Call 0330 880 3600 Calls may be monitored or recorded. Opening Times.

Blog Header

Need help?

UK Customer Services0330 880 3600

Open Open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 6pm, Saturday 8:30am to 4pm and closed Sundays.
(Calls may be monitored or recorded)

Contact details can be found in your policy documentation

Available 24 hours a day, every day

Travel Insurance Switzerland

flag-switzerland

Switzerland Country Guide

  1. Country Facts
  2. Health
  3. Media
  1. Intro
  2. Geography
  3. People
  4. Travel
  5. Embassies & Visas
  6. Finance
  7. Cities/Regions

Quick Facts

Region: Europe
Full Name: Swiss Confederation
Capital City: Bern
Language Spoken: German (official) 63.7%, French (official) 20.4%, Italian (official) 6.5%, Serbo-Croatian 1.5%, Albanian 1.3%, Portuguese 1.2%, Spanish 1.1%, English 1%, Romansch 0.5%, other 2.8% (2000 census) note: German, French, Italian, and Romansch are all national languages, but only the first three are official languages

Switzerland Travel Insurance

Get travel insurance to Switzerland from Direct Travel Insurance. We offer low cost and high quality travel insurance to Switzerland and most of the world.

Get a quote
flag-switzerland

Geographic data

47 00 N, 8 00 E

Elevation Extremes

lowest point: Lake Maggiore 195 m highest point: Dufourspitze 4,634 m

Land boundaries

total: 1,852 km border countries: Austria 164 km, France 573 km, Italy 740 km, Liechtenstein 41 km, Germany 334 km

Natural hazards

avalanches, landslides, flash floods

Natural resources

hydropower potential, timber, salt

Land use

arable land: 9.91% permanent crops: 0.58% other: 89.51% (2005)

Environmental current issues

air pollution from vehicle emissions and open-air burning; acid rain; water pollution from increased use of agricultural fertilizers; loss of biodiversity

Climate

The Alps cause many climatic variations throughout Switzerland. In the higher Alpine regions temperatures tend to be low, while the lower land of the northern area has higher temperatures and warm summers. Required clothing Warm clothes and rainwear; lightweights for summer.

Time difference

time difference: UTC+1 daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Population

7,523,934 (July 2006 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 16.3% (male 637,585/female 591,297) 15-64 years: 68.1% (male 2,585,062/female 2,539,345) 65 years and over: 15.6% (male 480,198/female 690,447) (2006 est.)

Median age

total: 40.1 years male: 39 years female: 41.1 years (2006 est.)

Population growth rate

0.43% (2006 est.)

Birth rate

9.71 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Death rate

8.49 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate

3.12 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.08 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.7 male(s)/female total population: 0.97 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 80.51 years male: 77.69 years female: 83.48 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

1.43 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Business Practices

Business people are expected to wear suits. Swiss businesspeople tend to be somewhat conservative in such things as dress and the formal use of family (rather than first) names. Although English is widely spoken, it is always appreciated if a visitor attempts to say a few words in French or German (depending on the host). When visiting a firm a visiting card is essential. Office hours are 0800-1200 and 1400-1700 Monday to Friday.

Crime

Switzerland has a low rate of violent crime. However, pick-pocketing and purse snatching do occur in the vicinity of train and bus stations, airports, and some public parks, especially during peak tourist periods (such as summer and Christmas) and when conferences, shows, or exhibits are scheduled in mayor cities. Travelers should exercise caution on trains, especially on overnight trains to neighboring countries. Thieves, who steal from passengers while they sleep, can enter even locked sleeping compartments. Parked cars may be vandalized for the purpose of stealing valuables left on the seats or locked in the trunk.

Hotels

Hotels are of high quality and in high demand. Advance booking is advised.

