Though the year may soon be coming to an end, there are still a large number of important changes coming to Switzerland this December. Before you clock off and indulge in all the festive season has to offer, here are 12 things that you need to know about the last month of 2024:

1. New train timetable for Switzerland for 2025

From December 15, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) will officially move to its train timetable for 2025. With the Gotthard Base Tunnel now fully back up and running, the company can now restore and build on public transport services between Ticino and German-speaking Switzerland. The start of the company's new large-scale night train network will also take to the tracks.

The biggest changes, however, will come in French-speaking Switzerland, with SBB promising the most radical schedule change seen since the turn of the century. Those in the Romandie will benefit from 15 percent more rail services from mid-December.

For a full rundown of the most important changes, check out our guide to the SBB timetable for 2025.

2. Winter session of Swiss parliament gets underway

With Switzerland’s November round of referendums now far in the rear-view mirror, parliament will soon convene for its winter session. From December 2 to 20, both the National Council and Council of States will meet to discuss the most pressing issues facing the country.

Among some of the most prominent topics during the session will be the ongoing debate around austerity measures proposed by the Federal Council, ongoing attempts to reform imputed rental value tax in Swiss housing and giving greater support to families by granting a subsidy for childcare services.

3. Karin Keller-Sutter to be elected President of Switzerland

Also during the proceedings, a joint session of parliament will elect the President of Switzerland for 2025, following the conclusion of the term of Viola Amherd (Centre). Under the current system, the Federal Councillor who has served on the council for the longest without being President is almost always chosen, making the vote itself largely ceremonial. 

For 2025, the President of Switzerland will be Karin Keller-Sutter, Finance Minister from Canton St. Gallen. It will be the first time that the FDP Federal Councillor and Financial Times' influential woman of 2023 has assumed the office. The Vice President for 2025 will be SVP Federal Councillor and Economic Affairs Minister from Vaud, Guy Parmelin.

4. Cost of medicines in Switzerland to be cut

From the beginning of December, the Federal Office of Public Health will reduce the price of around 300 different medicines. Around 55 percent of original brand medicines and 70 percent of generic drugs will become cheaper.

While it will vary, the price of the drugs will drop by an average of 12 percent.

5. SBB to upgrade Half Fare Plus

Following the runaway success of Half Fare Plus in its first year of operation, SBB has confirmed that the subscription will be upgraded in December 2024. The system, which in short allows passengers to get discounted public transport tickets by paying a deposit upfront, has been used 170.000 times since it was launched last year. 

However, there have been several teething problems around topping up the subscription, which in some cases saw users buy or take pointless journeys to achieve the threshold needed to add more money to their pass. Likely from SBB’s timetable change on December 15, these issues will be resolved.

6. Full public transport services restored in Zurich

Sticking with public transport, bus and tram services in Canton Zurich are set to return to normal from mid-December. Due to staff shortages and a rise in sick leave, in December 2023 the Zurich Transport Authority (ZVV) limited the frequency of many tram and bus services in the evenings.

From December 15, all of these changes will be reversed, meaning most buses will run every 10 minutes until 10.30pm every weeknight, two hours longer than previously. Tram line 15 will also begin to run at 7,5-minute intervals again, lengthening to 10 minutes by 10.30pm.

7. Swiss national broadcaster ends FM radio coverage

By the end of December, Switzerland’s national broadcasters will complete a decade-long transition in bidding a fond farewell to FM wave radio. Writing in a statement, SRG SSR noted that the number of people listening in on FM is now less than 10 percent of audiences, the infrastructure needed to maintain the system is expensive and the Swiss government has permitted them to stop offering coverage since 2020.

From the end of December, SRG SSR shows and radio stations will only be accessible via DAB+ or IP (internet). The Swiss government is set to pull the plug on FM entirely by the end of 2026.

8. Steepest cable car set to open in Switzerland

On December 16, a new record-breaker will be making its home in Switzerland, with the opening of the steepest cable car on Earth. The Schilthornbahn 20XX, connecting Stechelberg with the Schilthorn in Canton Bern, ascends 775 metres in just four minutes, achieving a gradient of 160 percent.

Don’t think that the steepest cable car is a thrill ride though. Travelling at 25 kilometres an hour, the car gradually takes passengers up the cliff, offering stunning views of the Swiss Alps along the way.

9. Higher prices on the Furka car train

Drivers hoping to use the car train between Valais and Uri take note: from December 1, 2024, new prices will apply on the Furka car train between Realp and Oberwald. The 20-minute ride cuts 45 minutes off journey times between the two alpine regions, allowing motorists to avoid driving the Furka Pass, the road famously used in the James Bond film Goldfinger.

The cost for cars and those with trailers weighing less than 0,75 tonnes will be 33 francs per journey. Motorcyclists will see prices rise from 20 to 33 francs, while larger vehicles will have to pay 230 instead of 200 francs. In future, the prices charged in the winter will also apply in the summer. 

10. Swiss schools close for winter break

For the final time in 2024, classes across Switzerland will break up for the school holidays. Though each canton begins their holidays at different times - to avoid meltdowns on motorways and at airports - every child should be off school by late December, just in time for Christmas.

11. Christmas (and other holidays) in Switzerland

Get out your tree, prime your Caquelon and bake yourself some biscuits, because Christmas is finally here! Luckily, people in Switzerland don’t have to wait long for festive celebrations to start, as most Christmas markets are already in full swing.

On the night of December 5, Samichlaus will make his first appearance in Switzerland in the lead-up to St. Nicolas Day. Santa, and his sidekick Schmutzli will visit markets and schools across the alpine nation, offering kids Christmas treats and other goodies.

On December 8, people in Switzerland will commemorate Immaculate Conception. Typically, workers in Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Ticino, Uri, Valais, Zug and parts of Solothurn, Aargau and Graubünden are given a day off.

Sadly, with December 8 falling on a Sunday in 2024, and Swiss public holidays not carrying over if they fall on a weekend, people in these areas will have to wait until next year to get the day off.

Finally, every year, families across Switzerland will come together to celebrate, open presents and share in festive cheer on Christmas Eve, Day and Boxing Day. While Christmas Eve is not a holiday, Christmas Day is a day off nationwide. Boxing or Saint Stephan’s Day is a public holiday in German-speaking areas.

12. Switzerland bids farewell to 2024

Finally, at midnight on December 31, Switzerland will bid farewell to 2024 on New Year’s Eve. Whether you are popping champagne and singing Auld Lang Syne into the early hours or wrapping up cosy at home waiting for normality to resume, we wish you an auspicious December and a happy new year.