Switzerland Beach Holidays

You can travel visa-free to Switzerland for up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism.

Your passport must be issued less than 10 years before the date you arrive and be valid for at least 3 months after you plan to leave the Schengen area.

You may need to show proof of accommodation, such as a hotel booking, at Swiss border control.

You may need to show proof of insurance, a return ticket, and proof of sufficient funds for your stay at Swiss border control.

If your passport is not stamped, show evidence like boarding passes to border guards and ask them to add the date and location in your passport.

You may need to register biometric details like fingerprints or a photo at the border when the Entry/Exit System is implemented.

There are strict rules about goods you can take into Switzerland, and you must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax.

Be particularly alert for petty theft, such as bag-snatching and pickpocketing, in larger cities, at Geneva airport, and on trains to and from Geneva.

Do not leave your valuables unattended, especially in crowded areas, airports, and railway stations.

Never cover your face in public in Ticino and St Gallen, as wearing balaclavas, full veils, or masks can result in a fine of 100 to 10,000 Swiss francs.

Possessing, using, or smuggling illegal drugs, including cannabis, carries severe penalties such as long jail sentences and heavy fines.

For adventure sports like skiing, mountaineering, or paragliding, ensure your travel insurance specifically covers mountain rescue services, helicopter costs, and repatriation.

You must buy and display a motorway vignette (sticker) for your vehicle, or you could face a large fine.

If you plan to drive, remember that roads outside urban areas are often narrow, winding, and can deteriorate quickly, so reduce your speed and equip your car with winter tyres and snow-chains in alpine areas.