By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 19th January 2025 | Updated: 19th January 2025
Planning a trip to Switzerland in July?
Switzerland in July is when the country starts to get a bit of heat, (sometimes a little too much), and when the summer season tourists are arriving alongside the summer holidays across the country. July is the beginning of the summer peak season in the country but don’t let that put you off from visiting, there are still plenty of places to explore away from the crowds. With that in mind in this post we’ll set out the best places to visit in Switzerland in July, 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 July;
Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:
Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com
Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com
Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com
Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide & Viator
Travel Insurance: World Nomads
July in Switzerland is when the summer rush is in full swing, schools around the country are off for the summer holidays, (as is the same for most of mainland Europe), so lots of places will be family central which is great if you are travelling with kids. Even if you aren’t though, July is a great time to visit beautiful villages in the Alps and to do some hiking along trails that are only accessible in the peak summer or early autumn, (the Eiger Trail being one of them).
Although July is one of the busier months to visit Switzerland, you can still get in some wonderful hiking on quiet trails, even in the prime tourist destinations as long as you plan to get up and out earlier rather than later, (that’s how you miss the busiest time of the day once the tourists have woken up!).
Weather In Switzerland In July
The average daily temperature across the country are around 24°C / 75°F, with night temperatures of around 13°C / 55°F, but not only can this vary depending on location, (mountain resorts being slightly cooler than the cities), but it can also get much MUCH hotter too. We quite often have a few days of the month in Basel that reach 35 – 40°C / 95 – 104°F in the day!
With an average of 80mm of rainfall across the month there is still a chance of rain, but it always seems to be short lived, either with a heavy shower or a storm that blows in and out quickly. Speaking of storms, they can be quite violent in Switzerland, and especially dangerous if you are exposed on a mountain path or lake edge. So be sure to download the MeteoSwiss app to keep up to date with any weather developments.
Switzerland in July Public Holidays / Events
There are no official public or regional holidays in Switzerland in July, however there are a few festivals that are held across the country:
📍 Montreux Jazz Festival – Early to mid July
The famous Montreux Jazz Festival is not to be missed if you are visiting Switzerland in July. With stages set alongside Lac Léman in the town made famous but countless musicians, (there is even a Freddy Mercury statue here to commemorate him), the Montreux Jazz Festival is for everyone. It also isn’t just Jazz music that is played so you are guaranteed to find something you enjoy!
📍 Basel Tattoo – Mid July
Another incredible festival you shouldn’t miss is the Basel Tattoo. It is the second largest Tattoo event outside of Edinburgh in Scotland, and with numerous countries taking part playing their traditional music alongside the world famous bagpipes. The city of Basel turns into a giant parade during one of the days of the event, with musically performances at Kaserne along the Rhine every evening.
For more information check out the Basel Tattoo website out here.
📍 Swiss Hiking Night – Mid July
For one night across the country hiking trails are ready to be roamed in the darkness, with various events and specific themed hikes that you can get involved with for free. Of course Swiss hiking trails are available for hiking year round and 24/7, (weather depending), but the Swiss Hiking Night is just more fun! For more information be sure to check out Wandernacht.ch.
📍 International Alphorn Festival, Nendaz – End of July
The alphorn is a traditional Swiss instrument which you will often hear when in the mountains or at local festivals. More often than not there are alphorn players at hiking destinations too, we’ve seen them up at Stoos and Schynige Platte which is a great start / end to your hike! For the International Alphorn Festival, and 100 alphorn players compete playing traditional and contemporary music, all in the name of celebrating one of the more unique Swiss traditions.
5 Best Places to Visit in Switzerland in July
There are plenty of things to do and places to visit in Switzerland in July, but here are our top picks;
1. Montreux in July – Montreux is a beautiful place to visit year round but in July it really comes to life with the Jazz festival. You can wander along the lakeside taking in the sights as well as listening to live music, all under the watchful eye of the Freddie Mercury statue.
2. Zermatt in July – Now Zermatt is often seen a more of a winter destination, (and rightly so), but it is also fantastic to visit in the summer. Not only is the weather often perfect for hiking the Five Lakes up to Fluhalp and back, (which we would highly recommend), but there are also fewer tourists than in the winter months too.
3. Kandersteg in July – Another great place to visit in Switzerland in July is Kandersteg. Known for its brilliant blue lake and beautiful views, it is a great place to visit as a day trip for a swim in Oeschinensee. This place can get busy though so be sure to set off early!
4. Basel in July – Basel may be well known for its carnival in early spring but the Basel Tattoo in July is another great time to visit the city. Music, parades and long warm nights, perfect for sitting along the Rhine with a drink in hand, or even taking a swim in the river instead.
5. Nendaz in July – If you have ever fancied seeing the traditional Swiss Alphorn being played, (and if you haven’t you should!), then Nendaz is the place to visit, in particular in July when the International Alphorn Festival is held. Not only are the views of the surrounding area beautiful but with the traditional music being played it makes it even more special, and even more of a Swiss experience!
Switzerland in July FAQs
Is it a good time to visit Switzerland in July?
July is a lovely time to visit Switzerland and a great time of the year to go hiking, however, just be prepared for some hot weather and storms, as well as more tourists around at prime spots across the country. July is one of the months of the peak summer season in Switzerland so it can be a little busier and more expensive.
Which month is the best to visit Switzerland?
There truly isn’t a bad time to visit Switzerland, just some months / seasons that can be busier than others. The winter months tend to be the busiest by far, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find locations that are lesser known to visit, or even locations at the well known destinations, for example we have visited Zermatt in December, (in fact a couple of days after Christmas), and although the town itself and the ski runs were super busy, we went snowshoeing and didn’t see another person on the trail until the very end.
What is the hottest month in Switzerland?
July is the hottest month to visit Switzerland, with temperatures in the cities easily reaching 24°C / 75°F each day, but often getting much hotter.
Can I see snow in Switzerland in July?
You can certainly see snow in Switzerland in July, but this will only be at the highest mountain peaks, for example around the Bernese Alps and Zermatt. As July is often the peak of summer in Switzerland there will be less snow around than at any other time of year.
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 July
So, there is our guide to visiting Switzerland in July, with international and local music festivals, hot weather and a dedicated Swiss hiking night. Although July in Switzerland is beginning to get busy, we would still say it is a lovely time to visit.
If Switzerland in July 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.