Switzerland conjures images of skiers swooshing down the snow-covered peaks of the Alps and warming up with cheese fondue.
The European country is also well-known for its many sparkling lakes and incredible hiking terrain that draws heaps of visitors in the warmer months. Zürich and Geneva are hubs of finance. Of course, anyone with a sweet tooth loves Swiss chocolate, and don’t forget about the fairy-tale hotels.
Given its small size and excellent connectivity via scenic railway, many travellers choose to do a multi-stop trip within Switzerland. But with such diverse destinations — from cosmopolitan cities to winter resorts — it’s important to understand the timing. For example, you won’t find powder during the summer, but the verdant alpine landscape will steal the show.
To help decide the best time to visit Switzerland for your particular travel goals, we tapped the concierges at two of the finest hotels in the country.
- High Season: June to August and December
- Shoulder Season: April to May and September to October
- Low Season: November and January to March
The best times to visit Switzerland
Best times to visit Switzerland for smaller crowds
“There are really three Switzerlands: the cities, the countryside, and the mountains,” explains Benjamin Richard, a concierge at Beau-Rivage Palace in Lausanne. If you skip peak periods (the heart of summer and winter, respectively), it never feels all that crowded. “I really love the spring and fall shoulder seasons. It’s wonderful with pleasant temperatures and no swarms of tourists,” he adds. One of the many attractions of visiting the French regions of Switzerland in autumn is the wine harvest.
Book your stay at Beau-Rivage Palace via Booking.com
Book your stay at Beau-Rivage Palace via Agoda.com
Best times to visit Switzerland for good weather
The best times to visit Switzerland for good weather are typically during the late spring, summer, and early autumn, according to Giuseppe Tocco, a junior concierge at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva. “These months see mild temperatures and longer daylight hours, so it’s ideal for outdoor activities and sightseeing,” he says. However, if you’re going for the express purpose of skiing, that answer would flip to winter, when the Alps look like a snow globe.
Book your stay at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva via Booking.com
Book your stay at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva via Agoda.com
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Best times to visit Switzerland for lower prices
Switzerland is an expensive destination. That doesn’t mean a trip is guaranteed to deplete your entire annual travel budget. Keen to save a few bucks? Tocco suggests visiting during off-peak times to help you avoid sky-high rates. You might even get some freebies like complimentary room upgrades if a hotel isn’t at capacity.
Best times to visit Switzerland for skiing
The conditions between December and February are prime for hitting the slopes at alpine hot spots across Switzerland. Just keep in mind the mountains tend to get crowded at the height of ski season. “Getting on the cable cars on a Christmas morning in Zermatt, St. Moritz, or Gstaad can feel like a crammed subway in London or Paris,” says Richard. Prices also reflect the popularity of this period. One way to mitigate that? Tocco suggests skipping holidays and school breaks and planning midweek visits instead.
Worst time to visit Switzerland
Again, there’s no wrong time to visit Switzerland. It really just depends on what you’re looking to do. The low season is an underrated time to explore the cities and countryside, according to Tocco. Conversely, summer in ski areas offers those same off-season benefits. Tocco adds, “However, it’s important to note that certain activities, accommodations, and restaurants may have limited availability or reduced operating hours.”
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(Hero and feature image credit: Stephanie Pollak/Travel + Leisure)
This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com
Related: The Ultimate Alpine Escape: A Journey To Zermatt In Switzerland
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