Lauterbrunnen features a cool, alpine climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are mild and wet, with highs around 17–18°C, while winters are cold and snowy, with lows dipping to -11°C. Precipitation is high year-round, peaking in summer, and sunshine is most abundant from May to August. The valley’s dramatic weather enhances its iconic waterfalls and lush scenery.
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.
Lauterbrunnen, nestled in a deep Swiss valley surrounded by the Bernese Alps, experiences a classic alpine climate with pronounced seasonal contrasts. Summers (June–August) are mild and humid, with average highs of 17–18°C and lows around 9°C. July and August are the warmest and sunniest months, each offering up to 7.3 hours of sunshine daily and long daylight hours. However, summer is also the wettest period, with July receiving up to 213 mm of rain over 18 days, often as afternoon thunderstorms. The lush meadows and roaring waterfalls are at their most spectacular after rainfall, and the valley is popular for hiking, paragliding, and outdoor exploration. Despite the rain, clear mornings and evenings are common, and the weather can change rapidly.
Winters (December–February) are cold and snowy, with average highs of -1 to -3°C and lows dropping to -11°C. Snow is frequent, especially in January and February, making the area ideal for winter sports like skiing and snowshoeing. Sunshine is limited to just 1.7 hours per day in December, and days are short, with less than 9 hours of daylight. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, featuring mild to cool temperatures (2–14°C), high humidity, and regular rainfall. March is the driest month, but still receives substantial precipitation. Throughout the year, Lauterbrunnen averages about 1,924 mm of precipitation, with rain and snow possible in any month. Humidity is consistently high, peaking at 83% in November. Winds are generally gentle, but can be brisk during storms, especially in winter and early spring.
| Average climate data for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | -3 | -3 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 16 | 16 | 12 | 7 | 2 | -2 | 16 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -12 | -12 | -8 | -4 | -1 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | -1 | -6 | -11 | -12 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 36 | 33 | 46 | 50 | 80 | 93 | 85 | 86 | 41 | 48 | 44 | 55 | 698 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 5 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 155 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 242 | 193 | 238 | 180 | 78 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 91 | 241 | 237 | 1,509 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 17 | 16 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 14 | 95 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 91 | 91 | 93 | 90 | 91 | 86 | 83 | 82 | 85 | 86 | 88 | 86 | 88 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 7 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 58 | 62 | 59 | 56 | 61 | 56 | 50 | 46 | 50 | 46 | 53 | 54 | 54 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
The best time to visit Lauterbrunnen is from late June to September, when temperatures are mild (13–18°C), trails are mostly snow-free, and the valley is lush with wildflowers and powerful waterfalls. These months offer long daylight, abundant sunshine, and the best conditions for hiking, sightseeing, and outdoor adventures, though afternoon rain showers are common.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to March, when days are shortest, temperatures are coldest (highs of -3 to 4°C, lows to -11°C), and rain or snow is frequent. Many hiking trails are closed or snow-covered, and outdoor activities are limited to winter sports, though the scenery is magical for those seeking a snowy alpine experience.
Lauterbrunnen has mild, wet summers (highs 17–18°C) and cold, snowy winters (highs -3 to -1°C, lows to -11°C). Rain and snow fall year-round, with the wettest months in summer and the snowiest in winter.
Yes, snow is common from December to March, especially in January and February. The valley and surrounding mountains are ideal for winter sports, though heavy snow can sometimes close trails or roads.
May to August are the sunniest months, with up to 7.3 hours of sunshine daily in July. Winter months are much gloomier, with only 1–2 hours of sun per day.
Lauterbrunnen receives about 1,924 mm of precipitation annually. July is the wettest month (213 mm), while March is the driest (133 mm). Rain and snow are possible in any month.
Pack layers, waterproof clothing, and sturdy shoes. Even in summer, rain gear is essential. In winter, bring thermal layers, a warm coat, gloves, and boots. Sun protection is useful year-round due to high elevation.
Yes, summer is ideal for hiking, paragliding, and sightseeing, while winter is best for skiing and snowshoeing. Spring and autumn offer beautiful scenery, but weather can be wet and some trails may be closed.
Crowds are smallest in late autumn (November) and early spring (March–April). Winter is quieter except for ski holidays. Summer is busiest, especially July and August.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (16.1 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (-2.6 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 5.9 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is July (5.7 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (-12.2 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is -3.2 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (93 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is February (32.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 697.5 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (22.8 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (3.3 days). Over the whole year there are 154.7 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (242.2 mm). The months with the least snowfall are July and August (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 1,509.1 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (17.4 days). The month with the fewest days of snowfall is August (0 days). Over the whole year there are 95.5 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is March (93 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is August (81.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 87.7 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (8.7 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (5.9 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 7.4 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is February (61.8 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (45.9 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 54.2 %.
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: 9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is February (Average sunshine: 3 h). Over the whole year there are 5.9 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June and July (UV index: 4). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, March and November (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 2.2.
