Out and About in Zurich

Zurich is known as a cheap international flights hot spot for its accessibility to the rest of Europe, as well as its designer shopping, world class museums and hip nightlife. A lesser-known fact about Zurich is that it is a wonderful city to be outdoors. It has gentle hills with fabulous vistas, a lake with summer swimming opportunities, and constant views of the snowy Alps. The next time you’re in Zurich with cheap flight deals, spend some time outdoors getting exercise and appreciating Zurich’s legendary cleanliness and livability.

When you’re checking out cheap ticket air line prices for flights to Zurich, aim for the summer or fall months to really enjoy these outdoor attractions. Lake Zurich is a popular spot for locals to hang out, as there are clean beaches and also a lovely Lake Promenade. This three-kilometer boardwalk is both charming and great for photo ops, and there is a scenic meadow about halfway down. In the summer you’ll usually see street artists and vendors of artsy jewelry. If you need some relaxation after your flights to Zurich, head for the city’s Chinese Garden to meditate and enjoy its intricate design.

Much of the fun of Zurich is searching for the best city views. The hill at Lindenhof offers some great vistas and is also right in the center of Zurich’s old town. There was once a Roman fort here. Some other popular hills are the Irchel and the Kaferberg. For a high viewpoint that you can reach without having to walk too much, take the Polybahn funicular from the Central tram station. There is a terrace and a cafeteria for visitors from the 19th-century funicular to enjoy. For a 360-degree view, head up Uetliberg, a vast hill with its own viewing tower. There are several different trails to get up to Uetliberg, topping out at 2850 feet above sea level. Uetliberg also has a Planet Walk, an eight-mile path along the hill ridge with scale models of the planets - a scale of one to one billion! You won’t have to buy plane tickets to space to see all the planets. Head to the suburb of Felsenegg for scenic views and some moderate hiking trails.

To take advantage of slightly farther destinations with your cheap tickets to Zurich, consider a day trip to see Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfall, just a 45 minute train ride from Zurich. Interlaken, a scenic mountain town between two alpine lakes, is less than two hours away and is close to some of the highest peaks in the Alps. And, of course, you can always go skiing. The closest big ski resort is at Flumserberg. Start your search now for plane tickets for cheap flights to Zurich and take advantage of this clean, walk-able city’s wonderful outdoor attractions.