Any time is a good time to visit Switzerland. What's the best time depends on your plans. Below you'll find a general overview of what to expect throughout the year. If you are well prepared, you'll have a wonderful trip regardless of the time of year.
January/February: winter high season
These are real winter months. It's cold and days are short (day light from about 8 AM to 5:30 PM). Snow is practically guaranteed from elevations of 1500 m. There can also be snow in the lower valleys and larger cities, but huge amounts are unlikely there.
This is a good time for winter sports and cosy city trips. Hiking is only possible in lower elevations or on prepared winter trails.
Snow fun in Switzerland! click here.
Start exploring: enjoy the snow in the Upper Engadine, Zermatt or the Jungfrau region. Visit historical cities like Bern and Lucerne.
1. The Upper Engadine click here
What to expect from a visit to the Upper Engadin
This wide valley is one of the driest regions in Switzerland, as clouds are mostly blocked by the mountains in the west and the north. Because of the altitude, there aren't many deciduous trees here. There are conifer forests, and the tree line is relatively close to the valley floor. Many great hiking trails offer the opportunity to explore the Alps on foot.
The Engadine is mainly about nature. Except for St. Moritz, there are hardly any larger towns, and no cities at all. There is plenty to do and see, but good weather is a prerequisite.
The Engadine is a long valley. The lower part of it is the Lower Engadine.
Towns in the Upper Engadine.
St. Moritz is the largest and most luxurious town in the Upper Engadine. Fine dining, exclusive shopping and superb hotels can be found here. The natural surroundings of the town are magnificent. The three lakes in this area make for a varied scenery.
Other somewhat larger towns are Celerina, Samedan, Pontresina and Zuoz.
Must do's in the Upper Engadine
The absolute best way to travel to or from the Upper Engadine is by Glacier Express or Bernina Express. Besides that, your focus should be on hiking in Summer and Winter sports in Winter. The panoramic trail from Muottas Muragl is a good option, but there's a lot of routes to choose from.
Do include at least one viewing point, like Mount Corvatsch. Another example is Diavolezza on the Bernina Pass, offering a view of the Piz Bernina, the highest mountain in Graubünden, and its surrounding glaciers. Piz Nair and Muottas Muragl are good options too.
2. Zermatt, home of the Matterhorn
Must knows about Zermatt
The scenery is stunning; Zermatt is surrounded by the highest peaks of the Swiss Alps, including the Matterhorn;
Zermatt is car free;
Zermatt isn't cheap but definitely worth the money.
Click here.
3. The Jungfrau region
About the Jungfrau region
Picking the most beautiful region of Switzerland is impossible, but the Jungfrau region most definitely deserves a top ranking. Do not skip this region if you're a first time visitor!
Vacation homes and apartments in the Jungfrau region
Do you prefer a lively place with lots of shops and restaurants, and good train connections to other regions? Then book a rental in Interlaken. If you value nature and the option to start hiking directly from your home, then look into Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren and Wengen. Wilderswil offers the best of both worlds: it's close to the facilities of Interlaken, but it's a small quiet village.
Choose from the largest selection of holiday homes and apartments throughout the Jungfrau region. The best price is guaranteed. Please see the e-domizil website:
www.e-domizil.ch/holiday-houses/ch/854/jungfrauregion-bernese-oberland-switzerland/
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March: early spring
March is when the first signs of spring can be found in warmer regions around the lakes in the south of Switzerland. It's pretty chilly in most regions though. In the mountains it's still winter with lots of snow.
High ski resorts will be operational. Lower ones may close around this time.
Start exploring: Lake Geneva, Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore are warmer Swiss regions to enjoy an early spring.
April/May: spring low season
Most ski resorts will be closed by the end of April. Spring is coming, especially in the lowlands and around the lakes.
More and more hiking trails will be accessible. By late April/early May, trails up to 2000 m should mostly be clear of snow, but can still be muddy. This is not a guarantee and varies each year.
