Leave Zurich Airport during a long layover [duplicate]

I am traveling from San Francisco to Mumbai via Zurich Airport, where I have 18hrs halt. I have an Indian Passport and a valid US F1 visa.

Can I leave the airport and do some sightseeing in Zurich?

Best Answer

No, you cannot. As an Indian citizen, you can transit in Zurich without visa under certain conditions but you need a proper Schengen visa to leave the airport. There are no exemptions or visa-on-arrival for short visits or sight-seeing during layovers in the Schengen area. If you want to do that, you need to go through the whole rigmarole (providing various documents, paying the fee, having your biometrics taken, etc.)

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Can I get out of the Zurich airport during layover?

Terminals A and B/D are located under one roof and connected by the Airside Center shopping/dining complex. Passengers can walk between gates and there are also moving walkways. Most international flights arrive and depart from Terminal E, a satellite terminal reachable in three minutes by the underground Skymetro.

Can you leave the airport and come back if you have a long layover?

Yes, you can leave the airport during domestic layovers. For instance, if you're a US citizen and have a layover within the country, it is legal and safe to leave the airport. Be aware that you'll probably be getting two boarding passes if the domestic layover is more than an hour.

Can you leave the airport on a connecting flight?

Yes, you can leave the airport during a layover, provided your passport allows you visa-free entry to the country you're in and you have enough time between flights. In fact, some people intentionally book flights with longer layovers (which are often cheaper) so they get to see a new city.

What happens to luggage during layover?

For domestic layovers, your checked luggage will be tagged to your final destination, so there's nothing for you to do while on your layover. Your bags will get taken off the first flight and loaded onto the second flight.

Stopover at Zurich Airport, Switzerland

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