Does the coronavirus affect trips to Switzerland?
The thread was started by tourists seeking clarity on travel to Switzerland amidst COVID-19 challenges. They wanted to know entry requirements, testing protocols, and local health certificates. Information shared included updates on vaccination recognition, potential quarantine measures, and the ease of accessing COVID-19 tests in Switzerland.
- Travelers need a valid COVID certificate or proof of vaccination to enter restaurants and other indoor venues in Switzerland.
- Non-EU visitors can apply for a Swiss COVID certificate online if vaccinated with an accepted vaccine.
- The COVID test must be taken within 72 hours before arrival in Switzerland, and travelers are encouraged to check specific local regulations before their trip.
AI-generated summary-
Hi Terry,
The weather forecast until Sunday looks great with very little rain. Any forecast beyond 3 days out will likely change several times and is anything but sure. Note that rain in the forecast can also mean 30 minutes of rain in the late afternoon. That happens more often than relentless rain all day actually.
Have fun!
Thanks for the quick response! I guess we’re just getting a little nervous.
We are traveling to Switzerland second week of September. We are fully vaccinated so appears we will have no issue getting into Switzerland. We are taking the Bernina Express to Tirano, now I’m curious if we will be covered under the Swiss coronavirus protocols or Italy? On the Bernina Express website it lists currently you need to be vaccinated to enter Italy. I have emailed Bernina express and just hoping to hear something from them.
Anyone have any information on what the requirements might be? Currently Italy says tourists from the USA need a negative Covid test 72 hours prior, That will require us to be tested in Switzerland.
Hi mikefrank!
There’s no need to worry in your case.
The current Italian rules state that travelers need to present proof of vaccination, proof of being cured or a recent negative test result. This goes for passengers of high-speed trains like Intercity trains and for long bus routes. It also applies to travelers entering Italy by plane. There can be checks at railway stations or in the train.
As for the Bernina Express: travelers that can’t match any of these rules, can get out in Campocologno (the last Swiss stop) instead of traveling to Tirano in Italy. But if you’re fully vaccinated and carry along proof of this, you won’t have any problems. The Bernina Express information about traveling into Italy can be found here under “Information coronavirus”: https://www.rhb.ch.
I hope this helps!
Actually, Italy changed their rules just this week and MIkeFrank is correct, now travelers from the US do need to have a negative CoVid test before entry into Italy if they have been in the US less than 14 days ago. We are traveling from Switzerland to Italy on 9/15 and am wondering the same thing….
I did hear from the Bernina Express people today and they stated the following.
As you are vaccinated you just have to fill out the entry form for Italy. For your return to Switzerland, there is no need for any forms or documents.
You can find the entry form for Italy directly here:app.euplf.eu/#/
I’m afraid you may not receiving the most up to date information. Things are changing daily. I am by no means any kind of expert, just another traveler trying to figure this all out.
Here is the link to the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs which indicates the change in regulations which went into effect today:
I have no idea how/if this will be enforced on trains. It is supposed to apply to all entering Italy regardless of means of transportation. I know people flying to Italy beginning today are not allowed on the plane without out showing that they have a negative covid test.
Thanks for the link to the form!
Hi MegandChris,
you are right, things are changing very fast. The best you can do is to contact Bernina Express directly with this question -as close to your departure time as you can. On their website you can also find some relevant information: http://www.rhb.ch/en.
This page has some relevant information too: http://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-europe/corona-international-rail-travel.html (You can find this link also in the first post of this thread under #7).
Ildiko
Hello,
I wanted to let you all know how it went for us traveling from the U.S. (Albuquerque, NM) to Zurich the last couple of days since we were among those worried about all the recent changes. We are vaccinated (we have the CDC card to show, not a EU covid. certificate or QR code). We were asked to show our passports and vaccination cards at the Albuquerque airport and asked if we had filled out the entry form. Then in Atlanta, at the gate (going to Amsterdam) we were asked for the passports and vaccination cards again. Others were showing proof of being tested recently. In Amsterdam we went through Immigration and only had to show our passports. Then in Zurich, there were no more checkpoints. It all worked smoothly and we are so glad we are here! Because it’s Switzerland, we expect everything else to be easier than at home right now!
Thanks for all the help over the last few weeks. If we experience anything else that would be helpful for other travelers to know, we’ll post it here.
Terry
Hi Terry,
Thanks for sharing your experience. Good to know things went fairly smooth for you. Have a great trip!
Regards,
Anna
Lot’s going on and a frenzy of new regulations, etc. My wife and I, with Heavy Hearts, just canceled our trip to Switzerland. We had a schedule to travel on a River Cruise from Amsterdam to Basel beginning Sept. 19, followed by a couple of weeks traveling by train in Switzerland. We have been planning and scheduling this for a year now. I have been reading daily posts on Myswissalps.com which have been so informative and interesting. We are retired, both 70 and with some immunity compromise and we finally pulled the plug and agreed to go next year instead. We’re both adventurous, but what happens if something flairs up while we are there or if one of us gets sick? Yikes!!!
