Our verdict
The best time to visit Switzerland is April-July
In summer, the daytime temperatures in central Zurich, Switzerland can reach a top of 28℃ (82℉). The temperature at night in the winter can drop to as low as -8℃ (18℉), although this can differ at other destinations across Switzerland depending on the geography.
If you’re keen to see the sights of Switzerland during the day, the sun stays up the longest around August. The wet season in Switzerland usually falls during the months surrounding July each year. It’s not uncommon to get some decent rainfall or light showers during this time, but on some days the weather tends to be fine for a majority of the day, with only a few drops of rain falling from a passing shower.
To learn everything you need to know (and none of the stuff you don’t) about when to go to Switzerland, keep reading below. Plus, you’ll find tools to help you get the best deals on travel and hotels too!Quick links: Fast facts / Seasons / Average temperatures / FAQs / Map
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Switzerland seasons
Before you plan your trip, it’s important to know when the seasons are as they may be different to yours depending on where you’re travelling from. Switzerland is in the Northern hemisphere, so the seasons fall on:
Season | Months |
---|---|
Summer | June to August |
Autumn/fall | September to November |
Winter | December to February |
Spring | March to May |
Best time to visit the top destinations in Switzerland
We’ve put together a breakdown of the average minimum and maximum temperatures by month, as well as the best times to visit for each. To learn more about these destinations including detailed climate breakdowns and much more, click or tap the city/destination name below.
City | Best time to visit | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basel | June | ↑↓ | 4℃-2℃ | 5℃-2℃ | 10℃2℃ | 15℃5℃ | 18℃7℃ | 22℃11℃ | 24℃13℃ | 24℃13℃ | 20℃9℃ | 15℃6℃ | 9℃3℃ | 5℃-0℃ |
Bern | May-June | ↑↓ | 3℃-4℃ | 4℃-4℃ | 8℃-1℃ | 14℃3℃ | 17℃5℃ | 21℃9℃ | 23℃11℃ | 23℃11℃ | 18℃8℃ | 14℃4℃ | 8℃1℃ | 4℃-3℃ |
Geneva | June | ↑↓ | 3℃-3℃ | 4℃-3℃ | 8℃0℃ | 13℃4℃ | 16℃6℃ | 20℃10℃ | 22℃11℃ | 22℃11℃ | 18℃8℃ | 14℃5℃ | 8℃2℃ | 4℃-2℃ |
Grindelwald | May-June | ↑↓ | -3℃-12℃ | -3℃-12℃ | 0℃-9℃ | 4℃-5℃ | 7℃-1℃ | 13℃3℃ | 16℃6℃ | 16℃6℃ | 11℃3℃ | 7℃-2℃ | 2℃-6℃ | -2℃-11℃ |
Interlaken | May-June | ↑↓ | -2℃-10℃ | -2℃-10℃ | 2℃-7℃ | 6℃-2℃ | 9℃1℃ | 15℃5℃ | 17℃7℃ | 17℃7℃ | 13℃4℃ | 9℃0℃ | 3℃-4℃ | -0℃-9℃ |
Lauterbrunnen | May-June | ↑↓ | -3℃-12℃ | -3℃-12℃ | 1℃-9℃ | 4℃-4℃ | 7℃-1℃ | 13℃4℃ | 16℃6℃ | 16℃6℃ | 12℃3℃ | 7℃-2℃ | 2℃-6℃ | -2℃-11℃ |
Lucerne | May-June | ↑↓ | 2℃-5℃ | 3℃-5℃ | 7℃-2℃ | 13℃2℃ | 16℃5℃ | 20℃9℃ | 22℃11℃ | 22℃11℃ | 18℃7℃ | 13℃5℃ | 8℃1℃ | 4℃-3℃ |
Montreux | April | ↑↓ | 1℃-7℃ | 1℃-7℃ | 5℃-3℃ | 10℃1℃ | 13℃4℃ | 18℃7℃ | 20℃9℃ | 20℃9℃ | 16℃6℃ | 12℃3℃ | 6℃-1℃ | 2℃-5℃ |
St Moritz | April-July | ↑↓ | -5℃-15℃ | -4℃-15℃ | -2℃-12℃ | 1℃-7℃ | 6℃-3℃ | 12℃2℃ | 14℃4℃ | 14℃4℃ | 10℃1℃ | 5℃-4℃ | -1℃-9℃ | -4℃-14℃ |
Zermatt | April-July | ↑↓ | -5℃-14℃ | -5℃-13℃ | -2℃-10℃ | 1℃-5℃ | 5℃-2℃ | 11℃3℃ | 14℃5℃ | 14℃5℃ | 10℃2℃ | 5℃-2℃ | -1℃-8℃ | -4℃-12℃ |
Zurich | April-July | ↑↓ | 3℃-3℃ | 4℃-3℃ | 10℃0℃ | 16℃4℃ | 19℃6℃ | 23℃10℃ | 25℃12℃ | 25℃12℃ | 20℃9℃ | 15℃5℃ | 9℃1℃ | 4℃-2℃ |
Explore Switzerland
Top FAQs
Check out these guides for the top must-see destinations in Switzerland:
- Best time to visit Basel
- Best time to visit Bern
- Best time to visit Geneva
- Best time to visit Grindelwald
- Best time to visit Interlaken
- Best time to visit Lauterbrunnen
- Best time to visit Lucerne
- Best time to visit Montreux
- Best time to visit St Moritz
- Best time to visit Zermatt
- Best time to visit Zurich