When to visit Switzerland

I talk to many people who book their Switzerland trips at non-ideal times, like April, May, or November. Then they are disappointed that many hikes and activities in the alps aren't closed during their planned trip.

Summer hiking season is Switzerland is from about mid June through mid October. During this time, mountain trails, cable cars, huts, restaurants, and other amusements are open.

At higher elevations (above 2000m), there can sometimes be snow on the trails through mid July. And it can start snowing again as early as mid September. So if you are planning to hike Zermatt or other high elevation trails, best to visit in July or August.

If you want to see wildflowers in the alps, the best time to visit is late June through July. Even though this is peak tourist season and during Swiss school holidays, this is still the best time to visit if you want to see Switzerland in that classic bright green.

If you want less tourists, best to visit in late August and early September. Most Swiss schools start back in mid August, so the mountains get significantly quieter. Usually, you'll still have nice weather in early September but the days are quite a bit shorter than June.

If you must visit in spring (April through early June), carefully check the opening times of the activities in your desired destinations. After ski season, most mountain resorts close for a few weeks before re-opening for summer season in mid June or July. During this break, the cable cars, restaurants, trails, and other services are not open. See my Spring in Switzerland guide for ideas.

If you want to see fall colors, visit in mid October, since autumn is usually a little later in Switzerland than other places. See my Fall in Switzerland posts.

If you aren't hiking, you can visit many mountain viewpoints year round. So you can be less picky about when you schedule your trip. But remember that if you want to see a green Switzerland, you need to come in June - early August.

If you visit in winter, you can still hike, but it will be on snowy winter trails. See my Winter Hiking in Switzerland posts.