Your March weather guide
CoolWeather in Switzerland in March
March is a reasonable time to visit Switzerland if you are happy with cool weather and flexible plans, but not if warmth is the main reason for going. Average daytime highs are 10°C, nights fall to around 1°C, and about 14 days have rain. For a UK traveller, the daytime temperature will feel broadly familiar. The catch is the combination of cold evenings and regular wet weather, so pack for comfort rather than spring sunshine.
Long-term climate averages for Zurich, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Switzerland, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Zurich.
- Average daytime high
- 10.0°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 16°C
- Average night-time low
- 0.9°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -3°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -0.5°C
- London averages 10.5°C in March
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.4h
- 38% of 11.6 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 14
- 95 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 75%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 20.6°C
- 2017-03-31
- Record low 1991-2020
- -14.2°C
- 2005-03-01
- Flight from London
- ≈ 1 h 42 min
- 760 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How March compares
March is the 8th warmest month of the year in Switzerland. Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Switzerland is 0.5°C cooler by day and 2.4°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in March
The typical March day in Switzerland peaks at 10.0°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 16.1°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 0.9°C; one night in ten drops to -3.1°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 20.6°C (2017-03-31) and the coldest night -14.2°C (2005-03-01).
Rain in March
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 14 days with 1 mm or more, 95 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 2001 with 216 mm, the driest 2003 with 38 mm. Humidity averages 75%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.6 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:39 and sets about 18:31 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 62%.
Is March a good time to visit Switzerland?
March is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Switzerland on our scoring are July, August, June.
Cool afternoons, colder evenings
The average high is comfortable enough for spending time outdoors with a coat, but it is not reliably mild. Warmer days can reach 16°C or more, while colder nights can fall to -3°C or below. That range makes layers more useful than a wardrobe built around the afternoon forecast. Pack a warm outer layer, jumpers and closed shoes, and keep something warm available if you will be out after dark. March suits travellers who do not mind wrapping up and adjusting their plans to the conditions. If you want to sit outside comfortably without a coat, it is a less dependable choice.
Leave room for rain in your plans
With about 14 rainy days, wet weather needs to be part of the plan rather than treated as an unlikely interruption. A waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with rain are sensible packing choices. There are about 4.4 hours of sunshine within 11.6 hours of daylight, so the available daylight should not be mistaken for reliably sunny conditions. Keep outdoor plans movable and have an indoor alternative for wetter spells. The figures do not mean every rainy day is a washout, but they do make a tightly scheduled outdoor trip a gamble. March works better if you can make the most of brighter breaks.
A little perspective
Switzerland through the year
March is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.5°C | -1.8°C | 2.6 | 89 | 13 | 0% |
| February | 5.8°C | -1.9°C | 3.5 | 84 | 12 | 0% |
| MarchSelected | 10.0°C | 0.9°C | 4.4 | 95 | 14 | 0% |
| April | 13.9°C | 3.9°C | 5.1 | 104 | 14 | 0% |
| May | 17.7°C | 8.4°C | 5.3 | 142 | 16 | 6% |
| Junebest | 21.2°C | 12.3°C | 6.2 | 143 | 16 | 23% |
| Julybest | 23.2°C | 14.5°C | 6.8 | 146 | 15 | 35% |
| Augustbest | 23.1°C | 14.8°C | 6.1 | 146 | 15 | 33% |
| September | 18.8°C | 11.0°C | 4.6 | 122 | 12 | 6% |
| October | 14.4°C | 7.1°C | 3.2 | 99 | 13 | 0% |
| November | 8.6°C | 2.3°C | 2.4 | 106 | 13 | 0% |
| December | 4.9°C | -0.8°C | 2.3 | 103 | 14 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in March
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Slovenia · 10°C by day
Bled
Hungary · 11°C by day
Budapest
Czechia · 9°C by day
Prague
Bulgaria · 11°C by day · sea 7°C
Sunny Beach
Netherlands · 9°C by day · sea 6°C
Amsterdam
A little more detail
Switzerland in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Switzerland hot in March?
Switzerland is cool in March: the average daytime high is 10.0°C and nights average 0.9°C. Days over 25°C are rare in March.
How much does it rain in Switzerland in March?
Switzerland sees about 14 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 95 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 2001 (216 mm) and the driest was 2003 (38 mm).
How sunny is Switzerland in March?
Switzerland gets around 4.4 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.6 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Switzerland compare with the UK in March?
Switzerland is on average 0.5°C cooler than London by day in March (10.0°C against 10.5°C).
What is the hottest March on record in Switzerland?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Switzerland reached 20.6°C on 2017-03-31, and the coldest night dropped to -14.2°C on 2005-03-01.
Is Switzerland warmer than London in March?
Not on these averages. Switzerland's daytime high is 10°C, compared with 10.5°C in London, so it is slightly cooler rather than a step towards warmer weather. Pack for chilly conditions, especially if you plan to stay out into the evening.
Should I choose March or wait until summer?
Choose March if cool temperatures and rain would not spoil your trip. If warmer weather is central to your plans, June, July and August are better choices overall. March is not a reliable option for a warm-weather holiday.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Zürich (Zurich). Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C