How to Plan a Trip to Zurich
The complete 2026 guide — flights, hotels, things to do and airport transfers, all in one place. Everything a first-time visitor to Switzerland needs.
Your 4-step Zurich plan
Step 1 — Book flights to ZRH
Zurich Airport Airport (ZRH) is the main gateway to Zurich. Compare fares across major airlines and OTAs before locking a date.
See flight deals to ZRHStep 2 — Pick a neighborhood
Base yourself in Zurich Old Town (Altstadt) for the best first-time visit — 2,000-year-old city with medieval guild houses on the Limmat river.
Where to stay in ZurichStep 3 — Plan your itinerary
Start with Zurich Old Town (Altstadt), then build outward. Most first-time visitors need 3-5 days to see the highlights of Zurich.
Things to do in ZurichStep 4 — Sort your airport transfer
S-Bahn S10/S16 (to Zurich HB) is CHF 7 and takes 10 min. Pre-book a private transfer for stress-free arrival.
ZRH arrival guideBefore you book — visa check
Switzerland is Schengen but not EU. Same Schengen visa rules apply. ETIAS launching 2025 for US, UK, AUS.