By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 2nd February 2024 | Updated: 16th February 2024
Switzerland is a beautiful destination to explore in the summer, with warm and sunny weather perfect for relaxing at a lakeside, hiking in the mountains, or enjoying city life. Plenty is happening throughout the season with summer festivals starting across the country as well as summer adventure sports such as mountain biking and paragliding. Having lived in Switzerland for a few years now, we can safely say that the summer is a great time to visit, even if it can get a bit busier and hot at times!
Switzerland may be more well-known as a skiing destination, but it is most certainly a destination to visit in the summer too. The Alps may still have their snow-capped peaks, but exploring the country, eating your way through local delicacies, and experiencing all the festivities all make visiting now worthwhile. So, are you looking to find out more about this alpine nation in the summer?
Here is our guide to Switzerland in summer.
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
Is it worth visiting Switzerland in summer?
Although it can get quite warm, and there can be more tourists, Switzerland in summer is still very much worth visiting. There are countless music festivals that happen throughout the country, as well as the country-wide celebrations on Swiss National Day, all alongside soaking up some of the most beautiful landscapes in Europe with hiking and water sports seasons beginning.
Average temperatures across Switzerland in summer:
📍 27° C / 80° F in Zurich
📍 11 – 26° C / 52 – 79° F in Basel
📍 10 – 26° C / 50 – 79° F in Geneva
Average rainfall across Switzerland in summer: 73 – 151mm rain
Is this peak season or low season?
Summer is considered one of the peak seasons in Switzerland, and often the busiest time of year to visit. Due to the school summer holidays often falling with the best of the weather, summer in Switzerland isn’t as affordable or quiet as you might expect, especially around the larger cities or prime tourist destinations, (check out our post on how to visit Switzerland on a budget if you are visiting in the summer). Don’t let that put you off though, there are plenty of festivities to keep everyone entertained.
If you’re thinking about visiting Switzerland but at a different time of year, check out our other posts for spring in Switzerland, in autumn and in winter.
Holidays and Festivals in Switzerland in summer
Summer in Switzerland is from the 21st of June until the 23rd of September, with plenty of lively festivals to enjoy in between. The main holiday during the summer is Swiss National Day on the 1st of August, but alongside that here are the top 6 festivals in Switzerland in summer that you should try and visit:
Switzerland in June
📍 Montreux Jazz Festival
Over a quarter of a million people descend on the town of Montreux for one of the most loved music festivals in Switzerland, the Montreux Jazz Festival. Held for roughly two weeks between the end of June and mid-July, this festival founded in 1967 by Claude Nobs, showcases artists from across the globe with free stages throughout the town, as well as ticketed stages for more intimate events.
Switzerland in July
📍 Gurten Music Festival
Held in mid to late July this rock and pop festival is set atop the local mountain of the Swiss capital of Bern in Gurten Park. With various stages and dance tents, it is an experience like no other in Bern! Tickets sell out quickly for this one though as they often have well-known artists headlining.
📍 International Alphorn Festival
At the end of July, Alphorn players from both Switzerland and abroad arrive for a long weekend of traditional festivities and folk music for the wonderful International Alphorn Festival in Nendaz. With events for both the young and old, beginners to the Alphorn and those who have been playing for years, it is a unique festival that you simply must experience. The best part of this three-day event happens on a Sunday when around 100 Alphorn players set up at Tracouet, an alpine lake at 2200m, and play together.
Switzerland in August
📍 Swiss National Day
Swiss National Day is the biggest and best event you will find across Switzerland in summer. Held on August 1st each year, (with events often starting on the 31st of July), this day is a celebration of the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291, which has been officially celebrated as Swiss National Day since 1891. Swiss flags decorate anything and everything throughout the country, (we’re talking buildings, public transport, food, drink, you name it, it will have a flag on it!), there are also incredible firework displays held in the larger towns and cities, as well as bonfires on hillsides and elevated locations.
📍 Allianz Film Festival Basel
Cities across the country hold large open-air cinema events throughout the summer, with the Allianz Film Festival in Basel setting up on one of the most beautiful squares in the city. Throughout the month of August, this open-air kino in Basel puts on a film each night, ranging from the most recent box office hits to, older more traditional films in a variety of languages including French, German and English. The atmosphere is like no other and definitely worth pre-ordering tickets for your favourite film being shown.
