best time travel switzerland

When is the best time to go to Switzerland?

Jan 29, 2024 • 5 min read

Choose the best time for your visit to Switzerland with this seasonal guide © SAHACHAT / Getty Images

Spend any length of time in Switzerland and you’ll come to realise just how distinct the seasons are here and how well the country wears them.

Winter, with its snow-laden peaks, groomed pistes and bluebird days, is peak time for skiers and winter walkers, while summer draws visitors for its scorching temperatures, high alpine hiking trails and lake life.

But spring and autumn have their own appeal: cheaper flights, milder temperatures, quirky festivals and the chance to catch the countryside in flux, from the new bloom of alpine flowers in May and June to the fiery orange blaze of larch trees and vineyards in the fall.

Plan your trip around your preferred activities and your budget and you’ll find your own best time to experience this ever-changing country.

December to April is best for snow seekers and carnival-goers

Snowsports dominate winter. Skiers and snowboarders love the long groomed slopes and off-piste terrain of big-name resorts such as  Zermatt , Verbier and Laax, but with a lift in almost every mountain village, Switzerland has something for all levels and budgets. Meanwhile, dedicated trails for winter walking, cross-country skiing and tobogganing mean winter isn’t just for powder hounds.

In February/March, carnival season brings traditional guggenmusik bands (brass bands playing oompah-style music) to many towns and cities. The best-known carnival is Basel’s three-day street party,  Fasnacht . Darker traditions abound, too: visit the  Lötschental for its parade of fearsome, mask-wearing Tschäggätta , and the Valais village of  Evolène for a carnival dominated by fur-clad monsters and giant straw-people.

May and September offer Swiss charm for less

Visiting Switzerland in shoulder season brings its own advantages. Not only is it cheaper (deals can be found on flights and hotels) but the heat is less intense than in high summer and each shoulder has a certain appeal. Come in May for blossoming trees, the start of the swimming season (many outdoor pools open in mid-May) and the very enjoyable  caves ouvertes/cantine aperte (open cellars) weekends in the vineyards of  Geneva ,  Vaud ,  Valais ,  Neuchâtel and  Ticino .

With many of the mountain lifts still open and the weather remaining balmy well into the month, September is perfect for hiking or biking. Be sure to catch a désalpe/alpabzug , when the dairy cows, having spent their summers on the alpine pastures, parade down to the valley farms passing through villages en route – an excuse for the locals to eat Alpkäse (alpine cheese), drink wine and make merry. The best known is held in  Charmey , near Gruyères.

Another September party is the  grape harvest festival in Lutry, which celebrates the end of the wine-growing year in The Lavaux , the centuries-old vineyards between Lausanne and  Montreux . The area also makes for pretty autumnal hiking, with wine-tasting spots en route.

July to August is the time to visit for hiking (and partying)

Peak summer in Switzerland is tip-top , to borrow the Swiss German phrase. Barring the odd storm, it’s nearly always hot and sunny – oppressively so, sometimes, meaning the best place to be is in the cooler air of the high mountains. Switzerland’s vast number of hiking trails , whether in the Alpes Vaudoises, the  Bernese Oberland or  Graubünden , offer cow-strewn meadows, vertiginous views and glimpses of ibex, marmots and eagles.

Book ahead for a dorm bed in a Swiss Alpine Club cabin – simple hostels strung across the Alps in glorious locations – or stay in one of the grandes dames of the Swiss mountains, such as the  Rigi-Kulm Hotel above  Lake Lucerne or the  Berghotel Schynige Platte overlooking  Interlaken , two of the country’s longstanding mountain hotels.

Road cyclists are also spoiled for choice, with the gruelling switchbacks of mountain passes including the  Furka , Gotthard and  Grimsel presenting the biggest challenges, while mountain bikers hitch their wheels to a ski lift in Verbier to tackle its downhill trails.

Summer is also party time. Check out big names in music at the  Montreux Jazz Festival , the  Gurten Festival near the Swiss capital,  Bern , and the huge techno festival  Street Parade in  Zürich . And don’t miss Swiss National Day, August 1, a national holiday in Switzerland. Join in the celebrations by having  brunch on a farm (booking ahead is essential), watching a city fireworks display or enjoying the wine, raclette and entertainment in any town or small mountain village.

June to September is ideal for sampling lake life in Switzerland

Hanging out by a lake or river is another typically Swiss summer experience. Hardcore wild swimmers take to the lakes at any time of year, but you’ll find warmer water and more atmosphere in summer, when the lakeshores throng with people sunbathing and barbecuing. Relax next to  Lake Geneva as part of Vevey’s summer-long  Dolce Riviera festival, swim around Bern in the fast-flowing River Aare, paddleboard on Lake Lucerne, dip in the River Rhine in  Basel or hang out at a riverside badi (public swimming baths) in Zürich. If you’d rather be on the water than in it, summer is also peak season for the ferry companies, which offer trips on all the major lakes.

October and November are rich with fall colors and food events

There’s a reason why this is the cheapest time to visit Switzerland. With the mountain lifts closed, and many hotels too, villages can be sleepy and the weather unpredictable. But if you get a sunny day and use the bus or train to reach the start of a hike, you’ll be rewarded with a blaze of color in the trees that most visitors never see. It’s also  a great time to eat , with many restaurants serving game meats with traditional accompaniments (chestnuts, sprouts, red cabbage, berries and Spätzli – a sort of Swiss pasta). A number of food events are also worth exploring, including two in the  Swiss Jura : the  truffle market in Bonvillars, and the  Feast of St Martin in Porrentruy, where you can fill your belly with as much pork as you can eat.

This article was first published February 2021 and updated January 2024

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• Travel Tips

The Best Times to Visit Switzerland, According to Local Experts

When to visit Switzerland for beautiful weather, lower prices, and more.

Lindsay Cohn is a writer, editor, and avid traveler who has visited 45 countries across six continents — and counting. She contributes to Travel + Leisure, Hotels Above Par, InsideHook, Well+Good, The Zoe Report, and more.

• Best Times to Visit Switzerland for Smaller Crowds
• Best Times to Visit Switzerland for Good Weather
• Best Times to Visit Switzerland for Lower Prices

Best Times to Visit Switzerland for Skiing

Worst time to visit switzerland.

Switzerland conjures images of skiers swooshing down the snow-covered peaks of the Alps and warming up with cheese fondue. The European country is also well-known for its many sparkling lakes and incredible hiking terrain that draws heaps of visitors in the warmer months. Zürich and Geneva are hubs of finance. Of course, anyone with a sweet tooth loves Swiss chocolate, and don’t forget about the fairy-tale hotels . 

Given its small size and excellent connectivity via scenic railway, many travelers choose to do a multi-stop trip within Switzerland. But with such diverse destinations — from cosmopolitan cities to winter resorts — it’s important to understand the timing. For example, you won’t find powder during the summer, but the verdant alpine landscape will steal the show.  

Stephanie Pollak/Travel + Leisure

To help decide the best time to visit Switzerland for your particular travel goals, we tapped the concierges at two of the finest hotels in the country. 

• High Season: June to August and December 
• Shoulder Season: April to May and September to October
• Low Season: November and January to March

SW Photography/Getty Images

Best Times to Visit Switzerland for Smaller Crowds 

“There are really three Switzerlands: the cities, the countryside, and the mountains,” explains Benjamin Richard, a concierge at Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne. If you skip peak periods (the heart of summer and winter, respectively), it never feels all that crowded. “I really love the spring and fall shoulder seasons. It’s wonderful with pleasant temperatures and no swarms of tourists,” he adds. One of the many attractions of visiting the French regions of Switzerland in autumn is the wine harvest. 

Michela Sieman/Travel + Leisure

Best Times to Visit Switzerland for Good Weather 

The best times to visit Switzerland for good weather are typically during the late spring, summer, and early autumn, according to Giuseppe Tocco, a junior concierge at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva . “These months see mild temperatures and longer daylight hours, so it’s ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing,” he says. However, if you’re going for the express purpose of skiing, that answer would flip to winter, when the Alps look like a snow globe. 

Best Times to Visit Switzerland for Lower Prices 

Switzerland is an expensive destination. That doesn’t mean a trip is guaranteed to deplete your entire annual travel budget. Keen to save a few bucks? Tocco suggests visiting during off-peak times to help you avoid sky-high rates. You might even get some freebies like complimentary room upgrades if a hotel isn’t at capacity. 

Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure

The conditions between December and February are prime for hitting the slopes at alpine hot spots across Switzerland. Just keep in mind the mountains tend to get crowded at the height of ski season. “Getting on the cable cars on a Christmas morning in Zermatt, St. Moritz, or Gstaad can feel like a crammed subway in London or Paris,” says Richard. Prices also reflect the popularity of this period. One way to mitigate that? Tocco suggests skipping holidays and school breaks and planning midweek visits instead.

Again, there’s no wrong time to visit Switzerland. It really just depends on what you’re looking to do. The low season is an underrated time to explore the cities and countryside, according to Tocco. Conversely, summer in ski areas offers those same off-season benefits. Tocco adds, “However, it’s important to note that certain activities, accommodations, and restaurants may have limited availability or reduced operating hours.”

Switzerland Insider

What is the best time to travel switzerland a month-by-month guide.

Although Switzerland can (and should) be visited year round there is a time that stands out. In this article you will find out what it’s like in each month and when I believe is the best time to travel Switzerland!

Switzerland has two distinct high seasons for tourism . There is winter (December-February) and summer (June-September). They are separated by shoulder seasons where the weather is changing often and many alpine destinations use this downtime for maintenance or a break, so the offering for activities and sights may be limited.

Switzerland has a moderate climate and is not enormously hot, cold, humid or dry. During the summer holiday months temperature are somewhere around 20-30°C (daytime), in the deep winter in January and February temperatures range from 0-10°C, sometimes even below zero. These temperatures are at low altitudes. Because Switzerland is not always the same altitude, temperatures may vary. In general one can assume that the temperature may decrease 1°C per 100m altitude gained. This means while on a hot summer day in Zurich with 30°C, at the top of Jungfrau, you will be met with temperatures 0°C and snow.

Best Time to Travel Switzerland

So, if you want the best of both worlds , then summer is your choice. But here we also have the emperature/altitude situation mentioned before. While it can be already really warm in June, in the Alps it may still be fresh and not pleasant. The same goes for the end of summer, which generally is over in the Alps by the end of September. This leaves you a window of three months, out of which two fall in the high season for holidays.

This means September is the most “ideal” month to visit Switzerland, if you like to see all of what Switzerland has to offer and if you don’t want it to be crowded.

But as I said, Switzerland is an all-year destination, so here’s what you can expect each month!

January in Switzerland

This is the best winter month in terms of crowds, as it is between Christmas and the ski holidays. It is also the coldest month and if you decide to spend the time at low altitude in the cities, then you will have to endure a lot of covered sky and it rarely snows there. So this is the time to go up to the Alps and enjoy the winter wonderland!

February in Switzerland

This is winter at its finest because very often it’s sunny everywhere, which means that it’s not as freezing cold anymore. This is also the time a lot of tourists come for winter sports, so the ski resorts are full and prices high. But it is the nicest time to enjoy the snow in the Alps! Also here it can be very foggy in the cities.

March in Switzerland

In March, it’s the time where the spring starts knocking on the door. It’s not winter anymore, the snow starts to get slushy in the Alps and on some days you can skip the winter jacket. But this is a sandwich month of the shoulder season where neither the Alps or the cities are at their best side. The upside is that your trip will not cost as much during this time because of low demand!

April in Switzerland

In the cities at lower altitudes the trees and flowers start to come back to live and bloom. This is one of the nicest times for a city trip as also the locals tend to be happy after the sometimes very foggy winters. During April though the weather may change often. In the Alps, a lot of attractions and accommodations go on a break.

May in Switzerland

May is the month when it is getting pleasant at low altitudes and the nature is really colourful and pretty. In the Alps the majority of the snow has melted and spring also starts there, but many attractions are still closed. It is great to do a city trip during this time.

June in Switzerland

In June the Swiss summer starts. You can often wear summer clothes and it is pleasant everywhere. Also in the alpine locations summer is starting and you can go for hikes and start exploring the mountains as the majority of the snow has melted and the cable cars have opened up again. During this time not many visitors are here yet.

July in Switzerland

This is summer (when it’s not raining for two weeks straight, which sometimes happens) in Switzerland! Enjoy everything you like, you can access the entire country, go for a swim, hike, bike, feel free and enjoy the long days! During this time the holidays start so it can be more crowded than in June. There are some outdoor festivals in all of Switzerland for you to enjoy.

August in Switzerland

Summer has had its peak in July, so it slowly gets more moderate. It is not as hot anymore but you can still do everything you planned and very often the weather is more constant than in July. In the Alps it super nice at this time, although there this is really the end of summer already. August 1 is our national day, so if you’re a culture vulture then mark this day fat in your itinerary! Next up, the best time to travel Switzerland!

September in Switzerland

This may be your favourite month as the light just dips Switzerland in its best dress. It is so pretty everywhere and in higher altitudes the fall is starting already, meaning you get colour overload! On top of that the crowds have left and you get to take it all in for yourself and move more freely. September is also the start of the hiking season for the Swiss, so this could be your favourite activity now. This can certainly make it the best time to travel Switzerland!

October in Switzerland

Fall has arrived in Switzerland and the trees are in all different colours. This is a super time to do some hiking, whereas in the high Alps some mountains already have the first now. In the cities this time is about coming together on markets and celebrating food. Also it’s a great time to enjoy a fondue as the temperatures start getting colder.

November in Switzerland

Many mountain resorts are in their shoulder season and life prepares for winter. It is often foggy and not the outdoors are not as pleasant anymore and many alpine attractions undergo maintenance during November. Now life moves more inside. If you want me to tell you which month I would skip, then it would be this one. But then again, there are good deals around.

December in Switzerland

Although it is not snowy everywhere, the lights, the Christmas markets and the festivity make life great during this month. Ski resorts open up usually in the middle of the month and life is good. If you want to spend time in the Alps, this is the time where it’s most crowded and expensive as a lot of locals spend the Christmas holidays there. But you will be surprised how nice the cities are at this time with the locals being in a really good mood!

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Best Time To Visit Switzerland: Monthly Guide By A Local & Tips [2024]

• Post author: Nicoletta
• Reading time: 55 mins read
• Post last modified: February 8, 2024
• Post comments: 0 Comments

Are you thinking about exploring Switzerland and want to enjoy the best possible time ? Choosing the right season (month) for your visit is one of the most important factors.

I lived in Switzerland for 3 years and experienced every month and season in the country, cities, and the mountains. So in this article, I’ll tell you when the best months to visit Switzerland is ( for different purposes ), and we’ll break each month down.

Let’s get to it!

✈ Travel Resources For Your Trip ✈

Here are some of my favorite travel resources I use for my travel adventures.

Best Time To Visit Switzerland: Answered!

The best time to visit Switzerland is June, September, and winter , especially December and January . These months are also less crowded, prices are slightly lower, and temperatures are mild.

June is the best month to visit Switzerland overall because you’ll enjoy the scenery in its best beauty.

Imagine green meadows with cows and flowers, snowy mountains with glaciers, rivers full of water from the melting snow, and crystal blue lakes. The landscape in June is incredibly unique . Besides, everything is open, and you can enjoy all the excursions and hiking.

September is another great month, similar to June. The only difference is that it might snow in the mountains towards the end. It’s not every year and is rather unusual, but I experienced it.

Switzerland is also great to visit in winter , with perfect skiing slopes, winter landscapes, and Christmas markets. Prices are also lower in the first two weeks of December and January than in other winter months.

👉 READ ALSO: Best Of Switzerland Itinerary: 8 Days By Train

Best Time For Hiking In Switzerland

June, July, August, and September are the best months for hiking in Switzerland. The hiking trails and mountain huts are open, and the landscape is full of beauty.

The landscape colors and views at this time of year, especially June, are breathtaking .

Best Time For Snowfall In Switzerland

January and February are the best times to visit Switzerland for snowfall . These two months, snow in the mountains, its towns, and Swiss cities is 99% guaranteed.

December is also a great month to visit Switzerland for snowfall. Still, it mostly snows in the mountains , and cities in the north, like Zurich, Basel, and St. Gallen, might still be without snow.

Best Time For Honeymoon In Switzerland

June, September, December, and January are the best months to visit Switzerland for the honeymoon .

June and September because the landscape colors are the most beautiful, everything is open and less crowded, and there are mild temperatures.

December and January are amazing for experiencing the Swiss winter wonderland , staying in wellness hotels, treating yourself, skiing, and enjoying winter hikes. These months are also less crowded, and the prices are slightly lower than other winter months.

Best Time To Visit The Swiss Alps

June, September, and January are the best months to visit the Swiss Alps . The landscape colors are the most beautiful, temperatures are mild, and you can enjoy both summer and winter hikes .

In January , you can also go skiing and sledding and enjoy other winter activities.

Hotels and some activities will be slightly cheaper than the rest of the year, too.

Travel Itinerary Planning Services

Seasons in switzerland: weather & best time to visit.

Let’s break it down to seasons. In the section below, I’ll give you an idea of what Switzerland looks like in each season , what the weather is like , what temperatures are there, and which month of the season is best to visit.

Best Time To Travel To Switzerland In Spring

The best months to visit Switzerland in spring is the beginning of April or the end of May . Generally, you can enjoy lower prices and fewer crowds in spring in Switzerland.

Temperatures in spring in Switzerland range between 8°C/46°F and 14°C/57°F . It might still snow in the mountain towns at the beginning of April. And it gets warmer at the end of April and in May.

You can still enjoy skiing in many places at the beginning of April . Yet, the snow melts significantly, so there won’t be any snow in the mountain towns, only on the slopes.

Bear in mind that at the end of April (last two weeks) and the beginning of May (first two weeks) is a shoulder season in Switzerland , when many places close after winter and prepare for summer.

It doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit Switzerland at this time (if you can’t choose another time, stick to your schedule). But if you can choose, avoid visiting between 15th April and 15th May .

The end of May is the start of the summer season, so you can go hiking in some places, but some might still be closed, so check the status of the place online.

Best Time To Travel To Switzerland In Summer

The best time for visiting Switzerland in the summertime is June .

It’s the best time overall as everything is open, the landscape colors are incredibly beautiful , and you can enjoy Switzerland with everything it offers, with fewer crowds than during the peak summer season, which is July and August.

The summer temperatures in Switzerland range between 17°C/62°F and 30°C/86°F . It doesn’t have to be that it’s cold in the mountains. It’s usually the opposite; sun shines directly onto you in the mountains, so it’s quite hot , and there is a high risk of getting sunburned , so put on sunscreen .

It also rains a lot in the mountains in summer with many thunderstorms .

Best Time To Travel To Switzerland In Autumn

September and the beginning of October are the best autumn months to visit Switzerland. They have stunning autumn colors , and the mountains are usually covered by snow. So you can enjoy picturesque train rides and still some hiking trails.

Avoid visiting Switzerland in November if you can, as it’s the shoulder season . Many businesses are closing to prepare for the winter season, and many cable cars are in maintenance.

While you can still do a lot, it’s important to check the status of each activity and see whether the things you want to do are open.

Autumn temperatures in Switzerland range between 6°C/43°F to 14°C/57°F . September is the warmest autumn month, October has mild temperatures, and November starts getting much colder.

It usually starts snowing in November . And the Swiss Alps get the first snow around the end of September or the first 2 weeks of October.

Best Time To Travel To Switzerland In Winter

Switzerland in winter is amazing. It’s the perfect winter wonderland ; even nonskiers can enjoy its beauty.

You can go skiing and snowboarding in one of the best ski resorts in the world. As a nonskier , you can benefit from many activities such as winter hiking, mountain excursions, spedding, panoramic train rides, or enjoying a spa.

The winter temperatures in Switzerland range between 0°C/32°F and -10°C/14°F . Switzerland is usually covered in snow in December, except in the northern part, where it starts snowing later towards the end of December.

January and February are the coldest months in Switzerland.

Is December A Good Time To Visit Switzerland?

Yes , December is a great time to visit Switzerland. It usually starts snowing, so you can enjoy the winter wonderland with beautiful snowy views and go skiing and snowboarding.

In the first 2 weeks of December , hotels and activities are slightly cheaper than the rest of the winter season.

👉 READ ALSO: Grindelwald In Winter: Complete Guide For Your Visit

Monthly Guide For Visiting Switzerland: Weather In Switzerland, Places To Visit & Things To Do

Now, let’s jump into the details. Below, I’ll give you an overview of what each month in Switzerland looks like , the best places to visit, and which activities you should do.

Note that every season is slightly different . I experienced snow in Grindelwald in September, but it might not happen next year.

So, all these numbers and temperatures are approximate to give you an idea of how Switzerland feels each month.

Switzerland In January

January is the coldest month in Switzerland . Most of the places are covered in snow. It’s the best time to go skiing and snowboarding and enjoy the Swiss winter wonderland .

January is a great time to visit the country as you can enjoy fewer crowds and prices are slightly lower in some places.

The average temperature in January in Switzerland is around 0°C/32°F up to -11°C/12°F . The northern part is warmer, while the Swiss Alps can experience temperatures up to -11°C/12°F.

❄ BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN JANUARY IN SWITZERLAND : Zermatt, Grindelwald, Lucerne, Davos.

❄ BEST THINGS TO DO IN JANUARY IN SWITZERLAND : skiing, snowboarding, mountain excursions, winter hikes, panoramic train rides, eating Fondue, visiting chocolate museums, and cruising on Swiss Lakes (only some lakes).

SWITZERLAND IN JANUARY OVERVIEW:

Switzerland in february.

February is similar to January in terms of the weather and temperatures . It’s the coldest month in Switzerland , along with January. Temperatures range between -1°C/30°F and -11°C/12°F .

The only difference between January and February is that February is more crowded , and prices can be slightly higher. It’s winter school holidays for many people, and so many families with kids set off to the mountains for skiing.

❄ BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN FEBRUARY IN SWITZERLAND : Zermatt, Grindelwald, Lucerne, and Davos.

❄ BEST THINGS TO DO IN FEBRUARY IN SWITZERLAND : skiing, snowboarding, mountain excursions, winter hikes, panoramic train rides, eating Fondue, visiting chocolate museums, and cruising on Swiss Lakes (only some lakes).

SWITZERLAND IN FEBRUARY OVERVIEW:

👉 READ ALSO: Is Switzerland Expensive? Ultimate Guide To Budget Your Trip

Switzerland In March

In March, it gets warmer , and snow starts melting in some parts. I remember skiing in March in Switzerland when the mountain peaks were not fully covered in snow anymore.

