Bern, the capital of Switzerland, has a moderately continental climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, pleasant summers. The city experiences significant seasonal changes, with spring and autumn bringing mild, variable weather and beautiful natural scenery. Rainfall is moderate but frequent, and Bern enjoys a fair amount of sunshine, especially in summer.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Bern’s climate is shaped by its location in the Swiss Mittelland, resulting in four distinct seasons. Winters (December–February) are cold and snowy, with average highs of 3–5°C and lows around -2°C. Snowfall is common, averaging 53 cm per year, and the city can experience severe cold snaps with temperatures occasionally dropping below -10°C. Winter days are short, with only 1.8–3 hours of sunshine and about 8–9 hours of daylight. Humidity is high, and fog is possible, especially in valleys.
Summers (June–August) are warm and pleasant, with average highs of 22–25°C and lows around 12–14°C. July is the warmest and sunniest month, with up to 8–9 hours of sunshine daily and long daylight hours. Rainfall is moderate but frequent, peaking in May and June, often as afternoon showers or thunderstorms. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with mild temperatures (10–19°C), blooming gardens or colourful foliage, and variable weather. May is the wettest month, while January is the driest. Annual precipitation averages 900–1,300 mm, and Bern enjoys about 1,700–2,000 hours of sunshine per year. Winds are generally light, but can be brisk during storms or in exposed areas.
| Average climate data for Bern, Switzerland | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 3 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 19 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 24 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -4 | -3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 0 | -2 | -4 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 60 | 55 | 73 | 83 | 120 | 110 | 107 | 118 | 100 | 87 | 75 | 75 | 1,062 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 10 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 124 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 128 | 129 | 71 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55 | 132 | 524 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 14 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 83 | 78 | 72 | 71 | 73 | 72 | 70 | 73 | 80 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 77 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
The best time to visit Bern is from mid-May to mid-September, when temperatures are warm (18–25°C), days are long and sunny, and the city is vibrant with festivals and outdoor events. Spring and early autumn are also pleasant for sightseeing, with blooming gardens or colourful foliage and fewer crowds.
The least favourable time to visit Bern is from November to February, when days are short, temperatures are cold (3–5°C), and rain, snow, and fog are frequent. While the city is festive during the holidays, outdoor activities are limited and some attractions may have reduced hours.
Bern’s annual average temperature is about 9–10°C. January is the coldest month (highs 3–5°C, lows -2°C), while July is the warmest (highs 24–25°C, lows 14°C).
Bern receives about 900–1,300 mm of precipitation annually. Rain falls year-round, with May and June being wettest. Snow is common in winter, with about 53 cm per year, but heavy accumulation is rare.
Bern enjoys about 1,700–2,000 hours of sunshine per year. The sunniest months are July and August (up to 8–9 hours/day), while December and January are the least sunny (2–3 hours/day).
Late spring (May–June) and early autumn (September) are best for outdoor activities, with mild to warm temperatures, long days, and more sunshine. Summer is ideal for festivals and exploring the city’s parks.
Bern itself is not a major winter sports destination, but nearby hills and the Alps offer skiing and snowboarding from December to March, when snow cover is more reliable.
Swimming outdoors is most comfortable in July and August, when air temperatures reach 24–25°C. The River Aare is popular for swimming and rafting in summer.
Pack layers for spring and autumn, light clothing and sun protection for summer, and insulated, waterproof clothing for winter. An umbrella and windproof jacket are useful year-round.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (24.3 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (2.8 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 13.5 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (12.6 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-3.5 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 4.3 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is May (119.7 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is February (54.6 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,061.7 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is May (12.5 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is September (8.8 days). Over the whole year there are 123.9 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is December (131.7 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August and September (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 524 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (4 days). The month with the fewest days of snowfall is September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 14.4 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (85.9 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (70.4 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 77.2 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 15.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 8.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 7.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 1.2 h). Over the whole year there are 4.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 8). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, November and December (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.2.
