Postal codes in Switzerland and Liechtenstein
On 26 June 1964, Swiss Post introduced postal codes as the third country after Germany (1941) and the United States (1963).
In Switzerland, the postal codes have four digits. As with the postcode system introduced in Germany in 1993, a municipality can receive several postcodes. A locality (settlement) having its own postal code does not mean that it is an independent political municipality, but only that it is an official locality. In addition, a postcode can include several political communes (e.g.: 3048
The
Format of postal codes (PLZ/NPA)
The Swiss postal codes are assigned geographically, from west to east. They do not follow political divisions (cantons, districts), but they follow a routing allocation, following railways and PostBus routes. The postal code of big cities finish with 00, and it is not allocated if in the region there is not a big center.[citation needed]
Switzerland is divided into nine postal districts, numbered from west to east. Each district is subdivided into postal areas. Each area contains a maximum of one hundred units.
The postal codes are made up as follows:
- 3436 Zollbrück
- 3 = district (Bern)
- 34 = area (Burgdorf)
- 343 = route (Burgdorf - Langnau)
- 3436 = post office number (Zollbrück)
Today, the third digit has no real meaning anymore. In the past, mail was assigned to fixed railway or truck routes, but modern logistics do not need this practice any more.
Postal codes of Liechtenstein are included in the same structure, using the range from 9480 to 9499.
Summary of postal codes
- 1xxx - Region Western Switzerland (South)
- 10xx - Region Echallens(North-West)
- 11xx - Region Rolle
- 12xx - Canton of Geneva and Region Nyon
- 13xx - Region between Lausanne and Yverdon, Orbe, Vallorbe)
- 14xx - Yverdon, Estavayer-le-Lac(VD/FR)
- 15xx - Moudon, Lucens, Avenches (VD/FR)
- 16xx - Bulle(VD/FR)
- 17xx - Region Lake Murten (Münchenwiler)
- 18xx - Eastern shore of St. MauriceVD/VS)
- 19xx - Lower Valais (
- 10xx - Region
- 2xxx - Region Western Switzerland (North)
- 20xx - Region Neuchâtel
- 21xx - Val de Travers NE, Boudry
- 22xx - Upper Val-de-Ruz,
- 23xx - La Chaux-de-Fonds, Franches-Montagnes, Val-de-Ruz
- 24xx - Le Locle, La Sagne
- 25xx - Region Biel/Bienne, Lake Biel, Grenchen, Courtelary
- 26xx - Vallon de St. Imier
- 27xx - Bernese Jura (Tavannes, Tramelan, Moutier, Franches Montagnes)
- 28xx - Delémont
- 29xx - Ajoie (Porrentruy)
- 3xxx - Region Bern/Upper Valais
- 4xxx - Region Basel
- 5xxx - Region Aarau
- 50xx - City of Aarau and Region, eastern Laufenburg)
- 51xx - Region Wildegg, Schinznach
- 52xx - Region Brugg, Mettauertal
- 53xx - Region Koblenz
- 54xx - Region Baden, Wettingen
- 55xx - Region Mellingen
- 56xx - Region Muri (Freiamt)
- 57xx - Region
- 50xx - City of Aarau and Region, eastern
- 6xxx - Region Central Switzerland (Innerschweiz), Tessin
- 60xx - Region Lucerne, Obwalden
- 61xx - Entlebuch, Willisau
- 62xx - Region Hochdorf
- 63xx - Canton of Zug, Nidwalden
- 64xx - Ausserschwyz), Canton of Uri
- 65xx - Region Misox, Val Calanca(GR)
- 66xx - Locarno, Valle Maggia, Val Verzasca
- 67xx - Val Blenio
- 68xx - Mendrisotto
- 69xx - Region Lugano
- 7xxx - Region Graubünden
- 8xxx - Region Zürich
- 80xx - City of Zurich
- 81xx - Region Zürcher Unterland
- 82xx - Region enclave)
- 83xx - Kloten, Zürcher Oberland, Hinwil, Hinterthurgau
- 84xx - Region Tösstal
- 85xx - Region Frauenfeld, Weinfelden, Amriswil, Romanshorn
- 86xx - Region Dübendorf, Zürcher Oberland, See (SG)
- 87xx - Region Right shore of Canton Glarus
- 88xx - Region Linkes Zürichseeufer, Lake Walen
- 89xx - Region )
- 9xxx - Region Eastern Switzerland (Ostschweiz)
- 90xx - Region Appenzell
- 91xx - Region Herisau
- 92xx - Region
- 93xx - Region Arbon
- 94xx - Region Rorschach, Rheintal, Liechtenstein
- 95xx - Region Wil
- 96xx - Toggenburg
- 90xx - Region
Cities
- 1211: Geneva (generic post code for all P.O. Box addresses in Geneva; the address is followed by a number indicating the exact post office in which the box is located, e.g. 1211 Geneva 7: 1 Mont-Blanc, 10 United Nations, 11 Rue du Stand, 12 Champel, 13 Les Charmilles, 14 State Hospital, 16 Grand-Pré, 17 Malagnou, 18 St-Jean, 19 Petit-Saconnex, 2 Cornavin/Swisscom, 20 CIC, 21 Les Pâquis, 22 International Labour Organization, 23 CERN, 24 Les Acacias, 26 La Praille/Military base, 27 World Health Organization, 28 Le Bouchet, 3 Rive, 4 Plainpalais, 5 Main Post Office, 6 Les Eaux-Vives, 7 Servette, 70 CS, 8 Jonction, 84 Voting system, 9 La Cluse)
- 80xx: The city districts of Zurich were numbered before the Swiss postal codes were introduced; the number of the city district equals the last numbers of the postal code. The administration of the canton of Zurichhas the postal code 8090.
- 3003 is the postal code of the Federal administration which is located in Bern.
Liechtenstein
- 9485: Nendeln
- 9486: Schaanwald
- 9487: Gamprin
- 9488: Schellenberg
- 9489: Schaan
- 9490: Vaduz
- 9491: Ruggell
- 9492: Eschen
- 9493: Mauren
- 9494: Schaan
- 9495: Triesen
- 9496: Balzers
- 9497: Triesenberg
- 9498: Planken
- 9499: omitted
Notes and references
- Express Mail Service, January 6, 2020
- ^ Spedire una lettera a Campione? Attenzione al codice postale, Giorgio Doninelli, tio.ch, 31 December 2019
- ^ Helvetia Philatelic Society of Great Britain New Letter, January 1988
- ^ Gemeinde Simplon