We are committed that this will be re-scheduled next year. We are probably going to pick the same time frame, September / October unless one of you can convince me otherwise. We have enjoyed all of the ongoing information from all and we look forward to continuing to read the posts going forward. We have vouchers for the cancelled cruise and airfare and we will probably be re-scheduling next year’s trip right away. Everyone enjoy your swiss vacations.
Joejax
Hi Joejax,
I’m sorry to hear that you cancelled your trip but fully understand your reasoning.
Good to know you are already planning for a similar trip next year. Hopefully there won’t be any more cancellations.
Regards,
Anna
I hear ya, Joejax. We had our plans (8 months worth) and reservations in place for 4/2020. This was, of course, shot down.
Now we’re looking at 4/2022 with almost all reservations in place except airline tix but it’s not looking good. I think world governments are looking for a permanent pandemic.
If they stop the mask insanity by the end of next January, we’ll book the airline tix and go. We will not pay thousands of dollars to have to put on a mask every time we turn around, especially on a 10 hour flight. I’d probably be arrested when we got to Amsterdam. I will be 73 and my wife will be 65 so not a lot of time to get this done.
Good luck on your next attempt.
Hello everyone,
I just want to give a recommendation to where you can get a PCR or Antigen/Rapid test for travel back to the US. You can get it from the Corona Center of University of Zurich. It only costs 15CHF for rapid test certificate and you can wait 20 minutes to get the result and certificate. They’re very organized and I highly recommend it. It’s located at Hirschengraben 84, 8001 Zurich.
Here’s a link to get an appointment: coronazentrum.uzh.ch/en/testing/
We’re back in the US and we had a great time in Zurich, Geneva and Lausanne.
-jorge
Hello Jvilla,
Thank you very much: that is the information I was looking for. Covid test place in town and so reasonably priced! I am starting my trip tomorrow and will fly back from Zurich.
Yelda
Hi, we are trying to rearrange our trip to Switzerland after we had to cancel our trip last year. Can someone clarify if we are able to enter Switzerland without quarantine or having to take a Covid test.
We are UK citizens living permanently in Thailand. We have had two vaccinations of AstraZeneca but they were made in Thailand (lot number A1001). In your 31 August update I note that AZD1222 is accepted. Does this mean A1001 is not?
You state that “Children up to 15: no requirements” is this the same logic as the STP, that it allows entry up to one day before the 16th birthday? Many thanks for any help.
I’m sorry to hear about your cancellation, Joejax. I understand things were too uncertain for you to proceed with your plans. Good to know you have vouchers for a new trip.
As for the time frame: yes, September-October is a great time I think. I personally love late April-early May as well. This too is low season. You’ll carefully have to check mountain transportation timetables: some start running by late April, others by early May and some even later. But nature is usually fresh and beautiful, with more snow on the mountain tops than in summer. Of course this is just a personal preference and there are no guarantees weather-wise. Here’s some more info: http://www.myswissalps.com/besttimetovisit.
Just keep in touch with us: you’re welcome to ask any question about your re-scheduled trip. I hope you’ll soon have the chance to visit Switzerland.
Hi jorge!
Thank you for getting back to us and sharing your useful information. I’m happy to hear you had such a good time in the Swiss cities. If you like, you can write a trip report here: http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/tripreports.
For other readers: links to test locations in Switzerland can be found in the 1st post of this thread and at http://www.myswissalps.com/coronavirus/planning.
Hi Sweyne,
In general if you are fully vaccinated you will have no issue travelling to Switzerland. However I’m not aware of the different AstraZeneca vaccines and if they are recognised equally here. Perhaps the best thing to do is to contact the Swiss embassy in Bangkok and ask for clarification.
As for your next question: children up to 15 – yes, right up to the day before the child turns 16.
Regards,
Anna
Hi, all! I’m writing this from Lucerne! We arrived this morning at Zurich. We wanted to report to you that it was as slick and easy as pie! We uploaded all the required information before we left and got our QR code from the Swiss. They looked at our passports at entry, but not a question about our vaccinations. (We had our vaccination cards with us as well as the Swiss QR Code.) But they looked at the passports and pulled up all our info. They did say one thing. They said, “Have a nice vacation!” I will post a trip report afterwards. BTW, I had forgotten a medication but good ol’ Walgreens! Walgreens In Newark pulled up all my records from Walgreens in Arizona and filled an emergency order and I had it in the hours before we departed,
- The thread ‘Does the coronavirus affect trips to Switzerland?’ is closed to new replies.