Communications

Full telephone IDD service is available. The country code is 41 and the outgoing international code is 00. Fax facilities are available in all telegraph offices, most major hotels and post offices. Telecommunications is modern and, with the advent of deregulation, prices have dropped dramatically. . Post office hours: 0730-1200 and 1345-1830 Monday to Friday. Saturday closing is at 1100 except in major cities.

Electricity

is a 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Electricity 220 volts AC, 50Hz.

Plug Types

J

Food And Dining

Swiss cuisine is varied. The great specialty is fondue, a delicious concoction of Gruy?re and Vacherin cheese, melted and mixed with white wine, flour, Kirsch and a little garlic. Other cheese specialties are Emmental and T?te de Moine. Pork sausages or salami come in a variety of local recipes including Beinwurst, Engadinerwurst, Kalbsleberwurst (calf's liver p?t?), Knackerli, Landj?ger and Leberwurst (p?t?). A great variety of Swiss wines are available throughout the country. Swiss beer of a lager type is also available. Bottled mineral water is an accepted beverage, with local brands including Henniez. Things to know: Bars/cocktail lounges have table and/or counter service. Although there are many self-service snack bars, table service is normal. National specialties
? Viande s?ch?e (dried beef or pork) from Valais and the Grisons where it is called B?ndnerfleisch, served with spring or pickled onions.
? Papet vaudoir (leeks and potatoes).
? Pieds de porc (pigs' feet).
? R?sti (shredded fried potatoes).
? Fondue Bourguignonne (cubed meat with various sauces).
? Leckerli (spiced honey cakes topped with icing sugar, decorated in Bern with a white sugar bear).
? Fasnachtk?chli (sugar-dusted pastries eaten during Carnival).
? Gugelhopf (a type of sponge cake with a hollow center).
? Schaffhausen (cream-filled cakes). National drinks
? Beer, Kirsch, Marc, Pfl?mli and Williams (spirits).

Tipping:
A service charge is included in all hotel, restaurant, cafe, bar, taxi and hairdressing services by law; further gratuities are not usually required.

Nightlife
Most major towns and resorts have nightclubs or discos with music and dancing, sometimes serving food. There are also cinemas and theaters, and some bars and restaurants have local folk entertainment.

Entry departure requirements

Note :The regulations below also apply to Liechtenstein (no border control between the two countries); Passengers arriving at Basle or Geneva airports can enter either France or Switzerland, provided their documents for the country of entry are in order; both airports have two different exits, one to France and one to Switzerland. Therefore passengers can exit to the French part of the airport with a valid French or Schengen visa, if required; The airport of B asle/Mulhouse is located on French territory; Part of Geneva airport is located by convention in France and some flights between France and Geneva are considered as domestic flights while others are considered international flights. In this case, passengers must hold proper entry documents for either of the destination countries. Passport/Visa * Please see passport section

Visa immigration information

Passports

Passport valid for three months after intended period of stay required by all except:
(a) 1. nationals of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain and the UK holding a valid national identity card, providing not taking up employment and for stay up to three months;
(b) 2. foreigners holding national Identity Cards issued by the Governments of Belgium, France or Luxembourg, provided they are resident in one of these countries.
(c) 3. nationals of Austria, Belgium, France, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, The Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino and Spain with normal passports, expired for up to five years, providing not taking up employment and for stay up to three months;
(d) 4. nationals of Germany with passports expired for up to one year;
(e) nationals of Liechtenstein who may enter Switzerland without valid identity papers.

Visas

Required by all except the following for stays of up to three months:
(a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above;
(b) nationals of countries in South and North/Central America, including nationals of Caribbean island/West Indies states (except nationals of Belize, Bolivia, Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti and Peru who do need a visa);
(c) nationals of Andorra, Brunei, Bulgaria, Croatia, Fiji, Hong Kong (SAR), Iceland, Israel, Kiribati, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Tuvalu and Vatican City;
(d) nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan (China, PR), Thailand and United Arab Emirates, if in possession of passport valid for three months after leaving Switzerland, endorsed with a valid multiple-entry Schengen visa (valid for all Schengen states);
(e) nationals in direct transit traveling within 48 hours providing they hold all valid documents, except nationals of certain countries (see note).
Note: Stateless persons require a transit visa at all times. Nationals of Afghanistan, Angola, Bangladesh, Congo (Dem Rep), Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Turkey require a transit visa unless they hold a visa or residence permit for an EU country, Canada, Iceland, Norway or the USA.
Tourists and business visitors who travel repeatedly to Switzerland but stay less than three months each time must apply for a residence permit if their total stay exceeds six months within a period of twelve months.