The months between winter and summer are pretty quiet: some hotels are closed, as well as cable cars. There is still plenty to do and see, but you need to prepare and check timetables beforehand. Scenic train rides, for example, can be done all year round, and this is actually a good time: you can watch the remains of winter as well as green valleys.
Start exploring: the Lake Lucerne and Lake Thun areas offer plenty of hiking and sightseeing options in this season.
June: early summer
Summer has started. There's day light from about 5:30 AM to 9:30 PM, and the weather is mild or warm.
This is a wonderful time for hiking. The highest trails may still be inaccessible because of snow, but the majority will be open. Cable cars and cogwheel trains that were closed in low season will be operational again. By late June, all pass roads that were closed for winter should be open. Opening dates vary per season and per pass.
Start exploring: Central Switzerland is wonderful in June, as well as the Ticino, for example.
Which time of the year is the peak tourist season in Switzerland?
June marks the beginning of the tourist season, where all the activities and attractions closed during the low seasons slowly starts popping up once again. The months of July and August are the peak seasons in Switzerland, where places are flocked by tourists from around the world.
July/August: summer high season
Although the weather varies by the day throughout the year, it's usually pretty warm in July and August. Average temperatures are rising because of global warming. Some days can actually be too hot for some activities, like city trips.
This is the time for outdoor activities: hiking, biking, paragliding and other sports, enjoying the views from the peaks. It's a perfect time for hiking in high terrain. By mid July, these trails should be clear of snow. Summer has traditionally been popular among tourists in Switzerland, just like winter.
Start exploring: go to the highest peaks in the Bernese Oberland, Graubünden and Valais.
September: late summer and perfect for outdoor activities
A wonderful month which is still summery, but usually not as hot as July and August. By the end of the month one can enjoy the first signs of fall when leaves start to color.
September is considered the best month for high altitude hiking. It's also very suitable for other outdoor activities.
Start exploring: all regions recommended for summer high season are still wonderful now, but so are the lake areas recommended for October.
October: fall low season
The weather can still be pretty mild in October, although this is fall and it might as well be chilly. The first snow fall will occur in the mountains. Days are getting shorter, with sunrise around 7:45 AM and sunset around 6:30 PM.
There are still lots of opportunities to hike, but higher trails may get snow covered, especially in the second half of the month. Cable cars and cogwheel trains may either close around this time, or not operate for a week or two because of maintenance. Pass roads start to close for winter in October.
Start exploring: lake areas like Lake Geneva, Lake Lucerne and Lake Lugano are still lovely in October.
November: low season and chilly
Things are getting chilly in November, although anything is possible, ranging from mild days to snow. The first ski slopes of high winter sport resorts like Zermatt, Saas-Fee and Verbier may open, but this is definitely not guaranteed.
Many lower hiking trails will still be open, but one has to carefully check for the conditions. It's low season: cable cars and cogwheel trains may close for maintenance, so planning ahead is essential.
Start exploring: a base in a central larger town or even a big city is recommended, so you'll have plenty to do, regardless of the weather.
December: Christmas atmosphere and early winter
December marks the transition to winter. The first half of the month is similar to November. Winter should set in during the second half. However, snowfall tends to start later in the season due to global warming. A white Christmas is not a guarantee, although still common in the high mountains. Don't expect snow in the valleys and large cities like Zurich. It's possible but uncommon.
It's still low season until mid-December. When Christmas approaches, things get lively and winter sports resorts open up. The two weeks around Christmas and New Year are the most popular weeks of the year among tourists.
December is a good time to visit Christmas markets, and for city trips. Days are really short with sunrise around 8 AM and sunset around 4:45 PM.
Start exploring: some of the best Swiss cities in December are Basel, Bern, Lucerne, Geneva and Zurich. For a white Christmas, you can consider Saas-Fee, St. Moritz and Zermatt.
The Swiss Christmas markets, and more
The Christmas markets are a good reason to visit Switzerland in late November or December. Combine a city trip, one or more Christmas markets, and a visit to the snowy mountains for the ultimate Christmas feeling. There's only day light from about 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, so plenty of time to enjoy the illuminated Swiss cities and towns.
