Please sign in to post.

Zurich layover plans- anything I am underthinking/overthinking?

Posted by on

I will be arriving from YYZ into Zurich, en route to BRI. Arrival time is 10:05 am. Departure is 4:45 pm, so there is approximately 6:40 for the layover, which isn't a HUGE amount, but it feels like enough to do a bit of light sightseeing. I did also check my flight history, and....of course there are exceptions, but in general, the flight tends to arrive at the gate early more often than not. So I am also thinking/hoping I might have a bit more time.

I haven't traveled to/through Europe since EES was implemented, so I am assuming I need to plan for some time to go through that whole process. Customs, of course. Stowing my hand luggage. Thinking I can be on a train into town around 11:30. Is that too ambitious? Also....any tricks to getting a physical passport stamp?

I thought I would visit Grossmunster, and the Lindt Factory. Of the 2, Lindt is probably my priority. It takes about 40 minutes to get there.

I plan to do a self-guided tour; I'd like to visit the cafe and shop as well. BUT. They have a chocolate class I'd like to do, but it is unfortunately at 3:30 pm. They do have another class, which starts at 1:30 pm, and is scheduled for 1 hr, 10 minutes. Which puts me as done at about 2:40 pm. I would probably do an Uber (Do they have Uber?), which puts me back at the airport at around hopefully, 3:15 pm.

Pick up my bag, and go back through security, not sure how much time to allow for that. I know it seems like I am cutting it close, but I am sitting here thinking.....where did those 7 hours go?

So, I am thinking.....either doing Grossmunster and the Chocolate Factory, but skipping out on the class. Or going straight from the airport to Lindt, and skipping out on the city.

Thoughts?

Posted by
1004 posts

I had a Zurich layover some years ago, but it was an overnight so had more time. But even with that, being jet lagged, I had a look round downtown Zurich, the lake, and the church with the Chagall windows, and that was sufficient. It doesn’t seem like you have enough time for a chocolate tour. Plenty of Swiss chocolate can be purchased at the airport.
Edited to add, that I also spent an hour or two in the Swiss National Museum. As I recall it was in central Zurich. If you like embroidery, farm implements, and folk costumes, it’s great. Otherwise, skip it.

Posted by
23758 posts

If you want to do this, you should go directly to the Lindt factory. You can get there by S-bahn and bus in about 45 minutes. There is a return bus at 2:48 pm (it is only a 2 minute bus ride to Kilchberg train station), then an S-bahn at 2:55 pm that gets to the airport at 3:26 pm. You only have to get through security and to the gate. The cost of the bus/train is 9.40 CHF each way.

Schedules at www.sbb.ch/en. Start is Zuerich Flughafen and destination is Kilchberg ZH, Lindt & Spruengli.

Posted by
4218 posts

You will have to go through EES in Zürich anyway, regardless of wether you stay in the airport or leave.

So what you can indeed do is just decide on the day itself. If your flight is early, and you are through quickly you just head to the station, buy day ticket to Zurich City, and then just have walk around in the old town. Don't forget you will probably be tired and jetlagged, but staying active is a good thing in such a case anyway.

Then take one of the many trains back to the airport (Uber will not be quicker) go through security and your flight to Brindisi.

Posted by
19510 posts

No one has brought up an important fact.....how you are going to feel after an overnight flight?

The usual suggestion after an overnight flight is to get outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine. This will help get over any jet lag.

Taking a factory tour or class may not be the best thing. It may sound great now but what about the reality or little or no sleep the night before?

Make plans but be realistic upon arrival.

Posted by
49 posts

No way I would do this. Lindt wasn't that great to begin with, and definitely not good enough to risk missing a flight over. Everyone travels differently. Your trip. Your choice, but we would not do it.

Posted by
6094 posts

We enjoyed the Lindt factory, but it requires a timed reservation even for the self guided tour and they were very strict about the time.

Posted by
2289 posts

We did the tour a couple of years ago and yes, it’s a timed entry, self guided while listening to a hand held device. We were there for over two hours and didn’t read every panel. I know I would not want to have done this after an international flight but would go into the Zurich Old Town, have lunch and walk down to the lake. Be outside but you know you. Also, the COOP has lots of varieties of Swiss chocolate.

Add Reply

Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines.