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TRAVEL

EXPLAINED: Can people from the United States and Great Britain come to Switzerland?

Swiss authorities have removed the United States and Great Britain from its mandatory quarantine list with immediate effect. But does this mean travellers from these countries will be able to visit without restrictions?

EXPLAINED: Can people from the United States and Great Britain come to Switzerland?
Tourists from Britain and the US are still not allowed in Switzerland. Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP

The decision, announced on Wednesday March 24th, was made because infection rates in both countries are dropping, thanks in part to both countries’ strong vaccination programmes. 

READ MORE: Switzerland to remove United States and United Kingdom from quarantine list

Paradoxically however, the lifting of a quarantine requirement doesn’t mean that residents of these two nations can come to Switzerland.

In effect, while those who are allowed to enter from these two countries will not be forced to quarantine due to the change, there is still a ban on entry for most travellers from the US and the UK. 

Here’s what you need to know. 

What are the rules for entering Switzerland? 

To understand who can enter Switzerland, it is important to see the distinction between the quarantine requirement and the rules regarding entry as these are separate. 

The quarantine requirement is put in place on a list of countries which is updated regularly by the Swiss government. Anyone entering from these countries must quarantine, regardless of residency status or citizenship. 

However, there is also a list of countries from which people may travel to Switzerland. Those not on that list are known as “risk countries”. 

Currently, all countries in the Schengen zone and a short list of “exceptions” are on the list. 

Neither the UK or the US are on the list of exceptions and are therefore considered “risk countries”. 

This means normal (i.e. tourist) travel is not as yet permissible from the US and the UK. 

As of March 25th, the list of countries from where travel to Switzerland is permitted is as follows: all Schengen countries plus Andorra, Australia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ireland, South Korea, Monaco, New Zealand, Romania, Rwanda, San Marino, Singapore, Thailand and Cyprus. 

Please click here for official Swiss government information. 

United Kingdom

Travellers from the UK have been banned from entering Switzerland since December 21st, due to the new virus strains originating in that country. 

The website of the UK Embassy in Switzerland states that “due to COVID-19 restrictions, UK nationals and other non-Swiss / EU / EFTA citizens arriving from the UK or a ‘high risk country’ are not permitted entry to Switzerland”.

United States

As is the case with the UK, residents of the United States can’t travel to Switzerland either.

But unlike their British counterparts, Americans have been banned from entry for over a year.

The United States was designated a “risk country” when the pandemic first broke out in March 2020 and remains on that list. 

Are there any exceptions to the ban?

While tourist travel is not permitted, travellers from the United States and the United Kingdom are allowed to enter in some circumstances. 

They include people with Swiss citizenship, permanent residents or valid visa holders returning to Switzerland, as well as transit passengers who connect to other flights at one of Switzerland’s airports.

If you fall under one of the above categories, you will be able to come to Switzerland and will not be required to quarantine.

Unfortunately for people wanting to holiday in Switzerland, this does not include tourists. 

What entry rules apply?

Before you board your flight, you have to fill out an online registration form.

This step is necessary because it will “enable the federal and cantonal authorities to trace infections”, according to the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).

Coronavirus quarantine: Here is the form you need to enter Switzerland

“It could be that someone close to you while you are travelling is infected. This person will not receive a positive test result until after travel, but they can infect other people during the journey. Filling out your contact details on the entry form enables infections of this sort to be traced and fellow travellers who are at risk to be warned. This approach enables chains of infection to be broken”, FOPH says.

Aside from the tracing form, each traveller must also have a negative Covid test, no older than 72 hours, which must be shown at boarding and later on arrival in Switzerland.

All the details about which types of tests are accepted are outlined here.

READ MORE: REACTION: What do the Swiss think about the extended shutdown?

Note: This story previously stated that the United States and the United Kingdom would be removed from the list when Switzerland makes its next update, on April 5th. However, the removal of the two countries came with immediate effect, i.e. from March 25th. 

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For members

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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