Safest cities in Switzerland
7 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in SwitzerlandTerrorist attacks in Switzerland cannot be ruled out.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsTake sensible precautions to avoid mugging, bag-snatching and pickpocketing. Be particularly alert at airports, railway stations and in crowded areas. Do not leave your valuables unattended.
Laws and cultural differences
- Illegal drugsIllegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties. You should expect a long jail sentence and heavy fines for possessing, using or smuggling illegal drugs, including when transiting through the airport.
- Face-covering banIn Ticino and St Gallen, it’s illegal to cover your face in public, including for tourists. Do not wear balaclavas, full veils or any other garment or mask that hides your face. You could get a fine of 100 to 10,000 Swiss francs if you do not comply.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Hiking, mountaineering and extreme sportsAdventure sports can be risky. British nationals in the Swiss Alps have been involved in accidents and have been hospitalised or died.
- Skiing and winter sportsRead FCDO advice about preparing for winter sports abroad. See the guidance on avalanches in ‘Extreme weather’.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Switzerland, see information on driving abroad and read the rules of the road in the RAC’s Switzerland guide. The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of.
- TollsYou must buy and display a vignette (sticker) to travel on Swiss motorways. You can buy one at most border crossings, petrol stations, post offices, by phone (+800 1002 0030) or buy a vignette online. If you do not have a vignette, you could get a large fine.
- Road conditionsRoads outside urban areas are narrow and winding. Road conditions can deteriorate fast, even in summer, especially during heavy rainfall and snowfall at higher altitudes. Reduce your speed significantly to suit the conditions.
- AccessibilityThe official Switzerland Tourism website has useful information for travellers in wheelchairs or with impaired mobility who are travelling in Switzerland.
Extreme weather and natural hazards
- Alpine conditionsCheck weather forecasts and conditions and make sure you’re properly equipped for the worst-case scenario. Always carry a map, compass, GPS and fully charged mobile when travelling outside urban areas. Do not undertake any activity alone and consider hiring a guide for expert advice. Always leave copies of your itinerary with someone.
- AvalanchesAvalanches are a risk, particularly during heavy snow. Off-piste skiing is very dangerous due to the risk of avalanches. Follow safety instructions and warnings. Consider carrying search equipment. Avalanche beepers (receivers) are the most common rescue devices and when properly used, are the fastest way of locating an avalanche victim.
- WildfiresThere is a heightened risk of wildfires in summer, especially after a period of drought.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Switzerland, updated 2026-08-11 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 0.5 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 33.82022
- Human development
- HDI 0.9702023
- Income
- $101,690/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 2.2 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 83/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 87/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 80/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 1.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.88GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 8.3 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 97%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 4.5 doctors /1k4.4 hospital beds per 1,000
Natural hazards
- Flood
- 5.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Earthquake
- 4.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Switzerland (as of 2025).
How Switzerland compares
| Measure | Switzerland | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 0.5 /100k | 2.4 /100k | −1.9 /100k — better for Switzerland |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 33.8 | 35.2 | −1.4 — better for Switzerland |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.970 | 0.763 | +0.207 — better for Switzerland |
| Road deaths | 2.2 /100k | 15.4 /100k | −13.2 /100k — better for Switzerland |
| Rule of law | 87/100 | 52/100 | +35/100 — better for Switzerland |
| Corruption perceptions | 80/100 | 39/100 | +41/100 — better for Switzerland |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 8.3 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | −11.4 µg/m³ — better for Switzerland |
| Natural-hazard risk | 1.9/10 | 3.8/10 | −1.9/10 — better for Switzerland |
| Measure | Switzerland | Europe median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 0.5 /100k | 1.0 /100k | −0.5 /100k — better for Switzerland |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 33.8 | 30.6 | +3.2 — better for Europe median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.970 | 0.907 | +0.063 — better for Switzerland |
| Road deaths | 2.2 /100k | 5.8 /100k | −3.6 /100k — better for Switzerland |
| Rule of law | 87/100 | 73/100 | +14/100 — better for Switzerland |
| Corruption perceptions | 80/100 | 56/100 | +25/100 — better for Switzerland |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 8.3 µg/m³ | 11.8 µg/m³ | −3.5 µg/m³ — better for Switzerland |
| Natural-hazard risk | 1.9/10 | 2.5/10 | −0.6/10 — better for Switzerland |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.