Low water levels on the Rhine have strained supplies, prompting the government to draw on compulsory reserves. Switzerland is considering an 80km/h speed limit on motorways to save fuel, reported SRF. The effects of war in the Middle East and persistently low water levels on the Rhine have put fuel supplies under pressure. Petrol and […]
Heat warped Swiss railway tracks in nearly 100 places this summer
Swiss Federal Railways recorded 97 cases of track distortion and buckling during the summer heatwave in 2026, according to a specialist team. The company confirmed the figure reported by the SonntagsZeitung, a Sunday newspaper. According to the paper, the total was almost four times that of the previous year. SBB said the increase in track […]
Zurich to raise the price of blue-zone parking for residents
Zurich’s city council will introduce new residents’ parking permits in January 2027, raising the cost of parking in blue zones, reported SRF. Concessions for tradespeople remain blocked by a legal dispute. Zurich residents will face higher costs. Under the “Biel model”, they must first use parking spaces attached to their buildings, which are considerably more […]
Snow returns to the Swiss Alps after a warm, dry start to autumn
Snow returned to the Swiss Alps on Wednesday after an unusually warm and dry start to autumn, closing several mountain passes. More is forecast this weekend, with up to 25cm expected between the Dents du Midi and the Mont Blanc massif. Webcam images showed peaks including the Matterhorn and the Dents du Midi covered in […]
Switzerland releases jet-fuel reserves as Zurich airport faces a shortage
Switzerland has authorised the release of up to 30m litres of jet fuel from compulsory stocks over the next fortnight to avert a shortage at Zurich airport. The volume represents 6.5% of the country’s aviation-fuel reserves. The release of reserves was approved after disruptions to river and rail freight threatened deliveries. The main bottleneck is […]
Swiss passport ranks ninth worldwide — but several European neighbours beat it
The Swiss passport remains one of the world’s most powerful travel documents, ranking ninth globally in the latest Passport Reports index. Swiss citizens can travel visa-free to 119 destinations. Another 54 allow entry with a visa on arrival or an electronic travel authorisation. Only 25 destinations require Swiss travellers to obtain a visa in advance. […]
Swiss tourist jailed for insulting Bali’s sacred day of silence
A court in Bali has sentenced a Swiss tourist to a year in prison for insulting Nyepi, the Indonesian island’s sacred Hindu Day of Silence. The 26-year-old was convicted on Thursday, August 20, 2026 under Indonesia’s new criminal code after posting messages on social media mocking the observance, during which residents and visitors are expected […]
How a tiny battery forced an emergency landing
On July 27th 2026 a routine Swiss flight from Zurich to New York was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangor, Maine, after smoke appeared in the business-class cabin. The source was eventually traced to a headphone-charging case that had become wedged in a seat and crushed. Its damaged lithium battery overheated and began […]
The Matterhorn is becoming more dangerous
The Matterhorn has always been dangerous. Intense prolonged heat and the sort of people climbing it have made it more so, according to SRF. Guides on the Swiss side of the peak are avoiding some routes they now consider too dangerous. The risks are growing across the Alps. Guides in Chamonix have stopped taking people […]
SwissPass says no to ticket-buying grace period
Switzerland’s public transport system operates on a simple rule: passengers must hold a valid ticket before their train, tram or bus starts moving. Buying one on a smartphone even a few seconds after departure can result in a fine. The rule is enforced strictly. Ticket inspectors carry out regular checks and anyone travelling without a […]
