stopover in Zurich

[chfbrd]

hello,
I have a 7.5 hr stopover in Zurich and am planning on leaving the airport to see some things. I am from Canada. I wanted to take a train to the city and maybe a couple other places. How much money should i get exchanged for this stop? Should i get train tickets before I go? WHat can I do to prepare for this trip before I leave?
I am going there feb 4/08 How much time does it take to check in at this airport?
Thanks

[spudqueen]

You may have a couple of hours in Zurich to enjoy, so you shouldn't need much money. I'm not kidding - take your original 7 and a half hours. Then take off 1 hour waiting for luggage from your first flight and going through immigration/customs (and this is presuming that your first flight isn't late). Then take off 30 minutes to find the train station, wait for a train and then the actual journey time. (With all your luggage as you cannot check in for your next flight and then leave the airport building). Then 30 minutes back from Zurich and check in 3 hours before your next flight, leaves you with two, maybe two and a half hours in Zurich. As I say, presuming your first flight isn't late!

[Buenchico]

Check-in times can vary between airlines. Here in the UK, for example, the same airport might offer a 40 minute check-in facility for certain airlines while it's more usually 2 hours (or 3 hours for transatlantic flights) for other airlines. Check with the relevant airline to find their minimum check-in time at Zurich.

Also check with the airline(s) to see if you've a through travel arrangement (where your bags are automatically transferred between flights) or 'point to point' flights (where you have to collect your baggage from the first flight and check it in for the second flight). If the latter applies there are left luggage facilities at Zurich airport:
http://www.zurich-airport.com/dokumente/?ID_si te=1&sp=en&doku=ZRH_Gepaeckaufbewahrung_EN.pdf &dtit=Left+Luggage+Office+%26+Lockers%3A+price +list

Trains run to the city centre every 10 minutes at peak times. The journey time is 10 minutes.

This map might help you get your bearings at the airport:
http://www.zurich-airport.com/dokumente/zrh_et agenplan_EN.pdf

For further airport information, start here:
http://www.zurich-airport.com/ZRH/default.asp? ID_site=1&sp=en&hp=1

For what to see in Zurich, check out the city's official tourism website:
http://www.zuerich.com/en.cfm/zurich/

Can$100 should let you get to the city and back, buy you a decent meal and a guide book and still leave you with a little change.

[chfbrd]

wow...thanks Buenchico
so much great help

Thanks
I will post what I find out