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. However, all the mountain resorts will be open now, so you will get a great choice of places to stay in.
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. This season is rather contradictory. 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. Travelling to Switzerland? Chat with a local travel specialist in Switzerland who can help organize your trip. 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. Switzerland Tours Switzerland Travel Guide.
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. All trails up to 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. It can get busy around Easter. Easter takes place on a different date each year, in the Christian holiday happens in early April. The first weekend of the month April 3,4,5 could be extremely busy.
However, due to COVID it is difficult to predict whether the travel appetite of Europeans will return to pre-crisis proportions. In April, the weather in Switzerland starts to improve quickly.
As the month progresses, the temperature rises. The average maximum temperature is 19 degrees Celsius 66 Fahrenheit with rains on about 12 days this month.
Winter sports: Most ski areas close halfway April. Higher situated ski resorts stay open throughout the month. City trip: With quickly improving weather, April is a good month for a city trip in Switzerland but stay clear of the crowded Easter weekend. Summer mountain activities: With improving weather, April can be an interesting month to hike in the Alps as long as you are lucky with the weather.
May is a pre-season month and brings warmer weather and more tourists to Geneva, Basel and all other major summer destinations. Switzerland has lots of public holidays and the majority of those holidays are spread over May and early June. During those holidays, domestic tourism briefly peaks, while international arrivals also start to increase. May is most definitely not peak season yet. Overall, May is a good month to visit Switzerland. The weather is improving and it is not too busy yet.
It gets warmer to the end of the month. The average maximum temperature throughout the month is 19 degrees Celsius 66 Fahrenheit while it rains on 12 days in Zurich. Winter sports: Except for some glaciers, May brings an end to the winter fun. City trip: If you stay clear from the public holidays in Switzerland, May is a perfect month for a city trip. Summer mountain activities: The first hiking huts reopen in May and the weather improves quickly but be aware of possible bad weather days.
The Swiss summer truly kicks of in June when the weather improves every day. Unlike the other summer months, June is relatively quiet. Most schools in Europe are still in session.
The average maximum temperature in Zurich will climb to about 23 degrees Celsius 73 Fahrenheit in June with some exceptionally warm days.
It rains slightly more in the summer in Switzerland than it does in the winter with about 12 days in June. We believe June is a perfect month to visit any region in Switzerland. The cities can get hot but most of the days are very pleasant. June is the best month to visit Switzerland for hiking or biking.
Winter sports: It is summer, no winter sports. City trip: Without the craziness of peak season but with good weather, June is a good month for a city trip to Basel or any other major city.
Crowds start to increase rapidly as the summer gets into full swing. Swiss schools are out for the summer and Europeans start to travel massively. July brings out the best of the cities and the Alps. Outside the cities and some hotspots, you can easily get away from the crowds. July weather in Switzerland is close to perfect which makes it the ideal month to visit. If you want to avoid crowds, we recommend skipping the cities and major hotspots.
However, since travel might still be slow in due to COVID, it might actually be the perfect year to travel to Switzerland in peak season.
The average maximum temperature is 25 degrees Celsius 77 Fahrenheit while it rains on about 11 days. Winter sports: No winter sports in July. City trip: It can get too busy in July. The start of the month is better than towards August. Summer mountain activities: July is perfect for summer activities in Switzerland. Like most other major tourist destinations in Europe, peak season in Basel or Geneva reaches ultimate hights August. August is simply the busiest month of the year for summer tourism.
Needless to say, there is no winter sports in the middle of summer. The average maximum temperature in Zurich is 24 degrees Celsius 75 Fahrenheit with rain on about 8 days.
It can get very crowded. Also in Switerland. Hiking is only possible in lower elevations or on prepared winter trails. Enjoy the snow in the Upper Engadine , Zermatt or the Jungfrau region.
Visit historical cities like Bern and Lucerne. 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. 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. 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 spring is actually a good time: you can watch the remains of winter as well as green valleys. The Lake Lucerne and Lake Thun areas offer plenty of hiking and sightseeing options in this season.
Summer has started. There's day light from about AM to 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. Central Switzerland is wonderful in June, as well as the Ticino , for example. 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. 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. All regions recommended for summer high season are still wonderful now, but so are the lake areas recommended for October. The weather can still be pretty mild in October, although this is fall and it might as well be chilly.
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