Photo: Airliners.net
It is no coincidence that this year the airport received the prestigious World Travel Awards. According to Novye Izvestia, this award is given in the field of travel services. A jury consisting of tens of thousands of tour operators from around the world named Zurich "the city with the best airport in Europe," and its base carrier, Swiss International Air Lines, "the leading European airline."
However, it is not surprising that the best airport in the Old World is located in Switzerland. The inhabitants of this country are considered among the most active European tourists. The official Zurich Airport website states that the historical love of the Swiss for air travel lies in the country's geographical location, "squeezed" on all sides by continental neighbors. Accordingly, the only way for a Swiss person to go far away is to board a plane. And Zurich Airport successfully fulfills the role of the main Swiss hub, a major transit center from which you can reach not only neighboring countries but also transcontinental routes to America and Asia.
The largest airport in Switzerland is located 12 km north of central Zurich. It takes 10 minutes to reach the city from the airport. Trains run from the airport (a real transportation hit in Switzerland!) every 10-30 minutes, and you can take them not only to Zurich but also to all major cities – Basel, Bern, Lucerne, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano, Zug, and others. Taxi stands are located in arrivals areas 1 and 2, car rental in the shopping center, zone G1; there is also VIP taxi – limousine rental of various brands with multilingual drivers. In addition, most Zurich hotels provide shuttle service – the bus stop is located between arrivals areas 1 and 2.
However, at Zurich Airport you can order not only a simple transfer, but a whole trip to any point in the world. To do this, you need to visit the so-called travel supermarket located near check-in area 3. 26 travel agencies work here from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 365 days a year. Offices of major network tour operators are located in the shopping center above the railway station.
Well, if there's one thing won't bother you at Zurich Airport, it's overly stringent security measures. Upon arrival, the author of this material was somewhat surprised by the leniency of passport control – the officer gave a very quick glance at my visa and, after asking about the purpose of the visit, immediately broke into a smile: "Welcome to Switzerland," without even checking the computer. It was nice to realize that there are still neutral countries in the world not frightened by terrorism. However, after new rules regarding the carriage of liquids and gels in hand luggage were introduced in European countries this autumn, Zurich Airport did not stand aside. So, despite the apparent calmness of the local staff (this is not some perpetually nervous Tel Aviv Ben Gurion), you should not neglect the formalities: liquids can only be carried in plastic bags, and the volume of each container must not exceed 100 ml. Also, do not forget to check in the famous Swiss army knives: you will not be allowed on board with them, you will have to leave them – the "send item home" service here, unlike, for example, at American airports, only works for addresses in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
But perhaps the hallmark of Zurich Airport is the rest rooms located in sector D, near gates 80-89. The rooms are furnished like hotel rooms – there are even air conditioners, LCD TVs, mini-kitchens, Internet access, phones with wake-up call service. A room for two for 6 hours costs 80 francs; and for 10 francs you can "rent" just a shower.
If you give in to shopping, you can spend a fortune at Zurich Airport: the Duty Free area has about a hundred different shops. Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world, and airport stores are no exception in terms of prices. Nevertheless, you should not ignore the main local fetishes: chocolate, knives, and watches. In other countries, these locally produced items will cost more – in particular, in the capital, the price of an elegant Victorinox manicure set the size of a business card or a Swatch watch is 20-40% higher, and the selection is about three times smaller.
Food here is also not cheap, but affordable for different budgets due to its variety: fifty restaurants and cafes (this is one of the largest food courts in Switzerland!) offer, besides traditional fast food, cuisines from different nations – Italian, English, Far Eastern, Swiss, French, etc. In sector B there is a restaurant for young airport visitors, and to improve appetite, in one of the halls, a mechanical piano delights guests with jazz melodies.
Every day, the walls of Zurich Airport receive about 70,000 visitors – including passengers, employees, greeters, see-offs, and all others who want to immerse themselves in an unusual multicultural, cosmopolitan atmosphere: besides the actual arrivals and departures, the airport offers many services not directly related to aviation. There is a special sector for public events, capable of accommodating 3,000 people, which hosts various exhibitions, conferences, fairs, concerts, even fashion shows and parties – not only corporate but also private. Children's parties are also popular: would any child refuse a special tour of the airport that reveals all its "insides"? The convenience of holding various corporate and international events here lies, on the one hand, in the proximity of hotels, and on the other, in easy access to public transport and a large number of parking spaces.
But if you arrive at Zurich Airport too early and have enough time before departure, do not hesitate to indulge your curiosity. In sector V, there are two webcams with which you can observe life at the airport in a live non-stop mode. Moreover, you are even allowed to adjust the camera's direction and zoom yourself!
In sectors V and E, there are observation decks that offer a stunning view of the airfield, and in clear weather, you can even see the Alps. And just one glance at this panorama is enough to want to return to Zurich Airport again and again.