Brought to you by Swiss French School. On 1 January 2019, Switzerland’s federal government tightened and harmonised the rules on language requirements to qualify for some residence permits, B and C permits in particular, and … [Read more...]
News and Features
One in six people in Switzerland spends more than a third of their income on housing
One in six people (16%) in Switzerland spends more than a third of their income on housing, exceeding a widely recommended limit, according to a survey published on Thursday by Comparis, a price-comparison website. Among tenants, the share rises to … [Read more...]
FILM: UNE FEMME AUJOURD’HUI **1/2
23 October 2026 Not a very satisfying week for the release of these somewhat mediocre films. By the way, just as a troubling aside, THREE of this week’s daily press screenings were films concerned with violence, blood and horror - CLAYFACE, … [Read more...]
VAT rise to fund extra pension narrowly opposed in first poll
Swiss voters are divided over a proposed increase in value-added tax (VAT) to fund an extra annual state-pension payment, according to the first representative SRG poll. The survey, conducted by gfs.bern from 5 to 18 October and published this … [Read more...]
Motorists cross borders for cheaper fuel
As fuel prices rise motorists quickly work out where to find cheaper fuel, reports SRF. At petrol stations in Vacallo, a Swiss town near the Italian border, few cars stop to fill up. Italy’s government has temporarily cut fuel duty, making … [Read more...]
Guides
Setting up a business in Switzerland – a guide
Brought to you by Winbiz online accounting for Swiss businesses. So you have decided to start a business. You have a business plan and are ready to get started. Before you launch you need a name and possibly a company. Broadly there are two options … [Read More...]
8-step guide to hiring a nanny in Switzerland
Brought to you by quitt.ch - No. 1 provider of registration and administration services for domestic help in Switzerland. 1. What do nannies cost in Switzerland? Nannies are expensive in Switzerland. Average monthly salaries range from CHF 3,300 to … [Read More...]
Activities
Switzerland’s cow parades are back: where to see them in 2026
Each autumn Switzerland’s cattle leave their high pastures for the valleys. The journey, known as a désalpe in French-speaking Switzerland and an Alpabzug in German-speaking areas, has become one of the country’s most photogenic rural traditions. … [Read more...]
“Snow of May” – Swiss narcissus season in full bloom
The spring narcissus bloom in Switzerland's riviera region, a star tourist attraction of the Belle Epoque - the 30 to 40 years before the war in 1914 - was described as the "snow of May" by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms. The book … [Read more...]
Five gorgeous Swiss parks for contemplating autumn splendor
By Bill Harby Whether you prefer thickets of grand old trees, a formal English garden, or a pocket park, these five urban green spaces offer colourful ways to rustle through autumn leaves. Geneva: Park La Grange One minute you’re in bustling Geneva … [Read more...]