Yet, you can still ski and snowboard . But the conditions , especially for free riders , are slightly worse than in January and February.

Average temperatures in March are between -2°C/28°F and 4°C/39°F in Switzerland. The northern part with cities gets warmer, around 4°C/39°F , and snow melts. The Swiss Alps still have snow.

If you were to hop on a panoramic train , it might not be 100% winter wonderland anymore as the snow starts to melt, so it might be grey and gloomy.

The winter season is fully in operation , and you can still enjoy all winter activities.

❄ BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN MARCH IN SWITZERLAND : Zermatt, Grindelwald, Lucerne, Lugano.

❄ BEST THINGS TO DO IN MARCH IN SWITZERLAND : skiing, snowboarding, mountain excursions, winter hikes, panoramic train rides, eating Fondue, visiting chocolate museums, and cruising on Swiss Lakes (only some lakes).

SWITZERLAND IN MARCH OVERVIEW:

Switzerland in april.

April is the shoulder season in Switzerland , and many businesses close to prepare for the summer season at the end of the month.

Some cable cars and trains are in maintenance , so check the status of your activity and place if you plan to visit Switzerland in April if they’re operating.

Temperatures in April range between 6°C/43°F to 13°C/55°F.

Depending on the season, you can still go skiing and snowboarding in the Swiss Alps at the beginning of April ( first 2 weeks ). Mainly in Mt. Titlis, Jungfrau region, and Zermatt, the snow is more and less guaranteed.

But it’s not for free rides , and the snow melts significantly in the mountain towns, so you might have to take a cable car back to town instead of skiing down the slopes.

April is less crowded , and prices are significantly lower . It’s due to the shoulder season and many things being closed.

🔆 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN APRIL IN SWITZERLAND : Zermatt, Grindelwald, Lucerne, Zurich, Lugano, Rhine Falls.

🔆 BEST THINGS TO DO IN APRIL IN SWITZERLAND : skiing, snowboarding, panoramic train rides, eating Fondue, and visiting museums.

SWITZERLAND IN APRIL OVERVIEW:

Switzerland in may.

In May, when winter is gone in Switzerland, the summer starts knocking on the door . At the beginning of May ( first 2 weeks ), it’s still shoulder season , so many things might be closed or in maintanance, prepareing for the summer.

Temperatures in Switzerland in May range between 10°C/50°F and 16°C/61°F .

So it’s better to visit Switzerland in the last two weeks of May (if you can choose). It’s when the grass turns lush green, the glacier and snow from the mountain melt, locals bring cows to the meadows, and everything is super beautiful .

May is generally one of the cheapest months with fewer crowds , and you can enjoy most things.

🔆 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN MAY IN SWITZERLAND : Lucerne, Zurich, Lugano, Bern, Rhine Falls, Grindelwald, Geneva, Montreux, Scuol.

🔆 BEST THINGS TO DO IN MAY IN SWITZERLAND : mountain excursions, panoramic train rides, eating Fondue, visiting chocolate museums, cruising on Swiss lakes, and hiking.

SWITZERLAND IN MAY OVERVIEW:

👉 READ ALSO: Does Switzerland Use The Euro? All You Need To Know

Switzerland In June

June is overall the best month of the year to visit Switzerland .

The landscape colors are the most beautiful , and Switzerland brings you everything that you picture it to be: lush green meadows with flowers and mowing cows, mountain peaks covered in snow, rivers full of water, and crystal clear lakes.

Everything is open again after the shoulder season. Yet, there are still fewer crowds, and the hotels are slightly cheaper than during the peak summertime.

In June, temperatures in Switzerland range around 16°C/61°F to 24°C/75°F.

🌄 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN JUNE IN SWITZERLAND : Entire Switzerland

🌄 BEST THINGS TO DO IN JUNE IN SWITZERLAND : everything from mountain excursions , hiking, panoramic train rides, eating Fondue, visiting museums, cruising on Swiss Lakes, and visiting Swiss cities.

SWITZERLAND IN JUNE OVERVIEW:

Switzerland in july.

July is the hottest and the most crowded month in Switzerland. Many people come for a vacation, whether they want to enjoy Swiss lakes, mountain excursions, beautiful cities, or go hiking in nature.

It’s overall a great time to visit if you don’t mind crowds.

Temperatures in July in Switzerland range between 20°C/68°F and 28°C/82°F .

🌄 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN JULY IN SWITZERLAND : Entire Switzerland

🌄 BEST THINGS TO DO IN JULY IN SWITZERLAND : everything from mountain excursions, hiking, panoramic train rides, eating Fondue, visiting chocolate museums, cruising Swiss Lakes museums, and visiting Swiss cities.

SWITZERLAND IN JULY OVERVIEW:

Switzerland in august.

August is a similar month to July . It gets slightly less crowded towards the end of August. But it’s pretty much the same. It’s another hot month in Switzerland ; you can enjoy everything it offers and its full beauty.

Temperatures in August range around 20°C/68°F up to 29°C/84°F .

🌄 BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN AUGUST IN SWITZERLAND : Entire Switzerland

🌄 BEST THINGS TO DO IN AUGUST IN SWITZERLAND : everything from mountain excursions, hiking, panoramic train rides, eating Fondue, visiting chocolate museums, cruising Swiss Lakes museums, and visiting Swiss cities.

SWITZERLAND IN AUGUST OVERVIEW:

👉 READ ALSO: How Many Days In Switzerland Is Enough? Revealed!

Switzerland In September

September is the second best month to visit Switzerland (right after June). It’s the time of the year when it gets less crowded , and prices for some activities get lower at the end of the month.

The autumn colors start to shine throughout the Swiss landscape, and it is another beautiful time of the year. Everything is still open , so you can get the most out of your time in Switzerland.

It’s specifically amazing for panoramic train rides, hiking , and mountain excursions.

It might snow a bit in the Swiss Alps in September, but it depends on the season. I experienced it when it snowed in Grindelwald and the mountains on the 17th of September. But again, it depends on the season .

Temperatures in September in Switzerland range between 15°C/59°F and 6°C/43°F.

⚜ BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN SEPTEMBER IN SWITZERLAND : Entire Switzerland

⚜ BEST THINGS TO DO IN SEPTEMBER IN SWITZERLAND : everything from mountain excursions, hiking, panoramic train rides, eating Fondue, visiting chocolate museums, cruising Swiss Lakes museums, day trips from Interlaken , and visiting Swiss cities.

SWITZERLAND IN SEPTEMBER OVERVIEW:

👉 READ ALSO: Is Swiss Travel Pass Worth It? All You Need To Know

Switzerland In October

October is a beautiful month to visit Switzerland . It’s when summer is gone, and many people are busy working, so it’s much less crowded . Prices are significantly lower .

Most things are still open in October, and the autumn landscape colors are beautiful.

Temperatures in October range between 10°C/50°F and 3°C/37°F.

I loved spending October in Switzerland . When the crowds were gone , I went up to the mountains, and while it was slightly more chilly, I enjoyed hiking and walking around.

It’s a special time of the year and one of the best to visit.

⚜ BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN OCTOBER IN SWITZERLAND : Entire Switzerland

⚜ BEST THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER IN SWITZERLAND : everything from mountain excursions, hiking, panoramic train rides, eating Fondue, visiting chocolate museums, cruising Swiss Lakes museums, and visiting Swiss cities.

SWITZERLAND IN OCTOBER OVERVIEW:

Switzerland in november.

November is a less popular time to visit Switzerland. While I always say that if you only have a chance to visit Switzerland in November, it shouldn’t put you off. But if you can choose, I recommend to avoid visiting the country at this time of the year .

The weather in November is usually gloomy , and the trees lose leaves , so the landscape is less pretty than in October. Temperatures range between 5°C/41°F and 0°C/32°F.

November is also the shoulder season ( similar to April ), when businesses close and prepare for the winter season. Also, many cable cars and trains are in maintenance .

So check the status of your activity and place before visiting and whether it’s open .

It usually starts snowing at the end of November in Switzerland, especially in the Swiss Alps.

You can already enjoy skiing in some resorts, such as Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Diavolezza, Glacier 3000, and Mt. Titlis.

⚜ BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN NOVEMBER IN SWITZERLAND : Zermatt, Grindelwald, Lugano, Diavolezza, Mt. Titlis, Lucerne, Geneva.

⚜ BEST THINGS TO DO IN NOVEMBER IN SWITZERLAND : visit Swiss cities and museums, eat Fondue, visit chocolate museums, cruise on Swiss Lakes (only some lakes), some mountain excursions, skiing and snowboarding in some resorts.

SWITZERLAND IN NOVEMBER OVERVIEW:

👉 READ ALSO: Switzerland In November – if you’re visiting, see what you can do to get the most of your time

Switzerland In December

December is another great month to visit Switzerland and one of the most magical times . Everything is back in operation after the break, and you can go skiing in all the ski resorts.

It starts snowing in the entire of Switzerland . You can enjoy Christmas markets with a special atmosphere in the Swiss cities or the beautiful mountain towns and their winter wonderland.

December is a great month to visit; even if you’re a nonskier , you can enjoy many activities like panoramic train rides, winter hikes, or adventure activities.

The first two weeks of December are less crowded, and prices are still lower before they skyrocket for the festive season.

Temperatures in December in Switzerland range between 2°C/35°F and -10°C/14°F .

❄ BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN DECEMBER IN SWITZERLAND : Zermatt, Grindelwald, Davos, Mt. Titlis, Lucerne, Geneva, Jungfraujoch .

❄ BEST THINGS TO DO IN DECEMBER IN SWITZERLAND : skiing and snowboarding, visiting Swiss cities for Christmas markets, museums, eating Fondue, cruising on Swiss Lakes (only some lakes), mountain excursions, and winter hiking.

SWITZERLAND IN DECEMBER OVERVIEW

👉 READ ALSO: 11 Cheapest Ways To Travel Switzerland On A Budget

I’ve also answered some of the most frequently asked questions for you. Check my answers below:

What Is The Best Month To Go To Switzerland?

June is the best month to go to Switzerland. It has mild temperatures, fewer crowds, slightly lower prices, and beautiful landscapes.

What Is The Cheapest Month To Visit Switzerland?

The cheapest month to visit Switzerland is November . It’s shoulder season, so many businesses are closed or are in maintenance, yet some are still open, so you can enjoy activities for less.

The weather is mostly gloomy , and while it’s not the best time to visit the country, it’s certainly the cheapest.

Which Month Is The Most Beautiful In Switzerland?

June is the most beautiful month in Switzerland. The landscape colors are the most beautiful, with melting glaciers, rivers full of water, lakes crystal clear, and meadows lush green with flowers, and everything is so lively and beautiful.

What Is The Rainy Season In Switzerland?

The rainy season in Switzerland is from May until the beginning of November . It usually rains the most in May and October .

The summer months (July and August) also get a lot of rain with thunderstorms , especially in the mountain towns.

WRAP-UP: Best Time To Visit Switzerland

This is how Switzerland feels each month of the year. While some months are better for your visit than others, Switzerland is just beautiful all year round . So check the weather forecast and the status of activities in the region you want to visit, and I’m sure you’ll have a great time all year round.

If you have any questions or need a customized travel itinerary , contact me at info(at)voicesoftravel.com . I’ll gladly help you.

Happy Swiss Travels!

More Tips For Switzerland Travel

Looking to get more tips for Switzerland? Check out my related articles:

Best Of Switzerland Itinerary: 8 Days By Train

3 Days In Switzerland: 11 Itineraries For All Travelers & Seasons

22 Amazing Day Trips From Interlaken

23 Incredible Things To Do In Jungfrau Region

Is Jungfraujoch Worth It? Ultimate Guide

5 Best Panoramic Trains In Switzerland

8 Best Mountains In Switzerland To Visit

Jungfrau Travel Pass vs. Swiss Travel Pass

Swiss Travel Pass: Unlimites Travel In Switzerland

Is Switzerland Expensive? All You Need To Know

Brienz Switzerland: Best Things To Do & Places To Visit

Switzerland In Winter: Best Places To Visit & Things To Do

How Swiss Cheese Is Made

About the author: Nicoletta  is a travel enthusiast and passionate language learner. While traveling, she loves to connect with locals using her language skills to learn about new cultures. Look for her skiing, hiking in the mountains, or exploring new destinations as she designs travel itineraries for her clients.

SWITZERLAND : Interested in more articles for Switzerland? Check out my Switzerland Travel Page .

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Best Time To Visit Switzerland (Weather & Seasons)

Figuring out the best time to visit Switzerland depends on what you want to see and do while you are here.

Switzerland experiences a huge range of weather during the different seasons of the year, ranging from scorching hot in the height of summer to freezing cold in winter. I have experienced it all during my 20+ years of living here.

So, the weather will undoubtedly make a massive difference to your stay and the things you can do while you’re there. Hiking and mountain excursions are great from May to October but impossible in winter. Skiing is awesome in January, but the weather is in the cities does not allow for el fresco dining!

Join me as I run through everything you need to know to decide when the best time to visit Switzerland is for you.

Table of Contents

Spring (April to June) – Shoulder Season

Spring is a delightful time to visit Switzerland as the temperatures are moderate and the flowers are in bloom.

Known as shoulder season, this is also when Switzerland is not yet overrun with tourists and popular places are a little more peaceful.

Between April and June, the countryside is lush, snow on the peaks, and you will see all the wildflowers in bloom. I love heading to places like Maderanertal, where the variety of Alpine flowers is mind-blowing, as is the road to get there.

During spring, hiking trails at lower elevations might be open, the mountains will be free of skiers, and hotels and flights are more affordable too.

If you are brave, it might just be warm enough to swim in some lakes and enjoy watersports. I don’t do it personally, but some of my friends swim for nine months of the year. So anything is possible!

Temperature

Temperatures range on average from 59°F in April to 68°F in May and up to 70°F in June. It is not cold by any means, but if you prefer warmer weather, June will be your favorite month to visit Switzerland in spring.

April and May can be a bit wet in my experience. Although global warming changes all the seasons, so, this is not something I can 100% predict anymore.

June will have sunny skies and less rainfall, making it the best month to visit before summer starts

Reasons to Visit

• More affordable flights and accommodation
• Fewer tourists around
• Wildflowers in bloom
• Hiking trails open up
• Ideal weather
• Snow-capped peaks
• Lush countryside
• Ideal for a countryside train experience

Travel Tips

• Pack warm and cold clothes
• Pack so you can stay dry if needed
• Always have sunscreen and a hat with you
• Go to the mountains as it is the most affordable time
• It is the perfect time for scenic train rides

Summer (July to August) – High Season

Summer in Switzerland is the busiest time of year to travel.

This time of the year coincides with the school holidays in July and August, making it a popular time to visit. Popular tourist destinations are crawling with people, and you will also experience the warmest and sunniest weather.

Of course, having sun every day is not guaranteed in an Alpine country like Switzerland. However, it is sunnier fare more often than not. The lakes warm up for swimming and watersports, making high-altitude hiking trails accessible.

Most of the fun music festivals take place in summer, too. Famous ones like the Montreux Jazz Festival, the Zurich Street Parade and Swiss National Day do too.

It is a fun time to be in Switzerland as everywhere is alive. Particularly this year, I found the cities and towns in Switzerland to be thriving. Every restaurant and terrace was full of sun lovers having lunch or a coffee.

So, it is a lot busier, and prices can be as high as 50% more for flights and accommodation.

Mountain resorts also become particularly busy during this time—especially places like Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and Zermatt.

Average temperatures range from 75 °F in July to 73 °F in August, the weather does just stay consistently hot over the high season months of July and August.

You will generally be blessed with sunny days and blue skies through July and August in the lower altitude areas of Switzerland, such as around Lake Geneva. Higher altitudes may experience more cloud cover and the odd rain shower.

• Guaranteed warm weather
• Access to high-altitude hiking trails
• Ideal for water sports and mountain sports
• Switzerland is alive with people
• A lot of fun festivals to go to
• Great for lakeside chilling
• Book flights & accommodation well in advance as they are very busy during this time of year
• Pack for hot weather plus a few items for warmth and to keep you dry
• Do not forget swimwear, sunscreen, hats, or sunglasses

Autumn (September to October) – Shoulder Season

Fall is a magical time of year to visit Switzerland. And it is another shoulder season, meaning prices are cheaper too.

During September, the weather is still warm , there are fewer crowds , the prices of flights and accommodation are lower , and it is much more peaceful.

It is still warm enough to swim in the lakes and access high mountain trails, and you also get to see the beautiful autumn colors coming out around the mountains. The alpine scenery is at its best and it is a lovely time to go on an alpine train ride like the Glacier Express.

October is an extraordinary time of year in the South as the Larch trees turn yellow, making for unique scenery and stunning photos. I was in Zermatt during this period last year and it was jaw-droppingly beautiful.

This is also the time of year when the grapes are being harvested and you can experience Switzerland’s many wine festivals

Average temperatures are about 68 °F in September and drop dramatically to 57 °F in October. This makes September a better time to visit for warmer activities, but it is in October that you see the autumn colors come to life.

Generally, the weather in high and lower altitudes is warm and dry during September, but it is starting to turn a bit colder at higher altitudes by the end of the month.

October in low altitudes is lovely, but high altitudes will start to get snow, passes and trails may be blocked, and cable cars will close for maintenance for a few weeks

• Good weather
• Autumn colors
• Spaces on experiences like the Glacier Express
• Great hiking access
• It is still warm for water sports & adventure sports
• Pack for warm/cold/wet/dry weather
• Get up into the mountains to see the Autumn colors
• Book last minute and you might get a deal

Winter (November to March) – High & Low Season

Winter season is high-season in Switzerland for the ski resorts and low-season for the rest of Switzerland.

The snowfall begins at higher altitude resorts in November and hits all resorts by about mid-December and runs through to late March. Christmas is the busiest time for winter sports enthusiasts, as people come to ski and have a white Christmas and see the Christmas markets.

February is also known as “Sport holiday” to the locals, as all the school children have a week or two off. As such, prices are also higher in the mountains during most of February.

Prices in Winter in the ski areas skyrocket, while in lower altitudes, you will find low season rates. It is a great time to experience Switzerland for a bargain as you can visit cities like Geneva and Zurich, pop into Christmas markets for some festive cheer, and hop up into the mountains for a hike in the snow.

If you want to go skiing, I recommend either January or March because by then there is enough snow, but you skip the two busiest months of the winter.

The average temperature during this time in Switzerland varies from 36 °F to 45 °F, close to freezing. It is, of course, a lot colder at higher altitudes.

Snow, rain, wind, sunshine, and cold are everything you might experience in winter.

• Awesome for winter sports
• The snow-covered Alps are stunning.
• Christmas markets
• More affordable flights & accommodation (not in ski areas)
• Winter hikes are beautiful
• Waterproof boots are a must
• Warmth is all about layering
• Sunscreen and sunglasses are a must
• Christmas markets are worth a visit
• Zermatt and the Valais region are stunning

Best Month to Visit Switzerland

The best month to visit Switzerland, in my personal opinion, is in September. It is quieter and more affordable, the weather is excellent, and all the high-altitude hiking trails are still open. It is also warm enough to enjoy all the water sports around the lower-altitude lakes.

June also offers the same benefits as September, but you might get to see some autumn colors in September, which is why September is best in my eyes.

On top of that, in June, not all of the hikes are open yet, as it takes some months for all the snow to melt!

Cheapest Month to Visit Switzerland

There is not one single cheapest month for visiting Switzerland, there are 3. November, March, and April are the most affordable times to visit Switzerland.

This is when the weather isn’t so great at high or low altitudes, making the demand low and the prices too.

Best Time to Visit the Alps

If you are looking to do snow sports, then you have to go during the ski season. The best snow is usually between December and the end of March, but if you want quiet slopes, choose the second week of March or the first 2 weeks of January.

If you want to hike around the Alps in June and September, either side of the peak season is your best bet. You will miss the summer crowds but still have good weather and access to high-altitude trails.

Best Time to Visit for Honeymoon

The best time to visit for a honeymoon depends entirely on what you would like to do on your honeymoon, there are many reasons to visit Switzerland after all.

If you want snow and skiing, the first week of March is your best bet. For fabulous weather and outdoor activities, May, June, and September are great, plus the romantic Autumn colors of October are also lovely.

Best Time to Visit for Hiking

May and June, as well as September and early October, are the best times to be visiting Switzerland for hiking. The higher altitude trails will begin to open. May & June has beautiful wildflowers, while September & October has stunning autumn colors and more higher trails are open.

If you want to do high-altitude hiking outside the high season, late June and early September will give you the best access.

How Many Days in Switzerland Is Enough?

How many days is enough to spend in Switzerland? The answer to this comes down to what you would like to do again. For a dash of city life and some mountains, 5 days is ideal – 2 in the cities and 3 in the mountains.

So, When Is the Best Time to Visit Switzerland?

The best time to visit Switzerland is a very personal choice as it depends on what you would like to experience.

The best time to ski is the first week of March in my eyes, as the snow is still good and the slopes are quieter.

For a warmer experience with outdoor activities, June and September are hard to beat. The weather is excellent, prices are lower, there are fewer crowds, and the countryside is still looking stunning.

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Best Time To Visit Switzerland: A Month-by-Month Guide

Wondering when is the best time to visit Switzerland? If you’re already planning your visit to the Swiss Alps, then you know that choosing the best time of year isn’t as obvious as you might think.

You wanna maximize your experiences, enjoy perfect weather with minimal crowds, and to top it off, you’d love to do it on a budget . But does this idyllic time of year even exist?

>>Just here for the free download? Here it is !

Prefer to WATCH instead of READ? Here ya go!

Hey, we’re Jana and Brett , and this beautiful slice of Switzerland has become our adopted home for the past 2 summers (since 2021). But we don’t just spend time here for our enjoyment — we’re on a mission to help you maximize your trip to Switzerland while minimizing your budget and planning time .

So today we’re gonna help you decide when is the best time to visit Switzerland, based on questions you often ask us about in the comments of our YouTube videos:

• What’s the weather like?
• Which months are cheaper or more expensive?
• What’s open and which trains/mountain lifts are running?

We’ll answer these questions month-by-month using real data. But you know we’re gonna give you more than just the facts, right? So after working our way through the calendar, we’re gonna get down to the nitty gritty—sharing when we would choose to visit based on sightseeing priorities and travel preferences that are way more personal than any amount of research.

So are you ready to plan your trip to Switzerland? Let’s go.

Follow along using our free spreadsheet download of month-by-month weather data, average Airbnb costs, and train openings!

