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Bringing Switzerland's most important news to the world in 50 languages

Switzerland's Week, Explained in 5 Minutes

Every week we gather Switzerland's most important stories across politics and referendums, the economy, banking and pharma, culture and travel, and put them in context. There is no race for breaking news here. You get a clear timeline and the background you need, with facts cross-checked across several outlets.

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Switzerland GuideEssential facts, not news

Country basics

Capital
Bern (federal city)
Population
About 9.1 million
Area
About 41,300 km²
Language · Script
German · French · Italian · Romansh · Latin script
More (2)
Currency
Swiss franc (CHF)
Time zone
UTC+1 (CET) · UTC+2 in summer (CEST)

Emergency & help lines

Police
117
Fire
118
Ambulance
144
European emergency number
112
More (2)
Air rescue (Rega)
1414
Poison emergencies
145

Traveler essentials

Country code
+41
Voltage · Plug
230V 50Hz · Type J (Type C also fits)
Driving side
Right-hand traffic
Major cities
Zurich · Geneva · Basel · Lausanne · Bern · Winterthur · Lucerne · St. Gallen · Lugano

Public holidays

Jan 1
New Year's Day
Jan 2
Berchtold's Day (many cantons)
Friday before Easter
Good Friday (most cantons)
Monday after Easter
Easter Monday (most cantons)
More (6)
40 days after Easter
Ascension Day
Monday after Pentecost
Whit Monday (most cantons)
Aug 1
Swiss National Day (federal holiday nationwide)
Dec 25
Christmas Day
Dec 26
St Stephen's Day (most cantons)
Other dates
Labour Day, Corpus Christi, Assumption, All Saints and other days apply only in some cantons

Switzerland News · Updated daily · 50 languages · Cross-checked sources · Corrections published

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