In May 2025, the U.S. issued a travel advisory for Switzerland. For most people, this seemed confusing. Switzerland is widely considered one of the safest places on Earth. The advisory tells Americans to “exercise normal precautions” when visiting. Headlines suggesting serious warnings about Switzerland spread across news sites and social media. So what had changed?
Switzerland Lives Up to Its Safe Reputation
Switzerland consistently ranks among the world’s safest places to visit. Multiple studies can confirm this reputation. Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection, an insurance company that studies travel safety,
ranked
Switzerland the fifth-safest country globally in 2025, dropping from second place in 2024 but still scoring higher than Japan and Denmark. The Global Peace Index, an annual study measuring peace and stability, puts Switzerland sixth worldwide. The United States ranks 132nd on that same list, between Brazil and Iran.
Switzerland has low crime rates, a stable government, and minimal violent crime. Its murder rate sits at 0.54 per 100,000 people compared to approximately 5-6 per 100,000 in the United States. The difference is also beyond everyday crimes, too. The entire country sees 19 car thefts daily, while major U.S. cities can hit that number in hours. About 40,000 bikes are stolen yearly in Switzerland, a number that the United States tops in just one week. This type of safety creates a different way of life. People leave doors unlocked, and children walk to school alone.
Switzerland’s Annual Travel Advisory
To understand what happened, you need to know how the U.S. travel advisory system works. The U.S. government rates every country on a safety scale from 1 to 4. A new
system
was launched in 2018 to replace the previous
“Travel Warnings
” system. The system was created for airlines and travel companies back in 1978 before going public.
The government reviews Level 1 and Level 2 countries every year, while Level 3 and Level 4 countries receive theirs every six months. This makes updates routine rather than reactive.
Level 1 Is the Best Rating You Can Get
Countries like Afghanistan, Haiti, and parts of Mexico receive Level 4 warnings for high safety reasons. Afghanistan has terrorism, wrongful detention, kidnapping, and crime under Taliban control. Haiti has civil unrest, with gangs controlling parts of cities, kidnapping, and violence that make safe travel nearly impossible. Six Mexican states get Level 4 warnings because of crime and kidnapping from drug cartel activity.
Currently, Israel has a Level 4 advisory due to armed conflict with Iran, while Iran maintains a long-standing Level 4 rating due to terrorism, kidnapping, and civil unrest. The State Department issued a “Worldwide Caution” alert in June 2025 because of the Middle East conflict.
Level 1 is the safest rating any country can receive. Countries with this rating include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the most stable European nations. They all have identical messages about signing up for government email alerts, buying travel insurance, and preparing emergency plans. So, Switzerland received the same standard treatment as other safe destinations.
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The Update Nobody Should Have Noticed
The official explanation said, “
Reissued after periodic review with minor edits.
” The government didn’t issue a new warning about Switzerland. It updated existing paperwork.
The travel advisory for
Switzerland
reads like any other standard government lingo. It says, “
Exercise normal precautions in Switzerland. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Switzerland.”
The recommendations include “
Prepare a plan for emergency situations
” and “
We highly recommend that you buy insurance before you travel. The U.S. government does not provide insurance for U.S. citizens overseas.”
The previous revision happened about two years earlier, in July 2023, when they removed COVID-19 information. It wasn’t just Switzerland. Similar
“minor edits
” updates happened for Austria, Japan, Paraguay, and other places during the same period.
Standard Language, Sensational Headlines
Compare the advisory’s simple text saying “
Exercise normal precautions in Switzerland”
with headlines suggesting it was under serious security warnings. It shows how standard government language and news coverage can create major confusion.
The travel advisory’s recommendations include “
Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency”
and
“Review the International Traveler’s Checklist.”
The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program is a free email service that sends updates from American embassies abroad. Think of it as your government’s way of keeping in touch while you’re away.
The advice about emergency planning applies to visiting any foreign country, including Canada. According to the country security report, petty crime like pickpocketing is a major concern, especially in cities like Geneva. Transport hubs and tourist destinations are especially prone to these crimes, with pickpockets frequently operating in pairs.
Travelers Started Panicking Online
Travel forums are filled with travelers asking if their Swiss vacations are still safe. The coverage focused on the advisory itself rather than explaining that this was the safest possible rating or that Switzerland’s safety hadn’t changed.
Level 1 warnings indicate safe destinations where travelers should stay alert, like they would anywhere. Switzerland remains as secure as it was before May 20.
Your Trip Is Fine
The State Department’s updated travel advisory maintains Switzerland’s Level 1 rating. While security reports have indicated extremists have used Switzerland for planning meetings and supporting operations elsewhere, this only reflects Switzerland’s role as a neutral meeting ground rather than an active danger to tourists. Switzerland has excellent public transportation, universal healthcare, and crime rates that compare favorably to many American cities. The U.S. Embassy in Bern continues to rate Switzerland’s terrorism threat as low. For travelers, the country’s safety profile remains unchanged from this paperwork update. Switzerland is still Switzerland.
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The U.S Recently Issued a Rare Global Travel Warning. Here’s What You Should Know
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