Flights to Germany, Switzerland and Austria from the US

Quick answer: Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) are Germany's long-haul hubs, Zurich (ZRH) is Switzerland's and Vienna (VIE) is Austria's, and all four have nonstops from the US, about seven and a half to nine hours from New York. Most flights are on the Lufthansa group (Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian) and United, with Delta, American and leisure airlines such as Condor and Discover. All three countries are in the Schengen Area, Switzerland included: US citizens need no visa for a short stay, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) takes your fingerprints and photo at the border, and ETIAS is not in operation yet.

Facts checked November 2026. Schedules and entry rules change, so confirm with the airline and the official government site before you travel.

Germany, Switzerland & Austria flights at a glance

Where you can fly in Germany, Switzerland & Austria

Each city links to every route guide we publish into that airport; each guide covers the airlines, connections and baggage rules, with live fares when the page loads.

• Flights to Frankfurt (FRA)8 route guides
• Flights to Munich (MUC)7 route guides
• Flights to Zurich (ZRH)7 route guides
• Flights to Vienna (VIE)8 route guides

Which gateway for which trip

Frankfurt is Lufthansa's main hub and the airport with the most US flights in this region. It suits the Rhine, Cologne and central Germany, and its long-distance station puts ICE trains a short walk from the terminal. Munich is Lufthansa's second hub and the natural start for Bavaria, the Alps and Salzburg.

Zurich is Swiss International Air Lines' hub and the gateway for most of Switzerland; its station under the airport has direct trains across the country. Geneva suits the French-speaking west and the ski resorts of the French and Swiss Alps. Vienna is Austrian Airlines' hub and the start for Austria, Prague, Budapest and Bratislava by train.

Berlin Brandenburg has a small set of US nonstops, mostly in summer. Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Stuttgart, Salzburg and Innsbruck are usually reached with one stop.

Which US cities fly nonstop as of November 2026

Germany: Lufthansa flies Frankfurt and Munich from most large US hubs, and United, its joint-venture partner, adds its own flights from hubs such as Newark, Chicago, Washington Dulles and San Francisco. Delta and American fly Frankfurt and Munich from their hubs, with more choice in summer. Condor and Discover, both leisure airlines, fly Frankfurt to a set of US cities, many seasonal. Berlin's US nonstops in 2026 were Delta to New York JFK and United to Newark, as summer flights.

Switzerland: Swiss flies Zurich from New York JFK, Newark, Boston, Chicago, Washington Dulles, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Geneva from New York. Edelweiss, Swiss's leisure sister airline, ended its Denver and Seattle flights; check seasonal routes such as its Tampa flight, which pauses in early 2027.

Austria: Austrian flies Vienna from New York, Chicago and Washington Dulles, with Boston in season and fewer flights on some routes in midwinter. Treat these lists as a snapshot of recent schedules and check with the airline for your dates.

Entry rules for US citizens

Germany, Austria and Switzerland are all in Schengen, even though Switzerland is not in the EU. A trip across all three counts as one stay: up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the 29 Schengen countries together. Your passport should have been issued within the last 10 years and stay valid at least three months after you leave Schengen.

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) has been fully running since 10 April 2026, Switzerland included. At your first Schengen entry, officers record your passport, a photo and fingerprints instead of stamping your passport. A flight from Frankfurt to Zurich or Vienna then has no further passport check.

ETIAS is not in operation as of November 2026, and no site can issue one today. Germany has run temporary checks at some of its land borders, so carry your passport on trains between the three countries.

Trains, short flights and the Alps

Rail is the easy way to move around. Deutsche Bahn's ICE trains link Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich, Berlin and Hamburg; Swiss trains run on a tight timetable across the country from Zurich and Geneva airports; and Austria's Railjet trains link Vienna, Salzburg and Innsbruck, with onward trains to Munich and Zurich.

From Munich airport, S-Bahn trains run to the city center. From Vienna airport, the City Airport Train and regular trains run to the city, and some long-distance trains stop at the airport.

For ski trips, Zurich, Geneva, Munich and Innsbruck are the usual airports. Flying into one and home from another, such as into Munich and out of Zurich, saves backtracking.

Best and quietest months

June to August is peak season for the lakes and mountains. Munich's Oktoberfest runs from late September into early October and fills hotels and flights. Christmas markets in Germany and Austria run from late November to around Christmas, and December is busy as a result.

The Alps have two seasons, summer hiking and winter skiing, with ski holidays filling flights around Christmas and February. In the cities, January to March outside ski holidays is typically the quietest and the cheaper time to fly. The fare grid on each route guide shows what is live for your dates.

Booking tips

Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian and United share a transatlantic joint venture, so one ticket can mix them, for example out on United to Munich and home on Swiss from Zurich.

Check the hub before the airline. A one-stop through Frankfurt or Munich can reach Vienna, Zurich or Salzburg with a short final flight, and a train from the hub is often a good alternative.

Leave time on the first arrival. EES registration is done once at your first Schengen airport, so on a one-stop it happens at the hub, not your final city.

Route guides to Germany, Switzerland & Austria

Frequently asked questions