Switzerland climate

World Climates covers 6 places in Switzerland. By annual mean temperature, the warmest is Lugano (13 °C56 °F) and the coolest is Bern (10 °C50 °F). The wettest is Zürich with 1,313 mm52 in of precipitation per year, the driest Basel with 1,062 mm42 in.

The most common climate types (Köppen classification computed from these averages) are temperate oceanic (Cfb, 5 places) and humid subtropical (Cfa, 1 place).

The highest monthly average high is in Lugano (28 °C82 °F in July); the lowest monthly average low is in Zürich (−3 °C27 °F in January).

Across the places in Switzerland, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are June, July and September (5, 4 and 6 of 6 places respectively).

Temperature and rainfall across Switzerland

Annual mean temperatures in Switzerland range from 10 °C50 °F to 13 °C56 °F. The typical place (the median of all 6) has a year average of 11 °C52 °F. Annual precipitation ranges from 1,062 mm42 in to 1,313 mm52 in. The median place receives about 1,158 mm46 in in an average year.

In 6 places of 6, the coldest month has an average low below 0 °C (32 °F). In 0 places, the warmest month has an average high above 30 °C (86 °F). No place here gets less than 250 mm (10 in) of precipitation a year. None gets more than 2,000 mm (79 in) a year.

Averaged over all 6 places, July is the warmest month, with a mean of 21 °C70 °F. January is the coldest, with 1 °C34 °F. The wettest month on average is May (128 mm5.0 in). The driest is February (66 mm2.6 in). Single places can differ a lot from this average, so check the page of each city.

The table below lists the places sorted by population. The largest ones covered here are Zürich, Geneva and Basel. Each city page has a chart and a table for every month. It also shows the best time to visit and what to pack. The figures are 25-year averages for 2001–2025 from NASA POWER. They describe grid cells of roughly 50–70 km, not single weather stations.

Climate of each place in Switzerland

Zürich has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb). Its year average is 10 °C50 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 24 °C75 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −3 °C27 °F. About 1,313 mm52 in of precipitation falls in a year. August is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are June–September.

Geneva has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb). Its year average is 12 °C53 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 27 °C80 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −1 °C30 °F. About 1,107 mm44 in of precipitation falls in a year. May is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are June–September.

Basel has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb). Its year average is 11 °C51 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 25 °C78 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −2 °C29 °F. About 1,062 mm42 in of precipitation falls in a year. May is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are June and September.

Lausanne has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb). Its year average is 11 °C52 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 26 °C78 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −2 °C29 °F. About 1,175 mm46 in of precipitation falls in a year. May is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are September.

Bern has a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb). Its year average is 10 °C50 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 24 °C75 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −3 °C27 °F. About 1,142 mm45 in of precipitation falls in a year. May is the wettest month and February the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are June and July and September.

Lugano has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). Its year average is 13 °C56 °F. The warmest month is July, with an average high of 28 °C82 °F. The coldest is January, with an average low of −1 °C30 °F. About 1,207 mm48 in of precipitation falls in a year. November is the wettest month and January the driest. By our comfort score, the best months to visit are June and July and September.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the warmest place in Switzerland?

By annual mean temperature, the warmest place in Switzerland is Lugano at 13 °C56 °F. The coolest is Bern at 10 °C50 °F.

Where does it rain the most in Switzerland?

Zürich gets the most precipitation, 1,313 mm52 in in an average year. The driest place is Basel with 1,062 mm42 in.

How many places in Switzerland does this site cover?

World Climates has climate data for 6 places in Switzerland. Each one has a page with monthly averages for temperature, rainfall, humidity and daylight.

When is the best time to visit Switzerland?

It depends on the place. Across Switzerland, the months that most often rank as the most comfortable are June, July and September. Check the page of each city for its own best months.