If you plan on driving in Switzerland - no matter whether you’re learning to drive for the first time, need to take an exam to exchange your driving licence, or want to brush up on your knowledge before coming to the alpine nation for a visit - it’s a good idea to get to grips with the different Swiss road signs and their meanings.
There are more than 300 different road signs and road markings in Switzerland, including warning signs, speed limit signs, parking signs and information signs. This page contains an overview of all the most important Swiss road signs.
Switzerland has a uniform and comprehensive system of traffic signs, with standardised shapes and colours and easy-to-understand pictograms and symbols.
Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, since 1968 - when Switzerland signed the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals - its road signs have largely followed European conventions in terms of shapes and colours.
Swiss road signs are laid out in the Road Signs Act, which assigns each type of sign a unique number. The Road Signs Act is regularly updated to keep pace with changes in transportation and traffic. Officially, signs in Switzerland are divided into four main categories:
For ease of understanding, in some places this page has grouped the signs slightly differently.
Traffic signs in Switzerland use standard symbols to indicate the type (or class) of vehicle being referred to by the sign. Here is an overview of these vehicle class symbols:
| Light motor vehicles | Heavy motor vehicles | Large goods vehicles (heavier than 3,5t) | Lorries with trailers |
| Articulated lorries | Buses | Trailers | Caravans |
| Motor homes | Motorbikes | Mopeds | Bicycles |
| Mountain bikes | Bicycles (being pushed) | Pedestrians | Trams |
| Tractors | Tanks | Snow groomers | Cross-country skiing |
| Skiing | Sledging | Airplanes or airfield | Car transfer on train |
| Car transfer on ferry | Charging station | Vehicles with an automation system |
Warning signs give advance warning of hazards on or near the road. In Switzerland, as in other European countries, warning signs are equilateral triangles with a thick red border and a white background. A black pictogram shows the danger.
In built-up areas, warning signs are usually displayed right before the hazard. If they are placed more than 50 metres away, an additional sign shows the distance to the hazard. In rural areas, the warning sign should be at least 150 to 200 metres away from the hazard.
| Curve Can be left or right |
Double curve Can be left or right |
Slippery road |
| Uneven road surface | Road narrows both sides | Road narrows to the left |
| Road narrows to the right | Steep gradient downwards Degree of descent is shown |
Steep gradient upwards Degree of ascent is shown |
| Loose chippings | Falling rocks Watch out for rocks on the road |
Road works There may be workers, machinery or dirt on the road |
| Level crossing with a barrier | Level crossing without a barrier | Tramway Trams may be on the road |
| Pedestrian crossing | Watch for children Schools and playgrounds in the area |
Wild animals crossing Be prepared to stop suddenly |
| Animals on road | Two-way traffic Oncoming traffic may be unexpected, for instance if exiting a one-way street |
Traffic signals ahead |
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Congestion hazard |
General danger Typically used with a supplementary sign to specify the danger |
Cyclists |
Speed limit signs in Switzerland show the maximum or minimum speed limit in kilometres per hour (km/h). The maximum speed limit sign - a number on a white background inside a red circle - will be familiar to most road users, but you may not have encountered a minimum speed limit sign before.
| Maximum speed limit Do not exceed the stated speed limit (km/h) |
General speed limit | Speed limit zone Posted at the entrances to areas where the speed limit applies on all roads until you pass an “End of speed limit zone” sign |
Minimum speed limit You must drive at this speed or faster, unless the weather, road or traffic conditions make it necessary to drive slower |
| End of maximum speed limit | End of general speed limit | End of speed limit zone | End of minimum speed limit |
| Maximum speed limit by lane The displayed speed limit only applies to the indicated lane(s) |
Speed limit information sign Maximum speed limits for urban areas, rural areas, expressways and motorways |
Regulatory signs give mandatory orders - things that you should or should not do. They are orders rather than suggestions and must be followed. Regulatory signs in Switzerland are usually round and are either red or blue depending on whether the order is prescriptive or prohibitive:
Both types of regulatory signs apply from the point where the sign is located until the end of the next junction, or until you see the corresponding end signal sign.
