By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 14th October 2024 | Updated: 29th November 2024
Planning a trip to Switzerland in November?
Even though Switzerland is often seen as more of a winter destination, it is most definitely a year-round destination, and the autumn month of November is the perfect time to plan a trip here.
So with that in mind below we’ll set out the best places to visit in Switzerland in November, as well as the average weather for the month, alongside any public holidays and festivals that occur, (November is basically the Swiss month of vegetable festivals!).
So here is our guide to visiting Switzerland in November;
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Switzerland in November is when the country starts to get a blanket of snow, the temperatures drop, but with the autumn colours are still hanging on. This makes it the perfect time for hiking in the lower-lying cantons, hopping on board a train through the picturesque landscapes or simply hopping from city to city exploring wonderful cosy cafes and any festivals that have started. November in Switzerland is also one of the quieter months in terms of tourists, so you can visit the country with fewer crowds and cheaper accommodation too.
Weather In Switzerland In November
The average daily temperature across the country is 7°C / 44.6°F, with nighttime temperatures of around 2°C / 35.6°F, but this can vary depending on location. Zurich and Lucerne often stick around these temperatures, but Geneva can be a little warmer, whilst Interlaken can be cooler. Zermatt is one of the snowiest places in Switzerland in November, and also one of the coldest, with temperatures rarely getting above 0°C / 32°F and roughly half the month with snowfall.
With an average of 70mm of rainfall across the month, (some of which will most likely fall as snow instead of rain in the higher elevations), November is also a great month for early snow sports.
Switzerland in November Public Holidays / Events
📍 All Saints’ Day (Allerheiligen) – 1st November
There aren’t any public holidays in November, and there is only this one official regional holiday in Switzerland in November, which only a few cantons actually observe, (including Aargau, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Fribourg, Glarus, Jura, Lucerne, Nidwalden, Obwalden, Schwyz, Solothurn, St Gallen, Ticino, Uri, Valais and Zug).
📍 Rüeblimärt, Aarau – first Wednesday of November
This festival is the first of the vegetable-based events of November (and believe us, there are a few!), where the town of Aarau focuses on its cantonal vegetable, the humble carrot. With a large market selling local produce and carrot-based goods (think carrot cake, carrot soup, carrot bread, and even carrot sausages!), this is where to go if you like carrots and are in the area at the beginning of November in Switzerland.
📍 Räbechilbi, Richterswil – second Saturday of November
Think turnips make for a good centrepiece for a festival? Well, the Swiss do, and the villagers of Richterswil in particular! Just a short train trip out of Zurich, the Räbechilbi fair is the place to be to witness carved turnips filled with candles lighting up the village like something out of a fairytale, as well as see them being paraded through the village as part of giant floats.
📍 Zwiebelmarkt, Bern – fourth Monday in November
Bern’s famous onion market, held at the end of November, is a traditional folk festival held in the Swiss capital since 1405, that has, you guessed it, everything you can think of that is onion or garlic-based. With beautiful onion plaits on sale alongside, local garlic bread, onion cakes and numerous other onion-based delicacies, the Zweibelmarkt is like Christmas has come early to the city. This is one festival for the early birds, however, with the locals opening up the market stands and selling from 4 am!
📍 Switzerland Christmas Markets – mid / end of November
Christmas Markets across Switzerland usually start towards the end of November, so if you are visiting Switzerland then, you may even get a chance to see them before the December crowds arrive. Lausanne, Locarno, Gruyeres and Basel have some of the earliest start dates.
5 Best Places to Visit in Switzerland in November
There are plenty of things to do and places to visit in Switzerland in November, but here are our top picks;
1. Mount Rigi in November – This mountain is great to visit throughout the year, but in November you can either get beautiful autumn leaves or snowy trails.
2. Bern in November – Bern is beautiful in the autumn and even more so at the end of November when the Onion Market is happening.
3. Spiez in November – With incredible mountain views and boat rides on Thunersee, Spiez is a great place to visit in November.
4. Bernina Express in November – This train is beautiful throughout the year, but even more so when winter is beginning to set in.
5. St Moritz in November – Pre the Christmas rush, St Moritz is a great place to visit for wintery walks or even some early ski season.
Switzerland in November FAQs
Is November a good time to visit to Switzerland?
November is a great time to visit Switzerland, with numerous festivals taking place, and the Christmas Markets starting up from the end of the month. It is also a much quieter time to visit Switzerland, before the seasonal Christmas and New Year rush.
What’s the best time of year to visit Switzerland?
We go into this more in another blog post, which you can check out here, but there really isn’t a bad time of year to visit Switzerland, it just depends on what you want from your trip and when the best month will be.
When is the off-season in Switzerland?
Off-season in Switzerland tends to be the spring and autumn months.
How cold does Switzerland get in November?
Switzerland in November is when the temperature during the day really starts to noticeably drop off, especially closer to the Alps, but that shouldn’t stop you from visiting.
Is November a good time to visit Zurich?
November is a great time to visit Zurich, with the city beginning to set up for its magical December, but with less of the crowds. As with most places across Switzerland, it can be a little cold and possibly a bit grey and rainy, but there is plenty to do in Zurich that you can easily keep busy.
What is Geneva like in November?
Geneva in November is not the best time of year to see the city at its peak as it can get very cold and rains quite often, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit. There are plenty of museums, galleries and, if you are there towards the end of the month, the Christmas markets too.
Is Zermatt worth visiting in November?
Zermatt is always worth visiting! However, November in Zermatt can be a little unknown in terms of weather, with lots of snowfall as well as rainfall.
What is the warmest city in Switzerland in November?
Chiasso, (bordering with Italy), is on average the warmest city in November in Switzerland, with daytime temperatures of around 12°C / 23.6°F and average nighttime temperatures of around 5°C / 41°F.
What is the coldest city in Switzerland in November?
Ulrichen in Valais is on average the coldest city in Switzerland in November, with temperatures averaging around -1°C / 30.2°F during the day and -8°C / 17°F at night.
Is Switzerland expensive in November?
November is often one of the cheapest months to visit Switzerland as it is in the autumn shoulder season, so although it is still expensive to visit Switzerland in comparison to other countries, November is a good idea for slightly better prices.
Planning your own trip to Switzerland? Be sure to download Wise by far the best currency conversion app around. We use it daily living on the border of two countries and it is a game changer when travelling!
Conclusion: Switzerland in November
So, there you have our guide to Switzerland in November. If you’re planning on visiting this wonderful country in November, be sure to expect much cooler and possibly snowy weather and a few unique veg-filled festivals!
If Switzerland in November isn’t quite right for your trip…
Check out our other blog posts below about visiting Switzerland during other months of the year.
📍 Switzerland in February
📍 Switzerland in March
📍 Switzerland in April
📍 Switzerland in May
📍 Switzerland in June
📍 Switzerland in July
📍 Switzerland in August
📍 Switzerland in September
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
📍 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.