Best Time To Visit Switzerland

The actual timing of spring varies according to where you stay. In the warmest climes of the Ticino region, you will find vibrant camellias blooming in March, while in the mountain resorts it can be late May to early June before the delicate alpine flowers open up and the snows retreat to the uppermost peaks. The Lake Geneva region offers memorable spring walks through narcissus fields and vineyards. Easter is a great time to visit throughout the country, with some warmth in the sun and the perfect opportunity to sample the famous Swiss chocolate. 

Top Tip

Spring is the ideal time for a short break in a resort such as Lucerne. You can enjoy the lake, take excursions to the nearby mountains of Rigi and Pilatus, explore the history of the Old Town, do a little shopping and sample a good variety of restaurants. 

Spring is the ideal time for a short break in a resort such as Lucerne. You can enjoy the lake, take excursions to the nearby mountains of Rigi and Pilatus, explore the history of the Old Town, do a little shopping and sample a good variety of restaurants. 

The Swiss weather can be surprisingly hot in the height of summer - warm enough for a dip in the lake, for palm trees to line the promenades and for glorious subtropical flowers to bloom. That said, you may still need a jacket when you travel up to higher altitudes to enjoy alpine walks and views. There are plenty of festivals large and small at this time of year, making Switzerland a vibrant and cultural place to visit. Swiss National Day is on 1st August when you'll see an abundance of flags, fireworks and celebrations. 

When you stay in resorts such as St. Moritz and Saas-Fee in the summer you will be given a free mountain travel pass which allows you unlimited travel on the local cable cars and funiculars. Elsewhere there are a range of great vaue travel passes to pre-book which allow you to bypass the ticket office queues. 

As well as being relatively quieter, this is a time of year with some wonderful seasonal produce for the visitor to enjoy. Chestnuts are a Swiss autumnal favourite, along with mushrooms, apples, pears and many varieties of game. You will find some resorts which hold charming festivals in the autumn, celebrating the locally produced cheeses and wine. In the alpine villages, you may spot cattle processing along the road. They come down from the high alpine pastures before the winter starts and are resplendent in their headdresses of flowers and ribbons. 

Autumn is perfect for a scenic rail holiday, with beautiful golden hues to enjoy through the panoramic windows as you travel across the changing landscape. You can still find warm sun in early autumn - and enjoy memorable scenes as the mists burn off to reveal stunning views of the lakes and mountains. 

Even if you are not a skier you can still enjoy a wonderful holiday at this time of year. Choose an alpine resort for mountaintop fondues under a blue sky and the fabulous après-ski atmosphere. There are idyllic, car-free villages such as Wengen and Zermatt or lovely resorts such as St. Moritz with plenty of restaurants and shopping. If you stay in a town such as Interlaken, Lucerne or Montreux you can enjoy lake cruises all year round - or use the transport network for a range of excursions up to mountain beauty spots and walking trails. Please see here for more details.

December of course brings Christmas celebrations - or you may like to visit earlier that month for the atmospheric Christmas markets which are becoming ever more popular. Most scenic rail routes operate through the winter so you also have the opportunity to travel across the Alps in all their winter glory.