Moving from Geneva to Zurich

• Plan Ahead: Start planning early. Ideally, book a moving company 1–3 months in advance (especially for large households). This is crucial if you’re moving around popular dates (in Switzerland many leases end end of March, June, September, so those times are very busy for movers). Early booking ensures you secure your preferred date and gives you time to sort out paperwork.
• Declutter Before Packing: Take the move as an opportunity to downsize your belongings. Sort through your things and get rid of items you don’t need – sell, donate or recycle them. Fewer items mean a cheaper and easier move. (As one Swiss moving checklist notes, “A move is a good time to get rid of objects you no longer need – you can even consider donating some items”.)
• Permits & Admin: Don’t forget the official paperwork when moving cantons. In Switzerland, you must deregister at your old commune and register in your new commune when you move. This typically should be done within 14 days of moving. For a Geneva to Zurich move, that means notifying Geneva authorities of your departure and registering your new address with the city of Zurich (you can often do this online via the eMovingCH service). Also, if you have a pet (dog), remember to register it in the new city.
• Parking Reservation: Consider the logistics at both your Geneva and Zurich addresses. If either location has limited parking or is on a busy street, you may need to reserve a parking space for the moving truck. Many moving companies handle this for you (often for a fee of up to ~CHF 100), arranging a temporary no-parking zone in front of your building. It’s wise to ask about this – it can save a lot of time on moving day.
• Building Rules: Check any rules at your current or new apartment. Some Swiss apartment buildings have designated moving times or require reserving the elevator for your move. Zurich buildings, for example, might restrict moves during certain hours or on Sundays (despite it being legally allowed to move on Sunday in Switzerland). Coordinate with your building managers to avoid surprises.
• Language Considerations: Moving from Geneva (French-speaking) to Zurich (German-speaking) means you’ll encounter German in many of your new local dealings. Prepare for your lease, utility contracts, and official letters to be in German. If you’re not comfortable in German, consider getting key documents translated or ask a German-speaking friend for help. Zurich’s city offices (Einwohnerkontrolle) have English resources too, but it helps to be ready for the language switch.

Several moving companies operate in both Geneva and Zurich, offering services for this cross-Switzerland route. Here are a few options, from budget-friendly to premium, that you can consider:

Most moving company quotes will clearly list what is included.

Generally, a standard moving quote for a household within Switzerland will include:

• Transportation door-to-door: The moving truck, fuel, and the travel time from Geneva to Zurich (this is built into the price – longer distance increases the cost).
• Labor for Loading and Unloading: The movers’ time carrying everything out of your old place and into your new place. (If it’s an hourly rate quote, time on the road might also be counted; if it’s a flat rate, they estimated this in the price.)
• Basic Furniture Assembly: Almost all movers will dismantle basic furniture and reassemble it at the destination as part of the service. For example, they’ll take apart your bed, wardrobes, or tables if needed for transport, then put them back together in Zurich. (If you have very complex furniture or IKEA items needing disassembly, mention it in advance.)
• Moving Insurance (Basic Liability): As noted, a baseline coverage for damage or loss is included. This might be, for example, CHF X per kilogram coverage. It’s not full replacement insurance, but it provides some compensation if the movers break something. You often can upgrade to full insurance at additional cost.

Services that are typically not included (unless you request them) in a base quote:

• Packing of Boxes: If you want the movers to pack all your personal items into boxes, that usually must be arranged specifically (and will add to the cost). You can save money by packing yourself. Movers will often provide or sell you moving boxes in advance, but the labor of packing each box is extra.
• Unpacking: Similarly, unpacking boxes at your new home is an extra service. Most people do this themselves to save cost. However, some moving companies do offer unpacking as part of premium packages or upon request (the movers would put items into cabinets, etc.).
• Cleaning Service: After you move out of your Geneva apartment, you’re typically required to leave it clean for the handover. Moving companies often can arrange a professional cleaning (end of tenancy cleaning) for an extra fee. This is not included in moving costs by default. If you’re renting in Geneva, it might be worth adding – companies like MoveAgain bundle cleaning with moves (e.g., ~CHF 459 to clean a 2-bedroom apt).
• Storage: If you need to store your furniture for days or weeks (for example, if your Geneva lease ends but your Zurich home is only available later), storage is an additional cost. Many moving companies have storage facilities or can arrange it easily, but you’ll pay a storage fee (often calculated per m³ per week/month). Make sure to discuss this in advance if you anticipate any gap between move-out and move-in dates.

