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Need a packing list for Switzerland in fall? This guide on what to wear in Switzerland will help you pack for your trip in a way that is both stylish and practical.
Switzerland in fall is a beautiful time to visit, with autumn leaves falling from the trees and slightly cooler weather. It’s a great time to visit Switzerland due to its beauty and off season prices. Additionally, many of the activities you’d do in summer can also be done during fall, meaning there is very little sacrifice made to an off season visit.
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In this article:
- Seasons
- Packing List
- Ideas on where to stay and key attractions
What to Wear in Switzerland in Fall / Autumn
1 x warm boots – Pick one pair of boots for cooler days such as these boots – (more suggestions here).
1-2 pairs of flats
2-3 x socks
6-10 pairs of underwear
3-5 bras
1 x Woolen hat / beenie for cooler days
1-2 x coats / jackets depending on what side of autumn you’re visiting. Keep in mind these will take up a bit of space in your luggage
2 -3 cardigans – 2 for be perfect if you’re okay with the occasional hand wash for longer trips
Tops x 4-7 – a mix of mid to long sleeves would work well as Switzerland can be a bit on the chilly side depending on the area you’re visiting
dresses x 2 – obviously, you can add more tops in lieu of dresses or visa versa
Bottoms x 3-4 – one pair of shorts (or none), the rest should be long pants. Considering ditching the shorts entirely if visiting closer to winter
Leggings x 1-2
Stockings x 1-2 – wear under dresses or skirts if you get cold
1 x scarf for colder days
1 jumper / pullover – good for cold nights in the hotel room
1 x sleeping dress or PJs
What to Pack for Switzerland in Fall / Autumn
Medicine & Health
- Any prescribed medicine you need as well as the prescription
- You can easily purchase medicine in Switzerland just beware that it will be more expensive than what you pay back home. Consider bringing a small medical kit with essentials such as panadol and cold and flu tablets if you have space.
Tech
- Your phone plus its charger
- A camera + lenses if you have one. Personally, I take the Sony a6500 and a 19mm f/2.8 lens on my trips with me. Its the perfect camera for video, landscapes, portraits and night photography.
- 2 x camera batteries and the charger
- An international power adapter like this one – see prices.
- Portable battery (see prices) for charging on the go.
- A couple of 8-16GB memory cards. Spread your photos across the two in case something happens to one of them. I recommend this brand.
Makeup & Toiletries
- Your toothbrush + paste
- A makeup bag with your basic makeup inside.
- Solid shampoo or travel sized shampoo and conditioner – solid shampoo will cause less spills in your bag, whereas travel sized bottles are great for shorter trips. If you take a normal sized shampoo and conditioner double wrap them in plastic bags.
- Deodorant
All Else
- 2 bank cards – this safeguards you against theft and bank machines which wont accept your card. Try for one MasterCard and one Visa.
- A photocopy of your passport, leave one at home and one in your luggage.
- Take a lock to use on lockers and to protect your bags in transit.
And finally, your luggage
- Suitcase: I love this simple suitcase. Just check if it suits your airline’s requirements if wanting to travel carry on only (as it may be too big). You’ll be perfectly fine wheeling a suitcase around Switzerland.
- Backpack: Backpack-wise, I quite like Osprey 55L, as its a trusted brand and will last for many trips.
Seasonal Packing Guides for Switzerland
Summer in Switzerland: June, July & August – Summer is Switzerland occurs during the European high season and its brings blue skies and warm days. It’s a great time to stroll along one of the country’s many beautiful lakes, go skydiving or spend your days hiking. For a Switzerland summer packing list click here.
Winter in Switzerland: December, January & February – Don’t let the cold weather scare you off, winter is actually a beautiful time to explore Switzerland. While you’re unlikely to enjoy certain activities, there is still plenty to do an see. Winter in Switzerland is still a great time to see the mountains, the beautiful architecture and take the Jungfraujoch train. See the winter packing list for Switzerland.