Weather in Switzerland Year Round (Month-By-Month)

As we work through the calendar, here’s what we’ll highlight for each month using data for Interlaken, Switzerland since that’s the hub of the region (and may be one of the best places to visit in Switzerland):

• Average high temperature
• Average # of days with sunshine
• Average # of days with precipitation (rain or snow)
• Average cost of an Airbnb during the month
• Which railways and cable cars are open or closed

Keep in mind, though, that averages only tell some of the story. This region frequently has extreme weather swings, so your experience could be quite different than the averages indicate. And of course, it can change quite drastically depending on the altitude.

So use this as a guide to help make your decision, and then commit to having a great time on your trip to the region no matter what the weather throws at you!

Switzerland Weather in January

• Temperature : 36°F
• Sunshine : 7 days
• Precipitation : 9 days
• Lodging : 4th least expensive

It’s no surprise that the first month of the year is also the coldest, with an average high temperature of 36 °F, 7 days with sunshine, and 9 days with precipitation.

It’s also the 4th least expensive month based on airbnb data.

During January, you’ll find that most of the important mountain trains and cable cars are running, with the exception of ones that run only in summer such as the funicular to Harder Kulm, the cogwheel train to Schynige Platte , and the steam train to the Brienzer Rothorn.

The Berner Oberland Regional Pass (our favorite!) won’t be available for a few more months, but in the past few years a winter version of the Top of Europe pass has been available.

If you love snow or snowsports, then January is obviously a great month to visit, and there are even sledding, snowshoeing, and winter hiking tracks too.

Switzerland Weather in February

• Temperature : 40°F
• Sunshine : 5 days
• Precipitation : 3 days
• Lodging : least expensive month

February looks a lot like January in many ways. The average high temperature is slightly warmer at 40°. 

You’re likely to see snow or rain just as often as in January. But it has one of the lowest amounts of total precipitation for the entire year.

But It’s typically not as sunny, with an average of just 5 days with sunshine—however, February also has fewer days, so there is that 😉

A benefit of traveling in February is that it’s the least expensive month to book a rental on Airbnb . And as for rail operation and travel passes, you’ll pretty much find the exact same availability as January.

When is the best time to ski in Switzerland? Possibly February because that’s when the locals go. Schools typically close for a week or two in February and lots of Swiss use this time to go skiing. So if you’re coming primarily for a ski trip you might want to avoid this month, or at least be aware of how school holidays might impact the crowds and prices.

Switzerland Weather in March

• Temperature : 48°F
• Sunshine : 10 days
• Precipitation : 11 days
• Lodging : 5th least expensive

March is kind of a weird month in a lot of ways. Winter is starting to say goodbye, especially at lower elevations, but it really isn’t spring yet either.

There’s an average high temp of 48° in Interlaken with 10 days with sunshine and 11 days with precipitation. But your experience could really vary depending on where you visit.

Lower elevation ski areas such as Oeschinensee and the Niederhorn wrap up their winter season and close for maintenance by the middle of the month.

And airbnb prices are beginning to pick up, but it’s still the 5th least expensive month of the year.

Switzerland Weather in April

• Temperature : 54°F
• Sunshine : 14 days
• Precipitation : 12 days
• Lodging : 7th least expensive

April really is the beginning of Spring in Switzerland, especially at lower elevations. Interlaken sees an average high temp of 54°, but you’ll probably see days in the 60s as well, especially later in the month.

There are an average of 14 days with sunshine and 12 days with precipitation, but it also ranks 7th for your budget, indicating that international tourism is beginning to come out of hibernation.

The Top of Europe summer pass is usually available around the middle of the month, but it’s a complicated time to plan your sightseeing. More cable cars and mountain trains are shut down part of the month for maintenance, with the Schilthorn included in that mix.

But the funicular to Harder Kulm opens midway through the month, and might just be the best spot for a sunset view on a clear day.

And around this time, you also see Lake Thun and Lake Brienz spring back to life, with boat cruises beginning to run regularly. It’s not a great time for hiking or skiing in the high mountains, but at lower elevations it might be one of the most beautiful times of year.

Waterfalls and rivers flow freely, wildflowers begin to bloom, and it’s all set against the backdrop of snow-capped mountains.

Keep in mind that schools also closed for a week or two around Easter for a spring break of sorts. So you might find more Europeans traveling and perhaps some smaller shops or restaurants closed for the break.

Need a cheat sheet?

I know, this is a lot of technical information. But when you’re planning a trip to the mountains, this is the stuff you need to know!

So we created a free download with all of the weather data and Airbnb stats we’ve been referencing, plus we made a comprehensive chart of 23 trains, cable cars, and funiculars in the Jungfrau Region and which months they’re open or closed.

Sign up for the free download and it will be sent straight to your inbox!

But for now, let’s dive into the next few months which are the peak tourism season in the Swiss Alps.

Switzerland Weather in May

• Temperature : 64°F
• Sunshine : 11 days
• Precipitation : 19 days
• Lodging : 9th least expensive

May feels more like the springtime you might be used to with average high temperatures of 64° and plenty of days well into the 70s.

It also rains like the spring you might be used to—with just 11 days with sunshine and 19 days with precipitation on average, making it the rainiest month of the year. (Maybe that’s why they call it “spring?”)

But as colleges in the U.S. wrap up their spring semesters, you’ll see the return of more international tourists, as well as higher prices on airbnb.

There are still times of maintenance for some of the mountain railways and cable cars; but very few of them are shut down for the entire month.

The cable car and train from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren is closed for maintenance for a couple weeks. But thankfully the Schilthornbahn is open once again so you can reach Mürren using that cable car instead.

On top of that, the cogwheel train to Schynige Platte and the gondola to the beautiful blue lake at Oeschinensee are running by the end of the month, and you’ll finally be able to use our favorite train pass: the Berner Oberland regional pass.

Oh and we forgot to mention that our free download also shows you which train passes are available for every month of the year.

Switzerland Weather in June

• Temperature : 70°F
• Sunshine : 12 days
• Precipitation : 18 days
• Lodging : 2nd most expensive

When June comes around it’s officially summer in Switzerland—both in terms of weather and tourism.

The average high temperature is just 70°, but you’ll likely see temps reach well up into the 80s at some point.

June sees an average of 12 days with sunshine. But along with the heat, you’ll also see plenty of precipitation.

The first part of the month can still feel like Spring in Switzerland, depending on the year. But by the middle of the month we’re very much into high season, making this the 2nd most expensive month according to airbnb data.

A couple of mountain trains and funiculars, like the one to Allmendhubel , wait until the first or second weekend of the month to open for the summer season, but by the middle of the month, everywhere you’d like to visit in the mountains is open.

Schools break for the summer starting early in the month, which means you’ll definitely notice a difference in how busy this place gets as June moves along.

And that definitely won’t show any signs of slowing down as we move into July.

Switzerland Weather in July

• Temperature : 75°F
• Precipitation : 17 days
• Lodging : Most expensive

July could probably be thought of as the high of high season, and there are plenty of good reasons for that:

• Schools and universities are on break in Europe and North America, bringing tons of international travelers.
• The snow has melted at most higher elevations, making world-class hiking trails available all over the region.
• The weather is the warmest and the days are the longest.

While the average high temperature is only 75°, don’t be surprised to see that thermometer stretch up into the high 80s or even the 90s.

Your chances of sunshine tend to be higher than during the Spring, but you’re probably going to see your fair share of rain as well.

Unfortunately all that means July is also the most expensive time to book an airbnb . But along with high prices and lots of daylight, you also have every summer activity imaginable at your disposal.

All of the mountain trains and cable cars are running throughout the entire month, and this is also the perfect time for cruising on—or even swimming in—the lakes.

If you’re coming for summer sports activities and are willing to pay a premium and endure the crowds, July is a safe choice.

Switzerland Weather in August

• Sunshine : 16 days
• Precipitation : 15 days
• Lodging : 3rd most expensive

Moving on to August, it would be a mistake not to mention that the 1st of the month is the Swiss National Day, kind of like Independence Day in the U.S.

There are activities and parades in nearly every village and town, and we think it’s a lot of fun to be in Switzerland during this time. But you’ll likely see a lot more of the Swiss traveling to the area and some small shops might be closed at least for the day, so keep that in mind.

August has the same average high temperature as July, and the first part of the month is almost certainly going to feel like the heat of summer. But as the month goes along, you just might find hints of Fall temperatures around the corner.

It also tends to be a little more stable than Spring and early Summer, with an average of 16 days with sun compared to 15 days with precipitation. 

August is the 3rd most expensive month on airbnb. But just like July, all of the mountain trains and lifts will be running, making it another fantastic month for summer sports of all kinds.

Switzerland Weather in September

• Temperature : 68°F
• Sunshine : 20 days
• Precipitation : 10 days
• Lodging : 5th most expensive

By early September, schools are back in session in Switzerland, Europe, and North America, so you’ll notice a discernible decrease in the number of tourists.

The average high temperature drops back to 68°, but there is normally still an abundance of sunshine and quite a bit less rain, and you’ll probably see plenty of days with temperatures in the 70s.

It’s the 5th most expensive month on airbnb, but all of the mountain trains and cable cars are still running, making it a solid option for those traveling on a budget who still want high mountain hiking options.

The last two years we’ve noticed pretty drastic weather changes between the first and second half of the month. And while that might not be typical every year, it’s worth mentioning that Autumn really has arrived by the end of the month.

All that to say, if you crave warm temperatures and long, sunny days, both are likely gone by the time the calendar changes to October! But to us, the blue September skies just look a little clearer and this is one of our favorite months to visit this region.

Switzerland Weather in October

• Temperature : 57°F
• Sunshine : 22 days
• Precipitation : 8 days
• Lodging : 6th least expensive

Speaking of October, this is the month when the locals enjoy spending time in their mountains.

Schools are on break for a couple weeks and most international tourists have packed up and left, so October is perhaps one of the most authentic times to enjoy the Jungfrau Region.

The weather tends to be pretty cooperative too, even though it’s quite a bit cooler, with an average high of 57° and temperatures rarely reaching beyond the 60s.

If you like sunshine and cooler temperatures, this just might be the month for you. 22 days with sunshine compared to just 8 with precipitation makes this one of the sunniest and driest months of the entire year.

Having said that, October will also bring a few more planning complications compared to the summer in Switzerland. By the end of the month, lots of mountain trains and lifts start closing for maintenance, with Grindelwald First included in this group.

But all in all, October (which is the 6th least expensive month) might just be an all-around bargain. With Fall colors on full display, and fresh mushrooms and local game on offer at restaurants, there’s a lot to love about this time of year.

Switzerland Weather in November

• Temperature : 45°F
• Sunshine : 15 days
• Lodging : 3rd least expensive

What can we say about November? For starters, it seems to have a bit of an identity crisis. It’ll make you think it’s Autumn in Switzerland and it’ll also tell you it’s Winter—and sometimes both at the same time!

The average high temperature is 45°, but you might see days with highs in the low 30s and other days in the low 60s.

The amount of sunshine also drops quite a bit, though you likely won’t see huge amounts of precipitation either. Gray, misty fog just might be the best picture of an average day in November.

But November is also the 3rd cheapest month according to airbnb.

Most of the summer trains and cable cars have shut down by this point, and even the Schilthorn goes into maintenance mode partway through the month.

Jungfraujoch is open 365 days a year, but even a visit there could be more complicated. Both the Eiger Express from Grindelwald and the train from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg are closed for maintenance for part of the month, meaning it could take up to an hour longer than normal to reach Jungfraujoch depending on where you’re staying.

Answers to your travel questions

Travelers just like you have asked us a ton of questions about when to visit, what’s the weather like, and what to do if the lifts are closed—and this post and our free download are made to give you a realistic picture of what it’s like to visit Interlaken during each month of the year.

Just want to remind you to snatch up the free-and-helpful goodness using the form below!

And now, let’s wrap up with the final month of the year.

Switzerland Weather in December

• Temperature : 38°F
• Lodging : 2nd least expensive

If Christmas markets, mulled wine, puffy coats, and snow sound charming to you, then you’re probably going to love December.

I’m sure we don’t need to tell you it’ll be cold, with average high temperatures in the upper 30s. But that’s what gets you in the holiday spirit, right?

Unsurprisingly, the amount of sunshine drops along with the temperatures, but average precipitation for the month remains pretty low.

If you avoid the days surrounding Christmas and New Years, December is pretty budget friendly, with airbnb ranking it the 2nd cheapest month of the year.

Though the first half of the month still has quite a few closures, all the important ski areas and sightseeing spots—including Grindelwald First and the Schilthorn —will be open and waiting for your visit.

So if you like the holiday season and know how to pack your layers, December in the Jungfrau Region could be an experience unlike anything you’ve enjoyed before!

That was helpful but…now what?

We’re all about helping you maximize your trip while minimizing your budget and planning time, so here are some bonus tips that will help you decide when to visit based on specific priorities and activities.

We get lots of questions like, “When is the most beautiful time to visit the Swiss Alps?”

While that’s an impossible question and every time of year is beautiful here, we know this usually means a few things: wildflowers in bloom, green alpine meadows, and waterfalls filled to the brim with snow melt.

To enjoy scenes like these that inspired even great writers like Tolkien, there’s nothing like Springtime in the Jungfrau Region. Particularly, aim for mid-April to mid-June .

Giessbach Falls will be raging, the Sprutz and Staubach falls will be plunging mightily, and the entire Lauterbrunnen Valley will look like a fantasy.

If you’re looking for the best combination of springtime beauty and hiking availability, look to June. You might not be able to access the highest of alpine hikes, particularly early in the month, but you’ll find plenty to keep all of your senses busy!

If you’re like us and you love hiking in the Swiss Alps , then plan your visit sometime from June to September . A word of caution though about June: snow sometimes covers trails above 2000m well into the month. So if it’s really important to you to have the best trails available with good conditions, you might wanna wait until at least the second half of June . 

And if you’re looking for fewer tourists and perhaps a lower budget, the first half of September has proved to be a great time to visit. You’re less likely to experience extreme heat, the weather is a little more stable, and the snow usually hasn’t yet returned even at higher elevations.

Now if the hiking you’re more interested in isn’t so high in the mountains, mid-May to mid-June and mid-September to mid-October could be a great choice as well. But don’t count on being able to hike mountain trails above 1700 or 1800, even though it might be possible depending on the year.

It goes without saying that if you like to swim in the lakes and you’re not cold-blooded, July and August will be the best times to visit.

But enjoying a nice boat ride on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz can happen anytime from mid-April until the last week or so of October . This entire time is also great for lakeside strolls .

Winter in Switzerland

If you love winter wonderlands yet winter sports aren’t your reason for traveling, it’s hard to imagine a better time to visit than December , when the Christmas markets and decorations are in full swing, and the charm level is dialed up to a 10 out of 10.

If winter sports are your jam, we’ve heard that January and February are the best time to ski in Switzerland, although February is particularly busy due to school breaks. So December and March might offer fewer crowds and better prices.

But admittedly, we aren’t skiers, and we haven’t yet been here for Winter in Switzerland. But we wanted to share our perspective with you based on our own experience as well as lots of research.

When is the best time to visit Switzerland?

Our goal is to help you travel with confidence by reducing your planning time and stretching your budget, and that’s exactly what our free download does!

So check your inbox for the free guide , and we’ll see you in Switzerland!

Jana is an SEO copywriter and content editor plus travel YouTuber. She loves all things gelato, sunshine, and words. Her perfect day? Tossing on sunglasses to read a book and catch some rays, then dinner with her husband and friends. In her free time, Jana disciples teen girls and cooks from scratch (like homemade pasta). Jana lives in Switzerland with her husband, Brett.

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The best time to visit Switzerland

When is the best time to visit Switzerland? What do you need to know for your perfect stay? Switzerland has unforgettable experiences in store for you. Explore it when it has the most to offer you.

Schynige Platte Helicopter Skydive

Jump out of the helicopter from 4000 meters height during this skydive over Interlaken. Enjoy a breathtaking view of the mountains and lakes of the Bernese Oberland, while you speed with 200 km/h into the depth.

Duration: 3 hours

Use your phone or print out the voucher

No booking fees

Free cancellation

English, German

booked 26 times

Kayak tour in summer on the lake of Brienz

Discover the beauty of turquoise Lake Brienz from a different perspective while enjoying the tranquility of the lake in your kayak.

German, English

booked 33 times

From Zurich: Culinary bus tour to Appenzell

On this group tour by minibus from Zurich to Appenzell you will enjoy the triple luxury of Switzerland: cheese, chocolate and majestic mountains.

Duration: 11 hours

Switzerland is a dream destination for people all over the world

No matter when and where you go. Switzerland always has something to offer. It is rich in sights, beautiful landscapes and interesting cities waiting to be discovered by you.

Finding the right time to travel, however, is not easy. January and February are best for skiing. Between April and June you can avoid the tourist crowds. And there are good reasons why everyone wants to go to Switzerland for the high summer in July and August. However, nothing stands in the way of extended hikes even in the golden autumn.

As you can see, there is not the best time to travel to Switzerland. There is only your best time to travel. By the way, this can also determine the cost of your trip, as you can save money in Switzerland in the off-season. In this article we will help you to answer important questions about this topic and find out the best time for you to travel.

• How does the climate influence the best time to visit Switzerland?

Switzerland cannot be limited to a single climate zone. Thanks to its versatile topographical position, you will encounter a multi-layered, variable climate like hardly any other European country. The imposing Alpine massif functions as a gigantic climatic divide.

The weather in the Alps is extremely capricious. The high alpine climate brings you winters with lots of snow and ice as well as dry summers. On the mountain slopes you have to expect sudden weather changes. The areas near the Alps get warm foehn winds, which makes sailors and surfers happy.

The southern side of the Alps is influenced by the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, almost Mediterranean conditions prevail there. In Ticino, the sunny room of Switzerland, as well as in the equally sunny southern Valais, you therefore enjoy a friendly climate.

On the northern side of the Alps, i.e. on the Swiss Plateau with its cities and lakes, the climate is continental. Western sea air and continental weather conditions from the east make it pleasantly mild. Autumn, however, can bring you gray days here with the high fog.

It is worth consulting the weather forecasts on a daily basis. Besides, with a balanced mix of clothes you are well prepared for such weather changes.

• What is the best season to travel in Switzerland?

Due to the varied climate, there is no single peak season in Switzerland. However, you will face increased bookings and prices around Christmas time, in February and during the summer months in the mountain regions. In Ticino, on the other hand, you can expect high prices and tight availability from June to October

Peak season is not always the best time to travel. Crowds of tourists await you in flights and hotels booked up well in advance.

Most ski resorts close at the end of April, ushering in the low season in many places. This time also has its charm. Some destinations are almost deserted in May or September and therefore especially the prices of the hotel industry are cheaper.

What month is the best time to visit Switzerland?

You can visit Switzerland at any time of the year. Every month there are numerous seasonal offers to choose from. For your travel planning, our listing by month will definitely help you.

• Spring in Switzerland

You're standing amidst blooming daffodils on Lake Geneva, while your gaze rests on the snow-covered mountains of the Valais. There is still winter and you can ski. In the lowlands, the first hiking tours are possible. You can enjoy your coffee on the sun terrace in peace and quiet, because now there are fewer tourists on the road.

Weather averages in March

Classic spring events like the colorful Tulip Festival in Morges or the traditional Zurich "Sechseläuten" are waiting for you. The high winter prices in the mountains drop significantly and you will find attractive accommodation offers. Easter customs and traditions throughout the country will take you back in time.

Weather averages in April

The days are getting noticeably longer and warmer, the ski season is over. May is a good time to enjoy the spring-like scenery on the panorama train or on a boat tour . If you're going up high, you should pack warm clothes. If you are going south to Ticino, you can take your summer clothes with you.

In the mountains, however, there is still snow in some places, which means that extended mountain hikes at altitude are not yet on the agenda.

Weather averages in May

• Summer in Switzerland

The longest days are dawning, with the sun setting the latest on June 21. Thus, the ultimate hiking season starts for you. Trips to Ticino, Central Switzerland, the canton of Grisons or the Bernese Oberland are now an unforgettable experience. The numerous Swiss nature parks , especially our national park in Engadin, are also well suited for excursions.

Weather averages in June

July is in the middle of the high season. Due to the school vacations, it feels like the whole of Switzerland is out and about. especially in Ticino. Constantly new outdoor activities add to your countless possibilities in the summer months. Besides hiking, mountain biking, escape games, canyoning, rafting or paragliding are on your list There is also a lot going on at and on the waters. All water sports are very popular in the warm temperatures and the beach resorts are very busy.

Don't miss: The international Montreux Jazz Festival is a real highlight in the Swiss event calendar.

Weather averages in July

August is the hottest month of the year and still belongs to the high season with increased prices and scarce availabilities in the tourist areas. Refresh yourself in one of the crystal clear lakes and rivers , which are not quite as crowded after the summer vacations from mid-August

Your choice

• Stand up Paddle ,
• Canyoning ,
• Kayaking , just to name a few

You can also cool off on a guided glacier hike.

Weather averages in August

• Autumn in Switzerland

Now is the time for sightseeing due to milder temperatures and fewer tourists. In various regions of Switzerland, the traditional Alpabzüge take place, whereby the cows and goats migrate back to the valley after their summer on the alp

Should you decide to go on a high mountain tour , now is the right moment. It is also the time of the mixed travel wardrobe, where you should be prepared for cooler temperatures.

Weather averages in September

At high altitudes, the first snow may fall. At lower altitudes you can expect pleasantly mild days. Trendy destinations and city trips are now in high demand: Zurich, Lucerne, Lausanne, Geneva or Lugano with their lakes are worth a trip

The grape harvest in the Lavaux region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an unforgettable moment in the Swiss calendar.

October also marks the beginning of the golden autumn. The leaves change color, which is perfect for an autumn walk through the forests. The Engadine in particular is a popular destination with its golden pine forests

Weather averages in October

At the latest now it's time for a culinary experience. It's gradually getting wintry, which is why we warmly recommend a cozy fondue party

A few high-altitude ski resorts are opening for business, while you can continue hiking and observing wildlife on the flatter slopes

Meanwhile, tourist flows and prices are decreasing, and we expect you'll be able to put our bad weather ideas article to good use in November.

Weather averages in November

• Winter in Switzerland

During the shortest days of the year, not only winter sports resorts flourish, but also indoor activities. You will benefit from the tempting offer of wellness oases, water parks , Escape Rooms and museums A stroll through one of the many Christmas markets will put you in a festive mood. Throughout Switzerland, the Christmas illuminations make the winter nights shine in festive splendor

Weather averages in December

In the heights the mood is top. It is high season in the winter sports resorts. In some cantons the skiing vacations are already starting, which leads to increased prices and fully booked accommodations. You can choose from a wide range of winter outdoor activities in January: sledding by day and by night as well as skiing, snowshoeing , cross-country skiing and much more Countless ski schools are at your service on the slopes. But also fast rides on a snowmobile or a snowbike (also called fatbike) are very popular in January.

