Overview
Zurich is Switzerland's largest city and its financial hub, yet it wears its wealth lightly. Set where the River Limmat meets the lake, it pairs a well-preserved medieval Old Town with polished galleries, lakeside promenades and superb public transport. It is also a natural gateway to the Swiss Alps, which makes flights to Zurich popular with UK skiers, city-breakers and business travellers alike.
Best time to fly to Zurich
The most reliable weather runs from May to September, when the lake is warm enough for swimming and the mountains are clear for walking. Summer is peak season, so fares and hotels rise; late spring and early autumn bring smaller crowds and better value. December is lovely for the Christmas markets, while January to March suits skiers heading for resorts such as Davos, Laax and Verbier. The When to book chart above shows how prices move through the year.
Airlines and routes
Zurich is well served from the UK. SWISS, the national carrier, runs the widest network, with direct flights from London Heathrow, London City, Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh into its Zurich hub. British Airways flies direct from Heathrow, and easyJet covers Gatwick, Luton, Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh. Flight time from London is around 1 hour 45 minutes; from Manchester it is closer to 2 hours. From smaller regional airports, connecting flights via Amsterdam, Frankfurt or Paris are worth comparing.
Things to do in Zurich
Zurich rewards walkers, with most highlights packed into a compact centre:
- Old Town (Niederdorf): Cobbled lanes, guild houses and cafes on the east bank of the Limmat.
- Lake Zurich: Lakeside parks, boat trips and summer swimming spots such as Seebad Enge.
- Grossmunster: The twin-towered Romanesque church whose tower climb gives the best city view.
- Fraumunster: Home to a celebrated set of stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall.
- Kunsthaus Zurich: One of Switzerland's finest art museums, strong on Swiss and modern works.
At Zurich Airport (ZRH)
Zurich Airport (Kloten) sits about 13km north of the centre. The simplest route in is by train: services from the airport station reach Zurich Hauptbahnhof in roughly 10 to 15 minutes and run several times an hour. Trams, S-Bahn services and taxis are also available, and many Alpine resorts can be reached by direct train from the airport.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Zurich
- Book roughly two to three months ahead for the best short-haul fares; last-minute prices to Zurich rarely drop.
- Fly midweek, ideally Tuesday or Wednesday, and avoid Friday evening and Sunday returns.
- Use a flexible-date search and compare the price charts on this page to spot the cheapest departures.
- Weigh a low-cost fare from Gatwick or Luton against a SWISS or BA flight from a more convenient airport once bags and transfers are added.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders do not need a visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Switzerland is in the Schengen area, so check whether the EU's ETIAS travel authorisation has come into force before you travel, and make sure your passport is valid for the whole of your stay. The currency is the Swiss franc (CHF), and card payments are accepted almost everywhere. No special vaccinations are required, and the tap water is excellent.
