Winter Packing List for Switzerland

If you visit Switzerland in winter, you'll need to pack warm clothing and waterproof outdoor layers to keep you cozy and comfortable as you travel.

Your exact pack list depends on if you plan to visit the mountains and whether you want to do any winter snow sports.

Note: If you prefer to rent winter clothing while you are here, we suggest Cirkel Supply Co, which will ship directly to your hotel. Use our code SWISSFAMILYFUN10 to save 10% on your rental

Winter basics

Anyone visiting Switzerland during winter should pack the following in addition to your regular travel clothing, even if you only visit the cities:

• Warm outer jacket, preferably wind & waterproof. I always wear a down insulated jacket.

• Gloves - usually medium weight gloves are fine, I like ones that have the touchscreen fingers for the phone

• Warm beanie hat

• Scarf

• Long sleeve shirts

• Fleece jacket or similarly warm jumper/sweater/pullover

• Thick warm socks - your feet can quickly get cold even just walking around a city for an hour

• Waterproof shoes or boots - you may need to walk through puddles or slushy snow even in the cities

• Umbrella

Mountain viewpoints

Even if you aren't skiing, you can still visit beautiful mountain viewpoints during your Switzerland trip. You don't have to pack ski clothing but you may want warmer layers and a thicker jacket than for your city adventures.

I would bring a day pack so you can easily store your warmer layers when you are indoors or at warmer temps at lower elevations.

In addition, I would bring the following:

• Sunglasses & sunscreen - the sun can be more intense reflecting off the snow, make sure to bring sun protection

• thermal leggings to wear under your trousers - the wind can whip through regular trousers and quick make you cold even over a short visit

• waterproof outer layers and gloves for kids that may want to play in the snow - cloth mittens get wet and cold very fast as soon as you touch snow, don't chance it

Winter sports

If you plan to do any winter sports, even just a bit of sledding, you should plan to bring or rent snow clothing and gear, including:

• waterproof snow jacket and trousers

• thermal base layer

• warm sport socks

• helmet & goggles

• scarf or buff

• for sledding - sturdy, warm, waterproof winter boots

• warm, waterproof gloves

You can use the SBB Luggage Transport service to ship your ski bags from the airport directly to your destination train station or hotel. That way you don't have to manage bulky luggage as you visit other destinations before you start the ski portion of your holiday. Learn more.

Winter hiking

Switzerland has lots of winter trails, where the snow is groomed with machines so you can walk with regular hiking shoes, no snowshoes required. These are a great option for those that don't ski but want to spend more time enjoy the mountain views.

Besides warm clothing, these optional extras can make your winter hike more comfortable:

• warm, comfortable, waterproof boots - although you can do short distances in casual snow boots, they can be uncomfortable for longer distances

• hiking sticks with snow baskets - to keep you balance on uneven terrain

• traction cleats - to manage icy conditions

• gaiters - to protect against snow and moisture getting into your socks

• day pack - to store water, snacks and extra layers

Even if temps are cold, you can get quite warm when winter hiking and may want to take off some layers, especially on the uphills. But when you stop moving, you cool down very quickly. So it's important to bring a variety of layers so you can customize your experience.

For more tips, see my full article about What to Pack for a Winter Hike.

Electronics

Make sure to bring a plug adapter that works with Swiss outlets, which are different from other European outlets.

Cold weather can drain your phone batteries quicker than normal. Definitely bring a portable charger on all outdoor activities.

Swiss winter weather & temperatures

Winter in Switzerland is from November to March, with the coldest temperatures typically from late December to early February. During this time, you may cold temperatures and experience rain and snow at any elevation.

At higher elevations in the mountains, temperatures are typically around 5 to -10C (40 to -15F). In the cities, temperatures are usually a bit milder, typically around 10 to 0C (50 to 32C). But this can vary widely depending on weather conditions.

In winter months, Switzerland typically gets about 5-10 days of rain or snow. You should definitely expect some wet days during your trips.