Imagine a land where snow-capped mountains meet picturesque villages, creating a winter wonderland that feels straight out of a fairy taleđwelcome to Switzerland in January.
As the New Year unfolds, Switzerland transforms into a haven for winter sports enthusiasts, cultural explorers, and those seeking serene, snowy landscapes.
Today, Iâm going to explain the most important things you need to know if you want to visit Switzerland in January.
Letâs delve into what makes this time of year in Switzerland truly special.
Table of Contents
Weather In January
The weather in January is usually quite stable, I would say. There may be rainfall, but in general, itâs a rather dry and cold month.
So, if you are up in the Swiss Alps, you will definitely benefit from the dry weather. On the summits, you can actually have a great view over several kilometers.
Also, itâs going to be really cold; usually, the weather in the Alps ranges from -7â to 3. Sometimes itâs even -30â and 7â.Â
So bring long clothes that are really good for cold weather. I usually wear a singlet, two thick T-shirts, a pullover, a jacket, a cap, and sunglasses.
I recommend bringing good shoes because in winter thereâs a lot of snow and ice, so it can be very slippery.
Thus, try to wear waterproof and proper shoes, which are perfect for going out in the snow.
Itâs also very important to keep in mind during the day the temperatures can be warmer, around -1â to 3â in the Alps, but at night temperatures will drop easily to -7â to -10â.
Down in the plains, itâs usually warmer. The temperature is normally between -1â to 10â. Sometimes it can be colder, around -12â, and sometimes it can reach 20â.
Shorter Days
The days are rather short in January. In January, the sun sets early, around 4:45 pm to 5:15 pm.
Because of that, you need to be aware that daylight hours are limited, and it gets light rather early, around 7:30 am or 8 am, and at 8:30 am itâs already quite bright.
I know itâs a downside that the days are short in January, but then youâll have the advantage of easily getting up to see the winter sunrise.
And itâs a really great thing compared to the summer season because the sun rises very early at 5 am.
Cultural Events
In January, itâs a Christmas and New Year hangover.Â
So, January starts with a great New Year celebration, especially if youâre up in the Swiss Alps, where there are really great parties and beautiful fireworks.
If you come to Andermatt, you can see 20 minutes of continuous fireworks. But you can also see this in other tourist regions, by the lakes, and in some of the cities in Switzerland.
On January 2nd, the holidays end, people go back to work, and kids go back to school.
So in January, itâs the low season because pretty much everybody is busy with their daily life, which is actually great because you can travel and enjoy Switzerland with fewer people.
It is also important to know that some Christmas markets are still open in early January. I know this sounds surprising, but the Christmas season actually lasts until January 6th.
After that, itâs definitely over, but some markets that are open during January include the Montreux Christmas Market, Basel Christmas Market, Lugano Christmas Market, and a few others.
Attractions
Itâs very important for you to know that most summer attractions remain closed until the end of March or early April, and some may even be closed until the end of June.
In winter, youâll have a different set of attractions, which is really cool. For example, the toboggan run and skiing.
You can also go up to the summits; there are also magical forests like the Zauberwald Lenzerheide.
In these forests, you usually go at night when everything is dark, and youâll have the snow, with the entire forest being lit up.
Also, in January, youâll have light festivals in some of the cities, for example, the Murten Light Festival and Lucerne LILU Light Festival.
I really like the LILU. The entire city of Lucerne is lit upđthe churches, the bridges, and a few great attractions.
Inside the churches, you can see some great light shows. Itâs all free unless youâre going for the shows.
If you want to attend the shows, then book tickets in advance because it can be quite busy.
Train Rides
What I really like to do in January is taking the train up in the Alps, where youâll be taken through a winter wonderland.
The Glacier Express is probably the most famous train line in Switzerland, but there are also some cheap alternatives, such as the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, which connects Zermatt to Disentis and from Andermatt to Goschenen.
I really like that train ride; itâs usually not that busy.
Snow
January is usually quite a snowy month. You have a high chance of experiencing snowfall, especially up in the Alps.
Because of that, youâll have great conditions on the ski slopes, and you can enjoy the toboggan run. Even down in the plains, there is a chance for snowfall, usually around two to three times at most.
But the snow here will only last for one or two days. This has been a little bit different in the past. There used to be more snowfall, and it would usually last around three days, but nowadays itâs quite rare.
If you want to go up to the Swiss Alps in January, then I suggest you go to one of the summits to enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the entire Alps covered in snow.
I find it really magical to see such a beautiful winter wonderland.
I have to tell you something very important; if there is a lot of snow in the Alps and itâs sunny, youâll want to bring sunglasses because it is very bright and can cause eye damage.
Also, put some sunblock on your face because even in winter, the risk of getting a sunburn is quite highđI know it sounds a bit strange.
Ski Resorts
The ski resorts are really great to visit in January.
There will be fewer people, and youâll have great conditions on the slopes, as I mentioned.
There are many ski resorts all around the country, such as Belalp, Grimentz, Zermatt, Saas-Fee, Aletsch Arena, Samnaun, and many more.
During the week, there will be only a few people on the slopes, but on the weekends, itâs going to be different.
Everybody has time off, and all Swiss are traveling to the Alps so on weekends, the ski resorts can be very busy.
I recommend going on weekdays to avoid crowds and enjoy the best time.
For retired people, I would say January is the best month in winter because you can enjoy the ski slopes with fewer people, which is certainly important because the risk of collisions is quite low.
Also, because there are not so many people on the slope in January, it will be cheaper to purchase tickets. The same goes for reserving hotels.
The hotels are not fully booked, so you may benefit from lower prices and itâs also easier to book last minute.
However, you have to be a bit aware that not every hotel can be booked last minute, especially the smaller and more luxurious ones.
Pass Roads
The pass roads are mostly closed.
I know itâs really great to drive on the roads and enjoy the Swiss Alps, but itâs not possible in January.
There are a few pass roads open, for example, the Brunig Pass, which is open year-round and connects Lucerne to Interlaken.Â
Also, the Julier Pass is open all year and connects the Engadin Valley with central Graubunden.
If you want to experience a pass road with a lot of snow, then the Julier Pass is definitely perfect for you.
Also, if you want to take a shortcut, there are car train tunnels that you can use, such as the Autoverlad Furka, which connects Uri to Valais, the Autoverlad Vereina from Prattigau Valley to lower Engadin Valley or the Autoverlad Lotschberg from Kandersteg to Valais.
These tunnels are really great. You just drive your car onto the train, then sit back and enjoy the ride and relax.
I find this really cool, but you have to know that during weekends it can be very crowded, especially on Sundays when everybody is returning from skiing.
Sometimes the waiting times can be 1 hour to 3 ½ hours. So, I recommend you leave early or very late.Â
But if you leave very late, you also have to be aware that the tunnels close at 11:30 pm.