These road signs tell you things you shouldn’t do:
| No overtaking | No overtaking for vehicles over 3,5t | End of overtaking ban | End of overtaking ban for vehicles over 3,5t |
| Road closed All vehicles are prohibited; a supplemental sign may indicate exceptions |
No entry | Motor vehicles prohibited | Motorcycles prohibited |
| Bicycles and mopeds prohibited | Mopeds prohibited | Heavy goods vehicles (more than 3,5t) prohibited | Buses prohibited |
| Trailers prohibited | Trailers prohibited (except semi-trailers and central axle trailers) | Vehicles carrying hazardous cargo prohibited | Vehicles carrying water polluting cargo prohibited |
| Animals prohibited | Motor vehicles and motorcycles prohibited | Motor vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds prohibited | Pedestrians prohibited |
| Skiing prohibited | Sledging prohibited | Vehicle-like devices (rollerblades, skateboards, scooters etc.) prohibited | Weight limit No vehicles over maximum weight shown |
| Axle weight limit No vehicles over maximum weight on axle shown |
Horizontal clearance No vehicles over maximum width shown |
Vertical clearance No vehicles over maximum height shown |
Length restriction No vehicle or combination of vehicles over length shown |
| Minimum following distance Vehicles over 3,5t must maintain the indicated minimum following distance |
No right turn | No left turn | No U-turns |
| Customs stop You must stop |
Police stop You must stop |
End of all restrictions |
These signs tell you things you must do:
| Turn right All traffic must turn |
Turn left All traffic must turn |
Pass by on right All traffic must pass by obstacle |
Pass by on left All traffic must pass by obstacle |
| Ahead only All traffic must continue straight ahead |
Turn right ahead All traffic must turn |
Turn left ahead All traffic must turn |
Turn left or right All traffic must turn left or right |
| Ahead or turn right only All traffic must continue straight ahead or turn |
Ahead or turn left only All traffic must continue straight ahead or turn |
Roundabout All traffic must turn counter-clockwise around central island |
Vehicles with hazardous cargo must turn |
| Snow chains required | End of snow chain requirement | Bicycle path Bicycles and mopeds only; cyclists must use this lane instead of the road |
End of bicycle path |
| Footpath | Bridleway | Pedestrian & bicycle path Divided path; pedestrians and cyclists must keep to their designated sides |
Pedestrian & bicycle path Shared path; both pedestrians and cyclists can use the entire pathway; cyclists do not have right of way, but pedestrians must allow them to pass |
| Bus lane | Pedestrian zone Marks the entrance to an area reserved for pedestrians, and applies to all streets until you pass an “End of pedestrian zone” sign |
End of pedestrian zone | |
| Traffic calming zone Traffic calming rules apply to all streets until you pass an “End of traffic calming zone” sign |
End of traffic calming zone |
Priority signs indicate who has right of way (priority) at a junction. If you come from a country where you drive on the left, the right of way in Switzerland will be the opposite of what you are used to. For instance, at roundabouts you yield to traffic from the left.
| Stop You must come to a complete stop and give way to traffic on the intersecting road |
Yield You must give way to traffic on the intersecting road |
Priority road You have right of way at all intersections on this road until cancelled by a “Yield”, “Stop” or “End of priority road” sign |
End of priority road You must yield at subsequent intersections |
| Priority You have right of way at the next intersection only |
Crossroad Traffic coming from the right has priority |
Priority over oncoming traffic You have right of way over oncoming traffic along the one-lane road ahead |
Yield to oncoming traffic You must give way to oncoming traffic along the one-lane road ahead |
| Level crossing with a double flashing light | Level crossing with a single flashing light | Level crossing location | Level crossing location |
Here are signs you might see in Switzerland related to parking - including both prohibitive and prescriptive signs.
These signs show where parking is not allowed.
| No stopping You may not stop or stand on the same side of the roadway where this sign is displayed |
No parking You may not leave your vehicle on the same side of the roadway where this sign is displayed |
Parking restriction zone Indicates the entrance to a zone where parking is restricted on all streets between the hours indicated until you pass an “End of parking restriction zone” sign |
End of parking restriction zone |
| Indicates exceptions to parking prohibition |
These parking signs demonstrate where you are allowed to park:
| Parking area Parking is permitted in this area |
Parking management zone You are entering a neighbourhood where parking is for permit holders only; this applies until you pass an “End of parking management zone” sign |
End of parking management zone | Restricted parking You may use a parking disc to park here |
| Paid parking You must pay for your parking at the meter |
Parking garage | Distance and direction to parking area | Distance and direction to parking area for certain types of vehicles |
| Park and ride | Indoor park and ride | Park and ride with access to train (may also be a tram or bus) | Indicates exception to parking prohibition |
Information signs are some of the most commonly-used road signs in Switzerland and provide road users with information about the road they are using and the road ahead. They use the same standardised colour system:
These are signs you are most likely to see on the motorway in Switzerland:
| European route number | Motorway or expressway number | Exit number | Junction number |
| Motorway | End of motorway | Expressway | End of expressway |
| Signpost to destination via motorway or expressway route | Signpost indicating routes on main road, motorway/expressway and minor route | Signpost for diversions | Signpost for diversions without destination information |
| First announcement of next exit | Second announcement of next exit | Start of exit | Exit sign (German) |
| Junction board | Distance board | Announcement of junction | First information about junction ahead |
| Second information about junction ahead | Routing information above lane | Electric indicators above lanes showing blocked lane, open lane, and change lane symbols | Direction to next emergency phone |
