Best time of year to visit Switzerland :
May to September. Switzerland is famous for its mild summers, and there are abundant outdoor activities throughout the country, which makes it perfect for visitors to soak in some Swiss sunshine during this time of year. However, high summer can be very crowded at St Moritz, Davos, Meiringen, Andermatt, and Grindelwald. If you are looking to enjoy all that Switzerland offers, then late spring/early autumn is the best time of year to visit!
The best month to visit Switzerland :
The most popular time to visit Switzerland is when both locals and tourists flock to popular Swiss destinations such as Interlaken, Lugano, and Meiringen.
Temperatures peak in July and August, but the winter months from December to April are also suitable for mountain sports, and milder days can be enjoyed at many Switzerland’s resorts.
What you need to know about the best times of year for visiting Switzerland :
October – A great month for exploring rural areas of canton Graubunden; excellent skiing conditions at high-level resorts. A wonderful time for walking tours in locations such as Zermatt (if there has been sufficient fall).
November – An excellent month for skiing in resorts such as Zermatt and Wengen. A great time to drive the Furka pass.
December – An excellent time to visit traditional markets and Christmas markets, such as Lucerne, St Moritz, and Grindelwald; skiers will enjoy early season conditions at mid-level resorts such as Engelberg (if there has been sufficient snowfall).
January & February – Lower resort prices than during high season; perfect weather conditions for hiking and climbing; ski areas usually only open on weekends/holidays, which means fewer people on the slopes; days can be mild, but nights are often cold.
March & April – Many Swiss holidaymakers head out of the Alps and more affordable prices at hotels but good skiing conditions at low-level resorts such as Andermatt and Wengen.
May – Late spring/early autumn is a beautiful time to visit Switzerland for outdoor activities with mild weather conditions. It’s a great time of year for festivals, too, including Carnival in Basel (February), Graubunden Spring Festival (March), and the Montreux Jazz Festival (June).
September – Another good month for hiking, climbing, and spending time outdoors; another chance to enjoy some sunshine during this later autumn period as well as reduced hotel rates compared to the summer months.
High tourist season:
July and August. Pricey but a time when Switzerland enjoys long days and sunshine hours.
Low tourist season:
December to March, although it’s the most popular ski season for visitors worldwide who come to experience winter in Switzerland at its finest.
Switzerland welcomes many visitors all year round because of its fantastic natural beauty, mild climate, and wide range of things to see and do, so there’s never a wrong time to visit!
You can check out our handy blog here if you want more information about visiting the country, including the weather in Switzerland, cheap travel tips, and what items you need to pack before traveling abroad.
We hope this article has been helpful in an overview about the best times of year to visit Switzerland. If you have any further questions or would like some tailored-made holiday suggestions, please do not hesitate to get in touch with one of our travel experts, who will be happy to help.
Best Time to Visit the Swiss Alps:
It is tough to say the best time of year to visit Switzerland because it depends on what activities you’re interested in, the weather conditions, and the average temperature during that period. So, let’s look at this infographic which will give you some ideas about when to go for different activities.
Before we start discussing the best time of year for skiing in Switzerland, let’s get an idea about what ski season means. Ski resorts around the world are divided into several categories, depending on their level of amenities and price: blue (lowest), red (mid-range), and black (highest).
Blue is usually available from mid-December until early or late March; red from December till May; while most resorts of the highest category (black) remain open from December till May.
Generally, resorts in Eastern Switzerland and those which offer more affordable prices tend to close earlier than those situated in Western Switzerland, where the price of a day ticket is generally higher – this means that depending on your budget, you can pick and choose where to go and what area/resort would suit you best.
The best Month For Skiing:
December: This is considered the most popular month for skiing in the Swiss Alps because it offers snow-sure trails, blue skies, and loads of sunshine. However, since Europe gets cold at this time of year (and there are foggy days too), spend long hours on the slopes as the temperature slowly drops from day to night.
March: For those who have experienced skiing in Switzerland in December, then March is a great month to visit as well because you can expect colder weather and loads of fresh powder at most ski resorts – the perfect time to hit the slopes if you love a good amount of sunny days coupled with plenty of snow!
May: If you don’t mind going later into the season, consider visiting Switzerland in May because conditions are still suitable for skiing and this is one of the cheapest times to go – but factor in that there will be fewer people around since most German and French skiers tend to avoid May because it’s considered as a transitional period where there’s no guaranteed quantity or quality of snow.
June: Although it’s summer now, don’t rule out skiing in June as the days are longer and you can expect to find some powder (if not a lot) on the slopes.
