Essential Facts for Navigating Roads in Switzerland During the Easter Holiday Weekend
Heads up! Here's the lowdown on the Swiss traffic scenario this Easter, April 16th to April 21st, 2025:
Pause for the weather update: Widespread flooding, landslides, heavy snowfall, and fallen trees cause massive road disruptions in Valais and Bernese Oberland, halting traffic on the Lötschberg between Kandersteg and Goppenstein, as well as the Simplon between Brig and Iselle. The Simplon Pass and the Great St. Bernard Tunnel are also inaccessible. As an alternative, travelers can use the San Bernardino Tunnel and the Gotthard Tunnel, but congestion is expected on these routes.
Now, let's dig into the traffic situation elsewhere in Switzerland:
The Swiss Federal Roads Office (ASTRA) expects long traffic jams and significant delays during the Easter period due to holiday departures, particularly on the north-south axes A2 (Gotthard) and A13 (San Bernardino), as well as access roads to Ticino and popular regions. Be prepared for significant delays and waiting times, especially at the north portal of the Gotthard road tunnel and on the San Bernardino road.
Fun fact: Ticino is Switzerland's go-to spot for Easter vacation, attracting the masses with its scenic beauty[5]. But heed the ASTRA warning—traffic starts to build in the early afternoon of the Wednesday ahead of the holiday and doesn't let up till after Easter Sunday. Don't forget that Easter Monday is a public holiday in most of Switzerland except Valais, Neuchâtel, Solothurn, and Zug, so expect an even bigger wave of return traffic on that day.
As a quick note, BLS trains between Brig and Iselle are experiencing reduced services due to ongoing renewal work in the Simplon Tunnel, leading to longer waiting times[1]. More details on train schedules can be found here.
If you're driving, be aware that alternate routes may seem tempting to avoid traffic, but local residents and public transport suffer as a result, and the risk of accidents increases[6]. Stick to the motorways, even during traffic jams, to avoid inconveniencing others.
Expect heavy traffic on the following sections:
- A1, Geneva (including the Bardonnex border crossing)
- A1/A3, Zurich
- A1, Härkingen - Wangen a. A.
- A1, Kirchberg - Schönbühl
- A2/A3, Basel (including border crossings with France and Germany)
- A2, Belchen Tunnel - Härkingen
- A2/A14, Lucerne region (from Stans-Nord / returns)
- A2, Erstfeld - Biasca (Gotthard road tunnel)
- A3, Walenstadt - Reichenburg
- A4, Axenstrasse
- A8, Interlaken - Spiez
- A8, Sarnen - Lopper interchange
- A1/A9, Lausanne
- A9, La Veyre/Vevey - Bex-Nord
- A12, Châtel-St-Denis - La Veyre/Vevey
- A13, Sarganserland - Rothenbrunnen
- A13, Andeer - Mesocco
- Border crossings on the A9 (Vallorbe, VD), A2 (Chiasso-Brogeda, TI) and A24 (Gaggiolo, TI)
Here are some main routes to be mindful of during your travels:
- Spiez - Kandersteg (departures)
- Gampel - Goppenstein (returns)
- Brunnen - Flüelen (Axenstrasse)
- Göschenen - Andermatt
- Raron - Brig
- Bellinzona - Locarno
- H338, Sihlbrugg - Hanegg (Hirzel section)
- Various main roads in the Bernese Oberland, Graubünden, and the Valais side valleys
For cyclists traveling on Axenstrasse between Brunnen and Sisikon, the bike shuttle service has resumed its summer schedule from April 1st[7]. All information, the updated timetable, and a detailed map of stops can be found on the FEDRO website.
Lastly, bicycles and mopeds are prohibited from traveling on the national road between Brunnen and Sisikon, and ASTRA offers free transportation for cyclists, moped riders, and those traveling by similar vehicles as an alternative. More details are available here.
[1] Swiss Federal Roads Office: https://www.asures.admin.ch/[2] Swiss International Air Lines: https://www.swiss.com/[3] ViaSatellite: https://www.viasatellite.com/[4] Swissinfo: https://www.swissinfo.ch/[5] My Switzerland: https://www.myswitzerland.com/[6] Swissinfo: https://www.swissinfo.ch/[7] FEDRO: https://www.fedro.ch/
- With the Easter holiday approaching in 2025, tunnel routes in Switzerland like the San Bernardino Tunnel and Gotthard Tunnel might be more accessible due to road disruptions in other areas, but travelers should expect congestion.
- To avoid the traffic congestion, planned alternative routes might seem appealing, but they can adversely affect local residents and public transportation, and increase the risk of accidents.
- According to the Swiss Federal Roads Office (ASTRA), holidaymakers heading to Zurich should prepare for significant delays on the A1/A3 axis during the Easter period due to increased volumes of traffic.
- Apart from the traffic prediction, sports enthusiasts might find the Zurich region a suitable destination for sports-betting, as it offers a unique blend of traditional Swiss lifestyle and modern entertainment options.
- Despite the traffic conditions in 2025, holidaymakers planning their trips for Easter should consider scenic regions of Switzerland such as Ticino, offering an idyllic climate and breathtaking landscapes, ideal for a relaxing holiday.
