Switzerland: Various travel information
Formalities, visas
German and Austrian nationals can enter Switzerland with a passport, temporary passport or ID card. For children up to the age of sixteen, entry is possible with a child ID card or with an entry in the passport of a parent.
People who need a visa can apply at the following address:
Issuing of visas in Germany
Visa department of the Embassy of Switzerland Otto-von-Bismarck-Allee 4 A 10557 Berlin Tel: +49 – (0) 30 – 3 90 40 00 Email: [email protected]
Foreign exchange, goods and customs regulations
National
currency The national currency of Switzerland is the Swiss franc = 100 cents.
The import and export of domestic and foreign means of payment are not subject to any restrictions. However, from the German side there is an obligation to declare from around 15,000 euros.
Goods, customs regulations
The import and export of weapons, ammunition or explosives is strictly prohibited. In addition, the import and export of plants and animals that are protected under the Washington Species Protection Act is prohibited. Violation can result in severe penalties.
Personal items such as clothes, photo equipment etc. are allowed to be introduced.
Two hunting or sporting weapons may be carried, provided they are taken out again. Carrying of weapons is subject to cantonal regulations.
Alcoholic beverages: up to 15% alcohol content: two liters, over 15%: one liter.
Tobacco products: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of pipe tobacco. (Double amounts apply to nationals of non-European countries.)
Minimum age for importing alcohol or tobacco: 17 years.
Arrival and transport
How do you get to Switzerland? Schengen
Switzerland was able to join the Schengen Agreement by decision of the EU Commission.
As a result, from December 12, 2008, border controls at the borders with neighboring EU countries were no longer applicable.
You can get to Switzerland from Germany or Austria by car, train, bus or plane. People from the border regions also like to visit Switzerland by bike or simply on foot.
Tunnels and mountain passes
Great St. Bernhard Pass
The Great St. Bernhard Pass connects Martigny in the canton of Valais with the Italian Aosta and then with the Piedmont region. The pass is at an altitude of 2,469 m. The pass was already used by the Romans on their way from Italy to France. And in 1905 a paved road was built here. The pass itself is only passable in summer, but traffic has been able to roll over the tunnel of the same name all year round since 1964.
At the top of the pass, Bernhard von Menthon (also called Bernhard von Aosta) founded a hospice around 1050 to rescue and care for people in need. The pass and the famous St. Bernard dogs were named after him. It should be noted that Napoleon used this pass on May 14, 1800 on his way to Italy.
Great St. Bernhard tunnel
The great St. Bernhard passes under the pass of the same name. The tunnel has a length of 5.8 km and connects Martigny in the canton of Valais with the Italian Aosta and then on to the Piedmont region. The state border between Switzerland and Italy is in the tunnel. The tunnel was opened to traffic on March 19, 1964. The maximum speed in the tunnel is 80 km/h.
The toll is € 18.70 for a car and € 11 for a motorcycle; in the south-north direction, i.e. from Italy, a surcharge of 20% is levied.
Lötschberg Base Tunnel
The Lötschberg Base Tunnel is part of the Alpine transversal railway line and with a length of 34.6 km is currently the third longest tunnel worldwide after the Seikan Tunnel (Japan) and the Eurotunnel (France/Great Britain). It is a pure railway tunnel through which cars are also transported, for which there are corresponding loading stations on both sides. The tunnel was officially opened on June 15, 2007. it represents a fast connection between the Valais and the Bernese Oberland.
Gotthard road tunnel
The Gotthard road tunnel was inaugurated on September 5, 1980. As a single-tube tunnel with a length of 16.9 km, it connects Basel with Chiasso via the A2 motorway. It forms part of the shortest motorway connection between Flensburg/ Kiel/Hamburg and Sicily. The tunnel can be used with the Swiss motorway vignette without additional tolls.
It should be mentioned that there is also the St. Gotthard Pass and the one-tube Gothard railway tunnel, which is around 15 km long
Gotthard Base Tunnel
The Gotthard Base Tunnel, which consists of a west and east tube, is a railway tunnel that was ceremoniously opened by the Swiss on June 1, 2016 in the presence of the Italian and French Heads of State and the German Federal Chancellor.
With a length of around 57 km, it is the longest railway tunnel in the world. From December 2016 passenger and freight trains ran here at speeds over 200 km/h.
In an access gallery to the Gotthard Base Tunnel, visitors can take a look through a pane of glass into the tunnel and the trains passing by. Visitors come to the tunnel as part of a two-hour guided tour from the Erstfeld train station.
This “Gotthard Tunnel Experience Tour” is offered Tuesday through Saturday at 9:00 am and 1:30 pm. Participants must be at least twelve years old and in good physical condition. Adults pay CHF 23 and young people CHF 10.
