Zurich · Month comparison

March vs September

September ranks #1 overall vs March at #8. The undersold sweet spot — warm enough for the lake, dry enough for the alps, prices drop from August.

Magnolias blooming over the Limmat in Zurich Altstadt

March

#8 of 12 months

Strong option

First proper sun returns and the Limmat-side cafes reopen their pavement seating.

  • ↑First magnolias along Bahnhofstrasse and in Lindenhof — peak photo windows late March
  • ↑10°C and dry stretches — perfect for the Üetliberg ridge walk above the city
Lake Zurich and Alps in clear September light

September

#1 of 12 months

Best match

The undersold sweet spot — warm enough for the lake, dry enough for the alps, prices drop from August.

  • ↑20°C and lake still at 20°C through early September — last realistic swim window
  • ↑Knabenschiessen folk festival (2nd weekend) on Albisgüetli — fairground and shooting tradition
FactorMarchSeptember
Weather score
6
9
Value score
6
5
Crowd score
8
5
Events score
5
7
Atmosphere
7
10
Avg high temp10°C20°C
Monthly rain65mm80mm
Daily sunshine5hrs7hrs

March trade-offs

  • ↓2°C overnight lows — lake swimming nowhere near possible
  • ↓Mid-March can flip back to snow without warning — outdoor plans need flexibility

September trade-offs

  • ↓Daylight contracting — by month end down to 12 hours
  • ↓Lake temperature drops fast in the last week — pack a wetsuit if swimming end-Sep
See all 12 months for Zurich →March in detail →September in detail →
Scores compare months within Zurich. Climate data: Open Meteo ERA5 30-year normals (1991–2020). Methodology →