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When to go · Switzerland

Switzerland, month by month

The best months for Switzerland: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.

Month by month

  1. JanuaryGoodPrime ski month with cold, clear days; Plateau cities foggy; WEF closes Davos mid-month.Plateau cities: cool · Bernese and central Alps: best weather · Valais and Engadin: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
  2. FebruaryGoodSchool holidays fill resorts; Basel Fasnacht carnival (three days from the Monday after Ash Wednesday).Plateau cities: cool · Bernese and central Alps: best weather · Valais and Engadin: best weatherCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
  3. MarchGoodSunny spring skiing; cities quiet; lakes still cold.Plateau cities: cool · Bernese and central Alps: best weather · Valais and Engadin: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
  4. AprilMixedSki season ends after Easter; Zurich's Sechseläuten; Ticino in blossom.Plateau cities: fine · Bernese and central Alps: fine · Valais and Engadin: best weatherCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
  5. MayMixedLakes and cities green and quiet; many mountain lifts closed for maintenance.Plateau cities: best weather · Bernese and central Alps: cool · Valais and Engadin: coolCrowds: Low · 1 festival or holiday
  6. JuneGreatLifts reopen; wildflowers; high trails may still have snow until July. Art Basel mid-month.Plateau cities: best weather · Bernese and central Alps: fine · Valais and Engadin: fineCrowds: Medium · 1 festival or holiday
  7. JulyGreatPeak hiking and lake swimming; Montreux Jazz Festival; book scenic trains and Zermatt early.Plateau cities: best weather · Bernese and central Alps: best weather · Valais and Engadin: best weatherCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
  8. AugustGreatNational Day on 1 August; Locarno Film Festival; river swimming in Bern, Basel and Zurich.Plateau cities: best weather · Bernese and central Alps: best weather · Valais and Engadin: best weatherCrowds: High · 1 festival or holiday
  9. SeptemberGreatClear, stable weather and fewer crowds; the best hiking month. Cattle come down from the pastures.Plateau cities: best weather · Bernese and central Alps: best weather · Valais and Engadin: best weatherCrowds: Medium · 2 festivals or holidays
  10. OctoberMixedAutumn larches in the Engadin and Valais; lifts close from mid-month.Plateau cities: fine · Bernese and central Alps: fine · Valais and Engadin: fineCrowds: Low
  11. NovemberMixedGrey on the Plateau, most resorts closed; Christmas markets start late in the month.Plateau cities: cool · Bernese and central Alps: cool · Valais and Engadin: coolCrowds: Low
  12. DecemberGoodChristmas markets (Basel, Zurich, Montreux) and ski season from mid-month; Christmas–New Year is the most expensive week.Plateau cities: cool · Bernese and central Alps: best weather · Valais and Engadin: best weatherCrowds: High · 3 festivals or holidays

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Switzerland, side by side.

  • Verdict

    Jun: Great

    Jul: Great

  • Crowds

    Jun: Medium

    Jul: High

  • Prices

    Jun: Medium

    Jul: High

  • Festivals listed

    Jun: 1

    Jul: 1

June: Lifts reopen; wildflowers; high trails may still have snow until July. Art Basel mid-month.

July: Peak hiking and lake swimming; Montreux Jazz Festival; book scenic trains and Zermatt early.

Switzerland: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

Weather by region

How each climate zone rates each month.

Weather rating by region and month
RegionJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Plateau citiesZurich, Bern, Basel, LucerneCoolCoolCoolOKBestBestBestBestBestOKCoolCool
Bernese and central AlpsInterlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, EngelbergBestBestBestOKCoolOKBestBestBestOKCoolBest
Valais and EngadinZermatt, Saas-Fee, Verbier, St MoritzBestBestBestBestCoolOKBestBestBestOKCoolBest
Lake GenevaGeneva, Lausanne, Montreux, LavauxCoolCoolOKOKBestBestBestBestBestOKCoolCool
TicinoLugano, Locarno, BellinzonaCoolCoolOKBestBestBestHotHotBestBestWetCool