Switzerland in September
📍 Alpabfahrt / désalpe Alpine cattle descent
Known as the Alpabfahrt, Alpabzug or Désalpes depending on where in Switzerland you are, the Alpine cattle descent is something you should try and witness. With cows dressed up with flowers and headdresses, food stalls with local delicacies and musical accompaniment be sure to find your nearest event and joy in with the festivities. They can be at any point from mid-September through to mid-October depending on the weather and region.
Best Things To Do In Switzerland In Summer
Switzerland is a great country to visit in the summer, with hiking trails galore, numerous lakes to dip in and of course, various other outdoor activities and festivals to enjoy. So here are our recommendations of the top things to do in Switzerland in summer;
Hikes to do in Switzerland in Summer
📍 Harder Kulm, Interlaken
Only a short trip up Interlaken’s local mountain Harder Kulm, and you will be rewarded with some of the best views in the region. There are a few hikes you can do in the area, including up to the summit or back down into Interlaken or if you prefer something a little further and more challenging, you can hike along the Harder ridge trail to Augstmatthorn.
During the summer local musicians play traditional folk music at the mountain restaurant terrace, such as the alpine horn, yodelling and best of all cowbells. (I had a chance to play the cowbells with the musicians one evening and it was so much fun so if you get a chance to do it then jump at it!). You can also get a rather good sunset from up here if the weather is clear too.
📍 Bürgenstock
Just a short boat ride from Lucerne, and a trip up one of the steepest funiculars in Switzerland and you will arrive at Bürgenstock Resort and the start of this wonderful and historic hike. Following Route 98 from Bürgenstock to Känzeli, then Route 566 back to Bürgenstock, this route is roughly 6km long, and takes on average 2 hours to complete.
Passing through alpine pastures, (which you will of course find the locals with their bells jingling), old woodland and along the famous panoramic Cliff Walk Felsenweg with a trip up the Hammetschwand Lift, (the tallest external lift in Europe), it is a unique hike like no other you can do in Switzerland.
📍 Schynige Platte
Schynige Platte is another fantastic hike to do in Switzerland in summer, (There are often alpine horns being played up there in the summer months too). There are various routes you can take throughout the area, but we would highly recommend hiking the Panorama Trail to get the best of the views and the chance to hike through various terrains too.
The journey up to Schynige Platte is an experience in itself, with the trip taking roughly 40 minutes up a steep funicular railway, perfect for spotting wildlife and taking in the incredible views back down to Interlaken and the lakes.
Activities to do in Switzerland in Summer
📍 Go Paragliding Or Skydiving
Ever fancied getting up above the landscape and flying with the birds? Well, you can do just that during the summer in Switzerland. One of the best locations to do this is in Interlaken or the nearby Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen valleys, with both locals and paragliding schools flying in the area.
Interlaken is known as the adventure capital of Switzerland so on a good day you can see hundreds of paragliders taking to the skies around this area.
📍 Experience Swiss Music Festivals
Not all music festivals are the same, and in Switzerland, you can not only witness free music festivals on rivers and lakes but also take part in festivals up mountains too. From the Montreux Jazz Festival to the Floss Festival in Basel and the Gurten Music Festival in Bern, there will be a music festival to your tastes during summer in Switzerland.
📍 Go Paddle Boarding Or Swimming In A Lake
Pretty much all the lakes in Switzerland will have some way of letting you get in or on the water in the summer months, from paddle boarding to sailing, hopping on a pedalo or simply getting in for a swim. Lac Léman, Lake Lucerne, (Vierwaldstättersee), Lake Zurich, (Zürichsee), Lake Thun, (Thunersee), and Lake Brienz, Brienzersee), are particularly popular destinations for this. After enjoying your time in the water, simply relax on the lakeshore with a grill up, nothing could be more Swiss!
📍 Witness The Alpabfahrt
The Alpabfahrt / Désalpe, (the name changes depending on what language is spoken in the canton), is one thing you simply have to see if visiting Switzerland in autumn. Hundreds if not thousands of cows will be brought down from the mountains in this annual cattle descent, with local towns and villages hosting markets to celebrate the local farms and watch the cow parades.