Common Extra Fees & Surcharges:

Be aware of a few typical surcharges that might apply:

• Stairs or No Lift: Difficult access can increase the price. Movers may charge a bit more if, say, you’re on a high floor with no elevator, because it takes more time (or requires special equipment like an exterior lift). This is usually built into the quote if you inform them beforehand.
• Long Carry: If the truck has to park far from your door (more than a certain distance), there could be a fee for the extra carrying distance. Again, tell your mover about any access issues (like “no direct street access”) so they plan accordingly.
• Heavy/Bulky Items: As mentioned, items like pianos, large safes, gym equipment, or even very large wardrobes often incur an extra handling fee. For example, a piano move might be a few hundred francs extra due to the weight and care required.
• Weekend or Holiday Moves: If you schedule your move on a Sunday or public holiday, some companies charge a supplement (because Swiss law requires a 50% wage surcharge for Sunday labor). A Saturday move might also be slightly more in demand than a weekday. If you have flexibility, a Tuesday or Wednesday move might avoid these surcharges and sometimes even come at a small discount.
• Last-Minute Changes: If you change the move date on short notice or add significantly more items than you originally listed for the quote, there could be extra costs. It’s best to provide an accurate inventory to the movers (some may do a home visit or a video survey to assess your stuff). Surprises on moving day (like “oh, also the basement and attic full of boxes”) can lead to additional charges or not everything fitting on the truck, so be transparent from the start.

Nearly all professional movers will handle your move door-to-door – meaning they pick up everything at your current home in Geneva and deliver it directly to your new home in Zurich. You generally won’t have to worry about any transfers in between. If using a reputable company, this includes placing furniture in the rooms you want at the new house. You can literally point and say “that bookshelf goes upstairs in the office,” and they’ll put it there.

If there’s a gap between your move-out and move-in, or you don’t want to bring everything to the new place at once, most companies offer storage solutions. For example, firms like Harsch or The Swiss Moving Company have their own warehouses where they can keep your furniture for days or months as needed. Storage can be partial (just a few items) or entire households. When you’re ready, they’ll deliver your stored goods to your new address. Be sure to ask about storage fees and access – you might not be able to retrieve items until delivery without an appointment.

Unpacking services are less commonly used, but they are available, especially from higher-end movers. With an unpacking service, the crew will not only deliver your boxes but also unpack them and put your items away according to your direction. For instance, they could unwrap your dishes and place them in cabinets, hang your clothes in closets, etc. This level of service is usually charged hourly. Some people opt for unpacking help for the kitchen or other time-consuming parts. As an example, one Swiss moving company advertises that they handle “packing, loading, transport and unloading,” and are also available to coordinate additional services like insurance and presumably unpacking on request. If you hate living out of boxes, it might be worth it! Otherwise, you can always just have boxes delivered to the right rooms and take your time unpacking personally.

Assembly of furniture at the new place is normally part of the standard service (as noted earlier). If you purchased new furniture for your Zurich home, some movers even offer assembly for those items too – you’d just provide the unopened furniture boxes and they’ll build them (sometimes this is a separate service, or charged extra per piece or per hour). SMC, for instance, highlights that they can assemble new furniture and even connect appliances as part of their moving services.

In summary, you can get as much or as little help as you need. “Full-service” moves can include packing at origin, door-to-door transport, unpacking at destination, furniture setup, appliance reconnection, and even cleaning of the old place. More budget moves might be just the transport and you handle the rest. When getting quotes, specify what level of service you want so each quote is comparable.

Timing Your Move

Avoid peak dates like March 31, June 30, and September 30 — that’s when many leases end and moving companies are in high demand.
Prices go up and trucks book out fast during these times.

• Summer is the high season for moving — busy and pricier
• Winter is quieter and sometimes cheaper (but factor in snow and delays)
• Best time to move? Mid-month, mid-week. It’s easier to schedule and can save money

Weekday vs. Weekend

Most people move on weekends — which makes them harder to book.
If you can, take a day off and schedule your move on a weekday.

• Weekdays: Better availability and flexibility
• Saturdays: Fine, but book well in advance
• Sundays/Holidays: Legally allowed, but may involve surcharges and some buildings don’t allow it

Managing Utilities and Address Changes

Handle all your service providers before the move:

• Close or transfer your electricity account in Geneva (e.g., SIG)
• Register with EWZ in Zurich for your new address
• Don’t forget other services like water, gas, and internet – these can take time to set up
• Use Swiss Post’s mail forwarding service (Nachsendeauftrag) to catch stragglers

Update your address everywhere important:
Bank, employer, insurance, subscriptions, ID documents.

Prepare an Essentials Box

Keep one box or suitcase with you – not on the truck.
This should include:

• Bedding and a change of clothes
• Toiletries and medications
• Phone chargers, snacks, basic kitchen items
• Important documents, laptop, and valuables

It’ll save you on the first night — especially if there are any delays.

Label in Two Languages (Optional, but Clever)

You’re moving from French-speaking to German-speaking Switzerland.
Label some boxes with both French and German (or with simple icons). For example:

• Cuisine / Küche
• Salon / Wohnzimmer

It helps movers instantly know where to place things in Zurich — especially if they’re more fluent in German.

Final Walkthrough and Handover

Before leaving your Geneva home:

• Double-check every room, cupboard, attic, and cellar
• Take photos of the apartment if you’re renting
• Clean thoroughly or book a handover cleaning service
• Return all keys to the landlord or property manager

When you arrive in Zurich:

• Document the condition of the new place (especially if renting)
• Make note of any damage right away

Settle In and Register

In Zurich, you must register with your local Kreisbüro within 14 days of moving in.
While settling in, learn the local systems — Zurich uses Züri-Sacks for trash, unlike Geneva.

Take time to unpack, get to know your neighborhood, and enjoy your fresh start in one of Switzerland’s most vibrant cities.