Famous Christmas markets
There are smaller and larger Christmas markets all over Switzerland, mainly between mid November and December 24. Some are open for weeks, others just a day or two. There is even one on top of Mount Pilatus: www.viator.com/tours/Lucerne/Lucerne-Christmas-Market-Tour-on-Mount-Pilatus-with-Round-Trip-Transfer/d576-64298P12.
The main Christmas markets in 2018
Basel, 22 November to 23 December: www.basel.com/en/Christmas-in-Basel/Christmas-Market;
Bern, 1 to 24 December: www.weihnachtsmarktbern.ch;
Lucerne, various dates and places from 16 November: www.luzern.com/en/highlights/christmas-in-lucerne/christmas-markets/;
Lugano, 1 December to 6 January: www.luganoregion.com/en/attractions-activities/festival-events/events-calendar/detail/id/44169/natale-in-piazza;
Montreux, 22 November to 24 December: www.montreuxnoel.com;
St. Gallen, 29 November to 23 December: sternenstadt.ch/weihnachtsmarkt;
Zurich, 22 November to 23 December: www.zuerich.com/en/visit/christmas-in-zurich/christmas-markets;
Ideal December itinerary
Our proposal for an ideal December visit to Switzerland: start with a few days in a city to experience the cosy December feeling and of course the Christmas markets. Then travel to the mountains, preferable by a scenic train. Enjoy a couple of days of snow and good views from the peaks of the Swiss Alps, before returning home to celebrate Christmas. Do note that this time is considered low season, so do check the timetables and opening hours of places you'd like to visit. Some cableways and mountain trains may not be operational.
Where can I go in Switzerland for 3 days?
Top 10 places to visit in Switzerland
Matterhorn, Zermatt. ...
Chateau de Chillon, Montreux. ...
The Jungfrau Region. ...
National Park, Zernez. ...
Lake Geneva and surrounding cities. ...
Lugano. ..
Bern. ...
Not many people know that the medieval city of Bern is Switzerland’s capital – but once you step on its narrow cobblestoned streets, all doubts are sure to vanish. History sings in every corner of this city, especially in its Old Town, which has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Archaic towers loom over Bern’s sandstone facades, numerous fountains and entrenchments while arcades are filled with boutiques, bars, cafes and cabaret stages that are sometimes hidden within vaulted cellars. As the current seat of the Swiss parliament (Bundeshaus), Bern is one of the most well-preserved historical centres in Switzerland. It boasts a stunning botanical garden, a colourful weekly market and access to the River Aare and the Bear Park, where a family of bears – the city’s symbol – reside.
Lucerne.
9. The Rhine Falls
The Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfall, is a bewitching natural wonder of Swiss tourism. At the northernmost part of Switzerland near the town of Schaffhausen, the mighty falls roar from a breadth of more than 150 metres. Visitors can watch the spectacle from several viewing decks while those bold enough can rent their own canoes and travel to nearby castles Schloss Laufen and Schloss Wörth. On Swiss National Day, 1 August, the Rheinfall flaunts a senational firework display that attracts flocks of tourists.
10. Zurich
As the cultural hub of Switzerland, Zurich is not one to cross of your list of top Swiss places to see. Unbeknown to many, behind Zurich’s financial facade exists a pulsating nightlife with a contemporary edge. After all, Zurich hosts the Street Parade, one of Europe’s biggest annual rave parties.
While the city has kept some of its historical roots – evident in the emblematic guild houses, Grossmünster church, Swiss National Museum and Lindenhof square – regeneration is supreme in wealthy Zurich. Old heritage sites and factories have been repurposed and now serve as cultural spaces, joining more than 50 museums and 100 art galleries to see in Zurich. Known as one of the world’s most livable cities, Zurich offers everything you’d want for an urban escape, yet also the chance to reach rural, idyllic towns just a stone’s throw away. Read about the prettiest Swiss towns within two hours of Zurich.
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