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 petrol cheaper across the border. One woman says she shops and fills up in […]
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 […]
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 week, found that 49% of eligible voters opposed the proposal and 46% supported it, with 5% […]
Vapes containing synthetic cannabinoids have reached Switzerland
Sold as “Baller-Liquids”, “Zombie-Liquids” or “Knaller-Liquids”, vaping liquids containing synthetic cannabinoids, sometimes called Spice, have attracted attention in Germany and France. Now cases have been reported in Switzerland, where the substances are covered by the Narcotics Act. The newspaper 20 Minuten has reported cases in Zurich and St Gallen. Zurich cantonal police confirm that they […]
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 […]
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 22%. A common rule of thumb is that housing costs should not exceed a third […]
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 continues to become more politically polarised
Switzerland is becoming more politically polarised. The latest SRG election barometer shows support rising for parties on the left and right as the centre shrinks. It also reveals marked differences between men and women. The Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) would win 29.9% of the vote if an election were held now, up two percentage points […]
Zurich’s housing squeeze begins to ease
More building and slower immigration are taking pressure off the rental market. But rents are still rising. Finding a flat in Zurich has long meant crowded viewings and frequent rejection. Now there are tentative signs of relief. Zurich Cantonal Bank (ZKB) sees a possible turning point as construction picks up and immigration slows. The canton’s […]
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 […]
