Cheap flights to Zurich, Switzerland

Its continental climate and Atlantic Ocean location help to bring a bold set of diverse weather patterns within the boundaries of Zurich. Winters can be bitterly cold, with January temperatures bottoming out at just a few degrees above zero. Summer, on the other hand, is a popular time for tourists. Warm, sunny days reaching temperatures in the 80s welcome lots of outdoor fun – until of course, the rain starts. Unfortunately, (another one of Zurich’s symbiotic relationships) with the high temperatures comes frequent rainfall, so if you’re booking flights to Zurich in the summer, definitely pack an umbrella.

For a perfect mix of warm, sunny days, and very little rainfall, visit Zurich during the months of either May or October, when autumn and spring are at their heights, and you’ll be able to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Peak Season

The best times to book flights to Zurich are embedded in the peak months of spring and fall. During the month of May, cold temperatures are long gone, and in October, the blistering days of 80 degrees and wet days of downpours are a thing of the past. Both seasons are beautiful happy mediums and serve as the best times to book cheap flights to Zurich. 

Off-peak Season

Although winters here are freezing and wet, outdoorsy travelers book flights to Zurich to enjoy the many ski resorts that the area offers. Book in advance to get the best shot at the slopes during the months of December, January, and February.

You won’t have any trouble getting around the city. Buses cover the city limits, and trams and S-Bahn trains can take you around the city and to the suburbs. The service runs from frequently and you can buy tickets at the stations. Renting a car is a good idea for day trips, but parking can be tricky. Meters along the road often have short time limits, so don’t roam too far, and remember to keep some change in your pocket.  

Botanischer Garten: If you’re a nature lover, then you’ll want to head straight to the Botanischer Garten, where 15,000 living species span all throughout the three square miles of gorgeous lush greenery and flora. Rare specimens from faraway places like Caledonia and South Africa exist here. Once owned by the University of Zurich, the beautiful landscape also has a Herbarium, where plants crawl the walls, and you learn about each breed by its nameplate and description. Whether you have a green thumb or not, this place is the perfect environment to stroll, relax and learn a little about the beauty of nature within its boundaries. 

Zurich Street Parade: True to its name, the Zurich Street Parade is just how it sounds. Many daring souls, regardless of age, travel to  Zurich to experience this all day, all night extravaganza of dancing, music, and sharing. Every August, Swiss party-goers hit the streets for this outdoor elaborate showing of fun and spirit. Symbolizing love, peace, freedom, generosity and tolerance, residents (and tourists) gather to celebrate the joy of life together. What started in 1992 as a city-wide festival has now lured over a half million international visitors to book flights to Zurich to see the intensity of this brightly lit bash. Don’t tire yourself out too quickly though – the parade has floats running until the wee hours of the morning, and when it does officially shut down, the party simply moves to private homes and hotel rooms to continue the love. 

Kids:  There are plenty of places to take the kids to treat them (or simply tire them out). Kids Town, one of the largest toy shops in Europe specializes in electronic games. Established by Franz Carl Weber, the shop beeps and bounces with wall-to-wall toys that make all kinds of noise. If that doesn’t sound like the right fit for your little tot, then walk around the corner to Pastorini, a quieter shop, with five floors of specialty hand-made wooden toys. Also nearby is a massive children’s book store called Kinderbuchladen, which has plenty of English language selections. 

Cabaret Voltaire: Contemporary art is one of the most intriguing reasons to visit Zurich. If you’re familiar with the Dad movement, then you know that there are few better places to go in order to celebrate the wild randomness of this bold and eccentric era. Masters like Hugo Ball, Emmy Hennings, Hans Arp, Tristan Tzara and Marcel Janco are all represented at the Cabaret Voltaire, an establishment that embodies the very essence of the international cultural revolution that is Dada. The movement seeks to understand how art and culture interact in everyday life, and many of these art collaborations and exhibits do just that.