We will have a 4 1/2 hr layover at the Zurich airport. As the "Old Town" is only a 15 minute train ride from the airport, I would like to take a quick ride into old town & see the covered bridge over Lake Lucerne and whatever else we can see in an hour before heading back to the airport. Is this feasible?
Not feasible as that covered bridge is not in Zurich. It is in Luzern.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapellbrücke
Brenda, I think you have your cities mixed up. Are you talking about "old town" Zurich, or Luzern? Luzern (with covered bridges and the Lake) are about 1+ hours away by train from the Zurich airport. Downtown Zurich is 15 minutes away, and also has a lake, but is that what you meant?
Had a 6 hr. layover in Zurich on the way to Rome. Took the 15 min. train to the Old Town from the airport.
Had a delightful 2 hour stroll there. You would really enjoy it.
Where are you flying from and to? If both are outside Schengen, then you stay "airside" and do not go through immigration. Going to Zürich (but not Luzern) would be feasible but you would need time for Immigration both for entry and exit on your return to the airport.