Best Times to Hike in Switzerland

What is the best time to hike in Switzerland?

The months of June through September are the best months for summer hiking in the Swiss Alps. Up in the mountains, the mornings are fresh and crisp (cool enough for a ski hat or beanie, even in the summer months!). The afternoons can get hot, so when you are hiking, it’s best to have layers to put on and take off as needed throughout the day.  

What is the weather like in the Swiss Alps in July?

• Snow can last into May in the Alps. In June, certain Alpine flowers begin to bloom. June sees the average temperature range from 54°F (12°C) to 72°F to (22°C). In the month of July it is usually sunny and lows average 57 °F (14°C) to highs of 79 (26°C), and sometimes it can be cooler in the mornings or warmer/hotter in the afternoons. August averages lows of 55°F (13°C) and highs of 77°F (25°C).
• Summer mornings are cool (light jacket, ski hat/beanie, long hiking pants), afternoons can range from warm to hot (t-shirts and hiking shorts, visor/sun hat), as long as it is not cloudy/raining. The temperature can also dip to 50°F (10°C) and not get as warm and only to 68°F (20°C). It’s best to be prepared even for an occasional thunderstorm on the summer.
• June, July, and August see an average of 19 days of “some rain,” and it can rain a few days in a row (it has not on my solo summer trips or group trip in 2023), but be sure to bring a rain jacket, sweaters for night time, and long-sleeved and short-sleeved for hiking. Storms can blow through and rain can last for up to three or four days, but this is rare.
• On the July Culinary and Hiking Tour in 2023, we had some drizzling rain for the morning on the last day (similar mid-July trip). I lived on an Alp, working at a hiker’s hotel for 6 weeks (July-August) working and we had only one storm that lasted several days and a couple of other rainy days. Hopefully on this year’s tour, we will have sunshine the entire week!
• The Alpine streams and lakes are pristine, refreshing, and cold year round, so you can be sure to get your biohacking cold plunges in, even on a hot afternoon in the Alps!

Here’s what one participant said about my culinary and hiking tour to Switzerland: “Tania’s command of almost every language sets the stage for a safe, healthy, relaxing retreat hiking the Swiss Alps. She connected with knowledgeable guides that taught us about the history and the land. The food she created, the people she attracted, and the awe-inspiring hikes through the Swiss Alps left me feeling a sense of accomplishment, adventure, and peace that I haven’t experienced. She is a kind soul, a gifted chef, and thoughtful in all the details. Will follow her on all her retreats again! It was an amazing time for all!” – Mary Kaye

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