When you're living through the bleak midwinter in the lead-up to Christmas, thoughts of the summer holidays can be quite comforting, especially when the weather in Switzerland is at its coldest. To help you plan your trip away next summer, or to help you daydream about palm trees and fruity cocktails, Edelweiss Air and SWISS have unveiled their summer destinations for 2023.

People in Switzerland set to fly abroad in summer 2023

With travel restrictions (most likely) on the back burner next year, both SWISS and Edelweiss Air have announced an expanded timetable for summer 2023. From stunning city breaks to one-stop flights to the beach, there are many great destinations to visit from Swiss airports next summer.

Using SWISS, which released its timetable earlier in October, families and individuals will be able to fly to Switzerland's most popular holiday spot - Italy - with ease, with direct services between Zurich and Rome, Bologna, Brindisi, Florence, Milan, Naples, Palermo and Venice. The Mediterranean nation will be Switzerland’s top destination next summer, with 161 flights going each week between Italy and the alpine nation, not to mention the number of people driving or using public transport to get to our southern neighbour.

The Baltic nations of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are also expected to be popular, with direct regular flights between Zurich and Tallinn and Vilnius set to return this summer. What’s more, in its first new destination of the season, SWISS will be offering a direct service from Zurich to Bristol in the United Kingdom - ideal for a culturally enriching tour of the southwest of England.

Three new destinations announced by Edelweiss Air

In addition, Switzerland’s largest holiday airline, Edelweiss Air, has now unveiled its timetable for summer 2023. In total, three new destinations will be offered in the summer months from Zurich: Akureyri (Iceland), Biarritz (France) and Bari (Italy).

Situated in the northern part of Iceland, you’d be forgiven for not knowing much about Akureyri. An alternative to the capital Reykjavik, Akureyri is famous for its breathtaking mountains, waterfalls, volcanoes and museums - ideal for a summer getaway!

Elsewhere, adrenaline junkies will know Biarritz as a surfing hot spot on the French Atlantic coast. Finally, the coastal town of Bari in Italy serves as an excellent base and gateway to the beautiful towns and landscapes of Puglia, Calabria and more!

Short and long-haul holiday flights offered through Zurich

The airline also confirmed that formerly “winter or spring-only services” to Cape Verde and Jordan will now be offered in the summer as well, and that more flights will serve routes to Greece, Cyprus, the Canary Islands, Scotland, Morocco and Tunisia. 

The end of pandemic-era travel restrictions will also mean a return of summer long-haul flights to the United States, Costa Rica and the rest of the Caribbean. In all, Edelweiss Air will fly to 84 destinations in 36 nations around the world, while SWISS will operate 175 destinations next summer.