As Pentecost Monday on June 9th is a public holiday in most Swiss cantons, businesses there will be closed — with a few exceptions.
The only cantons that don’t celebrate Whit Monday (and where it is a regular work day) are Neuchâtel, Solothurn, Valais, and Zug.
Everywhere else, expect closures.
Here’s what you need to know:
As on all public holidays in Switzerland, supermarkets and other retailers will close, though shops at airports and major train stations will remain open, as will small convenience stores at petrol stations, like Coop Pronto and Migrolino.
And you should have no problem finding a place to sip a cuppa because many coffee shops / tea rooms will open their doors.
As for restaurants, while some will close, many others will remain open.
Will public transport operate as normal?
Trains, as well as buses and trams, will run on a Sunday schedule, which you can check on the SBB app or website.
This means they will not operate quite as frequently as on workdays, but still regularly.
What about medical services?
Pharmacies will be closed, but ‘duty’ ones will open, even if on a limited schedule. You can find out which ones are open in your area, and their hours of operation, by calling the general information number, 1811.
As far as health emergencies are concerned, while your doctor’s office will be closed, hospitals and emergency rooms will operate as normal.
If you need urgent medical help call 144.
(The same holds true for police and fire services, which can be reached 24/7 on numbers 117 and 118, respectively.)
Remember though, that, as on any other day of the year, you should only resort to an ambulance service if your condition really warrants it:
READ ALSO: What are Switzerland’s guidelines for health emergencies?
For non-emergency (that is, not life-threatening situations), call your canton’s medical referral service to find out who the duty physician or dentist is in your area.
This service will also tell you (if you are not sure) whether you should be consulting a ‘regular’ doctor or go straight to the emergency room.
Their numbers vary by cantons; it is 0800 33 66 55 in Zurich, 022 748 49 50 in Geneva, 061 261 15 15 in Basel, and 0848 133 133 in Vaud.
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Why not all cantons celebrate the Pentecost?
Chalk it up to the Swiss system of federalism.
This means that the 26 cantons are free to set not only their own policies but also their own public holidays — with the exception of The National Day on August 1st, which is a holiday on the federal level.
According to the Association of Swiss Federalism (ASF), “Good Friday, Easter Monday, and Boxing Day [December 26th] are also celebrated in most parts of the country. All other public holidays are restricted to certain cantons or only to certain districts and communes within individual cantons.”
And also this: “as a basic rule, it can be said that there are a few more public holidays in the Catholic cantons than in the Reformed cantons.”
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Which canton have the most public holidays?
Again according ASF, the winner is…Ticino!
It has a total of 15 public holidays, followed by Appenzell Ausserrhoden and Graubünden (8), both in the second place.