Types of visa and cost

Tourist; Visitor; Business; Transit; Airport Transit. All visas cost US$43 (to be paid in cash only).

Validity

Three months. Transit visas: 48 hours.

Application to

Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy responsible for place of residence; see Passport/Visa Information) not more than three months before planned entry. Visa applications must be made in person; postal applications are not accepted.

Application requirements

Tourist: (a) Valid passport or travel document valid for three months after the intended visit to Switzerland. (b) One completed application form. (c) One recent passport-size photo (three for student visas). (d) Fee, payable in cash only. (e) Travel ticket to/from or via Switzerland to final destination. (f) Proof of sufficient funds in the form of a recent bank statement/travelers' cheques (?50 per day, ?25 for students). (g) Hotel reservation. Transit: (a)-(e) and, (f) Proof of flight with an airline licensed in Switzerland. (i) Visa(s) for ongoing destination(s). (j) Valid ticket for the whole journey to the destination. Visitor: (a)-(e) and, (f) Invitation letter from Swiss resident sent directly to the Embassy, with a copy of their Swiss Passport/ID card or Resident Permit. In special cases, a 'declaration of guarantee' might be required which has to be approved by the Swiss authorities. Business: (a)-(e) and, (f) Invitation from Swiss company sent directly to the Embassy. Student: (a)-(f) and, (g) Student identity card or letter from university/college.

Working days required

Visas may be issued within 24 hours, but travelers are advised to apply at least one week prior to departure and no earlier than three months before proposed travel. Some applications may need to be referred to the Swiss authorities, which can take six to eight weeks for approval.

Temporary residence

Nationals of most European and some other countries do not require a visa if they intend to take up employment or residence in Switzerland; however, before entry they must obtain an Assurance of a Residence Permit from their employer in Switzerland.

HIV entry requirements

No Test Required

Departure tax

None

Embassies

Embassy of Switzerland in the UK

16-18 Montagu Place, London W1H 2BQ, UK
Tel: (020) 7616 6000 or (09065) 508 909 (recorded visa information).
Website: www.swissembassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1200 (for personal visa applications).

Embassy of Switzerland in the USA

2900 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 745 7900.
Website: www.swissemb.org

Most visits to Switzerland are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Tel: (0845) 850 2829.
Website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/switzerland

US Department of State

Website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Switzerland.html

Currency

Swiss Franc (CHF) = 100 rappen or centimes. Notes are in denominations of CHF1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10. Coins are in denominations of CHF5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10 and 5 centimes. Eurocheques Eurocheques are no longer guaranteed and and can not be accepted for encashments but may be useable for payments without the guarantee.

Currency restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currencies.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 0830-1630.

Currency exchange

Personal cheques within the Eurocheque system are accepted. ATMs provide a convenient means of obtaining Swiss Francs. There are Bureaux de Change at train stations and banks.

Credit cards

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other facilities which may be available.

Travellers cheques

Pound Sterling, US Dollar, Euro or Swiss Franc cheques are accepted at airports, railway stations and banks. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Pounds Sterling, Euros or US Dollars.