| Distance to police station (German) | Kilometre sign | Lane routing information | Use of hard shoulder permitted |
| Tunnel | Tunnel ahead with distance to tunnel entrance | Emergency exit | Distance and direction to emergency exit |
You’ll see signs like these on main and minor roads in Switzerland:
| Main road number | Entry to town/village on main road | End of town/village on main road | Entry to town/village on minor road |
| End of town/village on minor road | Signpost to destination via main road | Signpost to destination via minor road | Junction announcement on main road, or minor road connecting main roads |
| Junction announcement on minor road | Junction announcement on main road with two lanes | Junction announcement on minor road with two lanes | Lane information on main road |
| Lane information on minor road | Detour announcement | Roundabout announcement on main road | Announcement of a branching road with a hazard or restriction |
| Junction announcement on main road with restriction for one route | Passing place | Refuge area for broken down vehicles | Escape lane |
| Mountain postal road | End of mountain postal road | Information about road conditions on passes and at ski resorts | Advance information about road conditions and requirements |
You’re likely to find these kinds of road signs in inner-city or urban areas in Switzerland:
| One-way street | One-way street with oncoming bicycle traffic | No through road | No through road with exceptions |
| Water protection area | Pedestrian crossing | Pedestrian underpass | Pedestrian overpass |
| Hospital | Routing information |
Signs with white lettering on a red background give information about cycle routes:
| Recommended route for cyclists | Recommended route for mountain bikes | Recommended route for vehicle-like transport means such as rollerblades, scooters, skateboards, etc. | Signpost indicating cycle route directions |
| Signpost indicating directions for different types of transport | Signpost indicating direction for particular cycle route | Direction marker for cycle route | Direction marker for mountain bike route |
| Direction/turn marker for particular type of transport | End of cycle/mountain bike/vehicle-like transport route |
Service signs give directions to services and facilities on or near the road, and are primarily used along motorways and expressways. Service signs are a recognisable black symbol in a white square on a blue rectangle.
| Campsite | Caravan site | Telephone | First aid |
| Roadside assistance | Petrol station | Hotel | Restaurant |
| Refreshments | Information centre | Youth hostel | Local radio information with frequency for traffic updates |
| Church services | Fire extinguisher | Distance to next petrol station | Emergency phone |
Finally, it is also important to pay attention to road markings in Switzerland, which provide information about actions that are and are not allowed:
| Solid white line (security strip) A solid centre line indicates you may not overtake. The long solid line along the side of the roadway marks the edge of the carriageway. |
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| Double white line (security strip) or broken line (directing strip) A double white line separates driving directions on roads with three or more lanes. Overtaking is not permitted. A broken white line designates either the centre of the carriageway on two-lane roads, or separates lanes. Overtaking is allowed. |
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| Solid white line with broken line Crossing, passing or overtaking is allowed only from the side with the broken line. |
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| Advanced warning strip Announces either a solid white line or a double white line. Overtaking manouevres must be completed before reaching the warning strip. |
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| Arrows Indicates the permitted manoueuvres in each lane for a junction. |
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| Pull arrows Orders the driver to leave the lane in the indicated direction. |
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| Bus lane Indicates a lane exclusive to public transport. A supplementary panel may indicate exceptions. If the line is broken, it can be crossed. |
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| Stop line & text Traffic must come to a complete stop at this line. Stop lines are yellow if directed exclusively at cyclists and motorcyclists. |
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| Give way line Traffic must give way at this line. Give way lines are yellow if directed exclusively at cyclists and motorcyclists. |
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| Border strip The solid border strip designates the edge of the carriageway. |
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| Guide strip The broken guide strip visually guides traffic through a junction. |
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| Pedestrian crossing & prohibition of stopping strip Stopping voluntarily on the yellow line is prohibited. |
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| Pedestrian area Area marked by bias stripes is for use by pedestrians only. |
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| Restricted area Shaded area cannot be crossed or traversed by traffic. |
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| Zigzag lines Designates a bus stop area. Parking is prohibited; cars can drop off or pick up passengers, so long as public traffic is not obstructed. |
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| Prohibition of parking No parking on this side of the road |
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| Prohibition of parking Parking is designated for taxis or other road users (indicated by licence plate number) |
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| Prohibition of stopping Voluntary stopping is prohibited |
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| Extended bicycle lane The waiting area in front of white stop line is for cyclists and mopeds to wait in front of motor vehicles at red traffic lights. When the light turns green, motor vehicles must give way to cyclists to allow them to clear the crossing first. |