Geneva features a moderately continental climate with cold winters and warm, pleasant summers. The city enjoys four distinct seasons, with rainfall spread throughout the year, abundant sunshine in summer, and frequent clouds and fog in winter. Seasonal changes bring dramatic shifts in daylight, temperature, and weather, making Geneva a dynamic destination year-round.
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.
Geneva’s climate is shaped by its location near Lake Geneva and the Alps, resulting in clear seasonal contrasts and moderate weather. Winters (December–February) are cold, with average highs of 4–6°C and lows near –1 to 0°C. Snow is possible, though not persistent, and frost is common. Humidity is high, and fog and overcast skies are frequent, with only 1–2 hours of sunshine per day. Rainfall is steady, with 70–100 mm per month, and the Bise wind can bring icy chills. Days are short, with about 8–9 hours of daylight in midwinter.
Spring (March–May) brings gradual warming, from 10°C in March to 18°C by May. Rainfall is moderate, peaking in May, and sunshine increases to 6–7 hours per day. Parks and gardens bloom, and the city becomes lively. Summers (June–August) are warm and pleasant, with average highs of 22–25°C and lows around 12–14°C. July is typically the warmest and sunniest month, with up to 8 hours of sunshine daily. Rainfall is frequent but usually brief, and Lake Geneva is popular for swimming and boating. Autumn (September–November) is mild to cool, with highs dropping from 20°C in September to 8°C in November. Rain and wind increase, and daylight shortens. Annual precipitation averages 800–1,000 mm, and Geneva enjoys about 1,930–2,000 hours of sunshine per year. Winds are generally light to moderate, but the Bise can be brisk, especially in winter and spring.
| Average climate data for Geneva, Switzerland | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 4 | 6 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 21 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 27 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -1 | -1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | -1 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 76 | 68 | 70 | 72 | 85 | 92 | 79 | 82 | 100 | 104 | 87 | 89 | 1,004 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 10 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 109 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 106 | 81 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 73 | 318 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 82 | 75 | 69 | 68 | 70 | 66 | 64 | 66 | 74 | 79 | 82 | 80 | 73 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
The best time to visit Geneva is from mid-May to mid-September, when temperatures are warm (18–25°C), days are long and sunny, and the city is lively with festivals and outdoor events. Spring and early autumn also offer blooming parks, lakeside activities, and fewer crowds, making them ideal for sightseeing and enjoying Geneva’s natural beauty.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to February, when Geneva is coldest, daylight hours are shortest, and rain, fog, and dampness are most frequent. While winter brings festive charm and access to nearby ski resorts, outdoor activities can be limited by chilly, wet, and unpredictable weather.
Geneva has a moderately continental climate with cold winters, warm summers, and rainfall spread throughout the year. Winters are often cloudy and damp, while summers are sunny and pleasant, ideal for outdoor activities.
Summer temperatures in Geneva typically reach 22–25°C, with occasional heatwaves above 30°C. Nights are mild, and rain showers or thunderstorms are common, especially in June and July.
Snow is possible in Geneva from December to March, but it is usually light and melts quickly. Most winter precipitation falls as rain or drizzle, with heavy snow being rare in the city.
Rain falls year-round, but May and October are usually the wettest months. Showers and thunderstorms are frequent in late spring and summer, while autumn and winter see more persistent rain and fog.
Geneva enjoys about 1,930–2,000 hours of sunshine annually. July and August are the sunniest months, with up to 8 hours of sunshine per day, while winter averages just 1–2 hours daily.
Bring layers, a waterproof jacket, and water-resistant shoes. Even in summer, pack a jumper or light jacket for cool evenings. An umbrella is essential for sudden showers in any season.
Winds are generally light to moderate, but the Bise wind can be brisk and cold, especially in winter and spring. Humidity is high year-round, making cold days feel chillier and warm spells muggy.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (26.6 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (4.4 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 15.2 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (14.3 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is January (-1.3 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 6.2 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is October (104.5 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is February (67.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,004.2 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is May (10.6 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is July (7.7 days). Over the whole year there are 108.5 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (106.5 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 318.5 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (2.6 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May, September and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 8.5 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is November (81.9 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (63.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 72.9 %.
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 July (Average sunshine: 8 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 1 h). Over the whole year there are 4.5 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.
