Season guide · Interlaken · Switzerland
Interlaken in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: James Petts, CC BY-SA 2.0
Quick answer
Skiing at Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren, sledging runs and snowy villages; Interlaken town is often foggy and cold. Expect highs up to 4°C (39°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F), with about 27 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -4°C (25°F) to 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 27
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 2°C (36°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 9 | 8.9 h | 3/5 |
| February | 4°C (39°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 8 | 10.2 h | 3/5 |
| December | 3°C (37°F) | -3°C (27°F) | 10 | 8.6 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 3°C (37°F) against a yearly 13°C (55°F), and 27 of the year's roughly 127 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Lauberhorn ski races in Wengen (usually mid-January)
- January: Inferno ski race in Mürren (usually January)
- February: Ice Magic ice rink on the Höhematte (usually December to February)
- December: Christmas market in Interlaken (usually December)
- December: Ice Magic ice rink on the Höhematte (usually from mid-December)
Good choices for winter
Nature · Lauterbrunnen
Trümmelbach Falls
Bring a waterproof layer and sturdy shoes; paths are wet and steep.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Rainy day
- Kids
- Off the beaten path
Nature · Lake Thun
St. Beatus Caves
Above the north shore of Lake Thun, about a kilometre of lit passages leads past stalactites, underground pools and waterfalls into the mountain.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
- History
Day trips in winter
- Kandersteg and Oeschinensee (About 1 hour by train, plus gondola) — A gondola and an easy downhill walk lead from Kandersteg to Oeschinensee, a turquoise lake ringed by cliffs and waterfalls.
- Meiringen and the Aare Gorge (About 30 minutes by train) — Walkways run for about 1.4 km through the narrow Aare Gorge outside Meiringen.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Interlaken?
It is a trade-off: Skiing at Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren, sledging runs and snowy villages; Interlaken town is often foggy and cold. The best months overall are June–September.
+What is the weather like in Interlaken in winter?
Highs of up to 4°C (39°F) and lows around -4°C (25°F), with about 27 rainy days over the season.