With the kids now on holiday and parliament on recess for the summer, you may expect things to slow down in Switzerland. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of things to keep in mind. From disruption to medicine and festivals, here are 10 important events and changes you need to know about for July 2024:

1. Cost of medicines in Switzerland to rise

While people in Switzerland already pay above and beyond for medication, from July 1 many common medicines will become even more expensive. This is thanks to a new pricing model due to be implemented by the Federal Office of Public Health, which will apply to all medicines with a factory price equal to or less than 15 francs.

While the new price model is designed to reduce the cost of medicines overall by cutting government incentives to issue medication, the body representing generic drug manufacturers, Intergenerika, estimated that additional costs worth 3 million francs will be passed onto patients.

In general, while the most expensive drugs in Switzerland are expected to become cheaper thanks to the new model, around half of cheaper medications will cost more.

2. Severe traffic expected in Swiss Alps following landslides

Travellers heading through the Swiss mountains this July should be prepared for disruption after a landslide swept away a 200-metre section of the A13 motorway in late June. The motorway, the gateway to the San Bernardino Pass, is one of the two most popular ways to get between Swiss cities (and by extension northern Europe), Ticino and Italy.

As a result, motorists should expect heavy traffic on diversionary routes, especially the Gotthard Road Tunnel. If all goes well, the Federal Roads Office expects at least one lane of the A13 in each direction to be open by July 10.

3. International train travel to be disrupted

At the same time, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has warned of disruption to international public transport routes to and from the alpine nation. In a statement, they noted that while authorities in Switzerland will carry out rail maintenance work at night to avoid disruption, other nations “have decided to completely close train lines for the duration of the works.”

This disruption began with the closing of the line between Domodossola and Milan in June, which has forced Geneva-Milan and Lausanne-Milan passengers to use replacement buses until August 8. From July 15 to December 14, the direct service between Basel and Hamburg will be restricted due to construction work in Germany. 

In August, this will also extend to Zurich-Stuttgart (August 3 to September 6), Buchs-Feldkirch (August 10 to September 9), Zurich-Paris and Lausanne-Paris services (August 13 to December 14).

4. Switzerland to change the legal definition of sexual assault

On July 1, a new law will come into force in Switzerland that will introduce new definitions of rape and sexual violence, codifying what is known as “No is no.” The new legislation will expand the current law, which has been criticised for its narrow and exclusionary definition of rape. Under current rules, for instance, a victim must show resistance and penetration has to have occurred for Swiss police to deem the incident sexual violence.

Under the new rules, two adults have to agree in words or clearly demonstrate consent if they wish to engage in sexual activity. If the criteria are not fulfilled, it will now be considered as being against a person’s wishes and therefore constitute an offence. Penetration will also no longer be a prerequisite for the incident to be considered sexual assault.

5. SBB to change announcements concerning suicides

Also on July 1, SBB will be modifying its train announcements. Currently, if the train is delayed following a suicide, the announcement of the delay cites a “personal accident” as the reason. 

SBB said they were concerned that everyone now knows that this is code for suicide, which many upset commuters. According to their data, around 112 people throw themselves in front of Swiss trains every year.

From now on, the SBB announcement will simply say the train is delayed due to an “event linked to an external cause”. This announcement will cover all manner of disruptions to the network.

6. Swiss milk prices to increase

In a bid to boost the incomes of dairy farmers, the basic rate for milk in Switzerland will be increased from July. The cost of all forms of cow’s milk on the shelves of Swiss supermarkets should rise by three rappen (cents) a litre - the cost of cheese should remain unchanged.

However, in a statement dairy producer association IP Lait said that most farmers had demanded a four-rappen increase, amid what they described as a “tense economic situation” for farms.

7. Updated requirements for new vehicles in Switzerland

Anyone buying a new car in Switzerland will soon notice that several safety and assistance systems will now come as standard. In a statement, the Federal Roads Office confirmed that 15 safety systems will become mandatory for new cars from July 7, bringing Switzerland into line with laws in the European Union.

These features include emergency braking assistance, forward vehicle monitors and warning signals for when the driver is reversing. However, these systems do not have to be retroactively installed on older vehicles.

8. Swisscom to automatically upgrade users to new, expensive deal

Switzerland’s largest telecom provider, Swisscom is set to adapt one of its main subscription plans, making it better but more expensive. From July 24, users with an inOne home light subscription will be automatically switched over to a new “Basic Home” subscription.

While the new package will offer five times the internet speed as inOne, it will also be 9,90 francs a month more.

9. Summer holidays in Switzerland

The weather in Switzerland may not have been hot and sunny much at all in recent weeks, but that won’t stop Swiss schools from breaking up for their summer holidays. By the beginning of July, schools in most cantons will be on their longest holiday of the year. 

According to the latest report from Hellosafe, the Swiss are ready to splash the cash on holidays abroad this summer. However, if you prefer to stay at home and enjoy the summer months in the alpine nation, there are plenty of fun things to do in Switzerland, from adrenaline-fuelled adventures to grand days out.

10. Taylor Swift comes to Switzerland (and other events)

Attention Swifties - though you probably already know - Taylor Swift will be performing her first concerts in Switzerland on July 9 and 10! The country-darling-turned-pop megastar will be gracing the stage at Stadion Letzigrund in Zurich, delighting the up to 100.000 fans set to attend the two concerts.

Elsewhere, July will bring with it several other top events and festivals. These include the Montreux Jazz Festival, Openair Frauenfeld, Zurich Openair, Moon and Stars, Gurtenfestival and Paléo among many others. Whatever your music taste, they’ll be a concert for you!