City/RegionCity/Area codeFollowed by
Baden(0)56+ 7 digits
Basel(0)61+ 7 digits
Bellinzona(0)91+ 7 digits
Bern(0)31+ 7 digits
Biel, Neuchatel, Solothurn, Jura(0)32+ 7 digits
Burgdorf, Langnau i.E.(0)34+ 7 digits
Chur(0)81+ 7 digits
Fribourg(0)26+ 7 digits
Gen?ve(0)22+ 7 digits
Lausanne(0)21+ 7 digits
Luzern(0)41+ 7 digits
Olten(0)62+ 7 digits
Rapperswil(0)55+ 7 digits
Sion(0)27+ 7 digits
St. Gallen(0)71+ 7 digits
Switserland(0)51+ 7 digits
Thun(0)33+ 7 digits
Winterthur(0)52+ 7 digits
Yverdon, Aigle(0)24+ 7 digits
Z?rich(0)44+ 7 digits
  1. Health Information
  2. Recent Disease Outbreaks
  3. Hospital Database

Dental care

High quality dental care is available in Switzerland

Medication Availability

Supplies of international medications are generally available from both the hospitals and private pharmacies in Switzerland. Pharmacists have to have a current licence

Blood supplies

Blood supplies are considered as safe, collected from volunteer donors and screened to international standards

Medical facilities

Good medical care is widely available.

General caution

Recent medical and dental exams should ensure that the traveler is in good health. Carry appropriate health and accident insurance documents and copies of any important medical records. Bring an adequate supply of all prescription and other medications as well as any necessary personal hygiene items, including a spare pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses if necessary.

Specific concerns

The Fohn, a dry south wind that passes over the Alps changing the air pressure, has an enervating and otherwise unpleasant effect on some people. Hikers should take protective measures against ticks.

Immunization

All routine vaccines (such as DTP or Td, Hib, MMR, polio, varicella, influenza and pneumococcal) should be kept up-to-date as a matter of good health practice unrelated to travel.

Disease risk summary

The incidence of communicable diseases in most areas is such that they are unlikely to prove a hazard to the international traveler greater than that found in his own country. There are, of course, health risks, but in most areas the precautions required are minimal. Lyme disease occurs. High levels of immunization coverage have reduced the incidence of diseases such as measles and diphtheria. Influenza risk extends from November to April.

Entry requirements

None.

