Best Time to Visit Switzerland

September: the safe bet

If you can only pick one month, pick September. All four cities on our site (Zurich, Geneva, Lucerne and Bern) list it as a best time. Days are still warm enough for a swim in Lake Zurich or a walk along Lake Geneva. The summer crowds have thinned, and the hiking trails in the Alps are at their clearest. Cows come down from the high pastures in late September and October, and many villages hold a colourful cattle parade called an Alpabzug.

Geneva is the one city that stretches the window. It rates July to September, so it suits you if your dates are fixed to the summer holidays.

Summer, winter and the shoulder months

July is the hottest month in every city, from 23°C in Lucerne to 25°C in Geneva. It's also the wettest month in Zurich, and it comes in big thundery bursts. Don't write off a July trip, but keep a flexible plan. Swiss trains make it easy to chase the sun to another town.

Lucerne and Bern get their heaviest rain in May, so spring can be grey and damp in the lowlands. Geneva's wettest month is December. Winter is the season for Christmas markets in Zurich and Basel-style cosy evenings with fondue, plus skiing in resorts like Zermatt and Grindelwald. Mountain snow can make high-altitude sightseeing tricky, so check which lifts are running.

Holidays and crowds

High season runs from July to August, when families travel and mountain railways fill up. It runs again from late December to February in ski areas. April to June and October to early November are quieter, though some mountain lifts close between seasons.

National Day on 1 August brings fireworks and bonfires across the country, and some shops close. Easter and Christmas also shut many businesses for a day or two. If you hate crowds, aim for early September or late June.