Month guide · Zurich · Switzerland
Zurich in January
What January is really like in Zurich: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 3°C (37°F), lows of -2°C (28°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 8.9 hours of daylight. Cold and often grey under low cloud, with occasional snow; good for museums and day trips up into the sunny mountains.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 3°C (37°F) / -2°C (28°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 8.9 hours
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Zurich: days average 3°C (37°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about -2°C (28°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with December (4°C (39°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs climb to around 5°C (41°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:08
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:01
- Daylight
- About 8.9 hours
Winter (December–February). Christmas markets and cosy fondue evenings in the city, with ski resorts within two hours by train.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in May). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in January
January has no major recurring festival in Zurich, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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Religious site · City and Lindenhof
Fraumünster
Visit on a bright day, ideally in the morning, when the sun lights up the Chagall windows.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · Heimplatz
Kunsthaus Zürich
Switzerland's largest art museum spans the original building and David Chipperfield's extension, opened in 2021, across Heimplatz.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
- Architecture
Museum · Main station
Swiss National Museum
It is right behind the main station, so it fills an hour before or after a train.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Kids
Zoo · Fluntern
Zurich Zoo
On the wooded Zürichberg hill, the zoo is known for its Masoala Rainforest hall, a recreation of a Madagascan rainforest with free-roaming lemurs and birds, the Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park and the Lewa savannah with giraffes and rhinos.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 3°C, lows near -2°C and 9 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Zurich?
A quieter month with trade-offs. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Zurich in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Zurich?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold and often grey under low cloud, with occasional snow; good for museums and day trips up into the sunny mountains.
+How warm is Zurich in January?
Average highs are around 3°C (37°F) and lows around -2°C (28°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Zurich in January?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.