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Switzerland In November
Every month is beautiful to visit Switzerland.
However, during November, Switzerland’s tourism is at its lowest.
November is definitely a month with its ups and downs. Regardless, it’s a very interesting month to travel.
In this article, I will tell you if it is worth visiting Switzerland in November and, if so, what there is to do and what is important to know.
Table of Contents
Weather
Talking about the weather, you need to know that November is not the sunniest month of the year. The chance of rain is quite high, so be aware that you may have to plan accordingly.
In that case, consider going for indoor activities such as museums, churches, or café hopping.
Some of you might not know, during November the days in Switzerland are notably shorter than in summer.
The sun sets early, around 4:30 to 5 pm. This means that after 3 pm, the light already starts to get lower.
Because of that, I suggest you get up early and start your activities around 9 am to enjoy as much daylight as possible.
As winter is near, it is not too surprising that the chance for snowfall, especially in the Alps, will be quite high.
This can be good, but also can be troublesome as some places cannot be reached, particularly alpine lakes.
Also, it’s very important to mention that most pass roads are closed. They will reopen the following year, normally in May or June.
Instead of taking the pass road, there are several car trains that will transport you from one valley to another.
It usually costs around CHF 40 and is very time efficient.
Season
During the first two weeks of November, the colors of autumn are still very much present.
Thus, consider taking a walk through some forests, enjoying the leaves in their many different colors.
Not only can you experience the colorful autumn but also the golden autumn, which takes place up in the Alps.
As you go higher, the flora changes. There won’t be as many colors as in the down in the Swiss plateau.
Instead, there will be plenty of larch trees that shine in their most beautiful golden color.
Great places to visit to see the colors of autumn would be lakes, either down in the valley or up in the Alps.
Attractions
It is very important to know if you travel to Switzerland in November that many attractions are going to be closed.
This is another major downside of November, but the same goes for the following months until the end of March.
Many attractions will close at the end of October. This applies to mountain coasters, adventure parks, and certain caves and museums.
Other attractions may be open at reduced hours or on weekends only.
Certain cable cars will be closed in November and only reopen when the skiing season starts, usually during December.
So, do proper planning and inform yourself well about the attractions you intend to visit and I will try my best to give you top-notch suggestions.
While many things may be closed in November, some specific skiing resorts might already open depending on the snowfall.
However, this is not always certain, but it can definitely be a plus point.
I assume skiing in November might be cheaper; not sure about that, but it would make sense, at least for the first few days the skiing resort is open its season.
Despite many things being closed, I do have some good news too. What I can assure you is that touristy hotspots and skiing resorts like Zermatt or Saas-Fee are open.
If you don’t ski, you may consider going up to some peaks like Gornergrat, visiting the ice palace at the Klein Matterhorn, Jungfraujoch, or the masterpiece Eisgrotte Allalin in Saas-Fee.
These are open on a daily basis.
In the cities, pretty much every attraction should be open, maybe not the gardens, but otherwise, there’s really a lot you can still do in November.
Biggest Closure Season
Many hotels and restaurants are going to be closed in November. This is definitely one of the big downsides of November.
They are taking a break to prepare before business continues during the Christmas season. Thus, it is very important that you reserve hotels before your travels.
However, even more troublesome might be finding a restaurant in touristy places. Here I highly recommend making a reservation; a walk-in may often not work.
I experienced that last year in Geneva. Many people had difficulties finding a table at a dining place.
On the bright side, November is a month for foodie enthusiasts. It’s still hunting season. Thus, you can try some of the best dishes that are only available during this time.
I recommend trying the dessert called “Vermicelles”, which is made of chestnut.
Fewer Tourists
Because it’s off-season and many attractions are closed in November, it’s obvious that not many tourists are going to consider coming to Switzerland this month.
You may be surprised how non-touristy certain hotspots are during November.
For example, when I went to watch the sunrise at the Creux du Van on a bright Friday morning, I’m not kidding, within the very large place, I was the only person.
For people like me who don’t like crowds, November may definitely be a month to fall in love.
Cultural Events
November is a month of culture.
Although November may be a bit lame depending on where you stay, there will be some festivals held. Some towns are still having an autumn fair, called Herbst Messe.
For example, in the city of Basel, this tradition is over 500 years old.
These days it’s celebrated in a modern way with many attractions, such as Ferris wheels, giant slides, carousels, crooked mansions, and so on.
I consider this one of the highlights during early November. Another tradition would be the Rabeliechtli, which is a Lantern Festival observed by kids.
Some people call it the Swiss Halloween, although these traditions are not related to each other.
In particular, in northern Switzerland, regions like Zurich, Schaffhausen, Aargau, and other cantons, this tradition roots deeply.
There are numerous villages where Lantern walks are held. The biggest event of this tradition takes place in Richterswil.
These events usually take place during the first two weeks in November. Also, there are plenty of markets that breathe life into the cities.
In Schaffhausen, they host the Martinimart, usually on a Wednesday and Thursday during the third week of November.
You can try various local delicacies, sweets, or buy traditional handcrafts at this market.
Talking about the markets, the Christmas season already starts during the last days of November.
Hence, certain Christmas markets may already be opening, allowing you to enjoy the early vibes of the Christmas season.
With that, many cities will already have put on their beautiful lighting, and also if you are entering shops or cafes, there will be a lot of great decorations.
Fog
Regarding the weather, November is the month of fog.
For sure, you will be encountering days with fog and at times, the fog may stay for the entire day. This can be good, but it can also be annoying.
Let’s say you are walking through a forest, then the fog will definitely add some mystical atmosphere.
When you go up to some peaks, you will be penetrating the thick layer and witnessing the cloud inversion. It’s definitely an epic experience to have a vista with a sea of clouds.
However, if you plan to stay down in the Swiss plateau or in the valley, then you need to expect that there is a high chance for the fog to not disappear during the day.
The lighting may not be good, but still, you may follow your outdoor activities like going for a walk. Also, November is not necessarily a great month for hiking.
You might encounter the fog, so it’s better to dismiss going for a hike. In particular up in the Alps, fog can be very dangerous, as often the visibility is going to be poor.
In addition, the ground may be wet and slippery. So, it’s really not worth taking the risk.