Switzerland
How to get to Switzerland starts with picking your airport — because Switzerland has three international gateways and more nonstop connections to North America than almost anywhere in Europe. It’s a landlocked country of about 8.8 million people at the geographic heart of the continent, bordered by Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein. Four official languages, four distinct cultures, one of the world’s most efficient rail systems, and an unmatched concentration of Alpine scenery — from the Matterhorn in the southwest to the Jungfraujoch in the Bernese Oberland. Switzerland doesn’t require a visa for US or Canadian citizens, and the Swiss franc is strong, so plan accordingly. The country is genuinely year-round: summer for hiking and cities, winter for skiing and the high alpine routes.
Tourism Board
Why Go
Main Cities & Airports
| City | Airport | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich · largest city, main international hub | Zurich Airport (Kloten) | ZRH |
| Geneva · international city, ski resort gateway | Geneva Airport (Cointrin) | GVA |
| Basel · tri-national (CH/FR/DE), EuroAirport | Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg Airport | BSL |
All three airports have direct rail connections into their respective city centres. Zurich HB (main station) is a 10-minute direct train from ZRH. Geneva Cornavin is a 6-minute train from GVA.
Home Airlines
How to Get to Switzerland From North America
| Nonstop From | Code | Carrier(s) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | ||
| 🇺🇸Atlanta | ATL | Delta Air Lines (DL) |
| 🇺🇸Boston | BOS | Swiss Airlines (LX) |
| 🇺🇸Chicago-O’Hare | ORD | Swiss Airlines (LX), United Airlines (UA) |
| 🇺🇸Dallas-Fort Worth | DFW | American Airlines (AA) |
| 🇺🇸Las Vegas | LAS | Edelweiss Air (WK) — confirm non-rev access |
| 🇺🇸Los Angeles | LAX | Swiss Airlines (LX) |
| 🇺🇸Miami | MIA | Swiss Airlines (LX) |
| 🇺🇸New York-JFK | JFK | Swiss Airlines (LX), Delta Air Lines (DL) |
| 🇺🇸Newark | EWR | Swiss Airlines (LX), United Airlines (UA) |
| 🇺🇸Philadelphia | PHL | American Airlines (AA) |
| 🇺🇸San Francisco | SFO | Swiss Airlines (LX), United Airlines (UA) |
| 🇺🇸Tampa | TPA | Edelweiss Air (WK) — confirm non-rev access |
| 🇺🇸Washington-Dulles | IAD | Swiss Airlines (LX), United Airlines (UA) |
| Canada | ||
| 🇨🇦Calgary | YYC | Edelweiss Air (WK) — confirm non-rev access |
| 🇨🇦Halifax | YHZ | Edelweiss Air (WK) — confirm non-rev access |
| 🇨🇦Montreal | YUL | Swiss Airlines (LX), Air Canada (AC) |
| 🇨🇦Toronto | YYZ | Swiss Airlines (LX), Air Canada (AC) |
| 🇨🇦Vancouver | YVR | Edelweiss Air (WK) — confirm non-rev access |
| Nonstop From | Code | Carrier(s) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | ||
| 🇺🇸New York-JFK | JFK | Swiss Airlines (LX) |
| 🇺🇸Newark | EWR | United Airlines (UA) |
| 🇺🇸Washington-Dulles | IAD | United Airlines (UA) |
| Canada | ||
| 🇨🇦Montreal | YUL | Air Canada (AC) |
Getting Around Switzerland by Train
Switzerland’s train network is one of the best arguments for choosing it as a destination. Every airport has a direct rail connection to the city centre, and from there the entire country opens up. The Swiss Travel Pass (available to foreign visitors) covers trains, boats, and buses on most routes.
~3 hrs
via the Lucerne-Interlaken Express. Interlaken is the adventure hub of the Bernese Oberland — base for Jungfraujoch, paragliding, and hiking. Return Interlaken → Zurich direct is 2 hours.
~1.5 hrs
Passes Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen (Europe’s largest waterfall by volume) and skirts Lake Constance (Bodensee) with views across to Germany and Austria before reaching St. Gallen’s UNESCO Abbey District.
~8 hrs
The iconic panoramic route through the Alps — passes through the Rhine Gorge (Switzerland’s Grand Canyon) and crosses 291 bridges. Book early; seat reservations required.
~4 hrs
UNESCO World Heritage railway — crosses the Brusio spiral viaduct and the Bernina Pass at 2,253m. One of the highest rail crossings in Europe. Can be done as a day trip from Zurich.
