"Plenty of Crossings Daily: An Overview of Switzerland's Border Transits (2.2 Million)"
Unleashing Switzerland's Borders:
Throughout history, Switzerland's borders have been a spectacle of evolution due to wars, shifting alliances, and ruling empires like the Romans, Habsburgs, and Savoys. Today, if you scrutinize the map of Europe, you might need a magnifying glass to spot the tiny nation nestled between Italy, France, Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein.
Swiss borders spans nearly 1,852 kilometers, with Italy, France, Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein as its neighbors. Switzerland's long-lasting bond with Italy, stretching about 740 kilometers, leads the pack, followed by France and Germany, with a 573 and 334 kilometers frontier respectively. Austria and Liechtenstein follow, with 164 and 41 kilometers lined up with Switzerland.
The Swiss-Italian boundary traverses the cantons of Ticino, Valais, and Graubünden, while Switzerland shares its longest border with France through the cantons of Geneva, Vaud, Jura, Neuchâtel, Valais, and Basel. Switzerland's boundary with Germany is shared by Basel, Zurich, Aargau, Schaffhausen, Thurgau, and St. Gallen. St. Gallen and Grubünden border Austria, as well as Liechtenstein.
Bonus Facts:
- Switzerland and Liechtenstein boast what is perhaps the least guarded border of Europe, with no checks needed when passing from one to the other. This fascinating border has even led to instances of confusion, with the Swiss army mistakenly entering Liechtenstein on three occasions.
- Switzerland's borders aren't always the most clear-cut. Two German enclaves, Büsingen and Lauterbrunnen, are housed within Swiss territory, while Campione d’Italia, an Italian city, is nestled inside the Swiss Canton of Ticino. These peculiarities can sometimes pose problems for Swiss officials, with instances of financial aid being mistakenly provided to organizations based in neighboring countries.
Crossing the Swiss Border:
Traveling from Switzerland to its neighbors is relatively hassle-free, thanks to its membership in the Schengen area, which has abolished border controls among member states. Crossing the border often involves sporadic and random checks, with policies differing among bordering nations. For instance, during 2024, Germany reinstated border checks which are currently being extended for an additional six months.
When crossing to or from Germany, Swiss citizens might be required to present a passport or ID card. In other instances, passengers may not be subjected to checks at all upon entering or exiting Switzerland, but they are still obligated to declare and pay taxes on any goods of significant value.
By the Numbers:
Around 2.2 million people cross a land border daily between Switzerland and one of its neighbors. On average, over 220,000 individuals commute from France to work in Switzerland each day.
Here's a breakdown of the daily crossings between Switzerland and its neighbors:
- Switzerland to/from Germany: 86 land crossings and 11 public transport connections
- Switzerland to/from France: 95 land crossings by car and 14 by train or tram
- Switzerland to/from Italy: 30 land crossings and seven services by public transport
- Switzerland to/from Austria: 13 road crossings and one by train
- Switzerland to/from Liechtenstein: 10 road crossings and one by train
(Remember that lake crossings between countries also require a passport or ID card)
- Switzerland shares a border with Liechtenstein, a unique fact that is defined by the absence of border checks, leading to instances of Swiss army vehicles unknowingly entering Liechtenstein on three occasions.
- According to the numbers, approximately 2.2 million people cross a land border daily between Switzerland and one of its neighbors, with over 220,000 individuals commuting from France to work in Switzerland each day.
- The Swiss-Italian boundary, spanning several cantons, is the longest border shared by Switzerland, consisting of 362 defined crossings, both for land and public transport services.
