Food from Germany to Switzerland

[Greenbrendafunbus]

Hello. Is the van likely to be checked travelling from Germany into Switzerland for food?
I understand restrictions on alcohol.
Just wondering about popping to a German supermarket and stocking up....
Many thanks

 

[WelshGas]

Hello. Is the van likely to be checked travelling from Germany into Switzerland for food?
I understand restrictions on alcohol.
Just wondering about popping to a German supermarket and stocking up....
Many thanks

I've never been stopped for any reason on entering Switzerland.

 

[The Tall Luthier]

wE get stopped once a year entering Switzerland as they require us to pay for a vignette to use the motorways.

Aside from that, never!

Schengen means completely free movement of people. Goods lorries are still subject to check though.

 

[Velma's Dad]

wE get stopped once a year entering Switzerland as they require us to pay for a vignette to use the motorways.

That's a good point for the OP's plans to take van into Switzerland.

As well as at the border, the vignette can be bought at fuel stations both within Switz and close to the border in adjacent countries. Costs CHF 40.

 

[two-saabs]

Hello. Is the van likely to be checked travelling from Germany into Switzerland for food?
I understand restrictions on alcohol.
Just wondering about popping to a German supermarket and stocking up....
Many thanks

What sort of amounts are we talking?

There are limits on what you can bring in:

Shopping tourism

When you bring purchases made abroad back to Switzerland, you may need to fill out a customs declaration form. This page will guide you through the steps to clear meat, wine and other goods through customs.

www.ch.ch

You probably have more chance being stopped if you have a Swiss number plate, as many Swiss do their weekly shop at the German border so there are lots of goods with paid and unpaid tax passing in.

We are always squeeky clean and don’t go over the 300 francs limit (per person).

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

What sort of amounts are we talking?

There are limits on what you can bring in:

Shopping tourism

When you bring purchases made abroad back to Switzerland, you may need to fill out a customs declaration form. This page will guide you through the steps to clear meat, wine and other goods through customs.

www.ch.ch

You probably have more chance being stopped if you have a Swiss number plate, as many Swiss do their weekly shop at the German border so there are lots of goods with paid and unpaid tax passing in.

We are always squeeky clean and don’t go over the 300 francs limit (per person).

I have a swiss plate and I have never been stopped at the border. Having the vignette is essential though.

 

[two-saabs]

I have a swiss plate and I have never been stopped at the border. Having the vignette is essential though.

Same here, but then we don’t often go. We have friends that have been stopped and it can get expensive pretty quick.

Do you buy your weekly shopping? Maybe it’s Saturdays more likely? All those peeps doing in the import/export tax forms aren’t doing them for nothing.

 

[California_Ocean]

Never been stopped or checked going into or out of Switzerland (over Italian, Austrian and German borders) and we were fully provisioned - but you do need to buy a vignette which can be bought from any filling station near the Swiss border...

 

[California_Ocean]

... the rules can be found here.

Shopping tourism

When you bring purchases made abroad back to Switzerland, you may need to fill out a customs declaration form. This page will guide you through the steps to clear meat, wine and other goods through customs.

www.ch.ch

 

[California_Ocean]

... the rules can be found here.

Shopping tourism

When you bring purchases made abroad back to Switzerland, you may need to fill out a customs declaration form. This page will guide you through the steps to clear meat, wine and other goods through customs.

www.ch.ch

Doh ... repeat posting. Just keep your shopping below CHF 300 and stick to the duty free rules.

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Same here, but then we don’t often go. We have friends that have been stopped and it can get expensive pretty quick.

Do you buy your weekly shopping? Maybe it’s Saturdays more likely? All those peeps doing in the import/export tax forms aren’t doing them for nothing.

I live in Lucerne so that's too far to go for shopping. But I have relatives in Basel and we drive over the border often when visiting. I most recently returned from the west of France via Basel and had no issues. But I would assume that Saturdays would indeed be the highest risk day for controls.

 

[Calimili]

Doh ... repeat posting. Just keep your shopping below CHF 300 and stick to the duty free rules.

300CHF ?? It will take many trips to bring all the millions to the Swiss bank...

 

[Greenbrendafunbus]

Thanks everyone. We did a quick shop , bought a vignette at the petrol station and everything was fine. And now I realise we are well within the limits. Thanks again. Now sitting in the van in the middle of a crazy Lucerne storm!!!!

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

Thanks everyone. We did a quick shop , bought a vignette at the petrol station and everything was fine. And now I realise we are well within the limits. Thanks again. Now sitting in the van in the middle of a crazy Lucerne storm!!!!

View attachment 97842

Is that TCS Camping in Horw?

 

[Greenbrendafunbus]

Is that TCS Camping in Horw?

We are next door to the Lido. It's called camping luzern lido I think.....

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

We are next door to the Lido. It's called camping luzern lido I think.....

Ahh yes, the "noisy" one. ;-)

 

[Greenbrendafunbus]

I can see that! We are looking forward to not driving for 5 days!!! There is a vast choice of stuff to do here!!!

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

I can see that! We are looking forward to not driving for 5 days!!! There is a vast choice of stuff to do here!!!

If you need any tips let me know! Unfortunately the rain is likely to kick in from Wednesday through the weekend. I live literally right on the other side of the lake from where you are staying.

 

[Greenbrendafunbus]

If you need any tips let me know! Unfortunately the rain is likely to kick in from Wednesday through the weekend. I live literally right on the other side of the lake from where you are staying.

We paid for a golden trip up pilatus. Lol am currently killing time waiting for the railway up the mountain with hundreds of other ppl! I want lovely hikes around 10km in nature with no driving necessary from the campsite. Am more than happy to get bus or train or boat! Saw this beauty today!

 

[Webbah_in_Switzerland]

We paid for a golden trip up pilatus. Lol am currently killing time waiting for the railway up the mountain with hundreds of other ppl! I want lovely hikes around 10km in nature with no driving necessary from the campsite. Am more than happy to get bus or train or boat! Saw this beauty today!

View attachment 97867

If you change your mind about taking the van I suggest you go to Eigenthal. It's behind Pilatus and is absolutely gorgeous for hikes. Park the van in the parking with a lovely stream in front, and enter the hiking direct with either a paved path or dirt trail through the forest along the stream. It's about a 20-30 minute drive from where you are staying via direction Kriens. You want to continue through Eigenthal, over the small bridge and turn left. Go to the end of the road.

 

[sapto]

Try HuskyLodge in Muotathal?
Try Camping Naas at Ägerisee?
Cheers and enjoy!

 

[Greenbrendafunbus]

Thanks so much everyone! We are catching a boat to Weggis tomorrow for a low level walk and then going to visit Bern in the rain Thanks Webbah so much for all your tips and also sapto. We will be back!!!!

 

[Geoff York]

That's a good point for the OP's plans to take van into Switzerland.

As well as at the border, the vignette can be bought at fuel stations both within Switz and close to the border in adjacent countries. Costs CHF 40.

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