Visits when Parliament is in session

Would you like to follow a debate in the Council of States or the National Council? When Parliament is in session you can follow debates and votes in either chamber – all you need is a valid form of identification which you leave with security.

Individuals

Seats are available for individual visitors. Reservation of places is possible at the earliest one week before the start of the session. Reservation by telephone is not possible.

Link to the booking page

Groups

Groups of 10 – 40 people should book at least 10 months in advance. On the day of the visit all members of the group are required to leave an official identity document with security. In order to pass through security and be seated in the gallery in good time, we would ask groups to gather at the vistors’ entrance (Bundesterrasse) 30 mins before the scheduled start time.

Please note that Council sittings can sometimes end earlier than expected. In such cases it is not possible to take up seats reserved in the gallery.

Q&A session and visit to the domed hall

As well as watching a debate from the gallery, groups also have the possibility of holding a Q&A session with a member of Parliament (30 mins). The group organiser shoud contact their chosen member of Parliament in advance and complete their online reservation by adding the name of the contacted member as soon as he has agreed, at the latest three weeks before the visit.

On request groups can also register for an information session (30 mins) in the domed hall where one of the guides of the Visitors’ Service will be able to tell you about the workings of Parliament, the history and symbolism of the building and answer any questions.

It is not possible to book a Q&A or information session without visiting the gallery.

Reservations

From now on, you can make your free group bookings online using the link below. As well as booking places in the gallery, group vistors can also register for an eventual Q&A session with a member of Parliament and/or an information session in the domed hall. Once the booking is completed, you will get a confirmation mail with all the necessary information.

Link to the booking page

Please use the following address for any further information: sessionsbesuche@parl.admin.ch

Sitting times

National Council

Days	Times
Monday:	14.30 – 19.00
Tuesday:	8.00 – 13.00
Wednesday:	8.00 – 13.00 and 15.00 – 19.00
Thursday:	8.00 – 13.00 and in week 3 15.00 – 19.00
Friday:	8.00 – 9.00 (only in week 3; final votes)

Council of States

Days	Times
Monday:	16.15 – 20.00 (week 1); 15.15 – 20.00 (weeks 2 and 3)
Tuesday:	8.15 – 13.00
Wednesday:	8.15 – 13.00 and 15.00 – 19.00
Thursday:	8.15 – 13.00 and in week 3 15.00 – 19.00
Friday:	8.15 – 8.30 (only in week 3; final votes)

The precise times of the sittings are published in the session programme two weeks before the session begins.