Season guide · Zurich · Switzerland
Zurich in spring
March–May: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Blossom, the Sechseläuten festival in April and the opening of the lake baths in May; showery but fresh. Expect highs up to 18°C (64°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 32 rainy days across March–May. May is among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- March–May
- Temperatures
- 1°C (34°F) to 18°C (64°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 32
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in spring
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | 10°C (50°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 10 | 11.8 h | 2/5 |
| April | 14°C (57°F) | 4°C (39°F) | 10 | 13.6 h | 3/5 |
| May | 18°C (64°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 12 | 15.1 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 14°C (57°F) against a yearly 14°C (57°F), and 32 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 spring
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- April: Sechseläuten — guild parade and burning of the Böögg snowman (usually the third Monday of April)
- April: Zurich Marathon (usually April)
Good choices for spring
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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
Gallery · Heimplatz
Kunsthaus Zürich
Start with the Giacometti rooms, then cross through the underground passage to the extension.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Iconic
- Architecture
Museum · Main station
Swiss National Museum
Housed in a turreted 1898 building beside the main station with a modern wing added in 2016, the Landesmuseum tells Swiss history from prehistoric times through the Middle Ages and the Reformation to the present, with period rooms, armour, furniture and well-designed temporary exhibitions.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Rainy day
- Architecture
- Kids
Zoo · Fluntern
Zurich Zoo
Head to the Masoala hall early when the animals are most active, and save the elephant park for feeding times.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Rainy day
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
Day trips in spring
- Lucerne (About 45 minutes by train) — Lucerne's wooden Chapel Bridge, medieval walls and lakefront set against Mount Pilatus and the Rigi make it Switzerland's classic postcard town.
- Rhine Falls (About 50 minutes by train) — One of Europe's most powerful waterfalls, the Rhine Falls plunge about 23 metres across 150 metres of the river.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is spring a good time to visit Zurich?
Yes: May is among the best months. Blossom, the Sechseläuten festival in April and the opening of the lake baths in May; showery but fresh.
+What is the weather like in Zurich in spring?
Highs of up to 18°C (64°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 32 rainy days over the season.