General Information » Facts & Figures » Social & Business Hours

The Swiss are a hard working nation and the working week is officially 42 hours. A referendum was held a few years ago to reduce it to 40 hours but the Swiss voted against it! People rise early and start work between 07:30 and 09:00. Lunch hours are typically between 12:00 midday and 13:30. Dinner is usually eaten quite early in the evening and there are not many restaurants where you can get a meal after 22:00.

Sunday is a day of absolute rest and all noisy activities are forbidden including drilling, hammering and cutting grass. Between 22:00 and 07:00 daily, no noisy activity is allowed, including running baths and flushing toilets in apartment buildings!

Government offices are open from 07:30 to 16:00 while in the private sector office hours are usually between 08:00 and 18:00. Small businesses may close between 12:00 and 14:00 for lunch.

Shops open around 08:30 and close around 19:00, except on Thursday when most shops remain open until 21:00. On Saturday shops close at 18:00. The only shops open on Sunday are some newsagents, bakeries and a few petrol station shops. However there is a shopping centre at the airport railway station that is open seven days a week from 08:00 until 20:00, which has a supermarket selling fresh produce. A mini market and pharmacy at Cornavin railway station are open seven days a week.

Bank timings are usually from 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday. They are closed Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

Post offices are open from 07:30 to 12:00 and from 13:00 (or 14:00 in some cases) to 18:00, Monday to Friday; and 08:00 to 11:00 on Saturdays. The post office in Montbrillant (Rue des Gares, 16) is open seven days a week (Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 22:45, Saturday from 07:30 to 20:00 and Sunday from 12:00 to 20:00).

Opening times of embassies and consulates vary so it is best to call them directly.