March is a transition month in Switzerland. Higher resorts still have good skiing, the lowlands start to feel like spring, and crowds are thinner than in summer or over Christmas. The catch is that conditions change quickly and not everything is open, so a little planning pays off. Dates below were checked on 30 September 2026, and some resorts had not yet published final 2026/27 details, so confirm before you book.
What to Expect
In the lowland cities, March mornings are still cold, with days typically reaching around 10°C, and rain is common. The mountains are much colder, snowfall is still possible, and weather can change within hours. Pack warm layers and waterproof shoes, and check the forecast and avalanche conditions before any mountain trip. Our Mountain Weather checklist explains what to look for. The clocks go forward on the last Sunday of March (28 March in 2027), which gives you longer evenings.
Skiing in March
March is often a good month for skiing at higher resorts, with longer days and strong sun. For 2026/27 the Jungfrau Ski Region is due to run until 25 April 2027, and Zermatt until 3 May 2027, although the Sunnegga-Rothorn and Gornergrat areas are due to close earlier, on 11 and 18 April. Lower resorts can lose snow cover by the end of the month. Lift prices ease after the peak weeks, which some resorts set from late January to early March, so check each resort’s calendar. See our Ski Pass Costs guide and Best Ski Resorts guide.
Walking and Sightseeing
Low-altitude trails and lakeside walks are open, while higher trails are usually still under snow and many mountain passes remain closed. March is a good month for museums and city breaks, and the warmer south is the best place to look for spring. Lugano and the Ticino lakes are typically milder than the north. Our Best Time for Hiking guide shows when the trails open.
Events and Timing
Basel Fasnacht, Switzerland’s biggest carnival, starts at 4 a.m. on the Monday after Ash Wednesday and runs for 72 hours. Its date moves with Easter, so it is not always in March: in 2027 it starts on 15 February, and in 2028 on 6 March. Easter itself falls on 28 March in 2027, so the end of March is busy in many resorts and some hotels raise prices over the Easter weekend.
Getting Around and Costs
Trains and buses run reliably and connect most cities and resorts. A Swiss Travel Pass suits a trip with several long journeys, but run the numbers first with our Swiss Travel Pass guide, and see our Getting Around guide for the alternatives. City hotels are often cheaper in March than in summer, but ski resorts and Easter weekends cost more.
Pros and Cons of March
- Pros: longer days, still-good skiing at altitude, fewer crowds in cities, and the first spring flowers in the lowlands.
- Cons: unpredictable weather, some high trails, passes, and mountain facilities still closed, and busy Easter holiday weeks.
For other months, see our Best Time to Visit guide, and for the weeks that follow, our April guide.
I’m Laura, a travel writer based in Zürich, and Switzerland is the place I know better than anywhere else. I moved here 9 years ago and haven’t stopped exploring it since.
Over the past 9 years I’ve made 40+ trips across every Swiss canton — from the Italian-speaking south of Ticino to the remote valleys of Graubünden to the lake towns of Romandy. I speak German, French and English fluently, which means I can read the local newspapers, argue with train conductors, and actually understand what the mountain guide is telling you when the weather turns.
Switzerland is a deceptively complex destination: four languages, 26 cantons, wildly different regional cultures, and a transport network so intricate it takes years to properly understand. I write to demystify all of it — whether you’re planning your first visit to Zermatt, deciding between Zürich and Geneva for a city break, or figuring out how to live here as a digital nomad or remote worker.
I also cover Central Europe for travellers who want to venture beyond the obvious — particularly the Czech Republic, Austria and the Alpine arc connecting Switzerland to its neighbours.
All About Swiss is my home base, where I publish in-depth guides to Swiss travel, life and culture. If it involves Switzerland, I’ve probably written about it, or I’m about to.