Weather averages in January

The ski season continues and also the ski vacations are in full swing. This means that prices remain high, as well as the occupancy of ski resorts and accommodation. The offer also remains varied. As in January, February is perfect for all kinds of winter sports.

A Swiss-wide highlight in February is the carnival season. Everywhere there are celebrations and masquerade balls and parties. Especially in Catholic cities, carnival is widespread. Most known as carnival strongholds are the cities of Lucerne and Basel.

Weather averages in February

• The best time for winter sports in Switzerland

Christmas time as well as January and February are considered the ultimate winter sports months. It is especially in the ski resorts high season - not least because of the ski vacations in Swiss schools. Also the pre-Christmas period in December and partly November as well as the month of March are suitable for winter sports.

Winter activities in Switzerland do not only include skiing and snowboarding. Other popular activities are:

Selection of winter activities with suitable travel times and locations in Switzerland

• The best time to go hiking in Switzerland

For hiking, every month is the best time to travel: snowshoeing, autumn hiking, spring hiking, caving (ideal in midsummer) and glacier hiking are possible all year round.

From June to September, most mountain lifts are in operation and most of the snow has melted. Therefore, these months are best for hiking in the mountains. Switzerland maintains a well-developed network of signposted hiking trails. In our guide about Hiking in Switzerland you can learn more about this topic.

• The best time for sightseeing in Switzerland

To make your sightseeing ideal, it pays to follow some rules of thumb. Pleasant temperatures, no tourist crowds, and good traffic and transportation connections

How you determine your ideal travel time depends on how you want to explore the city. You can either do it on your own or join a tour. You can also explore a city by tuk tuk, e-bike or Segway

Basically, spring and autumn are good seasons for a city trip. But of course you can also stroll through the alleys in summer and winter.

In our article about city tours and sightseeing in Switzerland you can learn more about this topic

• The best time to travel for culinary experiences in Switzerland

Love for the country also comes through good food. Countless culinary experiences complement your classic restaurant visit or private invitation. Depending on the dish, a certain time of the year proves to be ideal.

• Cheese fondue we eat especially in the winter months. Game specialties are popular on national menus in late autumn. Barbecue dishes under the open sky are very popular in the summer months.
• Culinary hiking and biking tours are especially popular in summer and fall.
• Culinary boat tours are offered year-round or from spring through fall, depending on the region.
• Culinary mountain tours you can take all year round and enjoy a delicious meal with a perfect view.
• Wine tastings are also a great experience all year round. Whereby it is most beautiful in summer and autumn, when the vines bear lush green leaves and the grapes are ripe.

The best time to travel for events in Switzerland

Countless events fill the months of the Swiss annual calendar. In this immense offer of big and small festivals and traditions, you are guaranteed to find what you are looking for. The following events should encourage you in your personal search:

• Top events in Switzerland
• January: Lauberhorn Race Wengen - World Cup Ski Race of the Extra Class
• February: White Turf St. Moritz - exclusive VIP horse race in a white dream setting
• April: Lucerne Festival - an international mecca of classical music
• June: Art Basel - the international art fair of Switzerland
• July: Montreux Jazz Festival - the biggest Swiss music festival with artists from all over the world
• August: Locarno Film Festival - one of the most important film events in the world
• August: Omega European Masters Crans Montana - one of the most prestigious professional golf tournaments
• September: Weltklasse Zürich - the best athletes in the world
• Other interesting events in Switzerland
• January: World Snow Festival Grindelwald with snow and ice sculptures as far as the eye can see
• April : Zermatt Unplugged at the foot of the Matterhorn, a special kind of music festival celebrates the end of the alpine winter.
• June: the Zurich Seenachtsfest with a mixture of folk festival, fair, music and parties (takes place every three years)
• August: the Swiss National Day is celebrated on August 1 in a big way all over the country
• September: traditional wine festivals in the Swiss wine-growing regions
• September: numerous alpine processions and alpine festivals in the Swiss mountain regions
• December: Christmas markets in all cities in Switzerland

As I said, the choice is huge. Take the opportunity to book the right event on your ultimate trip through Switzerland.

As you can see, there is no such thing as the par excellence best time to travel to Switzerland. There is only your best time to travel. The Swiss climate is as diverse as the country itself, depending on the region. Orientate yourself according to your desire and travel purpose on the rich offer of the respective months. The good news is that you can always visit Switzerland at any time of the year.

Table of contents

Discover leisure activities, top destinations.

• Grindelwald
• Lauterbrunnen
• Brienzwiler

Top Activities

Top attractions.

• Harder Kulm
• First Cliff Walk
• Jungfraujoch
• Museum of Transport
• Mount Titlis
• Lake Lucerne
• Schynige Plate
• Eiger Glacier
• Lake Geneva
• Grindelwald First
• Chillon Castle

We’re not taking new bookings for travel to Switzerland at the moment. Our specialists can advise you on all the destinations you can currently book with us.

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When is the best time to visit Switzerland?

• The Swiss Alps
• Month-by-month

The best time to visit Switzerland is between April and October, though winter sports enthusiasts may prefer December to March. The country has four distinct seasons, each with its own attractions.

The spring months of March to May bring Alpine blooms, flowering trees and cows heading out to pasture. In the warmest months of June, July and August summery temperatures prevail, though you’ll rarely get any humidity thanks to the high altitude. This is when locals and visitors alike head to the lake shores, meaning thicker crowds.

The wine and fruit harvests dominate the autumn months of September to November and from December to February, you’ll find snow, cold and winter sports.

In the lowlands, rain most often falls in November and May. Because it’s between the busy summer and winter seasons, these months are when many attractions have limited hours and residents often take their own trips.

Month-by-month guide for travelling in Switzerland

Visiting Switzerland in December - January

December and January are the coldest, but not the wettest, months of the year. There’s frequently snow, which makes the Christmas markets in Switzerland’s main cities even more festive. Temperatures hang around freezing, but it’s still common to enjoy crisp blue skies and bright sun reflecting off the snow.

Events & Festivals

• Christmas markets (mid-November through early January): Cities feature cute wooden chalets, lots of traditional food, handmade crafts and hot spiced wine.

Visiting Switzerland in February - March

Temperatures begin to rise in February and March, but these months tend to see more rain and snow at altitude. Ski resorts are very busy at this time, since many schools take their mid-term breaks.

Visiting Switzerland in April - May

Spring arrives over April and May, and bright flowers come out on the Alpine mountainsides and in the green, low-lying valleys. Meadows return to life, dairy cows are released to graze and Alpine resorts become void of skiers. April can sometimes see a late flurry of winter weather.

Visiting Switzerland in June - July

In the summer months of June and July, the mountain scenery is at its best. The weather is mild and temperatures are pleasant and rarely too hot. Days are generally dry and sunny, offering clear views across the mountain peaks and rolling countryside.

• Montreux Jazz Festival (July): The biggest music festival in Switzerland with artists from around the world performing for two weeks on the shores of Lake Geneva.

Visiting Switzerland in August - September

As autumn approaches in August and September, the lakes, mountains and cities all overflow with harvest beauty. Flowers adorn wooden chalets, the forest scenery takes on a cloak of golden brown and more mountaintops take on snowy caps. Farmers are out in force as fruit trees ripen and grapevines bend under their heavy load.

• Swiss National Day (1st August): A lot of towns and cities celebrate with street festivals and parades, many with elaborate fireworks and live music.

Visiting Switzerland in October - November

October and November mark the late autumn, when the last of the wine grapes are harvested, the cows are brought down from the hillside and the weather begins to turn cold. In early October you can be blessed with lovely sunny days, but as the days shorten through November many hotels, restaurants and attractions close their doors for respite and refurbishment before the busy winter arrives.

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Practical tips for travelling to Switzerland, from social protocols to guidance on money matters, with a link to the latest FCDO travel advice.

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Best Time To Visit Switzerland

When should you go to Switzerland: summer or winter?

Snow-covered peaks, charming historic towns, delectable cheese, and some of the most breathtaking landscapes make Switzerland a perennial favorite and one of the most beautiful places to visit in the world! With a plethora of activities to experience every season, it’s advisable to find the best time to visit Switzerland.

The most popular times to visit Switzerland are the summer months of July and August and the winter months from December to March. While summertime is the perfect time to swim in the crystal clear and clean waters of Switzerland’s many lakes, the winter months are ideal for snow activities.

However, the shoulder months from April to June are an excellent time to visit the country without the crowds. Springtime blossoms cover the region’s valleys and mountains during this period. The months of September and October are perfect for hiking and city explorations.

Best Time To Visit

We recommend.

• Dig into a hot pot of fondue at Geneva
• Get ready for an unforgettable train ride to view the majestic Matterhorn aboard the Gornergrat Railway
• Art connoisseurs will appreciate a tour of the Zentrum Paul Klee in Bern
• Swish down some of the world’s best ski slopes at Zermatt
• Get an insight into Swiss culture at the Swiss National Museum in Zurich
• Discover the inner workings of Zytglogge, a medieval tower in Bern that houses one of the oldest clocks in Switzerland
• Admire the Grossmünster’s medieval architecture in Zurich
• Delight at the Jet d’Eau, Geneva’s most iconic attraction
• To shop for the most exclusive brands in the world, head to Bahnhofstrasse in Zurich
• Take in views of the city’s tree-lined promenade and the beauty of the Alps as you hop on a boat ride over Lake Geneva
• Savor a relaxed lunch at Vieille Ville in Geneva
• Sign up for a walking tour of Bern’s UNESCO-listed medieval Old Town
• Take a cruise down Lake Zurich for sublime views of the city from the water
• An exciting cable car ride takes you to the balcony of Geneva, the Salève
• Bonfires and fireworks are part of the Swiss National Day celebrations
• For the best views of Zurich, take a train ride to Uetliberg
• Discover charming cafes and quirky shops as you amble the streets of Altstadt or Old Town in Zurich
• Take a relaxing walk along Lake Brienz
• Surround yourself with nature at the Swiss National Park, the Alps’ oldest national park
• Hop on an unforgettable train ride to the top of Europe, the Jungfraujoch, for 360-degree views of the Aletsch Glacier
• Savor some of the world’s best Swiss chocolates at Zurich
• Delve into the history and architecture of St Pierre Cathedral in Geneva
• Sip on mulled wine and get into the festive spirit at the Christkindlimarkt in Zurich
• Get pampered with a sauna and spa treatment at one of Zermatt’s many spas

Best Time to Visit Switzerland by Season

Switzerland experiences all four seasons, with the summer months being the most popular for travel and tourism. With plenty of sunlight hours and pleasant temperatures,  summer , which extends from mid-June to mid-September, is the perfect season for city exploration, lake swimming, and mountain hiking. Rain makes brief yet frequent appearances during these months.

Fall  or  autumn  sets in only by the end of September as the leaves start to change color and the air gets cool and crisp. By October, the higher passes/pass roads begin to close. Towards the end of November, temperatures drop into the mid-40s and the days get shorter. Snow can be expected from the first week of December, particularly at the higher altitudes. It’s low season in the cities, except during the second half of December when Christmas markets pop up all over the country. But, in the mountains and ski resorts, it’s high season, which continues well into March. The landscape changes in April, with scenes of snow-covered valleys being replaced by those of flower-strewn hills and countrysides. Expect rain during this season.

What to Pack

With distinct seasons and weather conditions, what you pack for Switzerland depends on when you are visiting.

With varying temperatures at different altitudes, the general rule is to pack layers while traveling to Switzerland. Rain is not uncommon during spring and summer, so be sure to pack an umbrella and rain gear. While temperatures can reach the 80s during the day in summer, it can get a little chilly after the sun goes down, so a light jacket or sweater is recommended. The air turns chilly in autumn, so it’s time to bring out your full sleeve T-shirts, trousers and warm woolens. During winter, the temperature often drops below freezing, especially in the higher altitudes. If you are visiting Switzerland during its cold months for sightseeing or skiing, you will have to pack your winter coat, thermals, woolen cap, and gloves. Remember to bring sunglasses, sun hats, and sunscreen as the sun is stronger at higher altitudes. Switzerland is full of opportunities to experience the outdoors, so if you plan on hiking, good quality walking shoes are a must. For those planning on taking a dip in one of the country’s many beautiful lakes, swimwear is necessary.

Contact our travel experts for a customized  Switzerland vacation package  that is based on your interests and preferences.

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The best time to travel Switzerland (month by month)

by sara far away | May 22, 2022 | Europe , Switzerland , Travel Guides | 0 comments

Have you been thinking about visiting Switzerland, but are not sure when to go? Let me tell you the good news first: Switzerland is an all-year-round destination and there is no bad time for a trip.

The best time to travel Switzerland really depends on what you want to experience!

With an abundance of jaw-dropping landscapes and historic cities, Switzerland is an epic outdoor destination . Whether you’re looking for a fun ski trip or a unique city getaway, endless hiking trails, or a leisurely wine tasting at a local winery, there’s a best month to visit Switzerland for everything .

Having spent most of my life in Switzerland, I will tell you exactly what to expect each month, along with suggestions of the best places to visit, and epic things to do. In addition, I am going to include some hidden gems and lesser visited places, as well as unique Swiss traditions worth experiencing.

Table of Contents

The best time to travel to Switzerland

As I said earlier, Switzerland is a great destination to visit all year round. Switzerland has four distinctive seasons, each with its own special charm and attractions. There isn’t really one main peak season, but more of a shift between regions throughout the year.

Winter in Switzerland

December, January, and February are the coldest months. You can expect sub-zero temperatures, and often snow, especially if you’re staying in the mountains. Winter is the perfect time to visit Switzerland for snow activities and for Christmas markets (if you plan your trip for December).

Spring in Switzerland

March, April, and May are ideal months to visit Switzerland if you’re looking for fewer crowds and cheaper prices. The days are slowly getting longer again, the snow starts melting and the landscapes are in full bloom . While the beginning of spring is also still a good time for snow sports, more and more hiking trails become accessible as the season progresses.

Summer in Switzerland

June, July, and August are the hottest months in Switzerland. July to mid-August is also the main holiday season, so expect bigger crowds and higher prices. In my opinion, summer is still the best time to travel Switzerland, if you want to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes to the fullest.

Autumn in Switzerland

September, October, and November are quieter, but extremely stunning months in Switzerland. The leaves turn into stunning shades of golden yellow, orange, and red. Especially in early Autumn, the weather is usually quite stable, making for perfect hiking conditions . The wine harvest peaks in October, making it the best month to visit Switzerland if you want to explore one of the wine regions.

Switzerland in January

January is one of the best months to visit Switzerland for snow activities like skiing, sledding, and snowshoeing. It’s a busy month, especially in the mountain regions, but it gets a bit quieter from around mid-January.

You can also find an overview of all ski areas in Switzerland here .

Even if you don’t intend on skiing, the best places to visit in January are the Alps. You can find charming mountain villages and large ski areas in the canton of Wallis and Grisons, or in the Bernese Oberland.

• popular destinations in Wallis: Zermatt, Verbier, Saas-Fee, Crans-Montana, Portes du Soleil
• popular destinations in the Grisons: Lenzerheide, Arosa, Davos, Flims-Laax, Engadin St. Moritz
• popular destination in the Bernese Oberland: Adelboden, Gstaad, Wengen, Jungfrau region

If you’re planning to go skiing, try to hit the slopes mid-week to escape the big crowds.

January is the coldest month of the year in Switzerland. Especially in the mountain regions, you can expect snow, sub-zero temperatures, and frozen lakes.

Warm clothes, scarves and gloves, and warm sturdy shoes are a must if you’re planning a trip to Switzerland at this time of the year.

Switzerland in February

In terms of temperatures and the weather, February is very similar to January. There is usually still a lot of snow in the mountain regions, making it another great month for snow activities . Many schools are off for a week or two in February, which is why it can get quite busy. Try to tailor your trip around it.

While there is still snow in the mountains, you can feel spring slowly approaching in Ticino, Switzerland’s southernmost region. Thanks to the Mediterranean climate, winter is a lot shorter here, and the magnolias, camellias, and azaleas start blooming as early as February.

Carnival in Switzerland

The best thing about visiting Switzerland in February is Carnival. A fun and colorful festival, Carnival is also an old, and for many people very important, Swiss tradition . Carnival is celebrated all over the country at different times, but mostly throughout February.

Some places have very specific Carnival customs, but they all have some things in common: fun costumes, Guggenmusik (typical carnival brass band music), and a lot of paper confetti.

The biggest Carnival in Switzerland takes place in Basel and is really part of the city’s identity. For 3 days, starting at 4 AM on day one, the city is turned upside down in the best way possible! If you’re in Switzerland during Basel Carnival, I 100% recommend planning a trip to Basel.

If you want to experience a really fun and exciting part of Swiss culture, February is definitely the best month to visit Switzerland!

Switzerland in March

March marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring in Switzerland. But don’t let this fool you – you might still need some warm clothes in March. The weather can be very unpredictable . You might be sitting outside in a t-shirt one day, and wear a coat and beanie tomorrow.

Especially in the Alps, winter lingers for a bit longer. March is actually another good month for ski holidays, at least in high altitudes like Zermatt or Samnaun-Ischgl. It’s not a very popular travel month in Switzerland, so you can expect lower prices and smaller crowds than in January or February.

Switzerland in April

There’s a saying in Switzerland “April, April does what he wants”, referring to the unpredictable weather in April. In April, you can have anything, from beautiful, almost summer-like days, to rain or even snowstorms. Layering is your best friend in April.

But it is also the best month to visit Switzerland if you want to see the landscape in full bloom. 

3 stunning places to visit in switzerland in april.

• Zürich , where you can see the cherry trees along the streets with beautiful pink or white blossoms. You can get live updates on the flowering status from Zürich Tourism here .
• the Bodensee region , where the fruit orchards and apple trees turn into a sea of blossoms from mid-April onwards.
• Morges at Lake Geneva, where the roughly 150.000 tulips in Independence park start blooming as early as April, and all the way to mid-May.

If you visit Switzerland in April, you can even still add a few days of skiing to your itinerary.

A lot of ski areas in Switzerland close down for summer around mid-April, but some even keep going until May. If you do plan on skiing in April, just make sure you hit the slopes early in the morning, before the snow gets too soggy. You can find an overview of different season-end dates here .

Switzerland in May

May is a beautiful middle thing between spring and summer. In May, the days start getting longer, the mornings and evenings start getting warmer, and you’ll get a first taste of what summer in Switzerland will be like.

All things considered, May is probably one of the best months to visit Switzerland.

May is a pretty quiet month in Switzerland , with some hotels in rural areas even closing for a few weeks. The big summer holidays mostly only start at the beginning of July, which means that in May, you’ll benefit from lower prices and pretty small crowds, especially mid-week.

If you have some popular tourist destinations like Luzern or Lauterbrunnen on your Switzerland bucket list, May is a great time to plan your visit, especially during weekdays.

Day temperatures in May often rise to 20°C or more. As the snow melts in the mountains, more and more hiking trails become accessible. And a lot of the mountain huts also start opening up for summer in late May or early June.

Switzerland in June

Besides September, June is the best month to visit Switzerland to experience summer without the large crowds . And just like May, June is another excellent month to plan your trip!

Temperatures in June are often in the 20°C range, and you will see a lot of people spending as much time outside as possible. Especially from late afternoon, people flock to the lakes and rivers, or sit on restaurant terraces for an after-work drink and/or swim.

If you decide to visit Switzerland in June, pack mostly for a summer holiday, but bring some warmer clothes and a rain coat too.

Unfortunately, June is also the wettest month of the year. But don’t worry, there is still a lot to do in Switzerland, even on rainy days, especially if you don’t mind getting a bit wet.

4 day trip ideas for rainy days

Tamina Gorge | Follow the secured path along the roaring river into the gorge, all the way to the 36.5-degree thermal spring. Combine it with a trip to the Tamina thermal spa to soak in the thermal water.

Beatus Caves  |  Explore the cave system on a 1 km track into the mountain, past stalagmites, and stalactites, through grottoes, and over deep gorges. Entry is CHF 19.- for adults.

Aare Gorge | It takes about 45 minutes to walk through to gorge, and the trail is a mix of tunnels and secured wooden walkways. The gorge is most impressive and mystical on rainy days. Entry is CHF 10.-.

St. Léonard Lac Souterrain | Visit Europe’s larges navigable underground lake. You can explore the crystal clear water of this 300-meter-long lake on a 30-minute boat tour. Tickets are CHF 12.- for adults.

Not all of these places are open all-year-round. Make sure to check the opening times if you plan on visiting outside the summer months!

Switzerland in July

Switzerland’s hottest month is also one of the busiest. If you plan on visiting Switzerland in July, be prepared for big crowds and high accommodation rates, especially in popular tourist destinations.

July is also one of the main holiday months for Swiss people, and many like to spend their holidays in the country. But if you don’t mind the crowds and high prices, or if you are happy to visit some less popular places, July is an amazing month to travel Switzerland.

Why not visit some less popular, but equally stunning alternatives instead of the tourist hot spots?

Certain places in Switzerland, like Seealpsee or Lauterbrunnen, have become very popular (amongst locals and tourists). But the good news is that you can find many other turquoise mountain lakes and charming alpine villages in many other parts of the country too:

• for amazing hiking opportunities and charming villages you could visit Val Müstair or Val d’Hérens
• some off-beat mountain lake alternatives are Lake Cauma, Lago di Cama, or Lake Fälen

Just like in June, it does also rain quite a bit in July. If you’re unlucky, you can get days with a lot of rain , or even a bit of snow in higher regions, and temperatures of 10 degrees or less. But again, there is plenty to do in Switzerland, no matter the weather.

Use Booking.com to find the best places to stay during your trip to Switzerland!

Switzerland in August

August is pretty much the same as July, with high temperatures, high accommodation prices, and big crowds, especially in the first half of the month. But it starts quieting down a bit towards the end of August.

Celebrating the Swiss National Day

On the first of August, we celebrate the Swiss National Day, to celebrate the founding of the Swiss Confederacy. The first of August is a public holiday, with celebrations all over the country .

Many places are decorated with Swiss or regional flags, and paper lanterns, and shops sell pastries with little Swiss paper flags. The main part of the festivities happens at night when a lot of people and towns organize fireworks and large bonfires.

