By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 20 February 2026 | Updated: 20th February 2026
Thinking about a trip to Switzerland but not sure when the best time is to visit?
We’ve lived in Switzerland for a few years now, and we can safely say that Switzerland is worth visiting at any time of the year, not just in the summer or winter, (which are peak seasons so arguable should be avoided!). We especially love the spring and the autumn as they are quieter and still have a lot going on, but there really is something for everyone throughout every month of the year. Be it hiking in the Alps or sipping cocktails along a lakeside, visiting tiny mountain villages or sticking to the vibrant cities, Switzerland is worth visiting!
So when is the best time to visit Switzerland?
Well there isn’t really a best time to visit Switzerland as it will greatly depend on your interests and what is bringing you to Switzerland in the first place, for example if you are after hiking in the Alps, then May to September is better, if you are after snow sports, then November to February is the best.
So here is our guide to the best time to visit Switzerland: Month by Month – all the travel tips, weather averages, best places to go and festivals you can find so you can figure out the best time to visit Switzerland for you!
When is the best time of year to visit Switzerland?
In order to figure out the best time for you to visit Switzerland you need to figure out what it is you want from your trip. Do you want to see or do certain things, or visit certain places? When do you really NOT want to visit? Once, you have this you can decide which time is best for you.
Switzerland is a fantastic country to visit throughout the year, but your experience can vary greatly if you pick to visit in the wrong time of year for what you want to do! If you want an all-rounder for good weather, fewer crowds and still being able to hike in the Alps then the spring or autumn months, specifically April / May or September / October are the best times or seasons to visit Switzerland.
As somewhat of a caveat, of course the weather can differ year on year, and the festivals and events can move, (Basel Fasnacht for example always in February or March, but we’ve not had it on the same date yet!), but there are certain things that happen year on year at specific times that may make you want to pick one month over another.
What do you want to do
🌸☀️🍁 Hiking = spring through to autumn
🍁❄️ Winter hiking / snowshoeing / tobogganing = end of autumn through to beginning of spring (snow dependent)
🌸❄️ Skiing = winter into spring (again snow dependent)
🌸☀️ See waterfalls = spring and early summer with the snow melt
☀️ Swim in lakes / rivers = summer
🌸🍁 Fewer crowds = low season, spring and autumn
Top Swiss Events
📍Fasnacht / carnival = end of winter into spring (generally February or March)
📍Swiss National Day = summer (August)
📍Alpabzug = autumn (September / October depending on the location)
📍Christmas markets = winter (November to January, again depending on location)
Attractions that may close
📍Mountain transport = most are shut for a couple of weeks each May and November for renovations
📍Brienzer Rothorn steam train = only open from June to October (assuming good weather and no snow)
📍Gorge hikes = not open in winter
Other things to consider are the weather and the best times for certain activities:
What is the rainiest month in Switzerland?
Surprisingly although the summer months are some of the hottest and sunniest times of year in Switzerland, thy are also some of the rainiest. June and July in particular are very humid and rainy, and we often get quite dramatic storms in these months too.
What are the warmest months to visit Switzerland?
The best time to visit Switzerland for its warmest months is between June and September, although this can change and start later or finish earlier depending on the year, (we’ve had a complete wash out in June before and some of the warmest weather at the end of September too!). Unfortunately, these months are also some of the busiest times to visit Switzerland due to the school summer holidays.
Best time to visit Switzerland for hiking?
The spring or autumn months are perfect to visit Switzerland for hiking, with warmer days, shorter rain showers and most importantly less people! Summer is another great time for hiking in Switzerland, but the weather is much more unpredictable, (we regularly get quite violent storms that blow in out of nowhere), and as it is a peak season it can get busy at the more well-known destinations.
Best time to visit Switzerland for skiing?
