You are here Home » Trips a-la-carte » Destinations » Switzerland » When to Go
Switzerland - When to Go
The climate is temperate, so summers are mild and winters are cold with heavy snowfalls. The country is fit for both skiing is the winter and in spring or summer for hiking, bathing, visiting castles and cities. Summer lasts roughly from June to September and the winter season in Alpine resorts kicks off in mid-December and closing down again when the snows begin to melt around mid-April. Hikers what want to walk at high altitudes, however, should be equipped for snow and ice until well into June. Mid-August to late October generally has fairly settled weather, and is a good period for hiking trips.
Top Destinations
Top Destinations
General Information
Official name
Swiss Confederation
Geographic Location
Western Europe
Capital and largest city
Bern (capital city, 128 041 inhabitants), Zürich (largest city, 376,815 inhabitants)
Largest cities
Bern, Zurich, Lausanne, Geneva, Basel, Lucerne
Area
41,284 km²
Population
7,7 Million
Time Zone
GMT +1 (UTC+2 From the last Sunday in March at 01:00 to the last Sunday in October at 02:00)
Currency
Swiss franc (CHF)
Official language
Four national languages (German, French, Italian and Romansh)
Neighbouring countries
Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east
Highest point
Dufourspitze (4634 m)
Lowest point
Lake Maggiore (195 m)
Longest rivers
Rhine (375 km)
Landing place
Basel, Zürich, Berne, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano
Electricity
220-240 volts AC, 50 Hz, with round-prong European-style plugs
Ethnic groups
Germans 64%, French 19%, Italians 8%, Yugoslav 3%, Spaniards 2%
Religion
Roman Catholic 45%, Protestant 40%