Switzerland in September

Together with June, September is the best month to visit Switzerland if you want to experience the Swiss summer with fewer crowds . The days in September are still mostly warm, but fall starts hinting its arrival in the crisp mornings, cool nights, and first trees changing color.

The weather in September is a bit more stable, with fewer rainy days on average than in June, July, and August. It’s an amazing month to visit Switzerland for outdoor activities like hiking or mountain biking.

If you’re planning to visit some Swiss cities, September is a good month for you too. The temperatures are slightly lower, making city trips more pleasant. Many of them are built by a lake or river, where you can still take a refreshing dip in September.

Alpabzug – alpine cattle descent

Many farmers take their cattle to the alpine pastures at the beginning of summer. And the return of the cattle , usually in September or early October is a special occasion in many regions in Switzerland.

The farmers dress in clothes typical of the region, and the cows wear large bells and a colorful bouquet of flowers on their heads. Some regions combine alpine descents with traditional Swiss music, market stalls selling regional products, and other festivities:

• the cattle descent in Schüpfheim in Entlebuch, with over 200 beautifully decorated cattle, various market stands, yodeling clubs, and people in traditional garments
• the cattle descent in St-Cergue in the Jura Vaudois, where you can watch the herds of adorned animals pass to the sounds of Alphorn, and try some local treats at the nearby market
• the descent of 120 black Eringer cows, marching through the charming Valaisian village of Grimentz in the Anniviers valley

Switzerland in October

October is the best time to travel to Switzerland for fall foliage and wine hikes. Fall is in full swing , with forests and vineyards turning into beautiful shades of yellows, oranges, and reds.

The wine harvest peaks in October and it’s the best time to explore some wine regions.

Although October belongs to autumn, the weather is often still pleasantly mild during the day. Especially in lower regions, you can often still be out and about in a T-shirt. But there are also rainy and stormy autumn days in October and the first snow can fall in the higher regions.

Whenever I travel abroad, I always use Airalo to get an eSim with local data. It’s the easiest way to stay connected abroad!

The best Wine regions in Switzerland

As I said, October is the best month to visit Switzerland’s wine regions. In many of these wine regions, you can combine hikes or walks with wine tastings, or even get a glimpse of the ongoing wine production. Some wine regions to add to your itinerary are:

• Ottenberg Wine Region , where you can find the best wine hike I’ve discovered in Switzerland so far
• Bündner Herrschaft in the Rhine valley, known for its delicious Pinot Noir
• Lavaux Wine Region , set above the shores of Lake Geneva
• Lake Biel Wine Region , with a 15 km long wine trail zigzagging along the shores of Lake Biel
• Wallis , where 1/3 of the Swiss wine is produced and where Europe’s highest vineyard is located

Switzerland in November

November is probably the best time to travel Switzerland if you’re looking for small crowds and low prices. November is the last month of fall, but you can feel winter fast approaching in the low temperatures and snow in higher altitudes.

November is off-season for tourism in Switzerland. The hiking season is over for the most part, and the ski season hasn’t begun yet. Some hotels in the mountain regions even close down for a few weeks.

But don’t worry, there is still plenty to do in Switzerland in November.

November is a good time to explore some of Switzerland’s cities , visit museums and art galleries, soak in a thermal bath, and enjoy a traditional Fondue.

And November is also not only cold and grey. You can still get some cool, but sunny days, especially in the Alps. Luckily, the mountains are never really far away in Switzerland. Base yourself in a city, and venture out into the Alps for a day trip on sunny November days:

• Lucerne , where you can visit the nearby Mount Rigi or Pilatus on a sunny autumn day
• Bern , Switzerland’s capital, is located conveniently close to gems like Interlaken or Grindelwald
• Lausanne , where you can head into the mountains at Rocher-de-Naye or Les Diablerets

Switzerland in December

December is one of the coldest months in Switzerland. Unfortunately, it snows very rarely in the lower regions, and especially in the cities due to global warming. But in the mountain regions, you’re pretty much guaranteed to see snow-covered villages and forests .

December is the start of the ski season in Switzerland, and especially after Christmas, it gets very busy. If you’re planning to visit Switzerland for a ski trip during the holidays, make sure you book well in advance .

Visiting Christmas Markets in Switzerland

If you want to experience some european christmas markets, december is the month for you.

In most Swiss cities, the Christmas decorations, fairy lights, and Christmas markets start as early as late November. You can find awesome Christmas markets in all the big cities, but I want to highlight a few lesser-known places for you to consider:

• the Christmas villages in Baden , a famous spa town near Zürich
• the Christmas market in Biel , the Swiss capital of watchmaking
• the “Christkindli” market in Chur , Switzerland’s oldest town
• the Montreux Marché de Noel, deemed one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe

Like I said at the beginning of this post, the best time to travel Switzerland really depends on what you want to experience!

Each month has its own charm, and you’ll never run out of things to do. If you have any other questions about the best month to visit Switzerland, or would like more suggestions of awesome things to do or places to visit, let me know in the comments!

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Hi, I’m Sara, a twenty-something Swiss on a mission to become a full-time travel writer and digital nomad.

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There’s no question that Rough Guides readers love Switzerland . After all, you voted it one of the most beautiful countries in the world . But then come some crucial questions — what’s the best time to visit Switzerland? What’s the best month to visit Switzerland? How many days do I need to visit Switzerland? Read on to discover the answers in our guide to the best time to visit Switzerland. 

• What’s the best month to visit Switzerland?

Is Switzerland better in summer or winter?

• What are the warmest months in Switzerland?
• What are the rainiest months in Switzerland?

How many days do I need to visit Switzerland?

Is switzerland cheap to visit, tailor-made travel itineraries for switzerland, created by local experts.

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Unforgettable Switzerland

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Lakes and mountains for the whole family in Italy & Switzerland

Spend your first 3 nights at Lake Como in Italy, discovering the area by boat or foot, before heading to Zermatt in Switzerland. Zermatt with its peaceful nature is the ideal backdrop for strolls, hikes and other activities with the whole family.

What’s the best month to visit Switzerland? 

The best time to visit Switzerland largely depends on whether you’re planning a city or mountain break. It also depends on whether you want to enjoy winter sports or hike.

At any time of year, Switzerland isn’t short of world-class  sports and outdoor activities , with hiking and biking being among the  best outdoor experiences in Switzerland , alongside the first-rate skiing.

Summer might just be the best time to visit Switzerland to hike. Lauterbrunnen © Gaspar Janos/Shutterstock

For high mountain destinations there are two distinct seasons. Summer season for hiking runs from June to October, and the winter sports season is from around mid-December to mid-April.

Between these times, many mountain facilities close down, cable cars and other transport may stop, and hotels take their annual breaks.

For cities, towns and lower-altitude destinations, seasonal distinctions are less crucial, though the temperate summer months (June–Sept) are pleasant.  

At other times they can get distinctly chilly, although most receive snow in the winter, which, combined with sunshine and Christmas markets, paints a romantic urban picture. 

Wherever you go, it’s worth checking for large events and festivals, when prices will rise and you may need to book accommodation far in advance — festivals in Switzerland are plentiful.

Many of the larger cities, like Zürich and Geneva , are major business destinations, which means hotel prices can drop at weekends.

Best places to stay in Zürich

• Best for culture vultures:  Alma Hotel . An upmarket designer hotel focused on sustainability.
• Best for couples:  Hotel Kindli . One of Zürich’s most charming, tranquil small hotels.
• Best for nightlife-lovers:  Pension Furdich . Backing onto a park, this is close to funky bars and clubs.

Explore more accommodation in Zürich .

Wondering what's the best month to visit Switzerland? Zürich has atmosphere throughout the year. © Diego Grandi/Shutterstock

Again, that depends on what you want from your trip. 

If you fancy a culture-packed city break, the country delivers year-round, with spring being a fine time to visit Switzerland to enjoy Old Town ambling in between sampling local specialties —  eating and drinking in Switzerland has much to satisfy foodies. 

Basel is an especially great place to visit in spring. Held in March,  Baselworld  is the most prestigious jamboree in the Swiss world of watchmaking and jewellery. Then there’s the extraordinary annual  Fasnacht  carnival.

Best places to stay in Basel

• Best for weekend-break luxury:  Teufelhof. An outstanding boutique hotel in the heart of town.
• Best for big occasions:  Trois Rois . Founded in 1681, this is one of the oldest, grandest hotels in Europe.
• Best for couples:  Au Violon . Beautifully renovated, with cosy rooms above a quiet courtyard.

Browse more of the best places to stay in Basel .

Basel's Fasnacht Carnival © Schweiz Tourismus/Christof Sonderegger

All of which means, if you fancy a rewarding city-break, spring is arguably the best time to visit Switzerland.

On the other hand, given that Switzerland isn’t short of rewarding  things to do in summer , this could also be considered the best time to visit Switzerland. And that’s especially true for music-lovers and festival fans.

Take Geneva , for example. The summer solstice sees the city host the three-day Fête de la Musique. All events are free and festival goers take over the lakeside and parks as well as the city centre. 

Best places to stay in Geneva

• Best for couples:  Beau Rivage . A dreamy classical-style palace.
• Best for families:  Hotel Central . A quiet hotel with excellent-value rooms for three, four and five people.
• Best for budget travellers: City Hostel Geneva . This functional backpackers' place boasts good facilities.

Explore more of the best places to stay in Geneva .

Lausanne is another hotspot for summer events, with the Ouchy waterfront hosting informal, free music events throughout summer. Held in early July, the  Festival de la Cité is Lausanne’s biggest party. 

Best places to stay in Lausanne

• Best for couples:  Angleterre & Residence . A classy hotel on the Ouchy waterfront.
• Best for luxury-lovers: Beau-Rivage Palace . One of Switzerland’s finest hotels, with ten-acre waterside gardens.
• Best for families:  Elite. Lausanne's best mid-price hotel, with top-floor balconied rooms offering lake views.

Discover more of the best places to stay in Lausanne . 

Lausanne's festivals make summer the best time to visit Switzerland for music-lovers © Boris Stroujko/Shutterstock

All that considered, it’s clear to see why Switzerland is one of the  best places to visit in Europe in summer .

Alternatively, winter heralds peak skiing season, and for city breakers it’s the perfect time to soak up Old Town charm with added seasonal ambience.

What are the warmest months in Switzerland? 

August sees Switzerland hit peak hotness levels, with Geneva averaging 27ºC during the day, and 14ºC at night. 

In the same month, Bern averages 24ºC and 13ºC, Zürich 25ºC and 13ºC, with Davos coming up behind on 18ºC and 7ºC.  

What are the rainiest months in Switzerland? 

Precipitation patterns vary widely. Switzerland’s northern cities — Bern and Zürich , for example — experience more overcast skies than the Mediterranean climes of the southern canton of Ticino .

Best places to stay in Bern

• Best for couples:  Bären am Bundesplatz . Cosy comfort and modern decor in a handy central location.
• Best for luxury:  Innere Enge . This former haunt of Empress Josephine has Art Nouveau style and Alpine views.
• Best for budget travellers:  Bern Backpackers/Hotel Glocke . An Old Town gem with top facilities.

Browse more of the  best places to stay in Bern .

Bern, Switzerland © Shuttertock

If you want to minimise the chances of being caught in rain and maximise your time in the sun, the canton of Valais might just have your name on it. 

Despite twenty percent of the canton being covered by ice, the region has the driest climate in Switzerland, with the lowest rainfall and most sunshine. 

Best places to stay in Valais

• Best for families:  Alpe Fleurie, Villars-Gryon . This chalet-style hotel has a long history of catering to kids.
• Best for après-ski action:  Campanile Martigny . A slick hotel aimed at travellers heading to and from the Passes.
• Best for alpine atmosphere:  Hotel Grimsel Pass Höhe . Cosy, with some rooms offering lake views.

View more of the best places to stay in Valais .

Verdant Verbier in the Swiss canton of Valais © Shutterstock

If you’re wondering how many days in Switzerland is enough, that’s another of those “how long is a piece of string?” questions.  

It’s perfectly possible to soak up the charms of Swiss urban hubs on a 2-3-day city break. On the other hand, if you have the time (and money), you could spend months getting back to nature in the likes of Graubünden , Central Switzerland , the Jungfrau region, the Bernese Oberland , and the northeast and Liechtenstein .  

And the good news is, given Switzerland’s efficient, affordable, comfortable public transport system, it’s easy to explore the entire country — find out more in our guide to getting around Switzerland .

Switzerland is also known for its awe-inspiring train routes, which is why the country gets a few mentions in our run-down of the most scenic train rides in Europe .  

In a word, no. As explained in our Switzerland travel tips , the country is about as far from being a budget destination as it’s possible to be. 

If you are travelling on a budget, low-season is the best time to visit Switzerland, with October and November offering more opportunties to book cheaper places to stay.

Bernina Express, Switzerland © Peter Stein/Shutterstock

For more Switzerland travel tips, read  The Rough Guide to Switzerland , and arm yourself with info on  accommodation in Switzerland .  

In addition, our run-down of  things not to miss in Switzerland  will help you plan.  

Not a fan of planning? Consider booking a hassle-free tailor-made trip to Switzerland, with customisable itineraries curated by local experts covering everything from  unforgettable highlights of Switzerland , to  touring the Grand Circle .  

We may earn commission when you click on links in this article, but this doesn’t influence our editorial standards. We only recommend services we genuinely believe will enhance your travel experiences.

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The Rough Guides to Switzerland and related travel guides

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Travel advice for Switzerland

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• Geneva travel guide
• Lausanne travel guide
• Zürich travel guide
• Basel Switzerland Travel Guide (2022 update)
• Bern Travel Guide
• Lucerne Travel Guide
• Lake Geneva Travel Guide
• Northeast Switzerland and Liechtenstein Travel Guide
• Sports and outdoor activities in Switzerland
• Bernese Oberland travel guide
• Jungfrau Region travel guide
• Valais travel guide
• Graubünden Travel Guide
• Zermatt and the Matterhorn travel guide
• Central Switzerland Travel Guide
• Ticino Travel Guide
• Best accommodation in Switzerland
• How to get to Switzerland
• Culture and Etiquette in Switzerland
• Eating and drinking in Switzerland
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Best Time To Visit Switzerland (Best Season And Month)

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There’s no doubt that Switzerland is a beautiful country. The Alpine country is known for its breathtaking scenery, rich history, and diverse culture.

Simply put, Switzerland is a place with unrivaled beauty, from its majestic mountains to the charming towns that draw in the crowds.

But when is the best time to visit Switzerland?

Without a doubt, this is a question you need to consider when planning a trip to this beautiful country.

When it comes to having a swoon-worthy Swiss experience, there’s no one-size fits all. It really depends on what you’re into: are you looking for an adventure in the snow or some sunshine sightseeing?

Whatever your preference is — from hiking through breathtaking landscapes to savoring local delicacies — Switzerland has something special just waiting for you!

What Is the Best Month to Visit Switzerland

Switzerland is exquisite at any time of the year, with beautiful Swiss cities calling out your name.

Whether it’s winter sports you seek or blooming spring flowers, let our guide help you figure out the month and season that’s best for your Swiss vacation.

Shoulder Seasons | Best Time of Year to Visit Switzerland

Don’t let crowds dampen your travel experience. For a more peaceful trip, consider visiting Switzerland during the shoulder seasons of April to May (spring) or September to November (fall).

You’re more likely to find fewer tourists, enjoy more moderate weather, and have a unique opportunity to explore the country’s charming towns and picturesque landscapes.

Switzerland in June is the start of the summer season so a wonderful time to enjoy the country in a warmer climate.

In spring, you’ll enjoy mostly mild weather and view stunning alpine flowers in full bloom. Plus, you’ll enjoy lower prices compared to the peak summer months.

Likewise, the fall months of September and October are also great times to visit. Switzerland in the fall gives you amazing views of the leaves changing color and beautifully mild weather.

Much like springtime, the crowds are smaller, and the prices are lower compared to the peak summer months. 

But what makes spring and fall the ultimate time to visit Switzerland is the fact that you’ll have the best of both summer and winter. What are we saying exactly? 

During these months, the mountain ranges are still coated in snow, so winter sports are still a thing. And if you head lower down in altitude, the hiking trails open up for epic day treks. 

Tip: Click here to book your tour in Switzerland to go on a cable car ride, cogwheel train, and lake cruise, which are perfect during springtime or the fall months.

Summer’s Best Times To Travel To Switzerland

Are you looking to hike through the majestic Alps or enjoy a scenic train ride through the countryside?

If so, you might want to plan your trip during the summer months of June to August when the weather in Switzerland in August is warmer, and the days are longer.

In fact, the sun sets at around 21:00 in July to August, which is perfect for taking an extended stroll around Switzerland’s safe streets .

Naturally, summer in Switzerland is the warmest and driest time of year, making it ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and boating.

You’ll find that the weather is mild and sunny during this time, and the Swiss landscape is lush and green. It’s truly a sight to behold, particularly for nature lovers.

But there are some drawbacks to summers in Switzerland. June to August is also peak tourist season, so be prepared for crowds and higher prices.

If you’re looking for a more relaxed and less crowded experience, consider visiting Switzerland in the spring or fall.

Winter In Switzerland | Best Time To Travel In Switzerland

If you’re dreaming of a white Christmas and winter sports, then look no further than Switzerland. From December to February, the temperatures are crisp, and the snow is plentiful.

Skiing, snowboarding, or ice skating — whatever floats your boat — they’re all available!

If you’re a winter baby and enjoy the snow, wintertime in Switzerland’s mountain ranges won’t disappoint!

From December to February, the average snowfall is around 3 – 6 feet per month in the Swiss Alps and 4 – 8 inches elsewhere.

Plus, you’ll experience 6 – 7 hours of sunlight per day in the Swiss Alps and an average of 7 – 10 hours elsewhere.

However, the winter months are also the coldest and darkest time of year in Switzerland, and the weather and the Switzerland temperature in December can be unpredictable.

Not interested in winter sports? It may be best for you to avoid visiting Switzerland during this time.

All in all, the cold weather in Switzerland is not something that should keep you away from the country in wintertime.

If you’re going mountain climbing in Switzerland’s winter months, keep in mind that you’ll encounter more snow and thinner air (i.e., less oxygen) at higher altitudes. 

Tip: To avoid altitude sickness while mountain climbing, try to climb no more than 1,000 feet per day once you’ve hit 10,000 feet elevation. And keep hydrated too. Feeling parched isn’t cute. Especially at high altitudes.

FAQs About The Best Time To Go To Switzerland

Find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions below.

• What Is the Best Month to Go to Switzerland?

Switzerland’s best times to visit are the spring and fall months (i.e. shoulder months), falling between April and October.

• What Is the Cheapest Month to Visit Switzerland?

The shoulder season months of April to May and September to November.

• What Months Does Switzerland Have Snow?

Switzerland has snow in January and February.

When Is The Best Time To Travel To Switzerland

Based on all that’s covered, the best months to visit Switzerland are the fall and spring months, which run from September to October and April to May, respectively.

You can enjoy Switzerland’s otherworldly beauty and explore the sights without spending a ton. These months undoubtedly offer you the best combination of warm weather, scenic beauty, and smaller crowds.

So, whether you choose to relax in hot springs or hike stunning trails, you no longer need to ask, “When is the best time to visit Switzerland?”

Have an idea of when you’ll visit Switzerland? Great. Read this complete Switzerland travel guide next to help you plan your perfect Alpine adventure!

Start Planning Your Trip to Switzerland:

• Check out our recommendations for a 7-day itinerary for Switzerland .
• Or if you are short in time you might prefer to start your planning with our 4-day Switzerland Itinerary .
• Check out our recommendations for the best travel insurance for Switzerland here.

Andrzej Ejmont

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Best Time to Visit

Weather & Climate

Switzerland Airports

Getting Around

Places to Visit in Switzerland

Top Things to Do in Switzerland

Top Things to Do in Geneva

One Week Itinerary

Most Scenic Train Routes

Switzerland's Nature Parks

How to Go Skiing

The Top Hikes

Matterhorn Complete Guide

The Most Beautiful Lakes

Foods to Try

Best Restaurants

Your Trip to Switzerland: The Complete Guide

If you've ever ogled over photos of Switzerland's Alpine peaks, rolling meadows, and pristine lakes, you'll be happy to know that it's even more beautiful in person. The central European country is small compared to its neighbors, but it packs a lot into its 16,000 square miles, including 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites , more than 1,500 glaciers, and at least that many lakes.

All these geologic wonders add up to some of the more stunning scenery in the world. And that's enough to bring travelers—about 12 million of them per year —to Switzerland. When you factor in the countless opportunities for hiking, skiing, and boating; hearty Swiss food; modern, interesting cities; and what is probably Europe's best public transportation system, you're met with an accessible, exciting, and altogether satisfying vacation destination.

Planning Your Trip

• Best Time to Visit :  The best time to visit Switzerland depends on what you want to do while you're here. Ski slopes are open November through March (though there is year-round skiing in a few places), while hiking and swimming are glorious in the summer months. But to beat the crowds, consider a visit in spring or fall.
• Language:  Switzerland's cantons, or states, are mostly either French- or German-speaking. In the southern Ticino canton, Italian is the first language and in the Graubünden/Grisons canton, Romansh, a form of ancient Latin, is still spoken by about 60,000 people. The good news for travelers is that English is widely spoken, especially in hotels, restaurants, stores, and tourist attractions.
• Currency:  Despite being in the middle of western Europe, Switzerland is not part of the EU, though it participates in the European Common economic market. The official currency here is the Swiss franc (abbreviated CHF). That said, your euros will probably be accepted at most places, though they'll give you change in francs.
• Getting Around :  The clean, convenient, and comprehensive Swiss Travel System is the pride of Switzerland, and rightly so. The system includes trains, buses, lake and river ferries, funiculars, cogwheel trains, ski lifts, and gondolas that permit access to virtually every corner of the country. Because the system is so complete, we recommend touring Switzerland by public transportation, instead of by rental car. From airports and larger train stations, taxis are always available for those who don't feel like schlepping their bags.
• Travel Tip:  If you plan to do a lot of travel within Switzerland, consider purchasing the Swiss Travel Pass , which grants the holder unlimited first- or second-class travel across the country's network of trains, buses, and boats, and most scenic railways. Plus, you'll get admission to more than 500 museums, as well as discounts on mountain excursions. However, if you just plan to visit a couple of places in the country, you can get by with individual train/transit tickets.

TripSavvy / Michela Sieman

Things to Do

While every traveler has their own reasons for visiting Switzerland, the big draws here can more or less be broken down into three categories: scenery, outdoor activities, and Swiss history and culture. Your trip will likely start or end in one of Switzerland's big cities, where that history and culture are on full display. Be sure to plan at least one (or several) excursions into the Swiss countryside, either on an easy or challenging hike, a boat ride across an iconic lake, or a cable car ride up to some of the highest peaks in Europe.

