From Swiss National Day celebrations to heavy traffic — this is what you can expect in Switzerland in August 2025.
August 1st: Swiss National Day
As every year, the Swiss will celebrate their National Day on August 1st, marking 734 years since Switzerland as we know it was created.
The date marks an important and defining moment in Switzerland’s history: August 1st 1291, when cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Nidwalden pledged autonomy from foreign powers — the promise that has been holding true, and celebrated, ever since.
During the official ceremony, the current Swiss president (this year it is Karin Keller-Sutter), as well as all the other Federal Councillors,, address the nation.
Elsewhere in the country, including in your local community, there are bonfires and fireworks. In some places, children parade through the streets with lanterns bearing the Swiss cross and their canton’s flag. There are parades with people in traditional costumes and with yodelling choirs, alphorns and flag-throwers.
READ ALSO: Why does Switzerland celebrate it’s national day on August 1st?
Nighttime fireworks displays are also part of the festivities, but be careful what you buy.
Federal Police Office (Fedpol) has published a reminder of rules relating to ordering or bringing fireworks from abroad.
Authorisations are usually required, but it is still possible to import pyrotechnic devices without a special permission, as long as their total gross weight doesn’t exceed 2.5 kg per person, and “provided that these devices are not already prohibited in Switzerland,” according to Fedpol.
It recalls that the Federal Office of Customs and Border Security confiscates illegal items that don’t have an import authorisation.
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August 1st: New law to combat crime
The Federal Council has set the dates for the entry into force of the do-called Prüm Treaty.
This cooperation will enable Switzerland to efficiently exchange DNA profiles, fingerprints and data relating to vehicles and their owners with various European states in order to combat terrorism and cross-border crime.
This legislation will be implemented in two parts.
The first is to be enforced from August 1st, and the second as of January 2027.
August 1st: Strengthening the circular economy
From this day, the government will enact an ordinance aimed at strengthening the circular economy — that is, prioritising the reuse of old items instead of throwing them out.
August 1st: Saving birds
This ordinance, which aims to remediate electricity pylons that pose a risk of electrocution to birds, will go into effect on August 1st.
Overhead power lines can be fatal for large birds, the Federal Council said.
Furthermore, a short circuit caused by a bird can sometimes lead to long power outages. The amendment thus contributes to both the protection of birds and the security of the electricity supply.
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Summer holidays are over, it’s ‘back to school’ time
Depending on the canton of residence and school district, public schools are resuming between the second week and end of August.
As holidaymakers return home, traffic will be more chaotic, possibly causing delays and other disruptions.
If you are driving, be ready for long queues at entrances to frequently used transit points and tunnels, such as the Gotthard, where lines may exceed 10 km.
The Federal Roads Office as well as motoring organisation TCS advise drivers to avoid certain motorways during heavy-travel periods.
These are usually the most congested roads in Switzerland:
The A3/A1 Basel-Zurich axis
The A3/A13 Zurich-Chur-San Bernardino-Bellinzona-Chiasso axis, particularly near Chur and the San Bernardino tunnel
The A9 Lausanne-Montreux-Martigny-Brigue mainly near Lausanne and Montreux
The Martigny – Grand-St-Bernard tunnel axis
Bern and surroundings (A1/A12/A6 interchange)
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Also: train disruptions
The national rail company SBB is carrying out major maintenance work on the Fribourg-Bern line — one of the most important routes in Switzerland as it connects German and French-speaking parts of the country.
This railway line will be closed from June 27th to August 25th, 2025. A replacement service will be put in place for customers, including buses every 10 minutes to replace long-distance traffic.
During the total interruption from June 27th at 10:30 pm to August 25th, 2025 at 4:00 am, the timetable changes are as follows:
- The IC1 (Geneva Airport–St. Gallen) and the IR15 (Geneva Airport–Lucerne) are cancelled between Fribourg/Freiburg and Bern;
- The RE2 is cancelled between Fribourg/Freiburg and Bern;
- The RE3 is cancelled between Fribourg/Freiburg and Düdingen;
- The S1 is cancelled between Fribourg/Freiburg and Bern. From Bern, it operates to Belp with the same stopping policy as the S31;
- The S2 is cancelled between Laupen and Bern Europaplatz.
More information about disruptions and replacements on this line can be found here.
