Indoor places
Smoking is generally prohibited in enclosed public places and workplaces.
+2 Read detailed rulesSMOKING RULES
Smoking rules in Switzerland
What the law says about smoking here, with country and regional detail.
Smoking is generally prohibited in enclosed public places and workplaces. · Smoking allowed on outdoor terraces unless locally restricted. · The indoor public/workplace use ban also applies to heated tobacco and heated herbal products.
Select a region to see additional regional rules.
Frequently asked questions
The detailed legal rules appear below.
Detailed smoking rules and exceptions
Outdoor places
Smoking allowed on outdoor terraces unless locally restricted.
Hotels & hospitality
Smoking rooms (fumoirs) allowed under strict conditions.
Airports & transport
No specific published rule documented for this area.
Tobacco sales
Specialist retailers of vaping and heated-tobacco products may provide designated sampling zones.
+1 Read detailed rulesIndoor places
PROHIBITED
Smoking is generally prohibited in enclosed public places and workplaces.
Smoking is generally prohibited in enclosed public places and shared workplaces under federal law.
Conditions: Gilt auch für E-Zigaretten und erhitzte Tabakprodukte.
Exceptions: Zulässige Ausnahme nur in abgetrennten, belüfteten Fumoirs.
Legal reference: Bundesgesetz zum Schutz vor Passivrauchen (SR 818.31)
PROHIBITED
The indoor public/workplace use ban also applies to heated tobacco and heated herbal products.
The indoor public/workplace use ban also applies to heated tobacco and heated herbal products.
Legal reference: Bundesgesetz/Verordnung zum Schutz vor Passivrauchen
PROHIBITED
The indoor public/workplace use ban also applies to electronic cigarettes.
The indoor public/workplace use ban also applies to electronic cigarettes.
Legal reference: Bundesgesetz/Verordnung zum Schutz vor Passivrauchen
Outdoor places
ALLOWED
Smoking allowed on outdoor terraces unless locally restricted.
Federal law does not prohibit smoking in open outdoor spaces.
Conditions: Sofern keine kantonalen, kommunalen oder Hausordnungs-Verbote vorliegen.
Exceptions: Einzelne Kantone (z. B. Genf) regeln bestimmte öffentlich zugängliche Aussenbereiche strenger.
Legal reference: Bundesgesetz zum Schutz vor Passivrauchen
Hotels & hospitality
CONDITIONAL
Smoking rooms (fumoirs) allowed under strict conditions.
Separate smoking rooms may be permitted if physically enclosed and ventilated.
Conditions: Eigene Belüftung nach aussen, dicht schliessende Türen, max. 1/3 der Gastfläche.
Exceptions: Kantonale Verschärfungen vorbehalten (einige Kantone verbieten bediente Fumoirs komplett).
Legal reference: Verordnung zum Schutz vor Passivrauchen (SR 818.311)
Tobacco sales
CONDITIONAL
Specialist retailers of vaping and heated-tobacco products may provide designated sampling zones.
Specialist retailers of vaping and heated-tobacco products may provide designated sampling zones.
Exceptions: Keine automatische Ausnahme für normale Gastro- oder Tabakgeschäfte.
Legal reference: Bundesgesetz zum Schutz vor Passivrauchen; revidierte Verordnung
CONDITIONAL
Specialist retailers may provide a designated tasting zone for e-cigarettes and heated products. It must be adequately ventilated, located at the edge of the main sales area and occupy no more than one third of the total sales area.
Specialist retailers may provide a designated tasting zone for e-cigarettes and heated products. It must be adequately ventilated, located at the edge of the main sales area and occupy no more than one third of the total sales area.
Conditions: Spezialgeschäft; Kennzeichnung; angemessene Belüftung; Randlage; max. 1/3 der Gesamtverkaufsfläche; Arbeitnehmerzustimmung gemäss PaRV.
Legal reference: PaRV Art. 6a–6c