Cheap flights from Calgary to Zurich

Flying from Calgary to Zurich

Flying from Calgary to Zurich, your choices, most days, range from flights with one connection, to ones that involve more. Just once a week, you have the choice of a non-stop flight -- on Edelweiss Air, a subsidiary of Swissair. Taking connecting flights can both halve your fare and double the amount of time that it takes. Unfortunately, Edelweiss runs a seasonal service; you have the option in summer, but not in winter.

Flying out from Calgary

Calgary International, Canada's fourth busiest airport, is 17 km away from the city. The airport has two terminals: one for domestic flights, and one for international flights. It's a popular, well-loved airport, that's just received a major overhaul. While this means better facilities -- pet relief, spa, video games and pinball machines, children's play areas, chapel, barbershop, baby facilities and even space exhibits -- not many of these are actually open. The ones that are open close early each night, as well.

There's a lot of walking around the airport to do. Security, passport control and baggage claim all tend to take very long, as well. You mustn't go in expecting to breeze through the formalities as you leave to get on your plane.

Arriving in Zurich

Beautiful Zurich is Switzerland's largest city, and Zurich International, also known as Kloten airport for the district that it is located in, is the country's busiest air transport hub. It is 13 km away from the city, and it is very well connected by public transportation.

Switzerland has a reputation for clockwork precision, and in many ways, this airport is not a letdown. Not only is there plenty of choice in dining and shopping, the most important part -- going through immigration and collecting your luggage -- usually goes smoothly and without hassle. You will complete the process in under 30 minutes. Sometimes, however, things can be chaotic, such as when multiple planes come in, bringing hundreds of passengers in at the same time.

If you'd like to get some sleep at the airport the day you arrive, rather than head to a hotel, the staff tend to be somewhat understanding. There are quiet places overnight, but they don't dim the lights. There is both free Wi-Fi (two hours once every five hours) and there are Internet kiosks, as well (you get the first 60 minutes free).

If you're arriving with children, you should ask for the airport's family services room. They have two such rooms, with everything that you could need to keep children entertained and taken care of -- baby care equipment, video games, strollers and other help.

When you're ready to get to the city, you have buses, trains, trams, taxis and hotel shuttles to choose from (look for a hotel deal on Skyscanner. Oddly enough, however, taxis don't run 24x7 at this airport. They stop running at 11:30 p.m. each night, and only begin again in the morning at 6 a.m.

Getting to know Zurich better

You can begin getting to know the city right at the airport. This is one of the few airports in the world where passengers get to sign up for sports equipment rentals to go out and explore the area around the airport. There is also an airport sightseeing tour behind the scenes. If you'd just like to see the planes, there's a great observation deck, as well. When you're in the city, make sure that you don't miss the Old Town, one of the most photogenic neighborhoods, with pretty old buildings. The Bahnhofstrasse shopping area, and of course, Lake Zurich, are all outstanding sights. Zurich is about as close as you could to a picture book in real life, and you want to enjoy every minute of your stay.