By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 19 January 2025 | Updated: 2nd January 2026
Planning a trip to Switzerland in February?
Switzerland is more often than not seen as either a summer hiking or winter skiing destination, but after living here for a little while now, we are here to tell you that February is also a great time to visit the country.
With the snow still hanging on, spring around the corner and some of the best festivals of the year, February in Switzerland is not to be missed. With that in mind in this post we’ll set out the best places to visit in Switzerland in February, 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 February;
Should you visit Switzerland in February?
February in Switzerland is when the country starts to come out of its peak winter season, the days are still short and often more grey than blue, but the hint of spring is in the air. As February really starts to set in there are unique events that the Swiss claim is for chasing the winter away and welcoming in the spring, but we think it‘s just an excuse to continue on the winter celebrations. (Not that we mind at all!).
February is also one of the quieter months to visit Switzerland, with fewer tourists post peak ski season, (especially in the cities), and therefore fewer crowds, perfect for getting a great deal on accommodation!
Weather In Switzerland In February
The average daily temperature across the country is 6°C / 43°F, with nighttime temperatures of around -2°C / 28°F, but this can vary depending on where you are. If you are planning on spending time in or close to the Alps, it can be as cold as -12°C / 10.4°F without wind chill. We visited Mount Rigi one year and due to the wind chill our hair literally froze!
If you want to visit a slightly warmer location in Switzerland then be sure to visit Ticino and the areas around Lake Lugano, (Lago di Lugano).
With an average of 70mm of rainfall across the month it is one of the lower months for rainfall, but you can still expect some rainy days or more likely snowy days especially at higher elevations. That being said we’ve had snow in Basel in February and early March before.
Switzerland in February Public Holidays / Events
There are no official public or regional holidays in Switzerland in February, however there are a number of famous festivals that are held across the country:
📍 Fasnacht, Basel – Various dates depending on where Easter falls in the year, but always Monday to Thursday
Now we have a soft spot for Fasnacht, with Basel being our home and this being the first festival we witnessed upon moving to Switzerland, but Fasnacht is truly a spectacle that we would recommend everyone to enjoy! Three days and nights of parades, music, seasonal food and of course confetti, Fasnacht is a festival full of fun.
We go into more detail in another post here on Basel Fasnacht, so be sure to check that out if you plan on visiting Switzerland in February.
If you are visiting during Fasnacht then you should also explore Basel on one of these tours, both of which we highly recommend:
📍 White Turf, St Moritz – Early to Mid Feb
Horse racing on a frozen lake, yes it is a mad as it sounds, but a fantastic festival that needs to be seen to be believed! With official race days as well as family days, this event that has been running since 1907 is one of the more unique festivals in Switzerland.
Check out the White Turf website here.
Whilst here, you can also take the Bernina Express from St Moritz to Tirano in Italy, or (if you want to save a bit of money), take the Bernina Red Train instead – this follows the same route as the Express, but it is a heck of a lot nicer on the bank balance!
📍 International Hot Air Balloon Festival, Château-d’Oex – End of Jan to early Feb
Think hot air ballooning is just for warmer climbs? Think again! The International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Château-d’Oex is one of the most beautiful festivals you can witness in the Alps, with over a week of ballooning, (weather depending), where numerous balloons take to the skies over the snow. Check out our itinerary for visiting Château-d’Oex during this festival including some great day trips to nearby locations too.
For more information check out the festival website here.
📍 Waterslide Contest, Braunwald – End of Feb
Brave skiers and snowboarders come together at Braunwald to try their best to slide over a water basin – this festival is all fun and games to celebrate the end of the peak ski season in Switzerland.
There are also lots of other snow based events still happening across the country, including cross country ski events, ski touring, curling and dog sledding.
5 Best Places to Visit in Switzerland in February
There are plenty of things to do and places to visit in Switzerland in February, but here are our top picks;
1. Basel in February – If Fasnacht is early in the year then Basel is the place to be for the festivities. We go into Fasnacht more over in another post but to summarise, it is the best 3 days of the year for us Bebbi’s! (Basel residents). Filled with live music, parades where literal tonnes of confetti are thrown over the crowds and of course some good food, Fasnacht is one of the best times to visit Basel.
Stay at Central City Hotel Rochat or East West Hotel Basel for a slice of the action and incredible views.
2. Château-d’Oex in February – Château-d’Oex is home to the only hot air balloon festival you will find in the snow covered alps, so be sure to take a trip there at the beginning of the month to catch this unique event. We highly recommend staying at Chalet Nostalgie whilst there, a cosy historic cottage with views over the balloon field and lovely log fire!
3. St Moritz in February – If horse racing on a frozen lake intrigues you then St Moritz is a great place to visit in February.
4. Zermatt in February – Zermatt is a fantastic place to visit in the winter with the surrounding mountains covered in snow, making it perfect for skiing, sledging and snowshoeing. We did a snowshoe route there this past winter and didn’t see another person on the trail! Stay at either Hotel Schweizerhof or Grand Hotel Zermatterhof for spa access and incredible views of the Matterhorn.
5. Flumserberg in February – Flumserberg is a local mountain to Zurich relatively unknown to the tourists and perfect for visiting in the winter. With skiing, sledging and a beautiful winter hike out to Berghotel Seebenalp on the frozen Grosssee. Although you can stay near Flumserberg, we actually recommend staying in Zurich and taking a day trip there and we have the perfect Zurich itinerary for your trip too!
Switzerland in February FAQs
Is February a good time to go to Switzerland?
February is a great time to visit Switzerland, with snow still at most mountain resorts, but fewer crowds following the peak of the winter season and a few really fun and unique festivals that are held in the cities. We find February is the first month following the Christmas rush that really feels like it is getting quieter again.
Is Zurich worth visiting in February?
Zurich is a lovely place to visit throughout the year, but February is extra lovely with the mountain peaks surrounding the city having a good dusting of snow and the local mountain Uetliberg having it’s Winterzauber through until the end of February so you can still feel like its Christmas!
What to do in February in Switzerland?
Depending on how the snow season has been you can either start hiking again at the very lower levels, or get out doing snow sports in February. We particularly love sledging and snowshoeing! There are also quite a few festivals that happen throughout February that zou won’t be able to see anywhere else.
Is it still snowing in Switzerland in February?
Depending on where you are in the country, yes it can definitely still be snowing in Switzerland in February. We have had snow in Basel that time of year, and the mountain resorts around the Alps are sure to get some too.
Conclusion: Switzerland in February
So, there is our guide to visiting Switzerland in February, with fewer tourists around, the chance of lots of snowfall still and depending on how Easter falls, also the opportunity to witness the world renowned Basel Fasnacht, February is a great time to visit Switzerland.
If Switzerland in February isn’t quite right for your trip…
Check out our other blog posts below about visiting Switzerland during other months of the year.
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.