My destination is actually Vienna, but by booking a one way from the US to Zurich and another one way from Zurich to Vienna, I saved myself about $800. While I'm there, I figure I might as well make the most of a stop in Zurich. So my question is, accounting for my flights being on two separate tickets (i.e. I will need to clear customs, get baggage, and then check in later to do the whole security process over again), how much time do I reasonably need to leave between flights? My flight into Zurich lands 10:15am on Sunday, and I am trying to decide between the following flights to Vienna: A) 12:40pm departure, which might be too tight even to make it without leaving the airport? B) 3:10pm departure, which is ample time for customs/security/baggage process but leaves no time to see the city? C) 5:00pm departure, which I'm curious to know will leave enough time for an afternoon of exploring Old Town? or D) an even later departure, which I'm curious to know will be too much time to explore the city? All the flights to Vienna are the same cost, I just need to decide now before they increase in price. Which flight would you book if faced with the same choice?
Posted by
Reading, PA, USA
1637 posts
Last summer we had 9 hour lay over and it was not too much time. Zurich can keep you busy.
Posted by
Maryland, USA
533 posts
This page on the Zurich airport site recommends that for layovers of 4 hours and longer, there's enough time to leave the airport and visit the city. I think that's about right. The airport is relatively small (by international airport standards, anyway) and reasonably efficient - it's easy to get in and out. And the trip into the city is quick.
But that figure doesn't account for the time to reclaim checked bags and recheck them, which it sounds like you would need to do?
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
6970 posts
E) The overnight train from Zürich to Vienna, and spend half a day in Zürich before continuing to Vienna.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you all for the input! Appreciate the first hand accounts of what has worked for others, as well as the link to the airport page. The overnight train didn't even occur to me - I think that might be my best bet to avoid the hassle of airport security and check-in process, and it would give me plenty of time to explore the city without rushing back to the airport. Many thanks!