Anytime from November through to February is generally good for skiing and snow sports, but this is assuming there is plenty of snow around! We’ve had some years where the snow is early and October is great for skiing and other years where it doesn’t really have a deep enough blanket until January. This time of year is another peak season in Switzerland though so if you want to avoid the most expensive rates, avoid visiting over Christmas, New Year or the February save on the most expensive hotel rates then avoid visiting over Christmas and New Year. The snow begins to fall at the highest elevations in mid-November right through to mid-March, with most of the country getting a good blanket of snow in December and January.
When not to visit to Switzerland
If you would rather avoid possible crowds, busier excursions or just generally prefer to visit in an off-season then these are the times you should avoid:
School holidays
📍Sports / Carnival holidays in February: It can be at any point within the month depending on the canton, but February is generally the month where schools have two weeks off for snow sports and for carnival. So, visit but avoid the slopes and main cities if you want fewer people!
📍School summer holidays: June through to September is summer holidays in Europe, so expect this to be the busiest time of year to visit outside of Christmas & New Year.
Seasonal holidays
📍Christmas Eve through to the first week in January: Most things are shut for the week or two, and the Christmas Markets will be gone!
📍Carnival: Falling each year in February or March, (this depends on Ash Wednesday), Carnival or Fasnacht across Switzerland is a few days off for the locals, Basel, Zurich and Lucerne in particular, so expect large crowds coming to the events.
📍Mountain transport renovation times: Any time throughout the months of May and November, when depends on the mountain transport you are looking to use. Some are open but on weekends only.
So now you have all of that information, you can figure out when is the best time of year to visit Switzerland for you!
Best Time To Visit Switzerland In Spring
Spring is one of our favourite times of the year in Switzerland, and one of the best seasons to visit Switzerland too. Not only are there fewer tourists around as it is a low season, but local festivals start to happen (La Fête de la Tulipe in Morges and Sechseläuten in Zurich, to name two), and hiking routes across the country start to open. You can also expect blossom to be blooming everywhere, with fruit trees and vineyards across the country turning all shades of pink
📍 March 20th through to June 21st
📍 Low season
📍 Average rainfall: 137mm – 173mm rain
Average temperatures:
📍 16 – 23° C / 60 – 74° F in Zurich
📍 3 – 23 ° C / 37 – 73° F in Basel
📍 1 – 23° C / 34 – 73° F in Geneva
Pros:
🌸 One of the quietest times of year to visit Switzerland
🌸 Hiking trails are open again
🌸 Cheaper and more available accommodation at short notice
Cons:
🌸 Easter falls in this season so can be busy in the week before and after
🌸 May is one of the months for mountain transport renovations so some things will be shut
Best Time To Visit Switzerland In Summer
Summer is a great time to visit Switzerland, but you just have to be prepared for a few crowds here and there. With the European school summer holidays in full swing and beautiful warm weather, it is a prime time to visit but it is easy to see why, with incredible hiking trails, swimming in alpine lakes and warm summer evenings perfect for staying in mountain huts.
📍 June 21st through to 23rd September
📍 High season
📍 Average rainfall: 73mm – 151mm rain
Average temperatures:
📍 27° C / 80° F in Zurich
📍 11 – 26 ° C / 52 – 79° F in Basel
📍 10 – 26° C / 50 – 79° F in Geneva
Pros:
☀️ Everything across the country is open, including certain railways that only open for the summer
☀️ Outdoor music festivals and cinemas are held throughout Switzerland
☀️ Swiss National Day happens!
Cons:
☀️ One of the busiest times of the year, especially in well known locations in both the cities and mountains
☀️ It can get unbelievably hot, we’re talking in the mid to late 30° C / 86° F,(it has even hit 40° C / 104° F in Basel numerous times over the years we’ve lived here!)
☀️ Can also be one of the wettest seasons to visit Switzerland, with quite violent summer storms coming out of nowhere!
