Zurich. Eight hour layover. What to do?

Luzern is only an hour away by train. It's a great city to simply stroll around. If you prefer something closer to the airport then Zurich is another option; ten minutes away by train. Zurich doesn't have as many attractions as Luzern; but has an excellent Zoo, the National Museum, lake cruises, and the Buhrle Art Museum.

The excursion to Lucerne is an excellent choice. If you want to stay a little closer to Zurich, take the local train down to the medieval town of Rapperswil, visit the castle, wander through the public flower gardens, and then take a ferry boat back to Zurich. The train takes about 35 minutes, and the ferry about 2 hours. Of course you can just explore Zurich - the Bahnhofstrasse, which goes from the train station to the lakeshore, is one of Europe's most beautiful shopping streets.