Whether you are looking for sun, snow, majestic mountains or the hustle and bustle of a sophisticated city, thanks to its sheer diversity, Switzerland is the perfect destination for your clients.
Due to its compact nature, Switzerland makes for an ideal place to combine lots of unique sights. Pay a visit to the Matterhorn, make your own Swiss cheese, visit the French, Italian or German-speaking parts of the country, taste some Swiss chocolate, gaze at breathtaking glaciers and stunning mountains or visit one of our first-class museums. The choice is yours.
Can British travellers visit Switzerland?
Travellers who have been fully vaccinated can enter Switzerland from the UK. They must also show a negative Covid-19 test. This can be a PCR test taken no more than 72 hours before departure to Switzerland, or an antigen test taken no more than 24 hours before departure to Switzerland.
Those who aren’t fully vaccinated can only enter Switzerland if they meet a specific exemption, including being a Swiss/Liechtenstein/EU/EFTA national, hold certain visas or a ‘laissez passer’ issued by the Swiss Embassy.
Those who meet any of these exemptions must show proof of a negative Covid-19 test, either PCR or antigen, on arrival and take another test between four and seven days into their stay.
Those aged under 18 who are unvaccinated may enter Switzerland if they are accompanied by fully vaccinated adults. Children under 16 are exempt from testing.
All travellers must also complete a passenger locator form.
The Swiss authorities have launched the website Travelcheck, which allows travellers to check whether and under what conditions they can enter Switzerland.
For more information about entry requirements to Switzerland, click here.
As of January 9, fully vaccinated travellers returning to the UK must take a Covid-19 test, which can be a lateral flow test, on or before day two, and fill out a passenger locator form.
Travellers returning to the UK who aren’t fully vaccinated must fill out a passenger locator form and take a Covid-19 test before arriving, as well as PCR tests on day two and day eight, and quarantine for 10 days.
How can British travellers reach Switzerland?
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, there were up to 150 weekly direct flights from the UK to Switzerland. SWISS and other airlines offer great connections from all major hubs directly to Zurich, Geneva and Basel.
SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines)
- SWISS is flying 40 times per week between Zurich and London (Heathrow and City).
- SWISS runs six flights per week between Geneva and Heathrow.
For more information, click here.
In normal times, British Airways and easyJet run several flights per week between Switzerland and the UK. Due to the travel restrictions, please check the British Airways and the easyJet websites for more details.
What safety measures are in place across Switzerland?
Everything is now open in Switzerland. Proof of vaccination, proof of recovery from Covid-19 or a negative PCR test (up to 72 hours before) or antigen test (up to 48 hours before) is required for entry into certain venues, including restaurants, bars, clubs and discos, as well as cultural, sporting, leisure activities and indoor events. It’s also required for large outdoor events of more than 300 people. Those under the age of 16 are exempt.
The NHS certificate, as well as the EU Digital Covid certificate, will be accepted, along with photo ID.
Switzerland Tourism launched the Clean & Safe label last summer. The label lets guests know that they are visiting an establishment that has consciously committed to comply with safety measures.
Further detail of the measures can be found on the Swiss government website. For more information on what is open when, click here.
Switzerland Tourism has released a video starring its ambassador Roger Federer and actor Robert De Niro, entitled No Drama. Discover the short film below.
PICTURES: Switzerland Tourism/Jan Geerk; PascalGertschen.ch; Switzerland Tourism/Jean Jacques Steiner
Last updated January 18, 2022