. You can walk on the old citywall and towers on the hill above the oldtown. There's a fun & unique glacier (Gletscher) museum, House of mirrors and a lion monument commemorating the swissguards. The Verkehrs(transportation) museum is also fine. There is a small less significant Picasso museum in oldtown.

Ronda, thank you for sharing your experience in Zurich.

Dax, thank you for your very detailed reply. I would love to get out of the city but I don't think that my husband will go for it. He'll be worrying the whole day about missing our flight. He's a big "What if?" guy.