Here are some ideas for planning your Swiss itinerary:

• Explore one of the country's culturally rich cities. If you're flying into Switzerland, you'll most likely arrive in Zürich or Geneva. Zürich , Switzerland's largest city, is a delightful place to spend a few days taking in art and history museums, dining in centuries-old restaurants, and strolling down the River Limmat. Geneva , in French-speaking Switzerland, is the diplomatic center of Europe, with plenty of history and classical appeal, and an idyllic setting on the shores of Lake Geneva.
• Hike, bike, swim, or ski. No matter what time of year you visit, you'll find a huge range of outdoor activities in Switzerland—though admittedly, swimming is a bit brisk from October to June! There are biking and hiking routes for every level of fitness, extensive networks of ski "arenas" across the Alps and the Jura mountains, and rivers and lakes waiting for you to jump in for a swim or a paddle.
• Choose a mountain excursion. In Switzerland, it doesn't matter if you're not a skier or hiker. You can answer the call of the mountains just the same, thanks to dozens of scenic mountain excursions that whisk you—by cogwheel rail, cable car, or ski gondola—for close-up looks at the Matterhorn , the Eiger, the Aletsch Glacier, and more. At most places, you can have lunch on the mountaintop while you enjoy the view. Don't leave Switzerland without partaking in at least one of these thrilling rides.

For more trip-planning ideas, check out our full-length articles on the top things to do in Switzerland , Switzerland's most scenic train rides , and Switzerland's top lakes .

What to Eat and Drink

Swiss cuisine is hearty, to say the least. Cheese, chocolate, potatoes, and meat feature heavily on Swiss menus everywhere, and risotto is popular in the cantons bordering Italy. Swiss wine, from vineyards mostly south of the Alps, is so popular among the Swiss that only 2 percent is exported!

Here are some of the foods and beverages you shouldn't miss in Switzerland:

• Fondue. This classic dish of melted cheese, served with bread and vegetables for dipping, is as iconic as the Matterhorn. Fondue originated in French-speaking Switzerland , but it's pretty much ubiquitous across the country.
• Raclette. Sort of a cousin of fondue, raclette is melted cheese served on a plate with bread, potatoes, and gherkins. Its roots are high in the Alps, where farmers would make meals from their abundant cheese reserves.
• Rösti. Pancakes made of grated, fried potatoes, rösti may be served as a side dish or, when paired with eggs, meat, or cheese, as the main course.
• Chocolate. Thanks to milk from grass-fed Alpine cows, plus a few "secret" recipes, Swiss milk chocolate is among the creamiest in the world. Brands to look for include Toberlone, Lindt, Sprüngli, and Läderach.
• Swiss wine. Largely produced in the more temperant cantons south of the Alps, Swiss wine is equally celebrated in its red and white varieties. Chasselas and pinot noir are among the most common grapes, but across the country's wine-growing region, micro-vineyards specialize in small-batch wines. Be sure to sample the wine while you're here— Swiss wine is hard to find outside Switzerland.

Read more in our guides to the top foods to try in Switzerland and where to eat in Zürich .

Where to Stay

Switzerland's accommodation options range from rustic mountain bunkhouses for hikers to luxurious 5-star hotels with spas, Michelin-star dining, and every imaginable amenity. In between those extremes, there are concept hotels, ski-in/ski-out lodges, and a host of B&Bs, small inns, and vacation rentals.

If you're staying in a city, we usually recommend basing yourself in the historic center so that you're within walking distance of popular tourist attractions, restaurants, and bars. But cities like Zürich also have creative, modern districts outside of the center, which make for interesting bases as well. In an Alpine destination such as Zermatt, Saas-Fee, or Gstaad, we like cozy, traditional hotels that really impart a sense of place.

For a taste of what Zürich has to offer, check out our articles on Zürich's top neighborhoods and best hotels.

Getting to Switzerland

International flights to Switzerland, especially those originating outside of Europe, will likely arrive in Zürich or Geneva. Some intra-Europe flights might land at Basel's airport, which is actually located just over the French border.

You can reach Switzerland by train from the neighboring countries of Austria, Germany, France, and Italy. Note that if you're traveling to Switzerland from an adjacent country, your ticket will likely only cover you until your first stop in Switzerland; for example, if you're traveling from Milan, Italy, your ticket will take you as far as Lugano. After that, you'll need a travel pass or ticket from the Swiss Travel System if you want to change trains.

If you're driving to Switzerland, you need to purchase or make sure your car already has a motorway vignette —a sticker that permits access to Swiss highways.

Learn more by checking out our guides to Zürich airport , traveling to Switzerland from Italy , and Zürich's public transportation .

Culture and Customs

While there are no special "rules" for visiting Switzerland, travelers here might find the Swiss somewhat reserved, especially when compared to Mediterranean cultures to the south. Here are a few basic customs and courtesies to keep in mind:

• Be on time. Trains aren't the only thing that runs on time in Switzerland. Plan to arrive on time, or even a few minutes early, for restaurant reservations or other reserved activities.
• Don't be noisy. In restaurants, on public transportation, and especially in the evenings in residential areas, keep your voices at a conversational level.
• Tip in moderation. While tipping waitstaff is appreciated in Switzerland, it's not expected. Tips for your hotel cleaning staff and bellhops are the norm, however.

Money Saving Tips

Here's something you should know about Switzerland before you start planning your trip: it's expensive. Hotels, dining, trains, and attractions are all costly compared to many other European countries, but there are a few ways you can save money:

• Travel in the shoulder seasons. Visit Switzerland in the spring or fall to save money on airfare and hotels.
• Drink tap water. Unless otherwise posted, tap water in Switzerland is clean and safe to drink. Bring a reusable water bottle and fill it up at any tap.
• Pack a picnic. Before you head out for a day of adventures, stop at a grocery store and pick up bread, cheese, cold cuts, or whatever else you want for a picnic. Just don't forget to grab a chocolate bar for the road!

https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/ch

https://www.worlddata.info/europe/switzerland/tourism.php

Switzerland Tourism. "Language distribution." Retrieved on November 9, 2021.

Switzerland Tourism. "Currency." Retrieved on November 9, 2021.

BBC. "Tracing fondue’s mysterious origins." February 12, 2013.

Switzerland Travel Guide

The Best 17 Places to Visit in Switzerland

The Top 20 Things to Do in Switzerland

Lake Como Guide: Planning Your Trip

One Week in Switzerland: The Ultimate Itinerary

France Guide: Planning Your Trip

How to Travel From Florence to Paris by Train, Bus, Plane, and Car

The 10 Best Restaurants in Switzerland

How to Travel Between Italy and Switzerland by Train

The Complete Guide to Switzerland's Nature Parks

Matterhorn: The Complete Guide

The Best Time to Visit Switzerland

The Most Beautiful Lakes in Switzerland

Your Trip to Zurich: The Complete Guide

France Travel Planner for Every Vacation

How to Use Swiss Trains and the Swiss Travel Pass

Best time to visit Switzerland + when to avoid [2023]

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. At no cost to you, I might earn a small commission if you make a purchase through the links in this article.

Switzerland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and it is easy to see why with its soaring mountains, quaint villages and cities, and all the stunning lakes and rivers. So, when is the best time to visit Switzerland, and when should you avoid it?

Whether you want to visit the Alps or city-hop through the country, there is something for everyone in Switzerland. There are different times that are the best to visit Switzerland depending on what you want to do. From winter sports to hiking trails in summer, and all the beautiful spring and autumn activities in between, there’s no bad time to visit this country.

✅ Check my complete guide to the worst mistakes to avoid in Switzerland

Although Switzerland is expensive to visit, it is easy to get to and even easier to get around, with central hubs and airports located in Basel, Geneva, and Zurich. Public transport is your best friend, making it easy to pick and choose where to go and what to do depending on when you visit Switzerland.

Overall best time to visit Switzerland

If you want a good all-rounder for good weather, fewer crowds, and still having the opportunity to hike or ski at higher elevations, then the months of March or September are the best time to visit the country.

✅ Learn about how to visit Thun Castle

But the best time to visit Switzerland is November to February, if you want to do winter sports (not including the run-up to Christmas and New Year’s which can get busy), or March through to October, if you want to hike through the Alps.

Why visit Switzerland?

Switzerland isn’t just about the snow, it’s also a great year-round destination, where you can enjoy activities from hiking and paragliding or sailing on a boat in a lake to skiing and tobogganing or hopping aboard the Glacier Express train in the cooler weather.

🚙 Read my guide to planning a perfect Switzerland itinerary .

It also isn’t just for those who are adrenalin fuelled or after adventure but is also a wonderful country to get to know the locals and visit beautiful historic cities, towns and villages with all their weird and wonderful traditions and festivals. If that isn’t enough to convince you to visit Switzerland, how about all the incredible gastronomy, from one of the 138 Michelin-starred restaurants to homemade fondue, chocolates, and cheeses?

Best time to visit Switzerland by months

Switzerland in january.

January is one of the coldest months in Switzerland and the peak of the winter, so perfect for snow sports in the mountains. It also brings light and ice festivals across the country, such as in Geneva, Lucerne, Murten , or Gstaad . If you are lucky, you can even glimpse the Festival de Ballons a well-known hot-air balloon festival in the alps, which is a sight to be seen.

• The average temperature across Switzerland in January is 2°C or 35.6°F
• Pros – Fewer tourists in the cities, with more people going to the mountains.
• Cons – The coldest month to visit Switzerland, so you might limited in terms of what you can do outside.

Switzerland in February

February is still a little cold, and the festivities long behind the darker days can be less inviting. However, there are still annual festivals and celebrations, if you head to some of the larger cities and towns across Switzerland. Basel is one such city with the famous Fasnacht carnival taking place at the end of February to scare off the winter and invite in the spring.

• The average temperature across Switzerland in February is 6°C or 42.8°F
• Pros – Fewer tourists in the cities because of the colder weather, but the ski season is still in full swing.
• Cons – Can be cold overnight, down to -2°C or 25.4°F in the cities and even colder in the Alps.

Switzerland in March

With the temperatures beginning to rise and the snow starting to recede, low-level ski resorts start to shut down, and towns and cities start preparing for the spring. You can get the best of both worlds in March with snow still at most resorts in the mountains, so snow sports are still available, but the cities and towns are starting to get warmer weather.

• The average temperature across Switzerland in March is 11°C or 51.8°F
• Pros – Best of both the winter snow and the warm spring weather. You can ski in the mountains and visit the lower-level towns without needing snow gear.
• Cons – Outside the main tourist seasons, some attractions could be closed.

Switzerland in April

Easter markets pop up across the country, and the snow is now only found in the higher elevations making April a month for a trip to Switzerland. Cities are beginning to wake up from the winter with festivals galore, including a tulip festival in Morges and various Jazz festivals across the country.

• The average temperature across Switzerland in April is 15°C or 59°F
• Pros – Fewer tourists means cheaper accommodations
• Cons – Some attractions and businesses may close for Easter.

Switzerland in May

May is the peak of the albeit short but beautiful spring in Switzerland. Blossom coats the trees; wildflowers fill alpine pastures, and the hiking trails and railways that have been shut over the winter reopen, such as the cogwheel railway up to Mount Pilatus. It is a great time to do higher-elevation hikes before the summer crowds arrive.

👉 May is a perfect time to visit Ticino , the Italian canton of Switzerland, which boasts a warm Mediterranean climate.

• The average temperature across Switzerland in May is 20°C or 68°F
• Pros – Attractions and locations closed over the winter begin to reopen this month.
• Cons – Although the weather is getting warmer, there is also a greater chance of rain.

Switzerland in June

June is one of the rainiest months in Switzerland, but don’t let that stop you from visiting. The temperatures are rising, and when it isn’t raining, the weather is perfect for a hike in the mountains or to sit out along one of the local rivers or lakes in one of the larger cities. It is also the perfect month to visit while it is warm before it gets more crowded in the later summer months.

• The average temperature across Switzerland in June is 21°C or 69.8°F
• Pros – Fewer crowds than in the later summer
• Cons – One of the rainiest months to visit Switzerland

Switzerland in July

Temperatures are often at or near their peak for Switzerland in July, while it averages around 24°C or 75.2°F, you will often have a hot spell hitting the mid to late 30°C or 86°F in the main cities Basel, Zurich , and Bern. The float down the local river through the city or take a dip in one of the nearby lakes to cool off.

• The average temperature across Switzerland in July is 24°C or 75.2°F
• Pros – One of the warmest months to visit Switzerland.
• Cons – July is one of the hottest months to visit Switzerland. Yes, it is an advantage and disadvantage at the same time, as it can make being out the in the middle of the day unbearable in Switzerland if they are having a hot spell, which is not what you want if you plan on hiking.

Switzerland in August

With temperatures, high August is still a great time to visit Switzerland for a camping trip or hiking. It can get a little busy at the beginning of the month with various school and public holidays, but with the wonderful weather, you get throughout the month that doesn’t keep anyone away. It’s also the month that music and dance festivals occur in many locations like Locarno, Lucerne, Zurich, and Basel.

• The average temperature across Switzerland in August is 23°C or 73.4°F
• Pros – The weather is warm, and any rainfall that does occur is short, plus lots of music festivals happening across the country.
• Cons – August is the peak of the school summer holidays in Europe so accommodation prices may be higher, and more touristy locations will be much busier than other times in the year. August 1 is also Swiss National Day, which is celebrated across the country, so expect the first week of August to be somewhat busy.

Switzerland in September

September is the season to visit Switzerland if you want to experience Switzerland when most tourists have gone home and you like your wine, as fruit and grape harvests happen during this time ( Lavaux Terrace Vineyards are beautiful in September).

The temperature begins to drop, but it is still warm enough for spending time outside or experience the last of the summer warmth sitting in a café along a lake. Alpine villages celebrate the cows coming home off the mountains with festivals filled with yodeling, music, and flower crown-wearing cows.

• The average temperature across Switzerland in September is 20°C or 68°F
• Pros – Most tourists will have left by mid-September leaving top attractions much quieter and uncrowded.
• Cons – If you visit in the first half of the month, it may still be a little busy, but there aren’t many disadvantages to visiting Switzerland in September.

Switzerland in October

As the temperatures start to dip and the leaves begin to turn, Switzerland in October is the perfect time for a lake cruise to take in the surrounding views or a train ride through the Alps. The higher mountain passes by road start to shut in October as the winter weather begins to set in at the higher elevations, so traveling by car can become a little trickier in these locations, but the bright yellow larches make up for that.

• The average temperature across Switzerland in October is 14°C or 57.2°F
• Pros – Much quieter than the previous months and the best time for seeing the fall colors in the mountains.
• Cons – Some attractions are starting to shut down for the winter months.

Switzerland in November

November in Switzerland means the arrival of the snow, with mountain locations often getting the first snowfall at the beginning of the month kicking off the winter ski season. As the peak ski season doesn’t arrive until December, you can also find some great accommodations and experience mountain attractions while it is relatively quiet still. If you want to hop on board the famous Glacier Express train, November is the only month it doesn’t run.

• The average temperature across Switzerland in November is 7°C or 44.6°F
• Pros – If the snow falls earlier, some of the ski slopes open up in November, and you can still do some hiking
• Cons – If you are coming to Switzerland to hike, this is not the month for you. As of the first week in November, most of the mountains close their hiking trails to make way for the inevitable snowfall.

Switzerland in December

December is time for the famous Christmas markets that fill the towns and cities across Switzerland. It is also the perfect time to head to the mountains with a good amount of snowfall having happened in November. If you are lucky, you may even have some snow in the cities further from the alps, which is perfect to explore the Christmas markets with a mug of Gluhwein in.

• The average temperature across Switzerland in December is 4°C or 39.2°F
• Pros – It is Christmas market month across the country.
• Cons – Because of the Christmas markets, city destinations tend to be busier than usual, and accommodation prices also go up. The mountains tend to be busy around the run-up and following Christmas too.

When is the high season in Switzerland?

Switzerland has two high seasons, one over the summer and one over the winter. Mid-June through to mid-September is the peak of the Swiss summer and many people flock to the mountains for hiking, the school summer holidays, and the bigger cities for a city break.

✔️ Read my complete guide to Bern , one of the best places to visit in Switzerland in summer.

Mid-December through to early February is the winter high season, with snow sports dominating the mountains, (especially around Valais and St Moritz) and Christmas markets filling the towns and cities.

When is summer in Switzerland?

Summer in Switzerland is from June to September, and if visiting during these months, be prepared to expect more crowds and some warm weather in some of the larger cities. It will often hit 40°C or 104°F for multiple days in a row in August. That weather will allow you to either get in the lakes for a dip or float down a river through one of the cities.

When is the low season in Switzerland?

Low season in Switzerland is generally from mid to late October through to mid-December and then again from mid to late March through to mid-April. It’s the best time to visit Switzerland if you don’t want to deal with the crowds, but it can also be unpredictable weather. If you visit Switzerland in the low season, you can enjoy perfect weather for a spring or autumn hike.

When is the worst time to visit Switzerland?

The worst time to visit Switzerland depends on what you want to get out of your trip. For example, if you want to visit Switzerland to ski or take part in snow sports, then don’t come in the summer. If you want to hike mountain trails, don’t visit in the peak of winter. Overall, the time of the year with the more unsettled weather and when some locations and attractions start to close down on the run-up to the winter, (mountain huts and campsites), in October.

When is the least busy time to visit Switzerland?

The least busy time to visit Switzerland is either in one of the shoulder seasons, so from mid-April to mid-June, or in the low season. However, depending on local festivals and events that may be happening throughout the year, certain areas will still be busy during these months. Mid-September through to mid-October can be crowded in the Bernese Oberland and Lauterbrunnen due to the annual festive processions for the cows descending from their alpine pastures for the winter.

Tips for visiting Switzerland

Buy a swiss travel pass.

Depending on your length of stay in Switzerland, one way to reduce the cost of your trip is to buy a Swiss Travel Pass, (not to be confused with a SwissPass which is a pass for Swiss residents only).

The pass gives you unlimited travel by train, bus, or boat, plus other public transport in select locations, on 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 consecutive days, with prices starting at CHF 232.00 for 3 days in 2nd class and up to CHF 429.00 for 15 days in 2nd class. You can easily buy this online via Switzerland Travel Centre, where you can see the full extent of Switzerland that the Swiss Travel Pass covers, and get free entrance for many museums.

Budget your trip

Another way to save money on your trip to Switzerland is to purchase a day pass or multiple saver day passes, from Swiss Railways, (SBB CFF FFS). They will allow you to travel on most public transport throughout Switzerland for an entire day at a highly reduced rate, sometimes as little as CHF 29.00.

It’s a great option if you would rather not spend more on the Swiss Travel Pass, or only want to travel on certain days, as the earlier, you book the pass the cheaper the ticket. You can also book these reduced-price tickets for children under 16, bicycles, (should you want to get out on two wheels), and dogs.

Get a city pass

Getting city passes is also a fantastic option to budget your trip when visiting Switzerland. Quite a few cities around the country will give tourists a free day pass to explore the city or at least have the option for you to buy one, giving you cheaper prices for a tram, bus, and boat travel.

Basel gives each visitor a free BaselCard for the entire length of their stay in the city with any stay at a hotel, hostel, B&B, or apartment. It provides free use of all public transport, half-price entry into certain museums and attractions, and a discounted rate on e-bike rental.

Cook your meals

The most expensive thing you will find when visiting Switzerland is that eating out at restaurants three times a day can get expensive quickly, even more so if you are visiting during a high season. So, take full advantage of local supermarkets and grocery stores such as Migros, Lidl, Co-op, or Denner to make your food if you have the facilities too.

Why not even pack yourself a lunch to have in the mountains?

If you want more flexibility when traveling around Switzerland, consider renting a car. While you will pay more for a car than for a train, you will be able to visit many hidden spots, hike cool trails and enjoy Alpine villages that many travelers don’t get to see.

✅ I always rent my car with DiscoverCars , one of the best car rental platforms that allows you to find vehicles at competitive rates and has no hidden fees, unlike some other car rental websites.

Best time to visit Switzerland: FAQs

What is the cheapest month to visit switzerland.

The cheapest time to visit Switzerland is generally between mid-January to the beginning of April, as it is the spring shoulder season with fewer tourists visiting the country. It can be a great time of year to visit Switzerland though.

What is the rainiest month in Switzerland?

Surprisingly although June is technically one of the summer months in Switzerland, it is also the rainiest month in Switzerland, and it can get quite humid depending on where in the country you are.

What are the warmest months to visit Switzerland

The best time to visit Switzerland for some of its warmest months is between July and early September. Unfortunately, because of this, these months are also some of the busiest and priciest across Switzerland. These months are some of the best for hiking in the alps.

What is the best time to visit Switzerland for hiking?

Spring or autumn are ideal times to visit Switzerland for hiking, with warmer days, short rain showers, and clear views. Summer is another great time for hiking in Switzerland, but it is also slightly rainier and can get busy at the more well-known destinations due to the various holidays.

What is the best time to visit Switzerland for skiing?

November through to March is great for skiing, but if you want to skip expensive hotel prices, avoid Christmas and New Year. The snow begins to fall at the highest elevations in mid-November right through to mid-March, with most of the country getting a good blanket of snow in December and January.

Is it better to visit Switzerland in April or May?

April and May are great times to visit Switzerland as they are in the spring shoulder season, but the weather can be a little more unpredictable than in the rest of the year. It’s more obvious in May when there is more rainfall on average than in April, but the days are beginning to warm up nicely. 

The best time to visit Switzerland: final words

So, when is the best time to visit Switzerland? It depends on what you want to do on your trip be it hiking, (best in March through to October), snow sports, (November to February), or taking in the autumnal or spring views. I suggest that either early spring or autumn, so March or September are good all-rounders for the best time to visit Switzerland.

The weather is warm enough, so you don’t need as many layers as over the peak of the winter, either the spring flowers are blooming, or the larch and beech trees are turning bright yellows and orange with the arrival of autumn, and there may be snow at higher elevations. So, it is the perfect time to visit a city or hike in the mountains.

This article was contributed by Gemma from The Traveling Tedaldi

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Best Time To Visit Switzerland

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Switzerland has been one of the most popular tourist destinations for many reasons. The snow-capped peaks, the stunning vistas, endless snow sports, or just relaxing by a roaring fire with a cup of world famous Swiss hot chocolate or cheese fondue in hand. Whatever your reason for visiting Switzerland , you just have to make sure that you’re visiting during the right time.

