Autumn in Switzerland – Ultimate Guide to the Golden Season

When the days start to get shorter, and temperatures drop, autumn in Switzerland surely can’t be very far off.

If you were to ask 99 Swiss about their favorite season in Switzerland, you would realize that autumn ranks behind spring and summer on the popularity scale. But if you ask this author, what's more magical than hiking through golden pines on a sunny autumn day?

Autumn hides Switzerland’s true gold.

When Indian summer takes hold in the Engadine, when the vineyards of Lavaux turn golden, and the apple harvest is in full swing, I love to go outdoors as much as possible before that first snowfall. This is the time when it pays to go for extended walks in the forest, visit little towns on a Saturday morning, or stop by a winery for an apéro.

Autumn in Switzerland is a time of abundance on so many levels: from agriculture to culinary and from nature to customs. Here is our ultimate guide to autumn in Switzerland - the golden season.

When is autumn in Switzerland?

The official dates and months for autumn are:

• Official dates for Switzerland autumn: September 21 to December 20
• Official months for Switzerland autumn: September, October, November

And when is the best time to visit Switzerland in autumn?

September marks the entry of autumn, yet there are still 12 to 13 hours of daylight. In the flatlands, temperatures in September can reach nearly 20 degrees Celsius on nice days. In the mountains, you will find ideal temperatures for hiking, averaging 11 to 12 degrees Celsius.

By the end of October, daylight hours in Switzerland have decreased to 10 hours and temperatures turn noticeably chilly. The temperature in places like Zürich or Bern averages 10 degrees Celsius, but Ticino offers warmer days at 12 to 16 degrees Celsius.

On the last Sunday in October, daylight savings time ends. The later in November you visit, the further south you will need to venture to find comfortable temperatures.

But frankly speaking, November is not an opportune time to visit Switzerland. The weather is unpredictable, there may be weeks of heavy fog, and all the fun events and customs are over.

A piece of advice for autumn seekers: wear layers of clothing. While days may be warm and sundrenched, temperatures tend to drop by sunset. Before you know it, you will be freezing unless you packed a down jacket...

Where to see the fall foliage in Switzerland?

Switzerland has four major trees displaying fall foliage: beech, birch, larch, and maple. The best places to see fall foliage in Switzerland are:

Where?	Canton	Why?
Lake Blausee	Bern	Located in the Kander Valley, Lake Blausee is a power spot. Its turquoise waters magically reflect the foliage of the surrounding forest.
Lake Biel	Biel	Think lakeside vineyards bordering autumn forests: a boat ride on Lake Biel is among the ultimate ways to experience fall foliage in Switzerland.
Lake Sils	Grisons	During fall, this deep blue lake popular with kite-surfers receives a golden lining thanks to the Engadine’s larch forests.
Roseg Valley	Grisons	Leading up to the Roseg glacier, this valley features yellow larch trees and snow-capped peaks in the distance. Ride the Bernina Express to Pontresina and start hiking outside the station.
Lavertezzo	Ticino	A stone bridge leads up to this romantic town in the Verzasca Valley. In the setting of yellow birch trees and rusty beechwood trees, Lavertezzo has all the ingredients for a perfect photo spot.
Lavaux Vineyards	Vaud	Hike the Wine Trail between Lausanne and Vevey on a sunny day for the ultimate autumn vibes. Taste the new vintages along the way.
Gondo	Valais	Near this village, it is not only the birch woods that shine golden. There is also a gold mine open to the public.
Zermatt	Valais	At this high altitude, you will feel like wearing a pair of glasses tinted in shades of gold and rust. Hiking is much recommended.

Consult the fall foilage tracker by Switzerland Tourism for up-to-date information. Here is a map showing the above places for seeing fall foliage in Switzerland:

The fall season in Switzerland brings about many traditional festivals. Here are 11 of the best:

You may have seen that iconic photograph of sheep negotiating a narrow zig-zag path in Switzerland… This ritual happens once a year in September when the farmers of Leuk bring down their sheep from the alpine meadows.

To witness the descent of the sheep, which takes place on a Sunday, make Leukerbad your vantage point. Some 800 sheep are gathered at Gemmi a day before the main event. The day after, on Sunday, the flock makes their way down the steep rock face to Leukerbad - a 1700-meter descent. An alternative sheep descent is Schäful at Belalp.

After producing cheese all summer, the local farmers will gather at Mäglisalp for the Chästeilet - a “cheese sharing” event. Each local dairyman and woman stakeholder will receive their fair share of the summer’s cheese during this must-see ritual. Luckily, onlookers can get a share, too - in exchange for Swiss francs.

The annual farmer horse races are so popular that the audience will show up in drones regardless of the weather. The stars of the day are working horses that would normally pull carriages or help with logging. On race day, various horse breeds await various challenges: harness races, costumed races, and even a Roman chariot event.

It would not be the Valais without a festival dedicated to raclette. For one weekend every September, the village of Le Châble hosts the ultimate cheese-lover event: Bagnes Capitale de la Raclette.

What all the raclette variations on the menu have in common is that they feature melted cheese. Once a poor man’s food, this festival is special in featuring various local cheese varieties. And if you time your visit just right, stop by an open wine cellar to wash down all that cheese...

The authentic Bregaglia Valley in the southern part of Grisons is home to the largest chestnut grove in Europe. The sweet chestnut dates back to Roman times and is the staple food in this rugged region.

Every autumn, the valley dedicates an entire month to its favorite fruit. During the Chestnut Festival, there are several guided tours, tasting events, and even concerts. Taking the one-hour round-trip hike from Castasegna is a good way to acquaint yourself with this scenic valley.

Trust me when I say an entertaining autumn tradition is the cow races at Flumserberg! (I have tried riding a cow there myself…) Since cows are stubborn by nature, fun is guaranteed as the riders try to maneuver their bovine partners across the finish line at Alp Tannenboden…

During this day-long event starting at 10 AM, there is also an alpine cheese market where local dairy farmers hawk their summer’s production.

While cattle shows are omnipresent in Switzerland, the Appenzell region is known for the most decorative ones. At the beginning of October, once their cows have returned from the alpine meadows, several places hold cattle shows, such as Appenzell (the town) or Heiden.

These events showcase local culture more than they are showcasing the cows. People of all ages wearing their traditional outfits will congregate to socialize and yodel.

In mid-October, those interested in bells meet in the town of Romainmôtier, Vaud. The autumn and cowbell fair is an attraction for bell collectors and foodies. While some producers are hawking bells of all sizes, others serve delicious regional specialties.

Calling the Olma Fair a farmer’s market would be doing a huge disservice. Switzerland’s largest agricultural fair has grown to be a folk festival that attracts visitors from afar. While the focus of Olma remains to be agricultural equipment, cattle shows, and food, there is also a popular fairground, a parade, and even pig races.

The moated Hallwyl Castle in Seengen is a destination in its own right. But during the golden days of fall, the romantic castle is home to the Apple Cider Festival. There are demonstrations of the traditional apple cider techniques. Those who want to try their hand at pressing their own juice may give it a try. And finally, various booths are selling autumnal products and regional produce.

Visiting Jucker Farm has become an autumn tradition for many families, friends, and couples living near Zurich. Two locations offer a wide range of activities: a maze through an apple orchard, petting zoos with farm animals, and a pumpkin exhibit.

The pumpkin exhibit is the highlight for many, as Jucker Farm interprets a different yearly theme with hundreds of pumpkins. In 2020, the theme was “Under the Sea,” so there were pumpkins depicting dolphins and seahorses...