Plugs and voltage
Switzerland uses Type J sockets; Type C is also found. Mains supply is 230 V at 50 Hz.
Swiss Type J sockets accept Europlugs (Type C), but not the thicker round pins of French or German Type E/F plugs.
At 230 V, devices made only for 100–127 V (many American and Japanese hair dryers, curling irons and some shavers) will be damaged without a step-down converter. Chargers labelled “100–240V” work fine with just a plug adapter.
Adapter guides: from United States · from United Kingdom · from Canada · from India · from Germany · from France · from Italy
Money
Fr. Swiss Franc CHF
| 1 USD | 0.8230 CHF |
|---|---|
| 1 EUR | 0.9194 CHF |
| 1 GBP | 1.10 CHF |
| 1 JPY | 0.005233 CHF |
Price level 128 (US = 100, 2025)
Everyday household prices in Switzerland are about 128% of US prices when converted at market exchange rates: dearer than the median country (50). All countries
Language
- Germanofficial76%
- Frenchofficial39%
- Italianofficial15%
- Swiss Germande facto official66%
Also official in some regions: Romansh.
Bars show the share of the population that speaks each language (CLDR estimates).
Time
Switzerland is on UTC+1 (standard time; clocks change for daylight saving).
Driving
Traffic in Switzerland drives on the right, so the steering wheel is on the left.
Public holidays in the next 12 months
4 national public holidays from 2 November 2026. Banks, offices and many shops close; regional holidays are not shown. Dates marked “estimated” follow a lunar calendar and can move by a day.
December 2026
- Christmas Day
January 2027
- New Year's Day
May 2027
- Ascension Day
August 2027
- National Day
Travel advisories
United States · State Department
Level 1 Exercise normal precautions
Read the full advisory. Checked 2026-11-02.
United Kingdom · FCDO
No warnings The FCDO does not advise against travel to Switzerland.
Updated 2026-08-11. Read the full advice. Checked 2026-11-02.
Advisories are written for each government's own citizens and change without notice: read the original before you travel.
Other practical facts
- Calling code
- +41
- Internet domain
- .ch, .swiss
- Measurement
- Metric
- Paper size
- A4
- Week starts on
- Monday
- Read more
- Wikipedia
More in Western Europe
Flag: Flag of Switzerland.svg, Public domain. Arms: Coat of arms of Switzerland.svg, Public domain. Electricity: resolved by intl.life from three sources, see methodology.
