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Reader question: What documents do I need to enter Switzerland?

Keeping up with the often-changing travel requirements can be a daunting task. This is what you should know about arriving in Switzerland from a foreign country right now.

Reader question: What documents do I need to enter Switzerland?
There are rules travellers to Switzerland should know about. Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP

Assuming you are authorised to enter Switzerland — that is, you are a Swiss citizen, a permanent resident, or a national of a Schengen state —  you will need two documents to get into Switzerland.

One is an electronic entry form that must be filled out before boarding the plane. Once you complete and send the form, you will receive a QR code as proof of registration.

You are exempted from registering if you come from a region that borders Switzerland — for instance, if you are a cross-border worker.

The requirement is also waved if you transport passengers or goods across the border as part of your job, such as a lorry or bus driver. And if you are transiting through Switzerland while travelling directly to another country, you don’t have to complete the form either.

The second document is a negative Covid-19 test that is no more than 72 hours old. Ideally, this should be a PCR test, as it is considered to be more accurate. But you should be able to board the plane with the antigen test results no older than 24 hours. 

However, you may be asked to get a PCR test at your own expense once you enter Switzerland. As results are needed immediately, both antigen and PCR tests will be done.

READ MORE: Are antigen tests sufficient for entry into Switzerland?

The screening can be done at all three international airports: Zurich, Geneva, and Basel.

Here too, some exceptions apply. In addition to cross-border commuters, lorry and bus drivers, as well as transit passengers, people travelling to Switzerland for an imperative medical or business reason are also exempted from the testing requirement.

Depending on the country or region from which you arrive, you may have to go into a 10-day quarantine. Right now all the areas that are subject to the quarantine requirement are listed here.

You can reduce your quarantine if you have a negative test results after seven days.

Again, all these rules are intended only for people who are authorised to enter Switzerland.

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

Please note that this information is valid on the day of publication. Rules may change at any time.

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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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