Recent disease outbreaks

No recent disease outbreaks

NameAddress
AndreasklinikRigistrasse 1 CH-6630 Cham
Bethesda Spital Basel (SLH Group)Gellertstrasse 144 Basel 4020
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (CHUV)Rue du Bugnon 46 Lausanne 1011
Clinic PermanenceBumplizstrasse 83 CH3018 Bern
Clinic SonnenhofBuchserstrasse 30 Bern 3006
Clinique Bois-CerfAvenue D'Ouchy 31 CH-1006 Lausanne
Clinique CecilAvenue Ruchonnet 53 CH-1003 Lausanne
Clinique de la Source Lausanne (SLH group)Avenue Vinet 30 Lausanne 1004
Clinique Generale Beaulieu (SLH Group)Chemin Beau-Soleil 20 Geneva 1206
Clinique la MetairieAv. du Bois-Bougy Nyon CH-1260
Clinique Vert-Pre15, Chemin de la Colombe CH 1231 Conches Switzerland
Columbia Hopital de la Tour3 Avenue J.D. Maillard Geneva 1217
Hirslanden ClinicWitellikerstrasse 40 Zurich CH-8029
Hirslanden Klinik AarauSchanisweg CH-5001 Aarau
Hopital de la ProvidenceAv. de la Prairie 3 Vevey 1800
Hopital de la Tour3 Avenue J.D Maillard Meyrin 1217
H?pital de la TourLa Tour SA Avenue J.-D. Maillard 3 CH - 1217 Meyrin Geneva
Hopital Universitaire de Gen?ve (HUG)Rue Micheli-du-Crest 24 Geneva 1205
Im Park ClinicSeestrasse 220 Zurich CH-8027
Inselspital Academic Health CenterISL International Service Line CH-3010 Bern
Inselspital Universit?tskliniken BernInselspital Bern Freiburg Strasse Bern 3010
Kantonsspital Basel Universit?tskliniken (Canton & University Hospital)Kantonsspital Basel Universit?tskliniken Basel Basel 4031
Kantonsspital NidwaldenEnnetmooserstr. 19 Stans 6370
Kantonsspital Sankt GalleRorschacherstr.95 St.Gallen 9007
Klinik Am RosenbergHasenbuhlstrasse 11 CH-9410 Heiden
Klinik Beau-SiteSchanzlihalde 11 CH-3013 Bern
Klinik BelairRandenstrasse 59 Schaffhausen 8021
Klinik BirshofReinacherstrasse 28 Munchenstein 4142
Klinik Gut St. Moritz (SLH Group)Via Arona, 34 St Moritz 7500
Klinik HirslandenWitellikerstrasse 40 CH-8029 Zurich
Klinik Im ParkSeestrasse 220 CH-8027 Zurich
Klinik Im Schachen AarauSchanisweg Aarau 5001
Klinik Lindberg Wintherthur (SLH Group)Schickstrasse 11 Winterthur 8400
Klinik Linde AG Biel/ Clinique des Tilleuls (SLH GroupBlumenrain 105 / Cr?t des Fleurs 105 Biel / Bienne 2503
Klinik PermanenceBumpizstrasse 83 Bern
Klinik Pyramide am See Zurich (SLH Group)Bellerivestrasse 34 Z?rich 8034
Klinik Schloss Mammern (SLH Group)Mammern 8265 Zurich
Klinik Sonnehof Bern (SLH Group)Buchserstrasse 30 Bern 3006
Klinik St. Anna Luzern (SHL Group)St Anna strasse 32 Luzern 6006
Klinik Villa im Park Rothrist (SLH Group)Bernstrasse 84 Rothrist 4852
Merian Iselin Spital Basel (SLH Group)F?hrenstrasse 2 Basel 4009
Ospedale CivicoVia Tesserete 46 Lugano 6900
Privatklinik Bethanien Z?rich (SLH Group)Toblerstrasse 51 Z?rich 8044
Salem-SpitalSchanzlistrasse 39 CH-3000 Bern 25
Schulthess ClinicLengghalde 2 Zurich CH-8008
Sonnenhof Clinic SonnenlandSaanen-Gstaad 3792
Universit?tsspital Zurich (University Hospital)R?mistrasse 100 Zurich 8091
Zuger KantonsspitalArtherstrasse 27 Zug CH-6300

Media

The main broadcaster in Switzerland is the public Swiss Broadcasting Corporation. It operates seven TV networks and 18 radio stations. Most of its funding comes from license fee revenues, while a smaller proportion comes from TV advertising. Private TV and radio stations operate in the regions. Television stations from France, Germany and Italy are widely available, thanks in part to the very high take-up of multi-channel cable and satellite TV. Some German commercial broadcasters provide tailored versions of their channels for the Swiss market. Switzerland's press operates to a large extent along regional lines which reflect the country's linguistic divisions.
Press: The high level of interest in local politics throughout Switzerland has led to a large number of regional newspapers. However, the most popular dailies are Corriere del Ticino (Lugano-based), Le Temps (Geneva-based), La Tribune de Geneve (Geneva-based), Neue Z?rcher Zeitung (Zurich-based), and Tages-Anzeiger Z?rich (Zurich-based). European and international newspapers in English, including The Herald Tribune and USA Today, are also widely available.
Radio: SR-DRS, the German-language public broadcaster, operates five stations; RSR, the French-language public broadcaster, has four stations; RSI, Italian-language public broadcaster broadcasts from three stations; RR, finally, is a Rumansch-language public radio station.
TV: In addition to the Swiss public broadcaster, Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, there is SF-DRS, a German-language public broadcaster that operates three channels; RTSI, an Italian-language public broadcaster with two channels; and TSR, a French-language public broadcaster that similarly operates two channels.