Postal codes in Switzerland facts for kids

Have you ever wondered how mail gets to the right place in Switzerland? It's all thanks to something called a postal code! A postal code is a special set of numbers that helps sort mail and identify specific locations. Think of it like a unique address number for a whole area. In Switzerland, these codes are super important because they help the postal service deliver letters and packages quickly and accurately across the country.

This map shows the first digit of each four-digit postal code in Switzerland.

This map shows the first two digits of each four-digit postal code in Switzerland.

How Swiss Postal Codes Work

Switzerland uses a four-digit postal code system. Each number in the code tells you something about where a place is located. The first digit usually points to a larger region of Switzerland. The next digits narrow down the location even more, helping to pinpoint specific towns or areas.

For example, a postal code like 1xxx means the place is in the western part of Switzerland. If it's 10xx, it's specifically around the city of Lausanne. This system makes it easy for postal workers and delivery services to sort mail and get it to the correct destination.

Main Postal Code Regions

Here's a look at the main regions in Switzerland, based on the first digit of their postal codes:

• 1xxx - This region covers the southern part of Western Switzerland.
  • 10xx - This includes the area around Lausanne and Echallens.
  • 11xx - You'll find places like Morges and Rolle here.
  • 12xx - This covers the entire Canton of Geneva and the region around Nyon.
  • 13xx - This area is between Lausanne and Yverdon, near the Jura Mountains, including towns like Cossonay, Orbe, and Vallorbe.
  • 14xx - This includes Yverdon-les-Bains and Estavayer-le-Lac.
  • 15xx - Towns like Moudon, Lucens, and Avenches are in this section.
  • 16xx - This covers the regions of Romont and Bulle.
  • 17xx - This area stretches from Fribourg to Lake Morat.
  • 18xx - This includes the eastern shore of Lake Geneva (like Vevey and Montreux) and the Chablais region (like Aigle and Monthey).
  • 19xx - This is the lower part of Valais, including Martigny and Sion, but not the Sierre region.

• 2xxx - This region covers the northern part of Western Switzerland.
  • 20xx - This is the region around Neuchâtel.
  • 21xx - This includes the Val de Travers.
  • 22xx - This covers the upper Val de Ruz.
  • 23xx - This includes La Chaux-de-Fonds and Franches-Montagnes.
  • 24xx - You'll find Le Locle and La Sagne here.
  • 25xx - This is the region around Biel/Bienne, Lake Biel, and Grenchen.
  • 26xx - This covers the Vallon de St. Imier.
  • 27xx - This is the Bernese Jura area, with towns like Tavannes, Tramelan, and Moutier.
  • 28xx - This includes Delémont.
  • 29xx - This covers the Ajoie region, including Porrentruy.

• 3xxx - This region covers the Canton of Berne and Upper Valais.
  • 30xx - This is for the city of Bern and its surrounding areas.
  • 31xx - This covers the southern parts of Berne's wider area.
  • 32xx - This is the Seeland region, including Aarberg, Ins, Kerzers, and Lyss.
  • 33xx - This region is located between Berne and Solothurn.
  • 34xx - This includes the region of Burgdorf and Oberaargau.
  • 35xx - This covers the Emmental valley.
  • 36xx - This is the region around Thun.
  • 37xx - This includes the region of Spiez and the Simmental valley.
  • 38xx - This covers the Interlaken region and Haslital.
  • 39xx - This is Upper Valais, including the region of Sierre and Crans-Montana.

• 4xxx - This region is centered around Basel.
  • 40xx - This is for the city of Basel itself.
  • 41xx - This includes areas like Leimental, Birstal, Riehen, and Pratteln.
  • 42xx - This covers the Laufental and Schwarzbubenland.
  • 43xx - This is the western part of Fricktal, with towns like Rheinfelden and Stein AG.
  • 44xx - This covers the Basel-Country region.
  • 45xx - This is the region around Solothurn.
  • 46xx - This includes the region of Olten.
  • 47xx - This covers the regions of Oensingen and Balsthal.
  • 48xx - This is the region around Zofingen.
  • 49xx - This includes the region of Langenthal.

• 5xxx - This region is centered around Aarau.
  • 50xx - This includes the city of Aarau and its region, plus the eastern Fricktal (like Frick and Laufenburg).
  • 51xx - This covers the regions of Wildegg and Schinznach.
  • 52xx - This includes the regions of Brugg and Mettauertal.
  • 53xx - This area stretches from Turgi to Koblenz.
  • 54xx - This covers the regions of Baden and Wettingen.
  • 55xx - This is the region around Mellingen.
  • 56xx - This includes the regions of Lenzburg, Wohlen, Bremgarten, and Muri.
  • 57xx - This covers the regions of Kulm, Beinwil, Kölliken, and Safenwil.

• 6xxx - This region covers Central Switzerland (also called Innerschweiz) and Tessin.
  • 60xx - This includes the region of Lucerne and Obwalden.
  • 61xx - This covers Entlebuch and Willisau.
  • 62xx - This includes the regions of Sempach, Sursee, and Hochdorf.
  • 63xx - This covers the Canton of Zug and Nidwalden.
  • 64xx - This includes the Canton of Schwyz (except Ausserschwyz) and the Canton of Uri.
  • 65xx - This covers the region of Bellinzona, Misox, and Val Calanca.
  • 66xx - This includes Locarno, Valle Maggia, and Val Verzasca.
  • 67xx - This covers Leventina and Val Blenio.
  • 68xx - This is the Mendrisotto region.
  • 69xx - This includes the region of Lugano.

• 7xxx - This region covers Graubünden.
  • 70xx - This includes Chur, Schanfigg (like Arosa), Domat/Ems, and Flims.
  • 71xx - This covers the Bündner Oberland.
  • 72xx - This includes Prättigau and Davos.
  • 73xx - This covers the Bündner Herrschaft, Landquart, and Sargans.
  • 74xx - This includes Hinterrhein and Albula.
  • 75xx - This covers Engadin and Val Müstair.
  • 76xx - This is the Bergell region.
  • 77xx - This covers Poschiavo.

• 8xxx - This region is centered around the Canton of Zürich.
  • 80xx - This is for the city of Zürich.
  • 81xx - This covers the Zürcher Unterland region.
  • 82xx - This includes the regions of Schaffhausen and Kreuzlingen.
  • 83xx - This covers Kloten, the Zürcher Oberland, Hinwil, and Hinterthurgau.
  • 84xx - This includes the region of Winterthur and Tösstal.
  • 85xx - This covers the regions of Frauenfeld, Weinfelden, Amriswil, and Romanshorn.
  • 86xx - This includes the region of Dübendorf, parts of Zürcher Oberland, and See (in St. Gallen).
  • 87xx - This covers the right shore of Lake Zürich, Gaster/See (St. Gallen), and the Canton Glarus.
  • 88xx - This includes the left shore of Lake Zürich, Ausserschwyz (like March, Höfe, and Einsiedeln SZ), Glarner Unterland, and Sarganserland/Lake Walen.
  • 89xx - This covers the Limmattal region, Albis, Knonauer Amt, and Kelleramt (in eastern Aargau).

• 9xxx - This region covers Eastern Switzerland (Ostschweiz).
  • 90xx - This includes the region of St. Gallen and Appenzell.
  • 91xx - This covers the region of Herisau.
  • 92xx - This includes the regions of Gossau, Flawil, Uzwil, and Bischofszell.
  • 93xx - This covers the region of Arbon.
  • 94xx - This includes the regions of Rorschach, Rheintal, and Liechtenstein.
  • 95xx - This covers the region of Wil.
  • 96xx - This includes Toggenburg.