Your October weather guide
CoolWeather in Switzerland in October
October is a reasonable time to visit Switzerland if you enjoy cool-weather travel and can keep your plans flexible, but it is not a good choice for reliable warmth or sunshine. Average highs are around 14°C, nights fall to about 7°C, and roughly 12 days have rain. For a UK traveller, the daytime temperature will feel familiar rather than noticeably warmer. Go prepared for damp spells and chilly evenings, not a late burst of summer.
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
- 14.4°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 20°C
- Average night-time low
- 7.1°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 3°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -0.2°C
- London averages 14.6°C in October
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 3.2h
- 30% of 10.6 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 13
- 99 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 82%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 25.3°C
- 2009-10-07
- Record low 1991-2020
- -5.1°C
- 2003-10-25
- 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 October compares
October is the 6th warmest month of the year in Switzerland. Against London's average high of 14.6°C in October, Switzerland is 0.2°C cooler by day and 1.3°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in October
The typical October day in Switzerland peaks at 14.4°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 19.9°C or more. Roughly 1 in 1000 days top 25°C. Nights average 7.1°C; one night in ten drops to 2.8°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day here reached 25.3°C (2009-10-07) and the coldest night -5.1°C (2003-10-25).
Rain in October
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 13 days with 1 mm or more, 99 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest October was 1998 with 176 mm, the driest 1995 with 16 mm. Humidity averages 82%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 3.2 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.6 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:44 and sets about 18:39 local time in mid-October. Average cloud cover is 69%.
Is October a good time to visit Switzerland?
October is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Switzerland on our scoring are July, August, June.
Familiar daytime temperatures, but pack for colder nights
Average daytime temperatures are almost the same as London's in October, so there is little temperature advantage in travelling then. Layers make more sense than a wardrobe built around either summer clothes or heavy winter wear: take a jumper, a jacket and something warmer for evenings. The warmest days can reach around 20°C, making outdoor time more comfortable, but that is not the everyday expectation. At the colder end, nights can drop to around 3°C or below, so do not judge your packing by the daytime average alone. This month suits travellers happy to dress for the weather rather than those seeking warmth.
Allow for rain and make the most of daylight
Rain is a meaningful part of the October outlook, with about 12 rainy days, so a waterproof outer layer and shoes that cope with wet conditions are sensible choices. That does not mean every wet day is a washout, but a rigid schedule of outdoor plans could be frustrating. There are about 10.6 hours of daylight, while sunshine averages only 3.2 hours a day: daylight should not be mistaken for clear skies. Keep indoor alternatives in mind and use brighter spells for time outside. Plan around the available daylight, with evenings better approached as a cooler part of the day rather than an extension of afternoon conditions.
A little perspective
Switzerland through the year
October 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% |
| March | 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% |
| OctoberSelected | 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 October
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Switzerland in October FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Switzerland hot in October?
Switzerland is cool in October: the average daytime high is 14.4°C and nights average 7.1°C. Roughly 1 in 1000 October days reach 25°C.
How much does it rain in Switzerland in October?
Switzerland sees about 13 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 99 mm of rain in a typical October. The wettest October between 1991 and 2020 was 1998 (176 mm) and the driest was 1995 (16 mm).
How sunny is Switzerland in October?
Switzerland gets around 3.2 hours of sunshine a day in October out of 10.6 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Switzerland compare with the UK in October?
Switzerland is on average 0.2°C cooler than London by day in October (14.4°C against 14.6°C).
What is the hottest October on record in Switzerland?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest October day in Switzerland reached 25.3°C on 2009-10-07, and the coldest night dropped to -5.1°C on 2003-10-25.
Is October a good month for warm weather in Switzerland?
Not if warmth is the main reason for your trip. October is cool, with average daytime highs around 14°C. July, August and June are better months to consider for weather overall, while October makes more sense if you are comfortable with layers and wet-weather flexibility.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London is about 1 h 42 min, making Switzerland a short-haul option. That is convenient for a shorter stay, but the brief flight does not bring a warmer October climate: average daytime temperatures are almost identical to London's.
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