Determining the best time to visit Switzerland will help you plan your entire holiday, and also let you finalize on what activities you’ll be able to do. So, read on to find out when to visit Switzerland, for your ideal holiday!

Quick Facts

• Best time to visit : April – June, September – October
• High Season : July – August
• Low Season : October – March
• Best Ski Season : December – March
• All Seasons : April – June (spring), July – August (summer), September – October (fall), November – March (winter)
• The best time to visit Switzerland is during the shoulder seasons, between April and June, and September to October, when the weather is at best, and there aren’t too many tourists.
• The high season is July to August, when the weather in Switzerland is the warmest it is in the entire year, but you will have to face a lot of tourists, and over 50% increase in prices.
• Winter (between December and March) is low season in most parts of the country, as there will be intense snowstorms. However, this is the best season for those who want to go on ski trips.

Switzerland is a country that at once defies all stereotypes, and lives up to all of them. It’s truly the land of picture–perfect mountains, postcard like villages, amazing cheese, chocolate, and utter peace. However, there is more to discover of this country than most people would expect – from the strict punctuality of the Swiss, to their utter hospitality. You will definitely find something amazing at every corner, there is no doubt that this is one of the most picturesque destinations you’re ever going to visit in your life.

Depending on what you want to do, you will be able to discover different parts of Switzerland, no matter which part of the year your travel in. However, there are certain seasons when the weather in Switzerland makes the destination impossible to resist. You just have to identify the best time to go to Switzerland, based on what you like to do best!

Seasonal Overview

1. april to june – spring / good season.

April – June is a good season to visit Switzerland for a number of reasons. The snowfall would have just reduced to bearable levels, so you will still be able to see Switzerland for the winter wonderland that it is. Moreover, the crowds from the ski slopes would have also left, and the summer crowd would not have trickled in yet, and you will be able to find most accommodation and travel tickets for cheaper. The weather in Switzerland might be slightly wet during this season, but the accommodation will be cheaper, the wildflowers will be blooming all across the valleys, and a ride on the cable cars will offer stunning views.

• Avg. Temperature : 60 – 74° F / 16 – 23° C (in Zurich)
• Rainfall : 137 – 173 mm
• Season : Spring
• Highlights : There are some places you must definitely visit during these months, especially hiking. All trails up to 2000 m will be clear of snow, providing you a clear path to trek up, with stunning snow–capped peaks to view. This is also a great time to catch those quaint scenic train rides, as well. Make sure you visit Lake Lugano, on the Italian–Swiss border (make sure you carry your passport). Lake Maggorie, and Ronco Sopra Ascona are also stunning places to visit. Make sure you stop by Ascona, for its famous art festival, Artisti di Strada in May, or by Geneva for Fete de la Musique in June.

In-depth month-wise guides: Switzerland in April Switzerland in May Switzerland in June

2. July to August – Summer / High Season

This is when most tourists descend on Switzerland, and if you visit the country during this period, you will know exactly why. The weather is perfect and warm, with wildflowers growing all across the valley. The snow thaws during this season, even in the higher passes, so you will be able to hike those trails as well!  Summer is one of the busiest seasons in Switzerland, only second to the ski season on the slopes. The prices can go up to 50% higher in the resorts in the mountains, and travel will also be quite expensive. However, all the mountain resorts will be open now, so you will get a great choice of places to stay in.

• Avg. Temperature :  80° F / 27° C (in Zurich)
• Rainfall : 73 – 151 mm
• Season : Summer
• Highlights : This is a good time to go to Switzerland if you want to enjoy wonderful treks. Towards the middle of the season, even the higher trails will open up for hikes. You will also get your own share of adventure sports to choose from – including biking, paragliding, and more. Lake Geneva is a must–see destination. Summer also has a number of festivals – from Fete de Geneve (July–August), or Bol d’Or Mirabaud, the continent’s biggest yacht race, held in Geneva. You can also head to Montreux, with its world-renowned jazz festival.

In-depth month-wise guides: Switzerland in July Switzerland in August Switzerland in Summer

3. September to October – Fall / Good Season

These months are absolutely stunning. Fall is always a great time to visit – the weather is pretty warm, but mildly chilly. The days start getting shorter about this time, and the vibrant fall colours begin taking over the slopes. There won’t be as much snow on the higher peaks, and the crowds from summer would have started to leave around this time, making fall a cheaper time to visit. Moreover, you will get better seats on transport, and on the cable cars, now that you don’t have to fight for your spot!

• Avg. Temperature : 57 – 75° F / 14 – 24° C (in Zurich)
• Rainfall : 38 – 53 mm
• Season : Fall
• Highlights : You’ll find the best wine during this season, as this is when the grape harvests happen. The higher passes and pass roads will start closing by October, so visit those spots before they are closed. This is the best time to visit Interlaken, where you can see the stunning Jungfrau. A number of people head to Lake Brienz and Lake Thun for paragliding, or even swimming. Thun has a number of other adventures on offer during this season as well – including flying a 1930s biplane!

In-depth month-wise guides: Switzerland in September Switzerland in October

4. November– March – Winter / Low Season

This season is rather contradictory. It’s both the high season and the low season. Many resorts close around this time, but the ski slopes will be wide open, with a number of tourists. Especially around Christmas, a lot of tourists head to Switzerland to experience the snow–capped mountains, and the wonderful ski opportunities (not to mention the Christmas markets). The prices will go down in other parts of the country, except for the slopes – which is where most of the crowds will also be concentrated.

• Avg. Temperature : 41 – 50° F / 5 – 10° C (in Zurich)
• Rainfall : 25 – 196 mm
• Season : Winter
• Highlights : Head to the Valais Region, which is stunning during this season. Head to the Zermatt or Saas–Fee, where 500 odd kilometers of skiing and snowboarding awaits you. Whether you want a view of Monte Rosa, or Matterhorn, you will definitely have a great time. Take a trip on the Gornergrat Railway, or the Klein Matterhorn Cable Car, to discover views that are straight out of a magazine.

In-depth month-wise guides: Switzerland in November Switzerland in December Switzerland in January Switzerland in February Switzerland in March Switzerland in Winter

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Related Categories

• How Long To Stay In Switzerland
• Switzerland Travel Advice
• What To Do In Switzerland
• When To Visit Switzerland
• Where To Go In Switzerland

• S Sonya Davis Jan 16 2020 REPLY Thanks for the seasonal info!!
• P Prawit Akrawarawong Jan 09 2020 REPLY Excellent info and well written. Thank you.
• A Agnieszka Nowak Nov 03 2017 REPLY What a detailed and well-structured guide on the best time to visit Switzerland. Thank you for sharing it, Erik! I like how you structured it season by season.

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The Best Time to Visit Switzerland: A Complete Guide

When visiting Switzerland, one thing is sure: you’re going to have lots of fun. Of course, fun takes different meanings depending on the months you decide to travel to the country. There are diverse activities to keep you busy all year long, and no matter how long you’ll be staying, you’re not getting bored. You can ski during the winter , enjoy the towns and villages spread across the country during spring, hike the longest of trails during summer, and become a professional photographer during fall as you take in the beautiful mountainous views . Depending on which one of these you’re more into, it’s a given that you’ll need to know exactly when to book your flight, so you don’t pack the wrong gear and clothes. 

The Climate of Switzerland

Switzerland has a moderate continental climate all over the territory, except for the mountains, where the where the temperatures are usually low or freezing. The differences between the four seasons are clear and evident. The summers are hot, and the winters are relatively cold and snowy. Most of Switzerland’s main cities are located on a plateau, which, in geological terms, is an elevated flat terrain. The temperatures there are almost freezing during winters and up to 25°C degrees during typical summers and up to 30°C degrees in very hot summers. In the mountains, the temperatures become colder as you climb up higher and higher. It’s usually sunnier in the hills due to the clouds being lower in the summer.

The Best Time to Visit Switzerland

Depending on what you’re doing, there are different times to visit Switzerland . If you’re just there to enjoy the views surrounding the cities, towns, and villages, then anytime is a good time. However, for more specific things like hiking or skiing, there’s a certain period during which you’ll need to visit.

Best months to visit Switzerland for hiking 

Hiking in Switzerland has become a bucket list item for many people around the world, and can you even question them? Look at the place! It’s absolutely gorgeous, and some of the prettiest places in the country can only be found on foot. The best months to hike in Switzerland are from mid-June to late September, mainly because the weather is warmer during those times, and you won’t get stuck in the snow. Whether you like your hikes a bit on the colder or warmer side, there’s a month for all your specific requirements. In June, you’ll definitely find snow the higher you go, as it’ll take at least a bit more for the snow to dry out. In July and August, you’ll find less snow, and you can enjoy the wildflowers growing everywhere around the valleys. In September, the weather is still nice and a lot less rainy, and there are not so many crowds of people due to summer being over.

Best months to visit Switzerland for skiing

In November, especially by the end of the month, most ski resorts will be opening up, and the snow will start to settle even in the lower parts of the mountains. December is the month for skiing as most people begin their winter vacations and go up in the mountains with their friends and families. In January and February, avalanches can be quite dangerous; however, ski resorts will make sure of your safety, and of course,  the snow will be absolutely excellent.

Visiting Switzerland in Summer vs. Winter

During summer, Switzerland has plenty of activities in store for you. You can hike, ride boats, paraglide, bike and have entire journeys on trains with some of the best views possible on Earth. There are lakes everywhere, from the valleys up to the highest parts of the country. The weather is pleasant and hot. ‘What are the warmest months in Switzerland?’, you ask? July and August are usually the hottest throughout the year, and that’s when a lot of tourists come over. 

During the winter, the main activity is… you guessed it, skiing. Or anything to do with snow, such as snowboarding and winter hiking. The weather is cold and freezing, sometimes even raining and the tourists are usually from nearby countries, making some of the resorts and peaks a little bit crowded.

High season in Switzerland

As for winter, the high season is during January and February because snow reaches even the lowest of valleys, although not in huge amounts. Many tourists come into the country to spend their winter vacations after New Year’s, so expect to find a lot of families skiing and most probably falling all over the place.

Low season in Switzerland

There are two especially low seasons in Switzerland where not so many tourists can be found: April and October/November. These are considered low seasons due to most of the resorts and tourist attractions like hiking and skiing being closed off due to weather conditions; it’s not warm enough for hiking, and there’s not enough snow for skiing.

The Worst Time to Visit Switzerland

As mentioned already, each person or group of people goes to Switzerland with something already in mind as to what they want to do once they get there. You can have fun almost during any month of the year; however, there are considerations that need to be taken.

If you don’t like crowds of people in your skiing peaks, then it’s better to stay away during the major winter holidays, Christmas and New Year. This is the peak tourist season in Switzerland due to the high number of locals and tourists that come over to ski in the Alps. Also, if you like warm weather and iced teas, winter in Switzerland is definitely not for you; less sunshine during the day means you’re going to wander around under dark skies and cold weather most of the time.

If you’re into activities such as hiking and skiing, another lousy time to come to Switzerland is April/May because of the resorts being closed, the weather being unfavorable, and the low season fully beginning.

You might be wondering, ‘What’s the rainiest season in Switzerland?’ That’s a period lasting from May to August, so if you really don’t like rain, make sure to plan your trip before or after those months. 

Switzerland Travel Tips 

• Switzerland is not in the EU, so its currency is Swiss Francs . Convert the currency here .
• Get a Universal Power Adapter so you can plug in any adapter you need, no matter the power outlet (power outlets in Switzerland can be with two or three prongs).
• EU citizens and those from Schengen-approved countries can travel to Switzerland for 90 days Visa-free.
• The languages mainly spoken in Switzerland are German, Italian, and French.
• Traveling in Switzerland is easiest by train, as the country has an impressive network of railroads that can take you anywhere.

If you’re visiting in the summer , you’re going to need:

• Light clothes
• Shirts, lots of shirts
• A jacket and an umbrella, just in case
• Hiking gear
• Large backpack
• Warm clothes for when you reach high elevations

If you’re visiting in the winter , you’re going to need:

• Warm clothes
• Hats and beanies
• Skiing gear

Whether you decide to kick it back and chill in a cabin all vacation long, or if you choose to tire yourself out climbing mountains and skiing down them, Switzerland is the place for everything . No matter what, you’ll be spellbound from the sights , the fresh smell of grass, and the crunch of snow. The seasons may change how Switzerland looks, but they won’t change how it feels; a challenge worth putting yourself through. So, go climb that mountain, enjoy that calming lake, and eat that chocolate. The best time to visit Switzerland is now. 

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How to plan a family summer trip to the Swiss Alps

Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region promises dramatic Alpine scenery, flower-flecked meadows and thrills on every summit. And with an extensive network of cable cars and rail routes, it's ideal for a 10-day stress-free family adventure.

Mother Nature pulled out all the stops in the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Alps. From waterfalls and cloud-capped peaks (including the big three: Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau) to high pastures jangling with cowbells, cliff-hugging villages sprinkled with log chalets and Alpine railways taking you from pine to peak, this is picture-postcard Switzerland at its finest. For families, adventure awaits. Bomb down the mountains on a Trottibike scooter or thunder towards the Eiger on a zip-line. Head up high to play in the summer snow or get close to the water in glacier gorges. From villages to via ferrata, here’s how to plan a 10-day tour that takes it all in.

Days 1-3: Mürren

Begin your trip with one of the area's most spectacular rail and cable journeys, with the town of Interlaken as a starting point. Take the train to Lauterbrunnen and switch onto a gondola to Grütschalp, where a second and arguably more beautiful train ride will whisk you up to Mürren. Perched on a ridge at 1,638 metres, this high-altitude village offers knockout views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, and its flower-strewn pastures, spruce forests and dark-timber chalets are the picture of Swiss Alpine beauty.  

It's the ideal spot to ease into an active holiday. Hiking trails thread from its flanks in all directions, and a funicular glides up to Allmendhubel , where you can enjoy a meal on the mountain-facing sun terrace while kids romp among giant insects and Alpine blooms in the flower-themed adventure park. Budding botanists will love the nearby flower trail, which features 150 species of mountain flowers, from gentian to edelweiss. Alternatively, adults and older children can ramp up the adrenaline on the nearby Mürren-Gimmelwald via ferrata. A guide will help you learn the ropes, and before long you’ll be exploring a series of chalelnging suspension bridges, zip-lines and tightropes, with sky-high views of the Bernese Alps.

Devote a third day to Schilthorn, which begins with a dramatic cable-car ride above great fangs of rock to the eyrie-like summit of Schilthorn — Piz Gloria. Visited by James Bond in the 1969 film adaptation of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service , this dramatic destination enjoys views across 200 peaks all the way to Mont Blanc and the Black Forest on clear days. Enjoy the helicopter and bobsleigh simulators at Spy World , before heading down to middle station Birg for exhilarating, vertigo-inducing moments on the Skyline Walk and cliff-hugging Thrill Walk (crawl through the tunnel if you dare).

Days 3-7: Grindelwald  

With sensational views of the Eiger’s imposing North Face and a lineup of 4,000-metre peaks, it’s no surprise that Grindelwald is one of Switzerland’s most popular destinations for active travellers. The first task is to pick your peak. Swing high above the meadows to 1,391-metre Pfingstegg for a mad downhill dash on the summer toboggan run or zip-line. Or opt for mountain-rimmed Männlichen, where you can enjoy nature-focused fun on the treetop path, explore the vast playground that's home to a giant wooden cow, or head out on the Lieselotte Trail, where children can search for crystals, blow into an alphorn and peek at burrowing marmots through binoculars.  

On day two, make for the 2,184-metre summit of First Mountain, which has the edge for thrill-seekers. Clinging to near-vertical cliffs, the First Cliff Walk is an ideal place to begin your day’s activity, with giddy views of the Bernese Alps. From the top, you can whizz towards the Eiger on the First Flyer zip-line at speeds of up to 50mph, before tearing down the slopes back to Grindelwald by mountain cart or chunky Trottibike. Back in the valley, feel nature’s colossal force in Grindelwald’s Glacier Canyon, as you teeter across a walkable ‘spider’s web’ strung between towering rock faces polished by the waters of the Lütschine River. Daredevils can also enjoy the canyon swing , which involves a 90-metre freefall before you rip across the gorge at speeds of 75mph.

However, all of this is just laying the groundwork for a third-day trip up to 3,454-metre Jungfraujoch. From Grindelwald, hop aboard the tri-cable Eiger Express gondola for a riveting ride with views of the Eiger’s mile-high North Face. From the Eiger Glacier station at its top, switch to the Jungfrau Railway. This red train has been chugging up to the summit since 1912 and will transport you up to Europe’s highest railway station in less than 30 minutes. Here, the Sphinx observation terrace offers out-of-this-world views of the 14-mile Aletsch Glacier and the surrounding sea of 4,000-metre peaks. It’s snowy up top all year round, so dress warmly for sledding, tubing and zip-lining in the snow park, or a subzero wander through the glittering, sculpture-strewn tunnels of the Ice Palace.

Days 7-10: Meiringen (Haslital)

From Grindelwald, take a beautiful train ride via Interlaken, or a panoramic bus ride over the Grosse Scheidegg mountain pass to reach Meiringen, a pretty Alpine town in the Haslital Valley that's surrounded by dramatic activity. Top billing goes to the 120-metre-high Reichenbach Falls, which crash over forested cliffs with a roar. This is where writer Arthur Conan Doyle had fictional detective Sherlock Holmes and villainous Dr Moriarty fall over the edge in the 1893 story The Final Problem . For a less intense experience, take the funicular up and hike back down before stopping in at Patisserie Frutal for a Swiss meringue — Meiringen lays claim to fame as the 18th-century birthplace of this sweet treat.

The next day, continue your exploration of Meiringen’s surrounding cliffs and ravines. A quick train ride from town will see you reach the Aare Gorge, which carves a deep, narrow path through limestone tunnels and galleries and past a turquoise torrent of glacial water. Visit later in the day if you can, as the canyon is at its most entrancing when illuminated by summer-evening rays. Its closest rival is the waterfall-splashed Rosenlaui Gorge, where a circular trail leads through primeval forest and past chalk-slate cliffs pounded smooth by the Weissenbach River.

Finally, head north of Meiringen, to Hasliberg. This area is a family favourite, thanks to the three-mile Muggestutz Dwarf trail that runs from Mägisalp to Bidmi, where kids can dry pine cones, take on the ‘eagle swing’ and find cave treasure. Make a day of it and check out the marble run from Bidmi to Reuti, which offers 12 giant marble runs immersed in nature and a firepit for barbecues (wood is provided).  

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The 10 best ski resorts in Switzerland

M odern skiing in Europe evolved largely in Switzerland in the late 19th century thanks to pioneering British visitors in classic resorts such as Davos , St Moritz , Wengen , Grindelwald and Mürren.  

France , Austria and Italy attract the vast majority of British visitors each year, but while its Alpine neighbours have their own particular strengths, in many respects Switzerland is hard to beat. It has an unfair share of the most dramatic mountain scenery, and ditto the most captivating traffic-free old mountain villages, some of the best mountain restaurants, and impressive ski runs . Most destinations can be reached directly by train from Geneva, Zermatt and other hub airports as rail travel becomes increasingly popular among skiers.

Sadly, with the Swiss Franc’s strength against the pound, prices for British visitors have become almost prohibitive in the big-name resorts. Even in the cheaper, lesser-known Swiss villages, day-to-day costs on the ground are higher than in the average resort in Austria, France or Italy.

However, by shopping around carefully for budget-conscious accommodation and avoiding buying lunch on the mountain, it’s still possible to enjoy a superb ski holiday here. Here’s our pick of 10 resorts that are definitely worth the trip.

Best for experts

Other Swiss resorts may match Verbier for luxurious chalets and hotels and vibrant après, but none quite have its cool cachet – and that’s largely because few can rival its challenging high-altitude terrain. Anyone who can handle Verbier’s itinerary routes, never mind its couloirs, can consider themselves pretty darn good.

The itineraries (which, though loosely marked, are not formally avalanche controlled or checked by the ski patrol) are where many experts spend their time, treating them like pistes. Epic highlights are the 900m-vertical route from Col des Gentianes to Tortin, and the 1,000m vertical Vallon d’Arby down to La Tzoumaz on the edge of the ski area.

The 67 lifts access 412km of runs, including some of the best lift-served off piste in the Alps. From Mont Gelé (3,025m) there are steeper itineraries and serious off-piste routes, while the top of Mont Fort (3,330m) offers a black mogul run on the front and adventurous off-piste routes off the back that end down in Siviez. An alternative front-face descent is by zip-wire – reaching speeds of 130kph.

The resort is a gentle sprawl of chalets, hotels and apartments, few of which are ski-in/ski-out – but the free ski bus system is generally efficient. Resort life revolves around the après hub of the Place Centrale, the main lift base at Médran 500m away, and the buzzing street between the two.

Where to stay

La Tintaz costs from £358, with SNO , based on six sharing the three-bedroom self-catering apartment. The accommodation is 400 metres from the village centre, has its own garden, terrace, and parking spaces for up to two cars. It’s also 50 metres from the ski bus stop.  Find more of the best hotels and chalets in Verbier here .

Alternatives 

Andermatt’s main mountain, Gemsstock, is an expert’s dream, with some seriously steep pistes and challenging off-piste routes. The resort is now in partnership with Vail and lifts are included in the multi-resort Epic Pass.

All of the main sectors in Zermatt have long, testing marked itinerary runs, there are also epic off-piste routes from several points. Zermatt also has one of Europe’s biggest heliskiing operations.

Best for intermediates

In St Moritz, ski trains and buses give fairly efficient access to a wide variety of intermediate slopes in six widely spread sectors. The two largest are Corviglia, accessed from town, and Corvatsch, a 25-minute free ski bus ride away. All sectors go up to around 3,000m, and afford fabulous panoramic views. The wide, open slopes above the treeline make for particularly attractive piste cruising.

St Moritz is famous for being the world capital of winter glitz, attracting a clientele with stratospheric income. However, with its 350km of sunny, reliably snowy pistes, there’s more to it than bling. The resort village is divided into two main parts. St Moritz Dorf is the largest and where most of the five-star hotels, swanky clubs and restaurants are located. Quieter St Moritz Bad has the cross-country track around St Moritz lake as its focal point.

Overall, the resort offers a huge range of quality leisure facilities, notably ice-skating, tobogganing, bobsleigh, and the famous Cresta Run for skeleton – which is, infamously, still only open to men. Most unusual is golf (using red balls), cricket, horse-racing, show jumping, and polo – all on the frozen lake.