Spring in Switzerland: March, April & May – A colorful time to visit, Switzerland in Spring adds a burst of color among the pretty mountain scenery and city streets. Much like Autumn / Fall, Spring is a great time to visit due to it being the off season, bringing lower prices and visitor numbers. View the packing list here for spring.
Fall in Switzerland: September, October & November – Fall is a great time to visit Switzerland due to moderate weather and less tourists. Expect temperatures between 11-23C / 52-74F, so while a bit chilly at times, its nothing a warm coat can’t fix. Read on to know what to pack for Switzerland in Fall
Where to Stay in Switzerland in Summer
Zurich
- Budget: Being one of the most expensive cities in one of the most expensive countries in the world means even a budget room in Zurich will cost you quite a bit, check out your options on Booking.com
- Midrange: I stayed at the Sorell Hotel Seidenhof while I was in Zurich and found it to be comfortable, central and offering a good breakfast.
- Luxury: There are quite a few good luxury hotels in Zurich, such as the Park Hyatt Zurich for classic luxury, and the Widder Hotel for an edgier experience.
Interlaken
- Budget: Luckily for your wallets, Interlaken is a touch cheaper than the other cities listed here despite being a tourist town. The Downtown Hostel Interlaken is a great choice for dorms and meeting fellow backpackers. Its near the train station and has kitchen and laundry facilities available for use.
- Mid-range: The Hotel Central Continental has a restaurant and bar on its premises, and is a decent choice for couples and other travelers looking for a private room. The hotel is close to public transport and is on the Aare River.
- Luxury: I stayed at the Lindner Grand Hotel during my time in Interlaken and would recommend the junior suit if you want a room with pretty views. The hotel itself has a restaurant, buffet breakfast, a pool and also a beauty treatment area.
Lucerne
- Budget: Backpackers Luzern can be found on Lake Lucerne and is a good option for backpackers looking for a dorm room. There is a kitchen and common area for meeting others.
- Midrange: I’d choose the Felmis hotel for a private room. The hotel has its own restaurant and some rooms have great mountain views. Its a little outside the centre (which will save some cash), but its well connected by public transport.
- Luxury: Lucerne also has a handful of great luxury properties such as the Gasthaus Badhof (complete with restaurant and golf course), or the Château Gütsch which is more central, and you”ll essentially be sleeping in a castle.
All other cities in Switzerland
- More hotels in Switzerland – check out Booking.com
Popular Day Tours in Summer in Switzerland
Lucerne
- Jungfraujoch: visit the ‘top of Europe’ by the legendary Jungfraujoch trainride– see the latest prices here.
- A Grindelwald day trip – if you’re interested in visiting a Swiss alpine village Grindelwald is a great option. Find more information here.
- Visit Mt Pilatus on a cogwheel train ride and at the top witness amazing views of the lake and city before finishing off your day with a cruise on the lake. Find more information here.
Zurich
- Interlaken and Grindelwald day trip – two pretty mountain villages in one easy day trip. You can see the latest prices here.
- Take a bike ride through the historic centre of Zurich for three hours on this active sightseeing tour – see prices here. There’s also an ebike version to this tour for those of us who aren’t as fit – see more details here! If sitting on your arse doesn’t cut it, there’s also a segway tour.
- See the latest prices here for the ultimate Swiss daytrip, the Jungfraujoch train ride. It’s pricey but its one of the coolest things you can do in Switzerland!
Interlaken
- If you want to try paragliding can you honestly think of a better place for your first time? Interlake is such a beautiful town and its even better looking while you’re soring over it! See the latest prices here.
- You can also do a Jungfraujoch tour from Interlaken (see prices here) to see the legendary ‘top of Europe’ viewpoint. Definitely pack your camera.
- For something a bit more earthy, you can visit Lake Brienz, Aare Gorge, a fishing village and a waterfall on this day trip from Interlaken. See the latest prices and more details here.
- Adventure activities: Interlaken is the adventure capital of Switzerland and you can do some awesome things like this canyoning tour, and this canyon swing experience.
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