Switzerland travel guide for the Irish

Irish citizens do not need a visa for Switzerland. You can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period as a tourist. From 2026, you will need an ETIAS travel authorisation before you fly (check).

Flights from Dublin to Zurich or Geneva take about 2 hours. A mid-range trip costs roughly €150–250 per day per person, including accommodation, meals and transport.

Ireland is in the EU, so Irish citizens enter Switzerland with a valid passport or national ID card. No visa is needed for short stays. The 90-day rule applies across the Schengen Area, so days spent in France, Italy or Germany count against the same allowance.

From 2026, an ETIAS authorisation will be required before travel. It is not a visa; it is an online application that costs about €7 and is valid for three years (check). Apply before booking flights.

Ireland has an embassy in Bern. For consular help, lost passports, or emergencies, contact the Embassy of Ireland in Bern. For visa or entry questions, contact the Swiss authorities in Ireland.

If you are in trouble, the embassy can issue emergency travel documents. Keep a copy of your passport and travel insurance details separately.

Switzerland is expensive. A budget traveller can get by on about €100–150 per day with hostels and self-catering. A mid-range hotel and restaurant meals push that to €200–300 per day. Transport adds up: a Swiss Travel Pass costs around CHF 240 for 3 days (check).

Cards are accepted almost everywhere, but carry some cash for small mountain stalls and cable cars. Tipping is not expected; service is included, but rounding up is appreciated.

Direct flights from Dublin to Zurich and Geneva take about 2 hours. Aer Lingus and Swiss operate on these routes (check). From Cork or Shannon, you may need a connection.

Zurich and Geneva airports have direct train links to the city centres. Zurich airport to the main station takes about 10 minutes by train.

Switzerland uses type J sockets (three round pins) and type C (two round pins), with 230 V and 50 Hz. Irish plugs are type G, so you will need an adapter. Most chargers handle 230 V, so a voltage converter is rarely needed.

Service is included in the bill, so tipping is not required. For good service, round up to the nearest franc or add 5–10%. In taxis, rounding up is common. Leave small change for hotel housekeeping if you wish.

In an emergency, dial 112 for the European emergency number. For police, call 117; for ambulance, 144; for fire, 118. The Rega air rescue can be reached at 1414. Save these numbers before you travel.