Best Time To Travel To: Switzerland
Due to the significant differences in altitude in the country, Switzerland has a different climate. At the top, the mountains are often covered with snow all year round, and glaciers can also be found (although they decline).
In the low-lying areas of the Alps or the Central Plateau, summers are usually quite warm. However, most of the rain falls in summer.
Basically, Switzerland is influenced by Atlantic currents and currents from Eastern Europe. That makes the weather in Switzerland relatively unpredictable and very changeable. It is most consistent when the land is not under the influence of low pressure spurs. Then it is sunny and warm in summer and in winter it is very cold, but also sunny.
Switzerland is often divided into four climatic regions: Ticino in the south, the Alps, the Central Plateau and the Jura.
Ticino
Ticino has the warmest climate in Switzerland. The summers are warm, the winters mild. In places one could almost speak of a Mediterranean climate. The climate is similar to that of northern Italy, but Ticino is a bit rainier. The climate table of Lugano would be relatively typical for the climate in Ticino.
The Alps
The Alps take up almost half of Switzerland's land area. The climate within this gigantic mountain region is very different - it is important where you are: in the valley or above.
In winter, the mountain valleys tend to be cloudy and foggy. You have to expect frost. In return, the higher altitudes are usually cloud-free and very sunny. This is what makes this region interesting for winter sports enthusiasts.
In summer, however, the aforementioned circumstances can change slightly. Then the peaks are often overcast, but the valleys are sunny and warm. When the weather is nice, one often has the phenomenon that easily perceptible winds blow up the valleys, at night they change direction and blow down into the valley. The closer you are to glaciers, the colder these mountain winds can of course be. The temperatures can then go down significantly. Another well-known phenomenon is the Föhn. The warm and quite dry wind can blow in the Alps and near the Alps. The Föhn usually appears in late winter or spring. It occurs very often on the northern side of the Alps and blows mainly in valleys that lie in a south-north direction. When the Föhn is active, spontaneous temperature increases of up to 15 ° C can occur.
Mittelland
The lowest part of Switzerland extends roughly from Lake Geneva to Lake Constance. Most of the residents live here and the largest cities are located here. The winters here are usually cold, often cloudy and foggy. Often there can be frost, the milder the winter, the more snow falls.
Summers are warm but also humid. The rain often falls very productively and over a long period of time. The climate table for Zurich is typical of the region.
The Jura
The Jura is a small part of Switzerland. It stretches roughly from Basel to Geneva and runs along the border with France. This mountainous region never reaches the heights of the Alps, but the mountains are very rugged and have many extremely deeply cut valleys.
The Jura is relatively rainy. In winter the snow can lie here for a long time, especially in some closed valleys. Temperatures there can also drop very sharply in winter. The summers are usually warm, but practically always very cloudy and rainy
When is the best time to travel to Switzerland?
It is difficult to determine the best time for the whole of Switzerland. Even if the winter sports season usually starts at the beginning of December, December, as in many other destinations in recent years, was comparatively poor in snow. If the temperatures allow it, artificial snow is usually used here as well. Based on these experiences, you can expect sufficient natural snow from the end of December or January at the earliest, and the winter season then continues into spring (around April).
If you want to go to the health resorts and want to breathe the recognized good air, you would be also recommended spring or autumn. Especially in more protected locations (e.g. Lugano or Montreux) you can take ideal cures in autumn and winter. On the other hand, if you want more warmth, the ideal travel time for Switzerland should be between May and September.
