Interlaken

Switzerland Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Switzerland in December.

Planning a journey to Switzerland this December and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Switzerland in December

The weather in Switzerland in December can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from very cold to cold and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Zermatt at -6°C (21°F) to cold in Balerna at 8°C (46°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 1°C (34°F) in Balerna and -14°C (7°F) in Zermatt. December is a very cold month in some areas, so be prepared and make sure to dress up warm.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Switzerland, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Sta Maria Val Müstair with an average of 74 mm (2.9 in) to heavy snowfall in Adelboden with 171 mm (6.7 in).

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Zermatt receives around 83 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore Switzerland by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Switzerland — and find the best time to visit. (based on Zermatt)

Best Places to Visit in Switzerland in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Switzerland.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Switzerland

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Switzerland?

Temperature range in Switzerland (December)

Precipitation variation in Switzerland (December)

Zermatt

In December Zermatt generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -6°C (21°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -14°C (7°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-9°C (16°F)
-14°C (7°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly sun hours
95 hours
83 hours
86 hours
Monthly snowfall
166 mm (6.5 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
101 mm (4 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
16 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Grindelwald

In December Grindelwald generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -3°C (27°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -10°C (14°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
2°C (36°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-10°C (14°F)
-11°C (12°F)
Monthly sun hours
67 hours
51 hours
66 hours
Monthly snowfall
149 mm (5.9 in)
150 mm (5.9 in)
136 mm (5.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Nendaz

In December Nendaz generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -3°C (27°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -12°C (10°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-12°C (10°F)
-13°C (9°F)
Monthly sun hours
98 hours
70 hours
95 hours
Monthly snowfall
129 mm (5.1 in)
140 mm (5.5 in)
128 mm (5 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
15 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Zürich

In December Zürich generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 6°C (43°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
0°C (32°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
62 hours
48 hours
61 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
102 mm (4 in)
106 mm (4.2 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
15 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Davos

In December Davos generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -3°C (27°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -12°C (10°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

November
December
January
Max temperature
2°C (36°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
Min temperature
-8°C (18°F)
-12°C (10°F)
-13°C (9°F)
Monthly sun hours
105 hours
95 hours
112 hours
Monthly snowfall
120 mm (4.7 in)
102 mm (4 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
16 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Switzerland.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Switzerland in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Zermatt -6°C (21°F) -14°C (7°F) 110 mm (4.3 in)
Interlaken -1°C (30°F) -8°C (18°F) 146 mm (5.7 in)
Zürich 6°C (43°F) 0°C (32°F) 106 mm (4.2 in)
Davos -3°C (27°F) -12°C (10°F) 102 mm (4 in)
Lauterbrunnen -3°C (27°F) -10°C (14°F) 154 mm (6.1 in)
Lucerne 5°C (41°F) -1°C (30°F) 132 mm (5.2 in)

Switzerland weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Switzerland in December?

December in Switzerland brings poor weather. In Zermatt, daytime temperatures are typically around -6°C (21°F) and nighttime lows hover near -14°C (7°F).

What is the average temperature in Switzerland in December?

Zermatt averages a daytime maximum of -6°C (21°F) in December, with overnight lows close to -14°C (7°F).

Does Switzerland get a lot of snow in December?

Zermatt typically receives notable snowfall in December, about 110 mm (4.3 in) on average across Switzerland.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Switzerland?

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit Switzerland due to the typically poor weather in Zermatt.

On average, the best time to visit Switzerland is in August with generally unpleasant weather in Zermatt.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Switzerland.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Switzerland? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Switzerland.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.