The good thing about visiting Switzerland during this time is that there will be fewer people around since most German and French skiers tend to avoid May because it’s considered a transitional period where there’s no guaranteed quantity or quality of snow – perfect for those who want to ski in peace!
Best time to visit Switzerland for hiking:
July and August: If you’re not into skiing, then go hiking in the Swiss Alps during these months because there’s still lots of snow (especially on higher altitudes) but temperate conditions, which means you can walk without having to worry about frozen toes!
September: This is often referred to as one of the best times to visit Switzerland for outdoor activities because even though the temperatures are getting cooler, it’s one of the sunniest months with little rain. The summer crowds will also be gone, so expect fewer people on trails, too – this is perfect if you love doing multi-day hikes since the public transportation schedule gets busier around that time.
November: Although this is usually considered a low season in terms of outdoor activities, a visit in November is still feasible because the weather gets colder, and you can expect snow on higher altitudes – this makes it a popular time to travel in Switzerland for skiing.
December: If neither hiking nor skiing is your thing, but you want to experience wintery adventures, then consider heading to the Swiss Alps during this month when it’s covered with fresh powder from all the recent snowfall.
September tends to be the best time of year for hiking in Switzerland since very few people are out there, and temperatures are usually bearable compared with other months. You can also expect good weather conditions with a nice mix of sun and clouds, which isn’t standard during colder months!
Visit Switzerland in Fall:
September, October, November: The best time to go skiing in Switzerland is during February because it’s when temperatures are colder (and therefore, there’s more snow on the slopes), but what about those who want to avoid heavy crowds?
If you want to have a beautiful scenic experience without having too many people around, consider visiting Switzerland during the fall! Expect warm days and crisp cool nights where you’ll be able to see all the lush autumn colors.
Visit Switzerland in winter:
January, February: If you want to avoid heavy crowds, then your best time to ski in Switzerland is during February because temperatures are colder (and therefore, there’s more snow on the slopes).
The only downside to visiting this time of year is that some resorts might already close as early as the end of January! So if you do decide to go for winter holidays in Switzerland, be sure to check out what resorts are still open and which ones have closed before you book your flights.
Visit Switzerland in Spring:
March, April: If you can’t stand having too many people around while skiing, March/April is another great time to visit Switzerland since there will be fewer crowds and warmer days on the slopes – just be sure that the weather is not too warm yet as a sudden heatwave can turn skiing into a “muddy hell”.
March, April: Nevertheless, if you want to avoid heavy crowds, your best time to ski in Switzerland is during February because temperatures are colder (and, therefore, there’s more snow on the slopes).
The only downside to visiting this time of year is that some resorts might already close as early as the end of January! So if you do decide to go for winter holidays in Switzerland, be sure to check out what resorts are still open and which ones have closed before you book your flights.
Visit Switzerland in Summer:
May, June, September, October: If you don’t want to miss out on the ski season, then avoid visiting Switzerland during these months because there won’t be much snow on the slopes. However, if you’re just interested in experiencing Swiss culture and indulging in all things yummy (cheese fondue anyone?), then this is the best time of year for that since it’s super hot everywhere else! Just make sure that there are no forest fires, so no damage is done to the environment.
Weather in Switzerland :
Switzerland has four seasons, and they all offer something unique for visitors to experience that might not be available in other parts of the world.
Switzerland is also well-known for its diverse landscape where you can go skiing in the morning and then take a cable car up the mountains just to go hiking in some beautiful trails with spectacular views.
Even though I would recommend visiting Switzerland during winter for apparent reasons, it’s really up to you so don’t let anyone tell you otherwise – if you want to visit during summer, do it! If you love going on vacation during the fall, go for it! It’s more about hitting the right balance between budget and getting a chance to enjoy a new country while still keeping within your travel schedule.
What to pack for a trip to Switzerland:
Switzerland is known for its four seasons, and it would be best if you bring items that would be perfect during all of them. You should always note the weather forecast first before heading out so that you’ll know what clothes to put on depending on the coldness, heat, or rain. These are just some things that I recommend packing in your suitcase when visiting Switzerland no matter what time of year!
I’ve already given you guys 10 Tips on What To Pack For A Swiss Holiday & 7 Things You Need To Know Before Visiting Switzerland, so I won’t bore you with repeating myself here… But these are just some other things I think everyone brings whenever they travel…
– Jackets: As the temperature goes up and down during all four seasons, you should always have a jacket with you – it doesn’t matter if it’s a windbreaker or not.
– Umbrella: Just in case of rain. Better safe than sorry!
– Comfortable shoes: You might want to bring a pair that can be worn with jeans or a dress/skirt depending on where you’re going to visit.If you’re visiting Switzerland during the winter months, then there is no better time to go than February.