It peaks at the end of September and into early October but depending on the weather and the location of the farm, the cattle descent can be anytime from mid-September onwards.
📍 Eat Raclette
Raclette is eaten in Switzerland throughout the year, but it is almost seen as the replacement for fondue in the summer. Made from scrapping bubbling hot cheese in slices over baby potatoes, tomatoes, pickled onions and gherkins, (sometimes other food depending on the area), and covered with a dash of paprika, it is delicious any time of day!
📍 Float Down A River
If there is one thing you should do in Switzerland in summer, then it is getting into one of the local rivers and just floating along. Basel is particularly well known for this happening, (as soon as the weather starts to warm there are people in the river and there is an annual Rhine swim where thousands take part in a swim day), but other cities such as Zurich and Bern also have the perfect rivers to float down too. Be sure to take advice from the local tourism office or locals where the best places are to get in and out of the river.
📍 Visit Alpine Flower Gardens & Trails
Switzerland may not necessarily be high on your radar for flower gardens, but due to the unique terrain and landscapes in the Alps, it does have some rather beautiful Alpine flower gardens and trails. Some of the best include the Aletsch Glacier Flower Trail or the Schynige Platte Alpine Garden, which also has a beautiful flower trail taking in the sights over Interlaken.
Best Places To Visit In Switzerland In Summer
📍 Zurich in Summer
Switzerland’s largest city is one of the perfect places to spend a summer’s day. With a large lake, perfect for swimming, paddle boarding or boating, numerous parks and gardens throughout the city ideal for a picnic, (including the rather beautiful Chinese Garden) and of course a lively music scene, Zurich is a great place to visit in Switzerland in summer.
📍 Basel in Summer
Basel may be well known for its spring and winter festivities but it is also a fantastic place to visit during the warm summer months. With numerous summer festivals happening, including Art Basel, Basel Tattoo and the Floss Festival, you will easily be kept entertained in the city. Plus the summer is the perfect time of year to take a dip, (or in this case float), in the River Rhine, or simply relax on the river banks with views back over the beautiful Altstadt.
📍 Interlaken in Summer
Situated between Lake Thun, (Thunersee), and Lake Brienz, (Brienzersee), Interlaken is a haven for those spending summer in Switzerland. With brilliant blue waters flowing through the town and paragliders flying high above the town, it is a wonderful place to relax as well as get your adventure on! It is also the gateway to the Bernese Oberland and numerous nearby mountain hikes, so is a great place to base yourself and do day trips from.
📍 Pilatus in Summer
Although visiting mountain peaks is often seen as more of a winter thing, visiting them in the summer is just as good. Pilatus is one such mountain with not only incredible views over the surrounding area but lots of activities you can take part in up the mountain too, including a rope park, (with zip lines and free fall areas), wipfelpad, (treetop pathway), hiking and of course, the longest summer toboggan run in Switzerland.
📍 Lucerne in Summer
Lucerne is another city in Switzerland that is great to visit during the summer. The beautiful Old Town is perfect to wander through, especially along the town walls and Chapel Bridge, and with numerous boat cruises and ferries you can take on Lake Lucerne, (Vierwaldstättersee), you can easily take a day trip to one of the nearby mountains such as Rigi, Bürgenstock or Mount Pilatus. Lucerne is also a great place to sit along the water’s edge with a picnic or get out on the water with a pedalo, kayak or paddle board.
Where should I stay in Switzerland in Summer
We would recommend staying in either Interlaken or Lucerne during your stay in Switzerland in summer. Both offer you the town/city life, with multiple restaurants, museums and galleries to keep you busy, as well as great options for numerous day trips to the mountains.
Planning your own trip to Switzerland? Make sure you check out our Travelling Tedaldi Amazon Store Travel Guides for all your guidebooks and maps. (We’ve done the hard work for you and linked all the things we used to plan our trip!)
Switzerland in Summer FAQ’s
How to get to Switzerland
Switzerland is well connected to mainland Europe as well as further afield, with three major international airports located in Geneva, Zurich, and Basel, as well as smaller airports at Bern, St Gallen and Lugano. Thanks to Switzerland’s central location in Europe, it is also easily accessible by train from its neighbouring countries of France, Germany, Austria, and Italy.
