Visitors can follow the debates in the National Council and the Council of States from the public galleries; see the schedule for each Council to find out when they will be sitting. The schedule is published two weeks before the start of each new session.
Members of parliament can be contacted by telephone during sessions on: 031 322 99 11.
Individual visitors
Individuals may arrive unannounced, but must allow for having to queue, sometimes for longer periods. Visitors are requested to bring some form of official identity (valid identity card, passport, driving licence), which they will be asked to deposit at the entrance during the guided tour. If there is a large number of visitors, the time allowed in the public gallery may be restricted. The visitors’ entrance is on the southern side of the parliament building and can be accessed via the Bundesterrasse.
The public galleries are open:
from 8.00 a.m. to 2.30 p.m.
Monday afternoons
Tuesday mornings
Wednesdays all day
Thursday mornings
Groups
Prior announcement is required for groups of 10 or more (tel. ++41 31 322 97 11)
There are no guided tours when parliament is sitting.
All visitors are requested to bring some form of official identity (valid identity card, passport, driving licence) which they will be asked to deposit at the entrance during their visit.