Swiss customs are reminding holidaymakers what not to bring back this summer.
Counterfeit luxury bags, watches and jewellery are seized on sight and destroyed, with 1,442 cases logged last year.
Any cash or securities worth CHF 10,000 or more must be declared on request, and purchases beyond CHF 150 per person trigger VAT of 2.6% on food or 8.1% on other goods.
Souvenirs made from protected species — coral, shells, ivory, certain woods or plants — can be confiscated and lead to fines.
No snow on Matterhorn
The Matterhorn is standing without snow at the end of September, a rare sight that has gone viral on social media
Decline in air quality this year
Nearly half of Europeans, Switzerland included, breathed poor or very poor air over the first eight months of 2026, according to a new Copernicus report
Earthquake insurance remains optional
Parliament has once again turned down a plan to introduce mandatory earthquake insurance for property owners in Switzerland
New migrant health centre announced
The Lausanne-based public health centre Unisanté has been designated a World Health Organization collaborating centre for migrant health
Tough wine sector finds something to celebrate
Vaud winemakers say the 2026 harvest is shaping up to be exceptional, with intense sugar levels producing dense, rich wines
Tuition fees new deal
The Council of States has agreed that European Union students at Switzerland's federal polytechnic schools should pay the same tuition fees as Swiss nationals