San Bernadino
The approximately 6.6 km long San Bernadino was opened in 1967 and comprehensively modernized between 1991 and 2006. It connects Margarethen in the canton of St. Gallen with Bellinzola in Ticino via the A13 motorway. It is the shortest motorway connection between Munich and Milan. A curiosity is that migratory birds now choose the tunnel instead of the pass, in which case car traffic even has to be temporarily stopped.
It should be mentioned that at the same point in the canton of Graubünden there is the San Bernadino Pass with a pass height of 2,065 m.
The tunnel can only be entered with the Swiss Aubahn vignette, there is no toll.
Travel in the country
Air connections
International air connections exist from the airports in Zurich, Geneva and Basel/Mulhouse. Domestic flight connections are offered by the national airlines Crossair and Swissair. You fly between Basel, Geneva, Zurich, Bern and Lugano.
Bus
In areas of Switzerland that are less well served by the railways, there are buses of the Swiss Federal Post Office.
Railway
The rail network of the Swiss Federal Railways covers approx. 2,900 km. There are also numerous private rail lines. The entire Swiss rail network is around 5,000 km long. The railway network is one of the best in the world in terms of safety, punctuality, comfort and of course the charm of the landscape.
Roads
The road network in Switzerland is extremely well developed. Numerous motorways connect most Swiss cities with each other and also lead abroad. A vignette is required to use the motorway. There are also numerous pass routes. The north-south connection is well developed, but the smaller pass roads are sometimes very narrow and sometimes closed in winter. The Alpine road tunnels are passable all year round, but cost a tunnel fee. The largest tunnels are the St. Bernhard and St. Gotthard.
Rental cars
All known car rental companies are in Switzerland. A reservation from your home country is not necessary but recommended.
Traffic rules
Maximum speeds
As a matter of principle – in addition to the general speed limits shown – the speed limits indicated by signs must be strictly observed. The Swiss police check very often and a considerable fine is due even if the limit is exceeded slightly.
- Urban: in built-up areas there is a speed limit of 50 km/h
- Country roads: there is a speed limit of 80 km/h on country roads
- Motorways: on some special motorways there is a speed limit of 100 km/ h
- Motorways: there is a speed limit of 120 km/h on motorways
Razor criminal offense
For some time now one has to expect prison sentences of one to four years if the prescribed maximum speed is exceeded due to the so-called “razor criminal offense”.
This fact is fulfilled when the following maximum speeds are exceeded:
- more than 80km/h on motorways
- on roads outside built-up areas more than 60 km/h
- within localities more than 50km/h
- more than 40km/h in 30 zones
Special regulations
In Switzerland, a vignette is required on motorways. From January 2014 you must also drive with lights on during the day. There is a strict alcohol limit of 0.0 for novice drivers and professional drivers.
Blood
alcohol limits In Switzerland there is a blood alcohol limit of 0.5 per mille for drivers of motor vehicles. The same rule applies to motorcycle drivers.
International license plate
According to Abbreviationfinder, the international license plate of Switzerland is (Confederation Helvetia)
| CH |
Tourist office
Switzerland Tourism in Germany
Rossmarkt 23
60311 Frankfurt aM
Tel: 00800 – 100 200 30
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.myswitzerland.com
Switzerland Tourism in Austria
Schwindgasse 20
1040 Vienna
Tel: 00800 100 200 30
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.myswitzerland.com
The health system in Switzerland is z. B. comparable to the German in every respect. You receive adequate and optimal care for all accidents or illnesses. However, it is recommended, for. B. for mountain tourists to take out a special rescue insurance, which also financially covers a possibly necessary helicopter transport.
Infectious Diseases
In Switzerland, no infectious diseases that are not widespread in Germany or Central and Northern Europe are to be expected.
Vaccination recommendations When traveling to Switzerland, no vaccinations that are common in Germany or Austria are required. Vaccination requirements There are no vaccination regulations when entering or staying in the country.
safety instructions
In Switzerland, the risk to visitors is not rated higher than in most other European countries. In certain regions, crime is even significantly lower than in numerous German cities.
However, avalanches can be expected in certain regions in winter. Anyone who deviates from the usual routes in the mountains or leaves the marked Oisten should definitely inquire about the weather and snow conditions beforehand. Incidentally, one of the world’s most renowned avalanche research centers is located in Davos.
Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research
Flüelastr. 11
CH-7260 Davos
Tel: +41 – 81 – 41 70 111
Fax: +41 – 81 – 41 70 110
www.slf.ch
Switzerland: embassies, consulates
Visit Countryaah for a full list of Switzerland embassies and consulates in each country around the world.
