https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed If you are planning to move to, or visit, the more rural areas of Switzerland, you may want to know whether you’ll be able to use your smartphone and computer without a hitch. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260910/is-the-internet-and-mobile-phone-coverage-good-enough-in-rural-switzerland Thu, 10 Sep 2026 16:28:55 +0200 is-the-internet-and-mobile-phone-coverage-good-enough-in-rural-switzerland When you rent an apartment or buy a property in Switzerland, you will have to announce your arrival at your local municipality or commune. Here’s how to do this. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210930/explained-how-to-register-your-address-in-switzerland Thu, 30 Sep 2021 14:32:01 +0200 explained-how-to-register-your-address-in-switzerland Most people don’t encounter any major problems in the way they are treated in Switzerland. But if that is not your case, you have a right to seek recourse. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240205/jobs-to-renting-who-do-you-lodge-official-complaints-with-in-switzerland Mon, 05 Feb 2024 15:33:04 +0100 jobs-to-renting-who-do-you-lodge-official-complaints-with-in-switzerland The wealthy in Switzerland can pretty much choose where they settle - these are the places top earners in the country tend to live. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260803/revealed-where-in-switzerland-do-top-earners-live Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:16:34 +0200 revealed-where-in-switzerland-do-top-earners-live Switzerland offers numerous benefits to international residents, but a new survey reveals that there are a few downsides as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260730/what-do-foreigners-like-and-dislike-about-living-in-switzerland-in-2026 Thu, 30 Jul 2026 11:32:39 +0200 what-do-foreigners-like-and-dislike-about-living-in-switzerland-in-2026 The strict criteria for obtaining a Swiss passport means that as many as one fifth of applications to become Swiss are rejected. Here’s what you should know about increasing your chances of being naturalised. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220202/why-your-swiss-citizenship-application-might-be-rejected-and-how-to-avoid-it Wed, 02 Feb 2022 11:14:37 +0100 why-your-swiss-citizenship-application-might-be-rejected-and-how-to-avoid-it The Swiss are huge supporters of segregating and recycling their waste. Soon the government will tighten rules on the disposal of plastic packaging. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260831/how-the-disposal-of-plastic-packaging-is-set-to-change-in-switzerland Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:26:27 +0200 how-the-disposal-of-plastic-packaging-is-set-to-change-in-switzerland Generally speaking, the quality of life is good all over Switzerland, but as a new analysis reveals, some municipalities offer more than others. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260828/quality-of-life-what-are-the-best-swiss-towns-for-families-in-2026 Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:00:37 +0200 quality-of-life-what-are-the-best-swiss-towns-for-families-in-2026 Swiss residency permits are notoriously hard to obtain for people from some countries. But there is a way to do this — here’s how. https://www.thelocal.ch/20210916/key-points-what-you-need-to-know-about-golden-visas-in-switzerland Thu, 16 Sep 2021 11:45:07 +0200 key-points-what-you-need-to-know-about-golden-visas-in-switzerland Whether you’re returning to your home country, seeking new adventures elsewhere or retiring abroad, leaving Switzerland means more Swiss bureaucracy and there are lots of things you’ll need to arrange before you leave. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240130/checklist-everything-you-need-to-do-if-you-leave-switzerland-for-good Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:24:49 +0100 checklist-everything-you-need-to-do-if-you-leave-switzerland-for-good Sometimes you find an official-looking piece of paper affixed to your mailbox or front door, or a mail delivery person bringing you something to sign. But should you? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260819/what-summons-can-you-legitimately-get-at-your-swiss-home-and-need-to-sign Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:22:21 +0200 what-summons-can-you-legitimately-get-at-your-swiss-home-and-need-to-sign Unless you’ve been living under a rock somewhere (or, if you are really lucky, in an ice igloo), then you know that a rare solar eclipse will happen tonight. But will everyone be able to enjoy it - safely? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260812/solar-eclipse-in-switzerland-will-the-swiss-be-able-to-view-it Wed, 12 Aug 2026 15:30:22 +0200 solar-eclipse-in-switzerland-will-the-swiss-be-able-to-view-it A rare astronomical phenomenon, not seen in Switzerland for 27 years, will happen tonight: The Moon will obscure a large part of the Sun. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260812/where-can-you-watch-the-solar-eclipse-in-switzerland-tonight Wed, 12 Aug 2026 10:07:20 +0200 where-can-you-watch-the-solar-eclipse-in-switzerland-tonight Swiss residents are living longer than ever before, impacting the amount of pension money they will receive in old age. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260806/12260-francs-less-how-the-swiss-populations-longevity-affects-pensions Thu, 06 Aug 2026 12:49:35 +0200 12260-francs-less-how-the-swiss-populations-longevity-affects-pensions When foreigners think of ‘typically’ Swiss foods, cheese and chocolate naturally come to mind. Not many people know, however, that Switzerland is also a wine producing (and drinking) nation. https://www.thelocal.ch/20220121/explained-how-to-drink-wine-like-a-swiss Fri, 21 Jan 2022 15:19:29 +0100 explained-how-to-drink-wine-like-a-swiss In many countries, the practice of haggling – that is, negotiating a price – is common. What are the rules in Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260805/reader-question-can-you-haggle-in-switzerland Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:04:58 +0200 reader-question-can-you-haggle-in-switzerland Employees in Switzerland have higher net salaries than their counterparts elsewhere in Europe. But why exactly do they earn more? https://www.thelocal.ch/20231103/why-are-swiss-wages-so-high Fri, 03 Nov 2023 12:58:18 +0100 why-are-swiss-wages-so-high In warm (and not so warm) weather, getting outside on the balcony in Switzerland can offer some valuable respite. But what are you actually allowed to do? https://www.thelocal.ch/20220719/nudity-bbqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do-on-your-balcony-in-switzerland Tue, 19 Jul 2022 12:31:04 +0200 nudity-bbqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do-on-your-balcony-in-switzerland You can't just jump into a public swimming pool in Switzerland wearing whatever you want. But you must wear something. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240829/what-are-the-rules-for-what-you-can-wear-in-swiss-swimming-pools Thu, 29 Aug 2024 15:36:58 +0200 what-are-the-rules-for-what-you-can-wear-in-swiss-swimming-pools In the warmer months, spending some quality time in your garden can be wonderful for your mental and physical well-being. But what are people actually allowed to do in their garden in Switzerland? https://www.thelocal.ch/20230508/what-you-can-and-cant-do-as-a-homeowner-in-your-garden-in-switzerland Mon, 08 May 2023 17:17:12 +0200 what-you-can-and-cant-do-as-a-homeowner-in-your-garden-in-switzerland