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UPDATE: What restrictions do travellers from Switzerland face?

With quarantine requirements in Switzerland and abroad, is it still possible to travel to foreign countries?

UPDATE: What restrictions do travellers from Switzerland face?
Whether you travel by plane, train or automobile, check entry and return conditions before you travel abroad. Photo by AFP

The answer to this questions is ‘yes, but’…

There are no entry restrictions for Swiss residents in any of the Schengen zone nations at the moment. 

However, keep in mind that, depending on where you go and where you return from, there may be quarantine requirements in place.

For instance, since Swiss authorities have mandated a 10-day quarantine for people coming from nine French regions, you might want to think twice about going to these areas right now.

In fact, daily train service to and from Geneva and Zurich to Paris is being reduced as of September 28th due to quarantine requirements in Switzerland.

READ MORE: Train links between Switzerland and Paris to be reduced 

The French capital is located in Île-de-France, one of the regions on Switzerland’s ‘high-risk’ list. 

However, other areas of France, including the border regions such as Haute-Savoie, Ain and Haut-Rhin, are safe for travel and there’s no quarantine upon return for the time being.

As Vienna is also considered a risky destination, you have to be ready to quarantine when you return to Switzerland (although the rest of Austria is fine), and the same is true for Spain.

SWISS airlines cancelled its nonstop morning flights from Geneva to London until the end of October, as the UK requires people from Switzerland to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in the country.

SWISS also flies (sometimes with its codeshare partners Lufthansa and United) to four US cities: New York, Miami, Chicago, and San Francisco.

However, as foreign nationals can’t enter the US at the moment, only American citizens, permanent residents, and other authorised persons, will be admitted. 

But even if you do manage to get into the United States, you will have to quarantine for 10 days when returning to Switzerland.

It is impossible to predict which places are safe for travel, as periodic flare-ups of COVID-19 in various countries and regions have prompted authorities to take restrictive measures from one day to another.

The best you can do is follow each country’s guidelines for foreign tourists, as well as train and airline sites to see which services are suspended, to ensure you can get home.

Also, consult the site of the Federal Office of Pubic Health to see what quarantine requirements are in place, even though they too may change quickly.

It is certainly easier to travel now than it was several months ago, but nothing should be taken for granted.

 


 

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ZURICH

How much does a Zurich city break cost in 2024?

As Swiss cities go, Zurich is the complete package: Not only is it the country’s economic and cultural capital, but its location on the lake of the same name, the River Limmat, and the nearby Uetliberg make it a great natural beauty. The question is, how much does it cost to visit?

How much does a Zurich city break cost in 2024?

Using a weekend city trip as a yardstick, The Local looked at the average costs of a visit to Zurich, factoring in accommodation, dining, public transport and sightseeing. 

Accommodation

Based on data from the online booking platform trip.com, the average price for a hotel room per night in Zurich in 2024 is 149 francs – roughly €157. 

Of course, this greatly depends on the level of comfort you’re looking for. 

A room in a popular budget hotel near the central train station, like Hotel Bristol, can run as low as 47 francs / €50 per night for a private room. 

On the other end of the scale, a room in a luxury hotel like the iconic Hotel Storchen starts at around 547 francs / €574. 

For a two-night stay in the city, budget around 350 francs / €370 – assuming you have two people sharing.

Dining

According to the crowdsourced travel information site Budgetyourtrip.com, the average meal in Zurich costs around 24 francs / €26.

Again, this depends on what you’re looking for. Hitting up a popular street food spot like Sternen Grill will cost you around 16 francs / €15 for a Bratwurst in a roll with mustard and a drink.

Conversely, you could splurge on a Michelin-star restaurant like La Rotisserie, part of the Hotel Storchen, and spend 300 francs / €315 per person. 

For a two-night stay in Zurich, expect to pay 156 francs / €163 per person to eat. 

READ ALSO: Nine Zurich life hacks to make you feel like a local

Public Transport 

Thankfully, Zurich is serviced by an excellent public transport network, and getting around couldn’t be easier. 

It may also be the easiest part to budget for your Zürich city trip. 

The Zürich Card offers unlimited 2nd class travel on all buses, trains, boats, funicular railways and other forms of public transport in the Zürich region. 

A 24-hour pass costs 29 francs / €30.41, while a 72-hour pass costs 56 francs / €58.74.

For two nights in Zürich, it’ll cost you about 56 francs / €58.74 per person to get around the city. 

Sightseeing 

What you spend on sightseeing in Zurich can be the most variable part of your budget, depending on what you want to see. 

Strolling around the Old Town and Lake Zurich and visiting historic churches such as the Grossmünster and Fraumünster are free. 

A trip up the Uetliberg is also free, as you can take a tram covered by your public transport ticket.

You could also visit such museums as the Landesmuseum Zürich (13 francs / €13.63), the Swiss Finance Museum (10 francs / €10.49 ), the FIFA Museum (26 francs / €27.27 ) and the Lindt Home of Chocolate (15 francs / €15.73).

Gallery offerings include the Kunsthaus Zürich (24 francs / €25.17 ), the Kunsthalle Zürich (12 francs / €12.58) and the Pavilion Le Corbusier (12 francs / €12.58). 

It’s important to note that some museums and galleries offer free entry with the Zurich Card – it’s worth checking at the ticket counter. 

Enjoying a boat trip on Lake Zurich is really worth your while, and a cruise with a vessel operated by the ZVV  will cost 44.60 francs / €44.76 for first class and 27 francs / €28,32 for second class,

READ ALSO: Five beautiful Swiss villages located less than an hour from Zurich

Suppose you operate on the assumption that you might see two museums daily and take a boat cruise during your trip. 

Budgeting 120 francs / €125.85 per person, is not unreasonable in that case. 

From the Uetliberg there are stunning views across Lake Zurich and the city. Photo: Stux / Pixabay

And in the end…? 

With some quick back-of-the-napkin maths, if you’re a couple expecting to spend two to three nights in Zurich, you can expect to pay around 1,062 francs / €1114.

While not the cheapest European destination, it’s more than made up for by natural beauty in scoops, a treasure trove of art, culture and history, and some of central Europe’s best dining. 

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