How many borders does Switzerland have and which crossings are best?

Switzerland has 5 borders with different control levels!Borders by complexity:BorderQueuesControls🔴 France20–50 minYES until April 2026!🟡 Germany10–35 minYES until March 2026🟢 Italy5–20 minMinimal🟢 Austria10–30 minRare🟢 Liechtenstein5–10 minNoneRecommendations:🟢 Via Italy — fewest controls!🟢 Via Austria — stable🔴 Avoid Geneva — busiest!

What are traffic fines in Switzerland? (Among the highest!)

Switzerland has VERY HIGH fines — among the highest in Europe!Speeding fines:ExcessFine (CHF/€)1–5 km/h20 CHF (~€21)6–10 km/h40 CHF (~€42)11–15 km/h60 CHF (~€63)16–20 km/h100 CHF (~€106)21–30 km/h200 CHF (~€212)31+ km/h300–500 CHF (~€318–532) + license suspension!Other fines:Red light: 100 CHF (~€106)Phone while driving: 100 CHF (~€106)Alcohol 0.10%+: up to CHF 10,000 (~€10,630)!Limits: Cities 50 km/h, motorways 120 km/h.

What to know about Gotthard Tunnel? (16.9 km — longest!)

Gotthard Tunnel — most important Alpine crossing and longest road tunnel!Specifications:Length: 16.9 kmTransit time: 30–35 minutesMinimum speed: 80 km/hClosure: Wednesday 23:00–01:00 (special transport)Price: FREE!Included in Swiss vignette (CHF 40)No additional tollsCongestion (AVOID!):🔴 Weekends: +30–45 min🔴 Holidays: +60–90 min🟢 Tuesday–Thursday 14:00–16:00 — minimum!Alternatives: San Bernardino (6.6 km), Simplonpass (car train)

Is a vignette required for Switzerland? (CHF 40 — simplest in Europe!)

Yes! Mandatory vignette CHF 40 (~€42) for ALL Swiss motorways!Features — simplest system in Europe:Single price CHF 40 for entire year (not like France/Italy per km!)14 months validity (Dec 1 – Jan 31 next year)Entire network — A1–A22 + national roadse-vignette available online since 2023Gotthard Tunnel INCLUDED (16.9 km!)Where to buy: Online (ezv.admin.ch), at border, gas stations (Shell, BP, Migrol)Fine without vignette: CHF 200 + mandatory purchase = CHF 240 (~€255)!

Is Switzerland in the Schengen zone? (No, but integrated!)

Switzerland is NOT a Schengen member, but fully integrated with it!Unique status:Associated Schengen member (not full member)Separate bilateral agreements with EUFreedom of movement — yes, but controls can occurWhat this means for travel:❌ EES NOT active — Switzerland plans own system in 2026❌ ETIAS NOT required — Switzerland not in EU✅ Passport stamps still used✅ 90/180 days for visa-free countriesAdvantage: No EES biometric checks (yet)!

Why does France control the Switzerland border until April 2026?

France has implemented temporary controls on ALL 6 France-Switzerland crossings until April 30, 2026!Reasons:Terrorism threats (ongoing warnings)Irregular migration through SwitzerlandSmuggling and drug traffickingOrganized crimeMain crossings with controls:Geneva — main entry point (20–40 min queues)Chamonix/Montblanc — Montblanc corridor (20–50 min)Valleiry, Collonges, Saint-Gervais, BellegardeImpact: +10–30 minutes waiting, random document checks.

FAQ sul confine con Швейцарія

Черги Час роботи

Switzerland has 5 borders with different control levels!

Borders by complexity:

Border	Queues	Controls
🔴 France	20–50 min	YES until April 2026!
🟡 Germany	10–35 min	YES until March 2026
🟢 Italy	5–20 min	Minimal
🟢 Austria	10–30 min	Rare
🟢 Liechtenstein	5–10 min	None

Recommendations:

🟢 Via Italy — fewest controls!
🟢 Via Austria — stable
🔴 Avoid Geneva — busiest!

Транспорт finance

Switzerland has VERY HIGH fines — among the highest in Europe!

Speeding fines:

Excess	Fine (CHF/€)
1–5 km/h	20 CHF (~€21)
6–10 km/h	40 CHF (~€42)
11–15 km/h	60 CHF (~€63)
16–20 km/h	100 CHF (~€106)
21–30 km/h	200 CHF (~€212)
31+ km/h	300–500 CHF (~€318–532) + license suspension!

Other fines:

Red light: 100 CHF (~€106)
Phone while driving: 100 CHF (~€106)
Alcohol 0.10%+: up to CHF 10,000 (~€10,630)!

Limits: Cities 50 km/h, motorways 120 km/h.

Транспорт Час роботи

Gotthard Tunnel — most important Alpine crossing and longest road tunnel!

Specifications:

Length: 16.9 km
Transit time: 30–35 minutes
Minimum speed: 80 km/h
Closure: Wednesday 23:00–01:00 (special transport)

Price: FREE!

Included in Swiss vignette (CHF 40)
No additional tolls

Congestion (AVOID!):

🔴 Weekends: +30–45 min
🔴 Holidays: +60–90 min
🟢 Tuesday–Thursday 14:00–16:00 — minimum!

Alternatives: San Bernardino (6.6 km), Simplonpass (car train)

Транспорт finance

Yes! Mandatory vignette CHF 40 (~€42) for ALL Swiss motorways!

Features — simplest system in Europe:

Single price CHF 40 for entire year (not like France/Italy per km!)
14 months validity (Dec 1 – Jan 31 next year)
Entire network — A1–A22 + national roads
e-vignette available online since 2023
Gotthard Tunnel INCLUDED (16.9 km!)

Where to buy: Online (ezv.admin.ch), at border, gas stations (Shell, BP, Migrol)

Fine without vignette: CHF 200 + mandatory purchase = CHF 240 (~€255)!

Документи EES

Switzerland is NOT a Schengen member, but fully integrated with it!

Unique status:

Associated Schengen member (not full member)
Separate bilateral agreements with EU
Freedom of movement — yes, but controls can occur

What this means for travel:

❌ EES NOT active — Switzerland plans own system in 2026
❌ ETIAS NOT required — Switzerland not in EU
✅ Passport stamps still used
✅ 90/180 days for visa-free countries

Advantage: No EES biometric checks (yet)!

Документи Час роботи

France has implemented temporary controls on ALL 6 France-Switzerland crossings until April 30, 2026!

Reasons:

Terrorism threats (ongoing warnings)
Irregular migration through Switzerland
Smuggling and drug trafficking
Organized crime

Main crossings with controls:

Geneva — main entry point (20–40 min queues)
Chamonix/Montblanc — Montblanc corridor (20–50 min)
Valleiry, Collonges, Saint-Gervais, Bellegarde

Impact: +10–30 minutes waiting, random document checks.