Later this month we're flying from Manchester to Tel Aviv via Zurich airport, where we have a six hour stop between flights. Will we be able to leave the airport to visit Zurich, or will we be prevented from leaving for security reasons? Charles Levine, Altrincham, Cheshire

Ginny McGrath, Times Online Travel News Editor responds: As EU citizens you are able to leave the airport without a visa.

It's a 12-minute transfer by train from the airport to Zurich's main station. This journey is included in the ZurichCard, which you can buy at the airport for Sfr. 17 (£7) for 24 hours. It includes free use of public transport and admission to 40 museums, as well as various discounts and free welcome drinks at 23 restaurants.

Switzerland Tourism has suggested the following for what do to in Zurich on your brief layover:

To get started: Zürich's main tourist office is located in the station (open daily 8.30am - 8.30pm except Sunday until 6.30pm only).

Here are some propositions of what to do depending on your interest and the weather:

- Stroll through the old town: discover the Grossmünster (the city's largest church), the narrow streets of the Niederhof district and have a break at on of the cafés located along the Limmat River (1-2 hours)

- Trip to the local mountain Uetliberg (900m above sea level): on a clear day it offers a spectacular panorama over the Alps and Lake Zürich (between 3-4 hours excursion)

- Parks: there are a few large parks in the city centre. For something different, visit the Chinese Garden - a thank you to Zurich from the twinned city of Kunming. For something more exotic, walk through the Madagascan rainforest recreated at the Zoo (Masoala Tropical Rainforest Hall)

- Culture: Zurich is home to the biggest number of museums and exhibitions of Switzerland. Not to be missed: Kunsthall Zurich (contemporary art by international artists), Kunsthaus (varied exhibition: classical modernist section, Swiss artists, contemporary art), Rietberg (non-european art, especially from India, China and Africa), Swiss National Museum (largest historical-cultural collection in Switzerland)

- For shopping head to Bahnhofstrasse

For more information: www.zuerich.com

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