How to get around Switzerland
By far the best way to get around Switzerland is by public transport. There is a vast network of trains, boats, buses, trams, cable cars and funicular railways across the country that can transport you between the cities and the mountains in a matter of hours.
To make the most out of your time and budget whilst in Switzerland, then be sure to book your transport tickets in advance through the SBB website or SBB mobile app. Depending on how long you plan to stay in Switzerland, you can choose between getting a Swiss travel pass or a number of day passes. Both of these tickets offer excellent value for money and give you public transport access across the entire length of your ticket i.e. a day pass is 24 hours of transport anywhere in Switzerland, just be aware that some forms of transport, such as some cable cars / funicular railways aren’t included in the passes.
If you would rather explore Switzerland at your own pace, you can also hire a rental car. We highly recommend using Rentalcars.com for your car/vehicle hire as they offer a wide selection of vehicles at budget-friendly rates, exactly what you want whilst visiting Switzerland.
How many days do I need in Switzerland in summer?
If you want to see Switzerland in summer, then we would suggest you spend at least a week in the country, as there is so much to see and experience in the mountains as well as the cities.
Which month is best for summer in Switzerland?
August is the best month for summer in Switzerland, the weather is great, (often very warm in the main towns and cities), but the perfect temperature for hiking.
Is July the best time to visit Switzerland?
July is a good time to visit Switzerland, but we wouldn’t suggest that it isn’t the best time to visit Switzerland in the summer as the weather can be quite unsettled. That being said, July is still a great time to visit Switzerland especially if you base yourself in one location and do day trips.
Is there snow in Switzerland in July?
There won’t be snow at the lower elevations, but there is always snow at the top of certain mountains in the Alps including Zermatt, Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.
What is Switzerland like in the summer?
Switzerland in the summer can be amazing and it can be overwhelming. It can get very hot, (think late 30+ into early 40 degrees Celsius), and be extremely busy in the most touristy destinations, but if you venture away from these locations, you can find some wonderfully quiet spots.
Is Switzerland crowded in summer?
Switzerland can be quite crowded during the summer, especially if you are visiting one of the more touristy destinations such as Interlaken or Lucerne. But you can find places within Switzerland that aren’t so crowded, such as Thun or Murten.
What activities can I do in Switzerland in the summer?
Summer in Switzerland is the perfect time for hiking, as well as getting in one of the many lakes or rivers that are throughout the country. Main cities such as Zurich and Basel are some of the best places to experience floating down the river, and the lakes at Lucerne and Spiez are great for paddleboarding or getting in a pedalo.
Switzerland in Summer Tours
Tours are a great way to see Switzerland and are great options to do in the summer when it can be easier to take a tour rather than go it alone. We can highly recommend booking one, (or a few!), through Get Your Guide, especially as they have some amazing tour options such as
Paragliding Tandem Flight in Interlaken, Catamaran Cruise on Lake Lucerne and a Kayak Tour on Lake Brienz.
Book your Switzerland in summer tours now!
Can I visit the Swiss Alps in the summer?
Yes, you can visit the Swiss Alps in the summer, (you can visit them throughout the year!), you just need to make sure that any cable cars or funiculars that you need to take are open.
Is it better to visit Switzerland in June or September?
We would highly recommend visiting Switzerland in September rather than June, as the weather is much calmer, (June can often be quite stormy), and there are fewer tourists around, (assuming you come from mid-September onwards).
Geneva or Zurich in the summer?
Both Geneva and Zurich are both wonderful cities to visit in the summer, with plenty to do both in the city and on trips out to the nearby mountains. However, we would suggest visiting Zurich over Geneva as the city has such a wonderful vibe and is full of hustle and bustle in the warmer months.
Conclusion: Switzerland in Summer: Best Things To Do & Places To Go
Switzerland in summer is all about relaxing by a river or lakeside, hiking in the Alps and finishing up the warm days with a cold drink taking in the view. You can avoid the summer crowds by visiting lesser-known destinations in the country meaning, that even though it is one of the busiest periods you can still have the perfect trip to Switzerland in summer.
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.