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 Switzerland expects not only its own residents to follow the rules of proper (Swiss) conduct, but foreign visitors as well. The country's tourism board has laid out a good code of conduct to observe. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260416/dont-spit-how-to-be-a-good-tourist-in-switzerland Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:22:30 +0200 dont-spit-how-to-be-a-good-tourist-in-switzerland Many people visiting from abroad find Switzerland to be very, very expensive, especially compared to other countries. But the Swiss government has a plan to change that. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260220/how-switzerland-wants-to-make-the-country-cheaper-for-foreign-tourists Fri, 20 Feb 2026 14:30:09 +0100 how-switzerland-wants-to-make-the-country-cheaper-for-foreign-tourists Tourism is usually considered a boost to local economies but residents of some of Switzerland’s most popular destinations don’t see it quite that way. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250805/how-swiss-alpine-towns-are-cracking-down-on-mass-tourism Tue, 05 Aug 2025 12:34:07 +0200 how-swiss-alpine-towns-are-cracking-down-on-mass-tourism Quintessential Swiss dogs, St. Bernards, have a new theme park, Barryland, dedicated to them in Valais. https://www.thelocal.ch/20250629/st-bernard-dogs-romp-at-unique-swiss-theme-park Sun, 29 Jun 2025 19:27:09 +0200 st-bernard-dogs-romp-at-unique-swiss-theme-park Whether for work or holidays, Switzerland is always popular with local and foreign visitors, but which nationality visits the Alpine country most frequently? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250609/these-are-the-nationalities-that-visit-switzerland-the-most Mon, 09 Jun 2025 17:39:50 +0200 these-are-the-nationalities-that-visit-switzerland-the-most Some parts of Switzerland are an absolute must-visit, but you will need to plan carefully to avoid the crowds — and be ready to pay, otherwise your trip might be memorable for all the wrong reasons. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230522/5-spectacular-swiss-tourist-sites-where-youll-need-to-avoid-the-crowds Mon, 22 May 2023 13:46:18 +0200 5-spectacular-swiss-tourist-sites-where-youll-need-to-avoid-the-crowds If you are coming to Switzerland as a tourist, you can’t overstay your welcome. But rules differ depending on where you live. https://www.thelocal.ch/20221003/what-happens-if-you-overstay-your-90-day-limit-in-switzerland Mon, 03 Oct 2022 15:29:15 +0200 what-happens-if-you-overstay-your-90-day-limit-in-switzerland Planning to explore Switzerland? We've compiled a list of the most unique and unforgettable places to stay in the Alpine nation, whether you want to try a fancy bunker, an old monastery or simply a bed and butler in the middle of nowhere. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240221/caves-to-castles-10-of-switzerlands-most-unforgettable-hotel-experiences Wed, 21 Feb 2024 13:35:33 +0100 caves-to-castles-10-of-switzerlands-most-unforgettable-hotel-experiences An international survey has ranked the Swiss canton of Graubünden among the world’s top destinations in terms of hospitality. But is this true? https://www.thelocal.ch/20250129/is-graubunden-really-switzerlands-most-hospitable-place-to-visit Wed, 29 Jan 2025 13:34:23 +0100 is-graubunden-really-switzerlands-most-hospitable-place-to-visit Switzerland's UNESCO World Heritage includes 13 cultural and natural sites. With their spectacular views and impressive histories, they are all worth a visit. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230306/the-13-world-heritage-sites-in-switzerland-you-need-to-see Mon, 06 Mar 2023 13:50:37 +0100 the-13-world-heritage-sites-in-switzerland-you-need-to-see A plan to combat overtourism in Switzerland by charging tourists 25 francs to enter the country has been rejected. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240909/switzerland-rejects-25-franc-entry-fee-for-foreign-tourists Mon, 09 Sep 2024 12:30:52 +0200 switzerland-rejects-25-franc-entry-fee-for-foreign-tourists Switzerland's tourism agency said Thursday that it was trying to even out the flow of holidaymakers throughout the year to protect the Alpine country from the risks of excessive tourism. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240705/switzerland-takes-measures-to-even-out-tourist-numbers-in-swiss-alps Fri, 05 Jul 2024 11:07:15 +0200 switzerland-takes-measures-to-even-out-tourist-numbers-in-swiss-alps While tourists from many countries can enter Switzerland with just their passports, others need to have financial proof that they will be able to support themselves while in the country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240530/how-much-money-do-you-need-to-enter-switzerland-on-a-tourist-visa Thu, 30 May 2024 19:27:16 +0200 how-much-money-do-you-need-to-enter-switzerland-on-a-tourist-visa A small Swiss village that claims it was the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien's ‘The Lord of the Rings’ has sparked a row with its plans to charge visitors to enter. https://www.thelocal.ch/20240516/stunning-swiss-village-plans-to-charge-visitors-to-experience-middle-earth Thu, 16 May 2024 14:17:12 +0200 stunning-swiss-village-plans-to-charge-visitors-to-experience-middle-earth Tourist hotspots around Europe are on a crusade to deal with surging visitor numbers. Is it the end of mass tourism in Europe? https://www.thelocal.ch/20240425/stay-away-how-europes-most-popular-spots-are-fighting-overtourism Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:59:15 +0200 stay-away-how-europes-most-popular-spots-are-fighting-overtourism One of the best things about living in Switzerland is its proximity to so many other countries, and you don’t even need to get on a plane – all these great cities can be easily reached by train. https://www.thelocal.ch/20170907/ten-fabulous-city-breaks-accessible-by-train-from-switzerland Thu, 07 Sep 2017 12:01:45 +0200 ten-fabulous-city-breaks-accessible-by-train-from-switzerland Sweden's tourist board has issued a plea to Swiss officials to co-sign a proposition designed to put an end to people mixing up the similarly-named Nordic country and Alpine republic for good. https://www.thelocal.ch/20231025/swedish-tourist-board-launches-campaign-to-end-confusion-with-switzerland Wed, 25 Oct 2023 17:10:54 +0200 swedish-tourist-board-launches-campaign-to-end-confusion-with-switzerland A plane flying from Zurich to Spain this weekend arrived without a single piece of luggage onboard, unbeknownst to the passengers, media reported Sunday, as the airline blamed ground staff shortages. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230910/swiss-plane-arrives-in-spain-without-a-single-suitcase-onboard Sun, 10 Sep 2023 16:37:18 +0200 swiss-plane-arrives-in-spain-without-a-single-suitcase-onboard Indians travelling in a group need a tourist visa to enter the Schengen zone, which includes Switzerland. But lack of resources means such trips will have to be delayed. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230801/why-has-switzerland-stopped-giving-visas-to-indian-tour-groups Tue, 01 Aug 2023 16:35:22 +0200 why-has-switzerland-stopped-giving-visas-to-indian-tour-groups The quaint Swiss village of Iseltwald has been forced to limit the number of tourists after fans of a South Korean Netflix hit show flocked to the region in droves sparking a backlash from locals. https://www.thelocal.ch/20230519/swiss-village-forced-to-restricted-visitor-numbers-after-netflix-success Fri, 19 May 2023 17:47:57 +0200 swiss-village-forced-to-restricted-visitor-numbers-after-netflix-success