Best time to visit Switzerland
Switzerland has its best weather in August and September. Peak season is July and August. For good weather with fewer crowds, aim for September.
Switzerland weather by month
Average daily high and low, rainy days (1 mm or more) and hours of sunshine per day, 2015 to 2024.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Rain days | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40°F | 29°F | 4.1 in | 15 | 4.9 h |
| February | 45°F | 31°F | 2.9 in | 12 | 6.3 h |
| March | 51°F | 34°F | 3.1 in | 13 | 8.1 h |
| April | 58°F | 40°F | 4 in | 13 | 9.7 h |
| May | 64°F | 48°F | 5.8 in | 18 | 9.9 h |
| June | 74°F | 56°F | 5.2 in | 16 | 11.6 h |
| July | 77°F | 60°F | 5 in | 15 | 12.1 h |
| August | 77°F | 60°F | 5 in | 12 | 10.6 h |
| September | 68°F | 53°F | 3.7 in | 12 | 9.4 h |
| October | 60°F | 46°F | 3.6 in | 12 | 7.2 h |
| November | 48°F | 37°F | 3.7 in | 13 | 5.2 h |
| December | 42°F | 32°F | 3.9 in | 14 | 4.5 h |
Switzerland month by month
Switzerland in January
Highs around 40°F, lows near 29°F. About 15 rainy days and 4.9 h of sunshine a day.
Ski season in Zermatt
Hardest monthSwitzerland in February
Highs around 45°F, lows near 31°F. About 12 rainy days and 6.3 h of sunshine a day.
Ski season in Zermatt
Mixed weatherSwitzerland in March
Highs around 51°F, lows near 34°F. About 13 rainy days and 8.1 h of sunshine a day.
Ski season in Zermatt
Mixed weatherSwitzerland in April
Highs around 58°F, lows near 40°F. About 13 rainy days and 9.7 h of sunshine a day.
Ski season in Zermatt · Sechseläuten
Mixed weatherSwitzerland in May
Highs around 64°F, lows near 48°F. About 18 rainy days and 9.9 h of sunshine a day.
Mixed weatherSwitzerland in June
Highs around 74°F, lows near 56°F. About 16 rainy days and 11.6 h of sunshine a day.
Good weatherSwitzerland in July
Highs around 77°F, lows near 60°F. About 15 rainy days and 12.1 h of sunshine a day.
LongLake Festival
Good weatherPeak seasonSwitzerland in August
Highs around 77°F, lows near 60°F. About 12 rainy days and 10.6 h of sunshine a day.
Swiss National Day · Street Parade
Best weatherPeak seasonSwitzerland in September
Highs around 68°F, lows near 53°F. About 12 rainy days and 9.4 h of sunshine a day.
Best weatherSwitzerland in October
Highs around 60°F, lows near 46°F. About 12 rainy days and 7.2 h of sunshine a day.
Good weatherSwitzerland in November
Highs around 48°F, lows near 37°F. About 13 rainy days and 5.2 h of sunshine a day.
Mixed weatherSwitzerland in December
Highs around 42°F, lows near 32°F. About 14 rainy days and 4.5 h of sunshine a day.
Ski season in Zermatt · Fête de l'Escalade
Hardest month
Seasons and events
- Apr
Sechseläuten
Zurich's spring festival is held on a Monday in April. Guild members parade through the Old Town, and at 6pm the Böögg, a snowman figure standing for winter, is burned.
Source: Zürich Tourism - Jul
LongLake Festival
Lugano's July festival brings concerts, performances and open-air literary events to the city's parks and squares.
Source: City of Lugano - Aug
Swiss National Day
1 August, marked with bonfires on hills and high spots. Some communities and tourist offices also put on fireworks.
Source: Switzerland Tourism - Aug
Street Parade
Zurich's techno parade in August. Love Mobiles roll along the lake basin while hundreds of thousands dance in the streets.
Source: Zürich Tourism - Dec–Apr
Ski season in Zermatt
The winter season runs from November to early May. The Sunnegga, Rothorn and Gornergrat areas open in late November and close in mid-April. Glacier skiing continues in summer.
Source: Zermatt Bergbahnen - Dec
Fête de l'Escalade
In December, Geneva marks the failed Savoyard attack of the night of 11 to 12 December 1602 with costumed parades in the Old Town and chocolate pots smashed open.
Source: Geneva Tourism
Plan Switzerland for September
Lay the trip out day by day in Waiz, on a timeline and a map, and plan it with friends in real time. Pro adds AI itineraries and the forecast for every day.
Questions about visiting Switzerland
September scores highest for weather in Zurich, with highs around 68°F and about 12 rainy days. The best stretch of the year is August and September.
May is the wettest month in Zurich, with about 5.8 in of rain over 18 days. February is the driest, with about 2.9 in.
Peak season is July and August, according to Swiss Federal Statistical Office. For good weather with fewer crowds, aim for September.
July is the warmest month in Zurich, with average highs of 77°F. January is the coolest, at 40°F.
Climate figures are monthly averages of daily ERA5 reanalysis data for 2015 to 2024, retrieved from Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). The verdict scores each month on temperature, humidity, rain and daylight, and marks months with typhoons, hurricanes or monsoon rain down.
