Season guide · Zurich · Switzerland
Zurich in autumn
September–November: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Roland zh, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Settled September days, the film festival and autumn colour, then fog and greyer skies into November. Expect highs up to 19°C (66°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 27 rainy days across September–November. September is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- September–November
- Temperatures
- 2°C (36°F) to 19°C (66°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 27
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in autumn
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September | 19°C (66°F) | 10°C (50°F) | 9 | 12.5 h | 3/5 |
| October | 14°C (57°F) | 6°C (43°F) | 9 | 10.8 h | 3/5 |
| November | 8°C (46°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 9 | 9.2 h | 2/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 14°C (57°F) against a yearly 14°C (57°F), and 27 of the year's roughly 120 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 3/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in autumn
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- September: Long Night of Zurich Museums (usually early September)
- September: Knabenschiessen — youth shooting contest and funfair (usually the second weekend of September)
- September: Zurich Film Festival (late September to early October)
- November: Christmas markets open (usually late November)
Good choices for autumn
Museum · Enge
FIFA Museum
Opened in 2016 near Enge station, the FIFA Museum covers the history of world football with World Cup trophies, shirts from every member association, interactive games and a pinball hall.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
Gallery · Enge
Museum Rietberg
Combine it with a walk through the Rieterpark and a swim at Seebad Enge in summer.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
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Museum · Kilchberg
Lindt Home of Chocolate
Next to the Lindt & Sprüngli factory in Kilchberg, on the lake's western shore, this chocolate museum opened in 2020 with a chocolate fountain about 9 metres tall, an interactive exhibition on cocoa and Swiss chocolate history, tastings and a large shop.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Food
- Rainy day
Experience · Enge
Thermalbad & Spa Zürich
Go on a weekday evening, and finish in the rooftop pool after dark.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Couples
- Views
- Rainy day
- After dark
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Religious site · City and Lindenhof
Fraumünster
Founded in 853 as an abbey for aristocratic women, the Fraumünster is famous for the five stained-glass windows Marc Chagall created for its choir in 1970, glowing in deep blues, greens and reds.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Day trips in autumn
- Rapperswil (About 35 minutes by S-Bahn, about 2 hours by boat) — The 'town of roses' at the far end of Lake Zurich has a hilltop castle, an old town of arcaded houses and public rose gardens, plus a long wooden footbridge across the lake to Hurden on the old pilgrims' route.
- Rigi (About 1 hour 30 minutes by train) — The 'Queen of the Mountains' rises above Lake Lucerne and Lake Zug, reached by Europe's first mountain railway, opened in 1871.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is autumn a good time to visit Zurich?
Yes: September is among the best months. Settled September days, the film festival and autumn colour, then fog and greyer skies into November.
+What is the weather like in Zurich in autumn?
Highs of up to 19°C (66°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F), with about 27 rainy days over the season.