Best: Dec-Mar, Aug-Sep · Great: Jul · Jan-Mar for Ski Season · Dec for Christmas Markets
Weather shifts through genuine seasons here, from January's cool stretch to July's warmth, with rain a little heavier around May and lighter around February — real variation, but nothing as sharp as a true monsoon or Mediterranean dry season. In August, expect highs around 22°C with rain on roughly 12 days of the month.
Ski Season (January-March) — One of the world's classic ski destinations, with reliable snow across resorts like Zermatt, Verbier, and St. Moritz — this is genuinely the reason most winter visitors come, even though it isn't the ideal window for general sightseeing.
Christmas Markets (December) — Zurich's and Basel's Christmas markets, with alpine backdrops, are festive draws despite the winter cold.
Alpine hiking and lake towns like Interlaken and Lucerne define a visit, with train journeys through the mountains a highlight in themselves.
Try fondue and raclette in an alpine chalet setting.
Daylight, sunrise, and sunset are calculated exactly from this region's latitude. Temperature and rainfall are modeled from its general climate type, not measured station data. Month summaries are generated from those modeled figures.
Expect cold days around 3°/-3°C, with frequent rain (~11 rainy days).
Expect cool days around 5°/-2°C, with occasional rain (~9 rainy days).
Expect cool days around 9°/0°C, with frequent rain (~12 rainy days).
Expect cool days around 14°/4°C, with frequent rain (~12 rainy days).
Expect mild days around 18°/8°C, with frequent rain (~15 rainy days).
Expect mild days around 21°/11°C, with frequent rain (~14 rainy days).
Expect mild days around 23°/13°C, with frequent rain (~13 rainy days).
Expect mild days around 22°/13°C, with frequent rain (~12 rainy days).
Expect mild days around 18°/9°C, with frequent rain (~10 rainy days).
Expect cool days around 13°/5°C, with frequent rain (~10 rainy days).
Expect cool days around 7°/1°C, with frequent rain (~11 rainy days).
Expect cold days around 4°/-2°C, with frequent rain (~11 rainy days).