Start under the Matterhorn in Zermatt, ride the panoramic Glacier Express across 291 bridges and the Oberalp Pass to St. Moritz, then take the Bernina Express over the glaciers and down to Tirano in Italy, finishing in Milan. Summer and the snowy winter months are both spectacular.
Month by month
Best: January, February, March, June, July, August, September, December
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Avoid Poor OK Good Excellent Peak
Shoulder season: June, September, good weather with typically fewer crowds and lower prices.
Weather and crowds
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Wet days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C / 31°F | -7°C / 20°F | 14 | Moderate |
| February | 2°C / 36°F | -5°C / 23°F | 8 | Moderate |
| March | 2°C / 36°F | -5°C / 23°F | 12 | Moderate |
| April | 4°C / 40°F | -3°C / 26°F | 11 | Moderate |
| May | 9°C / 48°F | 2°C / 36°F | 12 | Quiet |
| June | 15°C / 60°F | 7°C / 44°F | 9 | Moderate |
| July | 17°C / 63°F | 8°C / 46°F | 9 | Busy |
| August | 17°C / 63°F | 7°C / 45°F | 7 | Busy |
| September | 13°C / 55°F | 5°C / 40°F | 11 | Moderate |
| October | 10°C / 50°F | 2°C / 35°F | 11 | Moderate |
| November | 3°C / 37°F | -4°C / 24°F | 12 | Quiet |
| December | 1°C / 34°F | -6°C / 22°F | 12 | Busy |
Weather: averages of recent years from Open-Meteo historical data (CC BY 4.0). Crowds: estimated from the seasons and holiday periods, not measured.
How long to stay
5–10 days is the sweet spot.
Flight time
About 9h from the US East Coast, 2h from Europe, 10h from South Asia.
Good to know
- Reserve seats on both panoramic trains months ahead for summer; a Swiss Travel Pass covers the fare but not the reservation fee.
- The Glacier Express serves regional dishes at your seat, so there's no need to pack lunch for the eight hours.
- Zermatt is car-free; leave a car in Täsch or arrive by train.
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