By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 19th January 2025 | Updated: 19th January 2025
Planning a trip to Switzerland in March?
People often over look visiting Switzerland in the spring months as it is seen as more of a summer hiking or winter snow sports destination, but the spring, and March in particular is often one of the nicest times to visit the country. With that in mind in this post we’ll set out the best places to visit in Switzerland in March, as well as the average weather for the month and any holidays and festivals that occur.
So here is our guide to visiting Switzerland in March;
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March in Switzerland is when the country really starts to wake up from it’s snowy winter slumber, with hiking trails beginning to slowly open, (at the lower elevations at least), snow still at the higher elevations, (making for some great snowy mountain excursions), and all the cities beginning to gear up for the summer season ahead.
March is also one of the quietest months to visit Switzerland, (other than October), so with fewer tourists and therefore less crowds around, especially at the prime tourist locations such as Lauterbrunnen and Zermatt, you can easily get a great deal on accommodation and see the Swiss sights in relative peace in comparison to the peak months. As March is considered a low season in Switzerland, you can also expect cheaper flights to the country too, so its a win win!
Weather In Switzerland In March
The weather and temperatures across Switzerland varying depending on location, but the average daily temperature is 11°C / 52°F, with night-time temperatures of 1°C / 34°F. The coldest place in Switzerland in March is Jungfraujoch, (which as one of the highest mountains in the country makes sense!), and the warmest is Lugano in the Swiss Italian canton of Ticino, so you might want to plan your trip accordingly!
With an average of 70mm of rainfall across the month it is a pretty average month in terms of rain, but don’t rule out snow either, we have had snow in Basel in early March before.
Switzerland in March Public Holidays / Events
There are no official public holidays in Switzerland in March, however there are a few regional holidays, important dates to know and festivals that are held across the country:
Regional Holidays:
📍 Republic Day – 1st March
Commemorating the 1848 revolution that declared Neuchâtel as a republic within Switzerland, so this holiday is only celebrated in Neuchâtel.
📍 St Joseph’s Day (Josefstag / Seppi Day) – 19th March
A day celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church since the Middle Ages for the Saint Joseph. This holiday is only celebrated in Graubünden, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, Ticino, Uri and Valais.
Festivals:
📍 Fasnacht, Basel – Various dates depending on where Easter falls in the year, but always Monday to Thursday
We love Basel Fasnacht, as we live in the city and it is one of the biggest celebrations we have in the year. Over exactly three days and nights the city turns into a carpet of confetti, with local Cliques and Guggenmusik being played as well as city wide parades too. The Monday and / or the Wednesday are also often give as a holiday to those who work in Basel, so expect to see a lot of people in the city during Fasnacht!
We have another post on all the details on Basel Fasnacht, so be sure to check that out if you plan on visiting Switzerland in March.
📍 Locarno Camellia Exhibition, Locarno – Mid to late March
Locarno in Ticino is famous for its beautiful gardens year round, but March is when it really shines with over 200 varieties of Camellia flowering.
Check out the Ascona Locarno website for more information.melie-locarno
📍 Daylight Savings Time (DST) – 30th March
Clocks go forward one hour.
5 Best Places to Visit in Switzerland in March
There are plenty of things to do and places to visit in Switzerland in March, but here are our top picks;
1. Locarno in March – Visiting Locarno in March is great not only because it is located in the warmest canton in Switzerland so you can feel a bit of warmth, but because of the beautiful camellia festival too.
2. Basel in March – Fasnacht can fall anytime between the end of February and mid to late March, so if you are planning on visiting Basel at any point between them be sure to check if Fasnacht is on. We go into much more detail on the wonderful Fasnacht in another blog post, but put it this way, it is a celebration like no other you will find in Switzerland! Think live music, massive city wide parades and tonnes upon tonnes of confetti.
3. Spiez in March – Spiez is a lovely destination half way along Thunersee to visit in March, with a quaint little village, views to the nearby Niederhorn and Niesen, as well as lakeside walks. You can also take to the lake on one of the many ferries that cross up and down between Thun and Interlaken, which is particularly lovely on the paddle steamer.
4. Engelberg in March – For a last bit of fun in the snow be sure to head to Engelberg, only a short train ride from Lucerne. There you can do the typical snowsports such as skiing and snowboarding but you can also snowshoe and toboggan too. We did our first winter toboggan in Switzerland at Brunni in Engelberg and it was so much fun we try to do as many as we can each winter!
5. Chur in March – Chur is another great destination to visit in the late winter / early spring season, with a beautiful old town to wander through as well as a couple of local mountains that you can visit. If the snow is still hanging on, then be sure to try the toboggan route between Brambrüesch and Känzeli, it is great fun!
You can also take the Glacier Express from Chur to Zermatt so why not make a weekend of it and hop on board the train too?
Switzerland in March FAQs
Is March a good time for Switzerland?
March is a wonderful time to visit Switzerland, especially as it is considered a low season across the country meaning fewer tourists! March is also a bit of an in-between month where in some locations you will still find snow, whilst others are beginning to get the first spring blooms.
What part of Switzerland is best in March?
The canton of Ticino is a great place to visit in Switzerland in March as it is one of the warmest places in the country and it well known for its spring flowers including the Camellia festival.
Will there be snow in Switzerland in March?
There will definitely still be snow around the Alps in March, and if you are lucky you may even see a flurry in the cities too. We often get snow in Basel in March, it doesn’t last long in comparison to the colder months, but we still get some.
Which month is best to visit Switzerland?
There honestly isn’t a bad month to visit Switzerland! May and October can be a bit hit and miss with public transport in the mountains as it is the time when renovations and repairs are made, but we’ve never had an issue with getting somewhere as you can check the operating status before you arrive, and December can be quite busy due to people visiting Switzerland for skiing and Christmas holidays, but none of those reasons should stop you visiting.
Planning your own trip to Switzerland?
Head to Switzerland Travel Centre to book any trains or excursions, and then use our discount code AFFTEDALDI to receive a 5% discount. We’ve just bought the Swiss Coupon Pass as it saves literally thousands on trips around the country, (for visitors and residents alike)!
Conclusion: Switzerland in March
So, there is our guide to visiting Switzerland in March, with fewer tourists around, the country beginning to slowly melt from the winter and the chance to visit the world renowned Basel Fasnacht, (if Easter falls later in the year than normal), then March is a great time to visit Switzerland.
If Switzerland in March isn’t quite right for your trip…
Check out our other blog posts below about visiting Switzerland during other months of the year.
All Our Switzerland Content
Here are a few other articles you may find useful for planning your trip:
📍 How To Visit Switzerland On A Budget
📍 Is Switzerland Worth Visiting & When: By A Local
📍 Switzerland in Spring: Best Things To Do & Places To Go
📍 Switzerland in Summer: Best Things To Do & Places To Go
📍 Switzerland in Autumn: Best Things To Do & Places To Go
📍 Switzerland in Winter: Best Things To Do & Places To Go
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.