By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 19th January 2025 | Updated: 19th January 2025
Planning a trip to Switzerland in May?
Even though Switzerland is often seen as more of a summer or winter destination, the spring, and more specifically May is a great time of year to plan a trip to the country. The weather is well and truly warm, the flowers are blooming across the country and some of the annual music festivals are beginning. With that in mind in this post we’ll set out the best places to visit in Switzerland in May, 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 May;
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
May in Switzerland is when spring is in full swing, the weather is near perfect and it is not too hot as to put you off from a long hike. It is also a lovely time of year for a bracing dip in one of the many lakes or a swim through a city on the river, (yes this happens regularly, it is even a commute to work for some!). It is worth knowing that May alongside October, is one of the months that public transport in the mountains, such as cable cars, mountain railways etc often take a few weeks to renovate before the upcoming peak season, so be sure to check opening hours for any mountain excursions you might want to take to avoid being disappointed.
May is also one of the quietest months to visit Switzerland, (if not the quietest), with fewer tourists and therefore fewer crowds around, which is great to getting cheaper accommodation. It is worth noting though that there are a number of regional holidays in Switzerland in May, so although there may be less tourists, there may be more Swiss holidaying!
Weather In Switzerland In May
During May in Switzerland the average daily temperature is 20°C / 68°F, and night temperatures of 7°C / 44.6°F, making it a great month to start exploring the mountain trails which have been covered with snow. These temperatures can of course vary depending on location, with slightly warmer weather in the canton of Ticino and cooler weather around the mountains.
With an average of 90mm of rainfall across the country in May, you may get a couple of rainy days, or more often than not a rain shower in the afternoon.
Switzerland in May Public Holidays / Events
There is one public holiday and one regional holiday in Switzerland in May, as well as Mother’s Day and a few local festivals:
Public Holidays:
📍 Ascension Day (Auffahrt / Ascension) – 40 days after Easter (this changes depending on when Easter falls but is generally in May)
This is celebrated across the country with a day’s holiday, so expect a few things to be closed, (shops / restaurants), as well as hiking trails being busier on this day.
Regional Holidays:
📍 Labor Day / May Day (Tag der Arbeit) – 1st May
This holiday is yet another day’s holiday for the Swiss, however it is only celebrated in the following cantons: Basel-Landschaft, Basel-Stadt, Fribourg, Jura, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Solothurn, Thurgau, Ticino and Zurich.
Important other dates:
📍 Mother’s Day (Muttertag) – Second Sunday in May
Nothing is officially celebrated, but expect it to be busier than usual when trying to eat out at a restaurant.
Festivals:
📍 Bern Grand Prix, Mid May
The most famous Swiss street run with over 30,000 runners taking on either a 16km, 5km or 1.5km run through the city. So if you fancy taking part in a run through the Swiss capital be sure to check this festival out.
For more information check out the GP Bern website here.
5 Best Places to Visit in Switzerland in May
There are plenty of things to do and places to visit in Switzerland in May, but here are our top picks;
1. Bern in May – Bern is a great place to visit in May with the city’s parks and gardens really blooming. The Rose Garden that looks down over the city and the river is particularly wonderful in May, (and the cafe up there does a lovely soup too!).
2. Lauterbrunnen in May – Visiting Lauterbrunnen, or indeed the Bernese Alps is perfect in May as not only are there fewer tourists, but with the seasonal snow melt from above the waterfalls through the valley are at their peak, so you can really see the most beautiful location in all of Switzerland with all its 72 waterfalls.
3. Zug in May – If you can’t visit Zug in April then May is another fantastic month to see the beautiful cherry blossom filled landscapes. There are a few different cherry hikes that you can go on throughout the area around Zug too, so there is bound to be some blossom blooming somewhere!
4. Saxon in May – Saxon in Valais is famed for its apricots and the spring is the ideal time to visit for hillsides covered in blossoming trees.
5. Emmental in May – Looking for rolling hillsides with stunning views of the Alps, then be sure to head to Emmental. Not only are there fewer tourists there than lots of other destinations, but you can stop by the Emmentaler Schaukäserei to learn about and try some of the local cheese too!
Switzerland in May FAQs
Is May a good time to visit Switzerland?
May is a wonderful time to visit Switzerland with the temperature beginning to rise and the landscape really coming alive again. That being said it is also one of the months, alongside October, where mountain public transport can be shut or on reduced hours due to seasonal renovations, but you can easily check this out on the various mountain websites beforehand to avoid getting there and being disappointed.
Which city is best to visit in Switzerland in May?
Bern is a lovely city to visit in May, with its beautiful city streets and arcades coming alive with the warmer weather and numerous gardens that bloom in the spring. The Botanischer Garten at the University of Bern and the Rosengarten that overlooks the city are two great locations to visit for both blooms and views.
What is the weather in Switzerland in May?
The weather in Switzerland in May is often cool but sunny and with the odd rain shower, (nothing like the storms you can get during the summer months!), but you can definitely notice the temperature rising from the beginning to the end of the month.
Can I go to Switzerland in May?
Of course! And as it is a low season for Switzerland you will find there are fewer tourists around as well.
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 May
So, there is our guide to visiting Switzerland in May, from the flower festivals to the early season music festivals and of course the end of season snow festivals, May is a great time to visit Switzerland with fewer tourists around.
If Switzerland in May 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.