Best Time To Visit Switzerland

°C°F
  • Excellent
  • Good
  • Fair
  • Poor
  • JanAvg Daily: 2 ° CAvg Nightly: -2 ° C
  • FebAvg Daily: 6 ° CAvg Nightly: -2 ° C
  • MarAvg Daily: 11 ° CAvg Nightly: 1 ° C
  • AprAvg Daily: 15 ° CAvg Nightly: 3 ° C
  • MayAvg Daily: 20 ° CAvg Nightly: 7 ° C
  • JunAvg Daily: 21 ° CAvg Nightly: 11 ° C
  • JulAvg Daily: 24 ° CAvg Nightly: 13 ° C
  • AugAvg Daily: 23 ° CAvg Nightly: 13 ° C
  • SepAvg Daily: 20 ° CAvg Nightly: 10 ° C
  • OctAvg Daily: 14 ° CAvg Nightly: 7 ° C
  • NovAvg Daily: 7 ° CAvg Nightly: 2 ° C
  • DecAvg Daily: 4 ° CAvg Nightly: -1 ° C
  • 3 comments
  • 25.78K views
  • ~ mins read
You can share the above illustration on your site via this link

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!

Excellent
  • Aliza
5 - Excellent
“The Tour du Mont Blanc circuit itinerary was absolutely amazing but our guides made i...” Read More
View Incredible Tours in Switzerland

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

Lugano, a city in southern Switzerland
The city of Lugano, situated on the shore of Lake Lugano

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

The Matterhorn is a mountain of the Alps
An adventurous women hiking near the Matternhorn hiking area

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

Paragliding in Interlaken
Tourists paragliding flight over Interlaken

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

Picturesque view of the Zermatt in the Swiss Alps
Zermatt, the jewel in Switzerland's crown and one of the world's best ski resorts

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

Published by Erik Jensen, updated on May 19, 2023

Related Articles

Plan a trip to SwitzerlandWe offer different tour types. You can also chat with a local travel specialist if you want a customized tour to Switzerland.
  • Tomaz Martinek
    Tomaz MartinekTravel Expert in Croatia & Switzerland
  • Veronica Maggi
    Veronica MaggiTravel Expert in Italy & Switzerland
Our travel experts are recommended by:
  • BBC
  • Independent
  • Lonely Planet
3 COMMENTSWe welcome your questions or comments to this article. Our travel experts will respond within 48 hours.
  1. S
    Sonya DavisJan 16 2020REPLY
    Thanks for the seasonal info!!
  2. P
    Prawit AkrawarawongJan 09 2020REPLY
    Excellent info and well written. Thank you.
  3. A
    Agnieszka NowakNov 03 2017REPLY
    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.