Embassy of the Swiss Confederation in Berlin
The Swiss embassy is located in the immediate vicinity of the Federal Chancellery.
The history of the embassy goes back to 1870/71 and was built by the architect Friedrich Hitzig. After its completion, it served various private individuals as a city palace until it was bought by Switzerland in 1919, which had it slightly rebuilt and used it as a chancellery for the Swiss embassy and as a residence for the envoy from 1920.
Otto-von-Bismarck-Allee 4 A
10557 Berlin
Tel: 0049 – (0) 30 – 390 40 00
Fax: 0049 – (0) 30 – 391 10 30
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.eda.admin.ch
Consulate General of the Swiss Confederation
Ernst-Gnoss-Strasse 25
40219 Düsseldorf
Tel: 0049 – (0) 211 – 4 58 87 00
Fax: 0049 – (0) 211 – 4 38 09 51
Consulate General of the Swiss Confederation
Zeil 5
60313 Frankfurt am Main
Tel: 0049 – (0) 69 – 17 00 28-0
Fax: 0049 – (0) 69 – 17 33 89
Consulate General of the Swiss Confederation
Brienner Strasse 14
Hirschstrasse 22
80333 Munich
Tel: 0049 – (0) 89 – 2 86 62 00
Fax: 0049 – (0) 89 – 28 05 79 61
Consulate General of the Swiss Confederation
70173 Stuttgart
Tel: 0049 – (0) 711 – 22 29 43-0
Fax: 0049 – (0) 711 – 22 29 43-22
E-mail: [email protected]
German representations in Switzerland
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bern
Willadingweg 83
3006 Bern
Tel: 0041 – 31 – 359 41 11
Fax: 0041 – 31 – 359 44 44
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.bern.diplo.de
Consulates
Honorary Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany
Badischer Bahnhof, Schwarzwaldallee 220
4058 Basel
Tel: 0041 – 61 – 6 93 33 03
Fax: 0041 – 61 – 6 93 33 06
E-Mail: [email protected]
Honorary Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany
13 rue Céard
1204 Geneva
Honorary Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany
Via Soave 9 ”
6900 Lugano
Tel: 0041 – 91 – 922 78 82
Honorary Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany
Freiutstrasse 15
8002 Zurich
Tel: 0041 – 44 – 201 72 22
Fax: 0041 – 44 – 201 72 29
Austrian representations in Switzerland
Austrian Embassy in Bern
Kirchenfeldstrasse 77/79
3005 Bern
Tel: 0041 – (0) 31 – 3565 252
Fax: 0041 – (0) 31 – 3515 664
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.aussenministerium.at /Bern
Consulates
Consulate in Basel
Engelgasse 11
4002 Basel
Tel: 0041 – (0) 61 – 271 35 35
Fax: 0041 – (0) 61 – 280 29 10
E-Mail: [email protected]
Consulate in Chur
Obere Gasse 41
7000 Chur
Tel: 0041 – (0) 81 – 257 01 95
Fax: 0041 – (0) 81 – 257 01 91
E-Mail: [email protected]
Consulate in Lugano
Via Pretorio 7
6901 Lugano
Tel: 0041 – (0) 91 – 913 40 07
Fax: 0041 – (0) 91 – 913 40 09
E-Mail: [email protected]
Consulate in St. Gallen
Geltenwilenstrasse 18
9000 St. Gallen
Tel: 0041 – (0) 71 – 230 19 70
Fax: 0041 – (0) 71 – 230 19 71
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.oe-konsulat-sg.ch
Consulate General in Zurich
Seestrasse 161
8002 Zurich
Tel: 0041 – (0) 44 – 283 27 00
Fax: 0041 – (0) 44 – 280 37 65
E-Mail: [email protected]
web: www.aussenministerium. at/zuerichgk
Representations of Switzerland in Austria
Swiss Embassy in Vienna
Prinz-Eugen-Strasse 7
1030 Vienna
Tel: 0043 – (0) 1 – 795 05 – 0
Fax: 0043 – (0) 1 – 795 05 20
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: www.eda.admin.ch/wien
Consulates
Consulate in Salzburg
Alpenstrasse 85
5020 Salzburg
Tel: 0043 – (0) 662 – 62 25 30
Fax: 0043 – (0) 662 – 623 581 30
E-Mail: [email protected]
Consulate in Linz
Eisenhandstrasse 15
4020 Linz
Tel: 0043 – (0) 732 – 78 37 41
Fax: 0043 – (0) 732 – 78 19 76 28
E-Mail: [email protected]
Consulate in Bregenz
Arlbergstrasse 111a
6900 Bregenz
Tel: 0043 – (0) 5574 – 73 624
Fax: 0043 – (0) 5574 – 73 624
E-Mail: [email protected]