Full route map and booking: Grand Train Tour of Switzerland — myswitzerland.com
Liechtenstein has no airport. The entire country is accessed by road or rail from Switzerland — and that’s part of its appeal. From Zurich, it’s roughly 1.5 hours by train to Vaduz, the tiny capital. At just 160 km², it’s the world’s sixth-smallest country, doubly landlocked (surrounded entirely by landlocked countries), and shares a customs union with Switzerland — meaning CHF is accepted and there are no border checks. Most visitors combine it with a day from Zurich or en route to Innsbruck. Read the full guide: Vaduz & Liechtenstein — Passrider.com
Where Else You Can Go From Switzerland
Zurich (ZRH) is one of Europe’s best-connected long-haul hubs — Swiss Airlines alone covers five continents from ZRH, and Edelweiss adds an unusual roster of leisure destinations including the Caribbean, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean. Geneva adds useful Middle East and North African connections.
Beijing PEK — Air China (CA) from GVA
Delhi DEL — Swiss Airlines (LX), Air India (AI) from ZRH
Hong Kong HKG — Swiss Airlines (LX), Cathay Pacific (CX) from ZRH
Mumbai BOM — Swiss Airlines (LX) from ZRH
Seoul ICN — Swiss Airlines (LX), Korean Air (KE) from ZRH
Shanghai PVG — Swiss Airlines (LX), China Eastern (MU) from ZRH; China Eastern from GVA
Singapore SIN — Swiss Airlines (LX), Singapore Airlines (SQ) from ZRH
Tokyo-Narita NRT — Swiss Airlines (LX) from ZRH
Phuket HKT — Edelweiss Air (WK) from ZRH
Johannesburg JNB — Swiss Airlines (LX) from ZRH
Kilimanjaro JRO — Swiss Airlines (LX), Edelweiss (WK) from ZRH
Maldives MLE — Edelweiss Air (WK) from ZRH
Mauritius MRU — Edelweiss Air (WK) from ZRH; Air Mauritius from GVA
Seychelles SEZ — Edelweiss Air (WK) from ZRH
Windhoek WDH — Edelweiss Air (WK) from ZRH
Zanzibar ZNZ — Edelweiss Air (WK) from ZRH
Buenos Aires EZE — Swiss Airlines (LX) via São Paulo from ZRH
Cancún CUN — Edelweiss Air (WK) from ZRH
Cartagena CTG — Edelweiss Air (WK) from ZRH
Montego Bay MBJ — Swiss Airlines (LX), Edelweiss (WK) from ZRH
Punta Cana PUJ — Edelweiss Air (WK) from ZRH
San José, Costa Rica SJO — Edelweiss Air (WK) from ZRH
São Paulo GRU — Swiss Airlines (LX) from ZRH
Amman AMM — Royal Jordanian (RJ) from ZRH, GVA
Beirut BEY — Swiss Airlines (LX) from ZRH; MEA from GVA
Doha DOH — Qatar Airways (QR) from ZRH, GVA
Dubai DXB — Emirates (EK) from ZRH, GVA; Swiss Airlines (LX) from ZRH
Istanbul IST — Turkish Airlines (TK) from ZRH, GVA, BSL
Kuwait City KWI — Kuwait Airways from ZRH, GVA
Muscat MCT — Oman Air (WY) from ZRH
Common Questions
Is there a nonstop flight from the US to Switzerland?
Yes — and quite a few of them. Swiss Airlines flies nonstop from Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York-JFK, Newark, San Francisco, and Washington-Dulles to Zurich, plus New York-JFK and Newark-Washington-Dulles to Geneva. United serves Chicago, Newark, San Francisco, and Dulles to Zurich, and Newark-Dulles to Geneva. Delta flies Atlanta and JFK to Zurich. American covers Dallas-Fort Worth and Philadelphia to Zurich. Zurich is one of the most nonstop-connected Swiss cities in North America — 13 US cities in total.
Is Sweden and Switzerland the same country?
No — they’re two completely separate countries with no connection beyond a similar name. Sweden is a Scandinavian nation bordering Norway and Finland, with Stockholm as its capital and Swedish as its language. Switzerland is a landlocked Central European country bordering Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechtenstein, with Bern as its capital and four official languages. Different currencies, different airlines, different everything. Read the full breakdown: Is Sweden and Switzerland the Same Country? — Passrider.com
Tourism source: Switzerland Tourism — My Switzerland (myswitzerland.com). Train route information from Switzerland Tourism board materials. Cultural and heritage citations: UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Route data compiled from airline and airport schedules. Liechtenstein guide: passrider.com/vaduz-liechtenstein.