Switzerland Weather in September 2024: Travel Tips for First-Timers

The beginning of September in Switzerland is warm like summer, and the end is mild like fall. The highest ski resorts get more snow. The weather is good for comfortable tours and hikes.

Read on for our weather information and travel advice including average temperatures and rainfall, places to go, and travel tips…

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Switzerland Weather in September: Overview

Averages: 

• Temperature range: 11–20°C (51–68°F)
• Total rain/snow: 10 cm (4 inches)
• Days with rain/snow: 10
• Humidity: 76%
• Sunshine hours/day: 5 hours

September Climate Comparison (Averages) for Switzerland's Top Tourism Areas

Swiss weather is usually warm during the day at the low elevations where the biggest cities are at the beginning of September, then the weather turns mild. There are approximately 5 hours of sunshine and 12½ hours of daylight for enjoying outdoor activities and touring.

Lower altitude: The big cities such as Geneva, Lausanne, and Zürich are below about 500 meters (1,600 feet), and in them you can expect daily highs averaging 20°C (68°F), and you will feel warm when the sun shines. The average nightly lows are approximately 11°C (52°F).

Higher altitude: Above 1,600 meters (5,200 feet) where the ski resort towns and villages such as Zermatt are, the average daily highs are 15°C (60°F), and the lows are 5°C (41°F). Temperatures decrease the higher the elevation. There are occasional thunderstorms and moderate rainfall.

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The Best Places to Visit in Switzerland in September

September in Switzerland has the benefits of moderate tourism plus warm weather, especially at the beginning of the month. There is great natural beauty in warm or hot weather for outdoor activities. You could enjoy the urban areas, and some travelers might venture to the ski resorts.

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1. Zürich — See the Historical Sites at the Beginning of Fall

Zürich is Switzerland's largest city and main travel hub with the main international airport and train hub, and it is famed for cultural attractions and natural scenery such as Lake Zürich. September has moderate tourism and a combination of often warm weather and low prices and crowds.

High school summer holidays end at the start of September in Europe, and students return to school. So, you could enjoy activities with less crowding, such as swimming in Lake Zürich where the water temperature often reaches 20°C (68°F) and is suitable for swimming with a wet suit.

There are an average of about 5 hours of sunshine and an average of 10 days of moderate rain. When it rains, shopping, touring the Old City, and seeing the Swiss National Museum are options. When the weather is good, you could walk up the closest mountain, Uetliberg, with fewer other hikers in September.

For more things to do, see visiting Switzerland in March.

2. Basel — Relax and Enjoy a Low Key, Historic, Less Touristy City

If you want to get away from tourist crowds and into warmer weather in a Swiss city, then Basel is an option about an hour northwest of Zürich by train and car. It is out of the way since it is in northwestern Switzerland at the junction of France, Germany, and Switzerland.

Basel is a low-altitude city at the elevation of 256 meters (840 feet), and this makes the temperature warmer and nicer with average daily highs of 21°C (69°F). The humidity is 77%. There is an average of 5½ hours of sunshine and low rainfall.

Basel has a scenic Rhine River setting, and you could walk along it and walk to museums such as Switzerland's largest art museum called Kunstmuseum Basel. There are several other notable art museums. It is known as the Swiss cultural capital.

3. Zermatt — Hike in Spectacular Fall Scenery and Enjoy Mild Weather

Zermatt is a ski resort and tourist town at the base of the Matterhorn, and in September along with mild weather, there is a display of fall foliage on the mountains. Zermatt is at an elevation of 1,600 meters (5,200 feet), and the average daily highs are 15°C (60°F).

It can get cold at night since the average lows are 5°C (41°F). There is low rainfall in September and occasional thunderstorms and about 5 hours of sunshine. The best time to see fall colors is from mid-September to mid-October when the landscape is even more stunning with reddish and golden hues.

The quickest way to get a panoramic view of the autumn scenery is ride the cable car to the highest station in Europe on the Matterhorn at 3,883 meters (12,740). You could also hike the hut-to-hut hiking trails such as the Haute Route. The huts provide shelter.

4. First — Enjoy Fall Scenery from a Summit Area above Interlaken

A valley above Interlaken, Lütschental Valley, is famed for its autumn colors, and it's an excellent place for some higher-altitude hiking. Since the public transportation in the two valleys above Interlaken is excellent, the whole area could also be great for your family tour.

The best time to see fall foliage is from mid-September to mid-October. The beautiful shades of red, orange, and yellow create a stunning landscape that is perfect for hiking and photography. By early September, the crowds have thinned out, and the weather is still mild enough to enjoy outdoor activities.

First has an elevation of 2,168 meters (7,113 feet). There is a cable car station there for convenient scenic sightseeing, and you could hike or bike there too. Grindelwald could be your base for excursions in the area, and its average daily highs in September are 13°C (55°F).

• For information about Grindelwald, see visiting Switzerland in July.
• For information about Interlaken and travel there, see visiting Switzerland in March.
• For information about the adjacent Lauterbrunnen Valley, see visiting Switzerland in June.

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Crowds and Costs for Traveling in September

Switzerland is a beautiful country to visit in autumn. The changing colors of the leaves create stunning landscapes that you won't want to miss. There are smaller crowds and moderate prices during moderate tourism season. Warm or mild weather, breathtaking scenery, and unique cultural activities make Switzerland worthy of your itinerary.

In the low elevations, the weather is pleasant and good for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, or sightseeing. The stunning foliage highlights Switzerland's incredible natural beauty with vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow and it creates breathtaking landscapes.

The harvest season begins as well. You might enjoy tasting the fresh grape produce and other crops and watching the herds coming down from high pastures. Some high-altitude mountain huts and facilities may close for the season as early as mid-September.

There are no public holidays providing a day off of work in most of Switzerland's cantons in September. Each canton has its own holidays and observances.

National observance in September:

Federal Fast Day is an annual observance on the third Sunday of September in all the cantons except Geneva, but it is not a public holiday generally. Most businesses close however. It is a day of fasting and prayer for Switzerland that began in 1831. Some cantons have an additional fast day on Monday giving some people a 3-day holiday.

What to Wear in September

There is a big difference of daytime and nighttime temperatures, and the weather is unpredictable. You can be prepared for every circumstance by taking a coat, summer clothes, and rain gear. Dress in layers for comfort.

Take a coat for going to the high elevation areas such as Zermatt and Grindelwald, and bring swim wear for swimming, hot springs, and spas. You will need rain gear and waterproof backpacks in the high elevations.

Here is a packing list for a few essentials in Switzerland:

• Warm hat
• Sunhat
• Comfortable shoes with good traction
• Warm waterproof boots with good traction. You might wear them in-flight to travel lightly.
• Winter coat
• Swimwear
• Summer clothes
• Cardigans or thermals
• Polarized glasses to reduce the glare
• Universal adapter

Monthly Weather and Travel Information for Switzerland

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