We have a 5-1/2 hour layover in Zurich on a Monday morning. Is it easy to spend a few hours visiting Zurich? What would be your suggested itinerary? Can you give us transportation information (and related times, so we don't miss our flight out!)? Thank you.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Where are you flying from? Will you have to go through immigration (passport control) for entering the Schengen Area at Zürich? If so, you need to allow time for this.
Where are you flying to? Will you have to go through passport control fro exiting the Schengen Area at Zürich? If so, you need to allow time for this, and for security.
It is about 5-10 minutes walk from arrivals to the station at Zürich airport (next building). From there, there are trains every 10 minutes to Zürich HB (main station), taking 10 minutes for the trip, cost CHF 6.80. At Zürich HB, you walk out into the city centre, and walk down to the lake.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
We are arriving from the US, and flying to Italy. So we must go through customs on arrival. Do we need to do so for departure? Thank you for the help.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Mr Goofy, If you are arriving from the USA, you go through immigration (passport control) on landing at Zürich. You would do this whether you exit the airport or not. Zürich is a very efficient airport, so this should take no more than ½ hour.
You will not go through passport control when you exit Zürich (just security), nor when you land in Italy. Both Switzerland and Italy are in the Schengen Area, so your entry into Switzerland counts as your entry into the Schengen Area.
Customs is the check on the contents of your luggage. Assuming your luggage is checked through to Italy, you will first pick up your bags there, and carry them through customs. Customs is a random check, 95%+ do not get stopped. So it takes zero time.