Best Time To Visit Switzerland In Autumn
Autumn is another one of our favourite times of the year in Switzerland, with autumn fairs, roasted chestnut stands popping up on every corner nad of course the Alpabfahrt / Alpabzug / Desalpes happening across the Alps, (these are the traditional Swiss cow parades to celebrate the cows coming home from the summer in the mountains!). You can also expect a few other unusual festivities including numerous vegetable related events as well as the Christmas Markets.
📍 September 23rd through to December 22nd
📍 Low season
📍 Average rainfall: 38mm – 53mm rain
Average temperatures:
📍 14 – 24° C / 57 – 75° F in Zurich
📍 1 – 25 ° C / 34 – 77° F in Basel
📍 0 – 21° C / 32 – 70° F in Geneva
Pros:
🍁 Another of the quietest seasons of the year to visit Switzerland so fewer crowds
🍁 Autumn leaves are popping, with the areas around Engadin and Valais putting on a real show of yellow larches
🍁 New season wine and cow parades!
Cons:
🍁 Depending on when the first snowfall happens, hiking trails start to close at higher elevations and winter activities are yet to open
🍁 November is another one of the months for mountain transport renovations so some things will be shut
Best Time To Visit Switzerland In Winter
Winter is another great time to visit Switzerland, but depending on what you plan on doing, it can be very busy. Ski resorts are a hot spot for locals and tourists alike, but if you head a little of the main trail and away from these spots you can get some truly wonderful quiet Swiss snow experiences! Plus this season is when Fasnacht, or Carnival, happens around the country as well as some more unique festivals like the Château-d’Oex alpine hot air balloon festival and St Moritz white Turf horse racing on a frozen lake.
📍 December 22nd through to March 20th
📍 High season
📍 Average rainfall: 25mm – 196mm rain / snow
Average temperatures:
📍 5 – 10° C / 41 – 50° F in Zurich
📍 30 – 12 ° C / 32 – 53° F in Basel
📍 -1 – 11° C / 30 – 52° F in Geneva
Pros:
❄️ Snow sports and activities open across the country, with tobogganing, snowshoeing, winter hiking, skiing and snowboarding.
❄️ Away from the ski resorts you can find very quiet winter trails and fewer people
❄️ Fasnacht happens!
Cons:
❄️ It can get extremely cold in both the mountains and the cities, (we’ve experienced -12° C / 10° F at home in Basel and -15° C / 5° F up Mount Rigi before!)
❄️ Be prepared for crowds, especially in the mountains around ski resorts
❄️ Hiking trails are mostly closed or will require winter gear such as ice spikes / crampons / snowshoes.
Best Time To Visit Switzerland FAQs
What is the best month to go to Switzerland?
This all depends on what you want from your trip. If it is hiking this is best in March through to October, snow sports are from November to February, less crowds and cheaper accommodation then throughout the spring and autumn.
We personally love the spring and autumn as not only are either the spring flowers are blooming, or the larch and beech trees are turning brilliant yellow and orange with the arrival of autumn, but you may even still get some snow at higher elevations! It is also the perfect blend of weather for hiking.
What is the cheapest month to visit Switzerland?
The cheapest month, or months, to visit Switzerland are in the spring and autumn assuming you avoid any seasonal events. For example if you plan to visit Basel during March but then Fasnacht falls at the same time, not only will you have a hard time finding accommodation, but it will be more expensive than even the week before! Summer and winter are peak seasons across the country so are always a little more expensive in terms of accommodation and public transport, but everything else will be the same.
How many days are enough for Switzerland?
This again depends on what you want from a trip to Switzerland, but we recommend spending a minimum 7 to 10 days so you can really experience a couple of locations to the max. Any less than that you really only want to be in one location taking day trips out as otherwise you will spend a lot of time travelling between places.
Conclusion: When Is The Best Time To Visit Switzerland
So there is our guide to the best time to visit Switzerland, month by month and season by season. We love Switzerland throughout the year, and there really isn’t a bad time to visit, you just need to prepare in advance if there are specific things you want to do or see, to make sure that you visit at a time that works for them!
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.