Hostel by Randolins is next to the three-star Hotel Randolins with its restaurant, spa, and shuttle service. They’re within walking distance from the Chasellas chairlift and close to the Suvretta Hotel. In good snow conditions, you can ski down a secret path back to the hostel. From CHF 580 per room for five nights, B&B, not including travel, booked direct . Find more of the best hotels and chalets in St Moritz here .

Alternatives

Davos has an extensive network of linked intermediate pistes on offer in its six separate sectors of slopes, shared with its smaller neighbour Klosters. The main ski area, Parsenn, links the two resorts. Laax and neighbouring Flims share 224km of almost entirely intermediate slopes.

Best for beginners

The gorgeous traffic-free village of Saas-Fee looks a bit like a small Zermatt with its age-blackened wooden chalets, and it is surrounded by magnificent glaciers and mountain peaks, including the Dom – the highest mountain located entirely within Switzerland. The ideal time to visit is later in the season, when the village gets a decent amount of sun.

The ski area is relatively small, with 100km of pistes, and best suited to beginners and intermediates. The nursery slopes are long, gentle, quiet and only a short walk from the main street – plus the glacier area and most of the top half of the mountain are ideal for beginners with glorious easy blue runs up at altitude. Even runs that are marked red here are generally very gentle, and would be classified blue in many resorts.

Saas-Fee has a friendly atmosphere and is good for families as there is plenty of après-ski entertainment to keep everyone occupied, including the state-of-the-art Aqua Allalin pool and spa complex. The Feeblitz Rodelbobbahn (a bobsleigh/rollercoaster hybrid) makes an excellent afternoon’s entertainment – especially when the weather closes in.

The Allalin Apartments are located a 12-minute walk from the village centre. The three-star apartments are managed by the hotel of the same name and you can opt to eat in the hotel’s restaurant. Accommodation ranges from studios to two-bedroom flats. From £513, self-catering and based on foud sharing, with Inghams . Find more of the best accommodation in Saas-Fee here .

Villars is a reassuringly slow-paced resort where novices can make first turns in a relaxed, low-pressure atmosphere. The gentle nursery slope is at village level. Laax has plenty of long, easy blue runs from high on the mountain back to the village for beginners looking to move on from the nursery slopes.

Best for charm

The largest and most attractive of the four resorts in the beautiful Val d’Anniviers, Grimentz shares a ski area with linked Zinal. Nearby St Luc and Chandolin are also included on the lift pass. Grimentz has the most  restaurants, bars and accommodation. It is reached by a dramatic winding road that zigzags up from Sierre in the Rhone Valley, fringed with sheer drop-offs. The reward for this scary initiation is the feeling of discovering a secret Alpine hideaway. The village has a charming centre with ancient wooden chalets as well as some 1970s additions that are less appealing – think uncommercialised Zermatt on a much smaller scale.

Even though these days Grimentz is not so secret, its offbeat location means that it has not been overexploited by the demands of tourism and it is all the better for it. The ski areas total 210km of pistes served by 46 lifts. Grimentz-Zinal is on one side of the valley while St Luc-Chandolin is on the other. It’s best to have a car to get between the two ski areas as the bus service isn’t great.

Together, the ski areas offer the quantity and variety of pistes needed for a full week’s entertainment. While there is a substantial amount of easy and intermediate terrain in the area, the steeps and off piste are big attractions. The World Cup black run at Grimentz, is a proper challenge, but it pales into insignificance when compared with the black Piste du Chamois on the Zinal side. The winching of a piste-bashing machine here is an impressive testament to Swiss engineering expertise. The off-piste opportunities to be discovered with a mountain guide are stupendous. For the less gung-ho, St Luc is home to more benign runs against a quite beautiful Alpine backdrop.

Les Vieux Chalets No 7 is a two-storey top-floor apartment with four bedrooms sleeping eight in Grimentz. It’s 200m from the main Bendolla gondola to the slopes.From £1,299 total for eight guests self-catering, travel not included, with Mountain Heaven .

Mürren is pretty, with narrow lanes lined by small chalets at an altitude high enough to more or less guarantee snow on the rooftops. It’s also car-free. Saas-Fee is traffic-free aside from its electric carts and taxis, and the buildings are mainly in traditional Alpine style – look up, and tumbling glaciers loom above.

Best for partying

Après that starts on the mountain in mid-afternoon is a well-known feature of Austrian resorts, and is being propagated in big-name French resorts through the Folie Douce franchise – but it’s arguably been going on in Zermatt as long as anywhere in the cute huts that dot the lower part of the Matterhorn sector of slopes.

These days, it isn’t just amiable sing-songs fuelled by schnapps concoctions. Bars such as the Hennu Stall at the bottom of the Matterhorn sector and Cervo at the bottom of Sunnegga have live bands generating an atmosphere to rival anything in St Anton.

Later on, Zermatt suits all tastes, from the panelled Elsie’s Bar for a glass of wine (and maybe oysters or snails), to the popular Papperla Pub, to having your eardrums assaulted in one of the various venues in the Hotel Post.

Zermatt has lots of other attractions too – 322km of varied, extensive slopes including those of Cervinia in Italy which is linked across the Klein Matterhorn.  There are  testing off-piste itinerary runs; heliskiing on tap; quality mountain restaurants; a characterful, car-free village; and, naturally, fabulous views of the Matterhorn from around almost every corner.

Argos is a self-contained apartment on the ground floor of Chalet Ulysse and is a five-minute walk from the Matterhorn Express gondola station, with the possibility of skiing back to within 200m of the door for much of the winter. It has two double bedrooms, a large bathroom, and a south-facing living room.  From CHF 3,900 total for a self-catered apartment for four people with Matterhorn Chalets , not including travel. Find the best hotels and chalets in Zermatt here .

Verbier presents the full range of après options, starting with lively bars on the mountain and progressing through to happy-hour live bands and seriously expensive night clubs. Laax has succeeded in attracting lots of young people, mainly snowboarders, who fill the bars early and late, particularly at the Laax lift base.

Best for families

Essentially car-free (with the exception of taxis), Wengen might have been specially designed for families. At its heart there’s a snow-covered field that serves as a combined playground and gentle nursery slope. For children progressing beyond this stage, one of the two ways up the mountain is by cog railway that also gives access to the village from Lauterbrunnen down in the valley. The other main lift is the speedier Männlichen cable car.

The village sits on a sunny shelf and is made up of a mix of small chalets and bigger, more institutional-looking hotels. Wengen shares a ski area with Grindelwald, and most of the slopes are above its neighbour – lovely long red and blue runs under the towering north face of the Eiger. The Jungfrau region lift pass covers the slopes of neighbouring Mürren as well as Wengen and Grindelwald – 210km of pistes in total served by 58 lifts as well as the mountain railways that form the backbone of the uphill transport system. Lift passes are free for the under sixes, and reduced up to age 19. Over 62 year olds also benefit from reduced prices.

There are plenty of family-friendly activities on offer, including 50km of toboggan runs. The most popular of these is the 4.5km run from Wengernalp down to the train station in town, but there are also long runs from the top of the mountain going in the opposite direction towards Grindelwald. In the middle of the village there’s indoor curling and outdoor skating.

Hotel Caprice is a boutique hotel that is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World and is comfortable and relaxed with excellent cuisine. Weather-permitting, you can ski back to the hotel. From £1,299, half board, with Iglu Ski . Find more of the best hotels in Wengen here .

Arosa is a child-friendly wintersports village with an unintimidating ski area, traditionally enjoyed by all family members – be they toddlers, skaters, cross-country enthusiasts, walkers, and alpine skiers. If you stay in participating hotels and apartments you can benefit from free ski school lessons for the under 17s.

Best for powder

Andermatt sits in a prime high altitude position for attracting snow cover. On one of its two separate ski areas, steep and shady Gemsstock, most of the slopes are between 2,000m and 3,000m.

There’s often high-quality conditions in Andermatt when cover in the Valais region – Switzerland’s main concentration of major resorts – is mediocre. Although it does have several intermediate pistes, Gemsstock is really an expert’s mountain. The main face of 900m vertical consists almost entirely of black runs and off-piste routes to mid-mountain, and the one run to the valley is also a black, although an easy one.

However, Andermatt’s other sector, Nätschen-Gütsch-Sedrun, has a whole expanse of intermediate slopes, bringing the total pistes on offer in Andermatt to 120km. A network of modern lifts and pistes links Nätschen-Gütsch with Sedrun, 15km away to the east, the link being part of an ongoing £1.2 billion redevelopment of the resort, backed by Swiss-educated billionaire Egyptian entrepreneur Samih Sawiris. Once only linked by train, there is now a series of red and blue pistes and lifts including six-seater chairs and a fast 10-person gondola from Oberalppass to Schneehüenerstock. Vail Resorts has now acquired a controlling share in the resort’s development and the transaction includes a £130 million investment in the skiing infrastructure and guest experience, as well as the wider Andermatt Swiss Alps real estate business. Andermatt-Sedrun ski area now offers unlimited access to Epic Pass holders, the first resort in Europe to do so.

The Radisson Blu Hotel Reusson in Andermatt is a modern hotel set in the most recently-built enclave with shops and restaurants, a short walk from the railway station. A shuttle bus will take you to and from the lifts. From £1,885 per room per week, B&B, not including travel, booked direct .

With its village at 1,500m and slopes up to 3,330m, Verbier’s altitude ensures there’s a strong chance of good snow throughout the season. Engelberg is a favourite of Zürich weekenders. Not far north of Andermatt, it has a similarly well-deserved reputation for snow – although the village is quite low, most of the slopes are high (up to 3,030m).

Best for terrain parks

The ski area shared by the villages of Laax, Flims and Falera targets a youthful market, and the area’s key appeal lies in its five terrain parks, high up on Crap Sogn Gion (the local dialect generates some awkward names – Crap translates as “peak”).

In total the parks have almost 90 features such as rails, boxes and kickers as well as two halfpipes (the larger one is the world’s biggest, a massive 200m long, 22m wide and 6.90m high). The resort also has an indoor freestyle facility at the Freestyle Academy, with a skate bowl, ramps, jumps, trampoline, foam pit and airbag.

The 224km ski area served by 28 lifts also has lots to offer freeriders, with a good range of ungroomed but marked and patrolled freeride runs, as well as vast off-piste areas. However the sunny orientation of the slopes means snow conditions can be highly variable, especially late in the season.

There’s a wide choice of places to stay, from the quiet backwaters of Falera and Laax Dorf to the roadside hotels of Flims Dorf, the wooded seclusion of Flims Waldhaus or at the Laax lift base.

rocksresort is a four-star self-catering apartment building conveniently located at the foot of the slopes. It has an in-house bar and restaurant. From £1,298, self-catering including transfers, with Heidi .

Davos is a great area for freeriders when the snow is good, with long runs from the top of the mountains down to the valley, but its appeal to freestylers is equally compelling – the Jakobshorn sector has an extensive terrain park and a superpipe. Saas Fee has plenty of wide, well-groomed pistes and an impressively big and varied terrain park up on the glacier.

Best for value

The key to getting value for money, particularly in Switzerland, is to steer clear of the high-profile, fashionable resorts. In this respect, it’s hard to beat Leysin. It’s known as a resort for schoolchildren and also snowboarders, mainly for the reason that prices here are lower than in the big, well-known resorts.

Drinks in particular are reasonably priced by Swiss standards. Originally, Leysin was the setting for tuberculosis sanitoriums, thanks to its sunny climate and proximity to Geneva, about a 90-minute drive away. These days it’s a traditional ski resort with chalets scattered across a sunny meadow, although a few larger buildings of institutional architectural style bear witness to its health-tourist history. A cable car and a quad chair provide main mountain access from the edge of the village.  

The slopes best suit beginners to intermediates, with 100km of pistes going up to 2,200m and a terrain park with areas to suit all levels plus a halfpipe that’s good enough to host the Junior World Snowboard Championships in halfpipe each January. There is also a 7km cross-country track meandering through the forest. The lift pass includes nearby Villars and Les Diablerets.

Residence Castel Club Leysin Parc is 10 minutes’ walk from the resort centre, and offers studios and apartments with mountain views. Studios have a separate eating area with cable satellite TV and a sofa, plus a kitchenette with microwave. From CH 420 per room per week, in a self-catered studio for two, not including travel, booked direct .

Engelberg has a relatively low international profile, and three-star hotels outnumber four-stars eight to one. Local prices are about as low as Swiss resort prices go. Andermatt has undergone a lot of change of late with upmarket new developments, but the original old village still offers modest hotels and prices (for Switzerland).

Crans-Montana

Best for weekends.

Grabbing a quick weekend at short notice when snow conditions are good is a very appealing prospect. Crans-Montana is a great place for a bit of short-break indulgence, with a wide choice of seriously good hotels and restaurants, and it is easily reached from Geneva. Trains run from the airport to the valley town of Sierre, from where a funicular zips up to Montana, a total transfer time of about two hours and 40 minutes.

Last-minute weekends are a particularly good idea because while it has a scenic, extensive and varied ski area, virtually all its slopes face south or south west. This means that although around a third of its 140km of slopes are covered by snowmaking, it is exceptionally vulnerable to the sun after midwinter. Booking a week-long holiday here can mean risking poor snow conditions.

It’s a big place – a merging of the two towns of Crans and Montana with centres a mile apart – in a prettily wooded setting. The panoramic views are fabulous, particularly from the mountain restaurant terraces, but it does lack resort-village atmosphere. For ski tourers, there are 15 uphill ski touring routes ranging from easy to difficult

Hotel Art de Vivre is an intimate four-star hotel with just 24 rooms. It has a swimming pool and spa, as well as wonderful views. From £1,485, with Ski Solutions . Find more of the best hotels and chalets in Crans-Montana here .

Villars is just over two hours from Geneva airport by train. The slopes, though rather limited for a week-long holiday for those beyond beginner level, have plenty to offer for a weekend. Champéry is about two and a half hours from Geneva airport by train. Champéry is the main resort on the Swiss side of the cross-border Portes du Soleil circuit, which also takes in Avoriaz and Châtel in France.

Unless stated otherwise, package prices are per person, based on two sharing a double or twin room, half-board, for seven nights, including flights and transfers.

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More From Forbes

Swiss bliss: get high on summer tranquility and thrills in switzerland.

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Thinking about travel to Europe this summer? I’ll whisper this two-word, game-changing suggestion in your ear: Swiss Bliss . Switzerland is a spectacular vacation escape, promising plentiful pampering, playful diversions, culture (music festivals, art experiences, unique museums—from sports to science, film to food) and stellar gastronomy. Taste Chasselas wine; its white grapes are grown in the terraced Lavaux vineyards along the south-facing northern shores of Lake Geneva, where vintners produce artisanal batches that are rarely exported, so 98 percent of their singular sips can only be savored within the country. Discover abundant natural beauty and peaceful hideaways. Hike Alpine mountains. Swim in glistening lakes. Picnic amid wildflower meadows. For high-speed outings, ample opportunities abound: boating, road cycling, mountain biking, paragliding, skydiving and white-water rafting. Transportation within this tidy nation, especially via its SBB trains , is smooth and swift, accessing scores of destinations. (For itinerary details and surprising delights: My Switzerland Tourism .) Internationally renowned for training extraordinary hoteliers, hospitality is a revered profession, which adds smiles to your stay. Choose from a wide variety of accommodations—campgrounds to chalets to castles. If your vacay preference tends toward one-of-a-kind, five-star hotels, this article shines on three favorites, which are among French entrepreneur and winemaker Michel Reybier ’s impressive collection of wellness-promoting properties.

Interlaken: Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa

Mountain sports, such as paragliding, are popular.

In the Bernese Oberland region, which encompasses magnificent pinnacles and turquoise lakes, legendary Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa , with 216 guest rooms and suites, sparkles brighter than ever. This Belle Époque resort, dating from the mid-1800s and distinguished for its who’s who history, faces the community green of Interlaken with the Harder Kulm mountain as backdrop. The hotel is at the base of famous Jungfraujoch, a mountain saddle between Jungfrau and Mönch peaks, called the Top of Europe. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, a James Bond movie, was filmed at the nearby summit of Schilthorn. A new mountain trail that commences in the vicinity amplifies views of formidable Eiger’s North Face, located a funicular jaunt away. Or rise skyward riding a new Jungfrau Railway on a day trip to the heady altitude of 11,332 feet—a stunning uplift that is home to Europe’s highest train station.

Spacious grandeur.

Vibe: Palatial, glamorous, golden. Stroll crystal-chandelier salons with black-and-white checkered marble floors. Elaborate fountains, a roof cupola and expansive terraces dazzle. Eat & Treat Highlights: Executive chef Stefan Beer orchestrates imaginative, artistic fine-dining Radius, which uses the freshest ingredients garnered within approximately 30 miles. Relish, as well, La Terrasse Brasserie (for afternoon tea replete with finger sandwiches and pastries) and the Italian-spirited Ristorante e Pizzeria Sapori (for stone pizzas, seafood and some of Italy’s most flavorful wines). During evenings on Victoria Bar’s terrace, a pianist plays.

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Indoor pool at Victoria-Jungfrau's Nescens Spa.

Spa & Fitness: The year-round 59,200-square-foot spa wows with an indoor vaulted-ceiling swimming pool and fitness center. During summer, enjoy the hotel’s outdoor saltwater pool, as well as two adjacent glacier lakes, Brienz and Thunersee. There are tennis courts; lessons with a pro coach can be reserved. Pilates, bootcamp, step aerobics, yoga and other classes are offered; free daily group sessions vary. Kid Friendly: Bienehuus (Bee House), the hotel’s two-floor play facility showcases a library of children’s books, music room, creativity studio, relaxation area and multimedia lab.

Bienehuus children's center.

Geneva: La Réserve Geneva Hotel, Spa & Villa

Elegant ease.

At the southern end of Lake Geneva and a few miles from the city of Geneva—which itself is surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountains, with views of Mont Blanc— La Réserve Geneva Hotel, Spa and Villa , designed by Jacques Garcia, is ensconced within a landscaped 10-acre park in the suburb of Bellevue. Its 102 guest rooms and suites exude a quiet sophistication.

Gorgeous greens and blues of Swiss summer.

Vibe: Tranquil, modern, rejuvenating, verdant. The contemporary decor includes African art motifs and handcrafted woodwork. Eat & Treat Highlights: Executive chef Benjamin Brial is a master at bringing together innovative flavors and leading highly skilled kitchen teams. Le Loti Restaurant & Bar, with deliciously ambitious French and Mediterranean menus, is dressed with an eye-catching elephant wall sculpture and flourishing ferns. For evening entertainment: Live music and DJ spins. Also in the hotel, Le Tsé-Fung is Switzerland’s only Michelin-starred Chinese restaurant—outfitted with red velvet chairs, black lacquer screens, gold accents and silk drapery. It is reminiscent of 1930s Shanghai. Shenzhen-born Frank Xu, one of the world’s top chefs, stirs culinary enchantment in Geneva with the same applauded passion that he created years ago when, in Paris, he launched Shang Palace restaurant at the Shangri-La Hotel, earning it Michelin-star celebrity as well.

Indoor pool at La Réserve Geneva's Nescens Spa.

Spa & Fitness: The 20,000-square-foot Nescens Spa is Geneva’s largest wellness oasis and a significant draw for guests. Its indoor and outdoor pools are enticing. Summer activities headline tennis and wakeboarding lessons with a two-time World Wakesurf champion. Kid Friendly: La Petite Réserve, a children’s club, features an enormous playground—outdoor wood cabin on stilts and obstacle course with suspension bridge, climbable tree stumps, firefighter’s pole and slide. Fun, hands-on classes, such as pastry-making, engage. Instructors run swimming and diving lessons, as well as programs to overcome fear of water, in the outdoor pool.

Sweets for the sweet.

Zurich: La Réserve Eden au Lac

Ideally situated, Zurich's reborn gem.

La Réserve Eden au Lac —a fabled waterside French Empire-style landmark with heritage that spans more than 100 years—was radically re-designed by French industrial architect Philippe Starck, a perhaps surprisingly bold and edgy choice that turned out to be a brilliant one. Closed for a while to assess its much-needed renovations, the thoughtfully transformed hotel, which Starck envisioned as “an imaginary yacht club,” had a soft-opening during the COVID pandemic and wholly welcomed guests by 2022. He revamped it into the halcyon hot spot in cool Zurich, considered one of Europe’s most livable cites. This inviting, boutique-size retreat—with 40 guest rooms and suites—encourages 360-degree, panoramic gazes of Lake Zurich, a manicured park, forested hills and Zurich’s historical center. A leisurely walk takes you to Pavilion Le Corbusier, the Opera House, Kunsthaus Zurich museum (masterpieces by Van Gogh and Monet) and Bahnhofstrasse, the exclusive shopping street. More than 1,300 public art installations thread visual thrills throughout the city.

Let there be light: Comfy guest room.

Vibe: Restful, chic, intimate, flair-forward. Its pleasures are many, as regulars swoon over the hotel’s hushed in-the-know, seize-the-day appeal. Starck’s signature blend—of neutral earth tones, leathers, metals and mirrors—both energizes and comforts. Lovely are the marble and hardwood floors, wood marquetry, exposed brick walls, iconic blue-and-white-striped window awnings on the lake-facing facade and guest rooms’ private balconies and terraces. Graciousness prevails. People-watching—while indulging in Michel Reybier’s winning wines from his Château Cos d'Estournel estate in France—is a time-honored guest pursuit.

Street-level Eden Kitchen & Bar.

Eat & Treat Highlights: Executive chef Marco Ortolani, from Italy, deftly finesses restaurants at Le Réserve Eden au Lac. The green-tiled, bustling open-kitchen of Eden Kitchen & Bar, serves Italian and French dishes, as well as farther-afield global specialties. La Muña—with superb Peruvian-Japanese menus—tucked within the hotel’s domed roof, evokes the interior of a ship’s hull with nautical photographs and memorabilia on sloping walls. Linger outside, too, on La Muña’s tree-lined roof terrace.

La Muña restaurant.

Fitness: Personalized training with a coach or yoga teacher, at the hotel’s fitness hub, can be booked. New in-guest-room massage services use Nescens Spa products. Across the street is Art Nouveau-era Bad Utoquai bathing pavilion, for which the hotel provides its guests with a pass and towels. Stand-up paddle-boards are also available from the hotel, as well as E-bikes. Runners cheer the picturesque shoreline. Kid Friendly: Youths and adults alike are fascinated by Zurich’s charming Medieval neighborhood with its centuries-old houses, churches and fortifications. Join a guided walking tour—through narrow streets, hidden alleys, blooming gardens—to fully appreciate yesteryear’s secrets and lively stories.

A calming outlook.

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