Wondering what to wear in Switzerland in winter? You are at the right place. But first, what are the three things that come to your mind when we say Switzerland? We’ll go first – Cheese, Chocolate, and Cheese again!! 

The European heaven of Switzerland, being the beauty that it is, is a very popular destination for tourists who wish to have a serene gateway to get their minds off of their routine lives. Switzerland tops the charts when it comes to luxurious travel planning and the place is definitely worth the hype.

Switzerland in Winter

Haven’t you seen those Bollywood films where the actors are having the time of their life on the top of some hill in Switzerland? The thing that is so very incorrect is their costumes! The Swiss weather is definitely something to be looked up to before planning the trip. 

Whether you’re someone who is travelling to Switzerland from Southern India or Northern America the question of ‘What to wear in Switzerland in winter?’ will naturally spring up. Fret not, read on to get a gist of what should be expected from the Swiss weather, a Europe packing list, and how to prepare your wardrobe for the same!

What to wear in Switzerland in winter: Switzerland Winter List

Where is Switzerland located?

What to wear in Switzerland in winter

Switzerland is a country that is located where the western, central, and southern Europe meet. It is a federal republic officially called the Swiss Confederation. It is a country that is packed on all sides.  It shares its borders with countries like Germany to its north Austria and Liechtenstein to its east, Italy to its south, and France to its west.

100 points to whoever tells the capital of Switzerland! … It was a trick question. Switzerland is home to some very important cities like Geneva, Zurich, Basel, etc. but it surprisingly has no capital. However, the city of Berne is considered the capital of Switzerland in practice.

Davos is the largest city in Switzerland. The currency of the country is the Swiss francs. With German as its official language, the various other languages spoken here are Italian, Romansh, and French. 

The country has four seasons namely spring, summer, fall, and winter.

• Spring- The season lasts from mid of March to mid-June. The average temperatures during this period are from 8 degrees Celsius to 15 degrees Celsius. This comfortable temperature range along with the pleasant weather conditions ensures plenty of scope for various outdoor activities.
• Summer- The summer in Switzerland comes immediately after the spring as it lasts from mid-June to up until the mid of September. The temperature extends from 18 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius. Overall, the summers are dry and warm depending upon the altitude and proximity to the water bodies. 
• Fall- Switzerland experiences fall from mid-September to mid-December. The average temperature ranges from 12 degrees Celsius to 21 degrees Celsius during the day and from 4 degrees Celsius to 10 degrees Celsius during the night.
• Winter-  The Swiss winter begins from the second half of December and lasts till the middle of March. It is the time of the year when Switzerland welcomes the maximum number of tourists. This period records the lowest temperature in Switzerland. The Swiss winter temperature ranges from 0 degrees celsius to around 15 degrees celsius. 

Average winter temperatures in Switzerland

The winter in Switzerland starts from mid-December to mid-March.

Switzerland Winter Travel

• December – The average temperature ranges from 14 degrees Celsius to 5 degrees Celsius during this month. The first half of the month resembles the weather of November. With days turning shorter and colder, the second half of December marks the beginning of proper winter for the country.
• January – It is characterized as the coldest month of the year for Switzerland. January sees the official opening of the ‘Swiss Snow Season’ during which the temperature is maintained at 0 degrees Celsius and it hardly exceeds 2 degrees Celsius.
• February- It gets slightly warmer as compared to January. The average temperature is maintained from around 2 degrees Celsius to 6 degrees Celsius.  
• March – During March the temperature extends from 11 degrees Celsius to 1 degrees Celsius. The days begin to get longer as the second half of the month welcomes the season of Spring.

Switzerland Winter Packing List

The depiction of Switzerland is of the snowclad mountain peaks, of the greenest farms with cows, and the bluest lakes and rivers! A country loaded with such vibrancy is definitely on the bucket list of many travel lovers.  If you too are planning a trip to this ‘heaven on earth’ this blog is for you!

The Switzerland packing list is not that tricky. Depending upon the time of the visit, the temperature of the country will determine the different packing lists and packing list items.

Alps, Switzerland

Switzerland in winter has a broad temperature range from 0 degrees Celsius to 14 degrees Celsius. Such cold weather will require a bag full of winter clothes. In India, there are physical stores available that specifically sell such winter wear. There are online websites like The North Face, Canada Goose, Decathlon, Columbia, Patagonia, etc. that specialize in winter gear. 

There are general websites like Amazon and Flipkart that sell the same products, perhaps not with the same variety. And then there is a brand like Kosha that specializes in winter wear and has a strong physical as well as an online presence. Kosha has its store in Khar (west) in Mumbai while its website does the same for those who are from different parts of the country, or the world even.

If you are the kind of person who requires a well-rounded knowledge about a product, head out to the store and get to know each and every detail that goes into the making of Kosha’s products by the knowledgeable experts present there.

If you are someone who likes to do all the research on their own and come to a decision by themself, the online shop is for you! Do not worry, if you aren’t from Mumbai as Kosha’s website has all the required details of every product they sell.

Place your order with a few easy steps and voila!  Expect the shipment in 3-10 working days with free shipping throughout the country! International shipments might take a little longer to deliver, the shipping cost is $ 50 USD which is then removed if the order surpasses the amount of $500 USD.  

Check out Kosha’s website here!

Outerwear like puffer jackets and parkas

With winter weather like the one in Switzerland, the tourists will be needing proper, guarding outerwear for insulation purposes. Depending upon an individual's own resistance to cold weather and low temperatures, the type of jackets and parkas to be selected will differ. 

Outerwear for Winter

Along with the necessary base layers, compatible outerwear is also needed for shielding your body against cold temperatures. Winter wear like puffer winter jackets and parkas provides for maximum insulation for the users. Kosha’s fleece lined puffer jacket is winter apparel that will adhere to Switzerland’s winter.

This jacket can be worn in temperatures from 0 degrees Celsius to around -20 degrees Celsius. The jacket is snow proof and waterproof with wind resistance and hence Kosha’s fleece lined puffer jacket is suitable for every occasion. This jacket is available in colours like tan, denim, and olive for men and in beige, black, and red for women.

Its stylish, casual, and easy aesthetics added with the loaded utility make this jacket a win-win for any consumer. Its other features include ribbed cuffs, a detachable hood, one secure pocket inside the jacket, and two cross pockets on the outside.

Check out Kosha’s fleece lined puffer jacket for men here

Check out Kosha’s fleece lined puffer jacket for women here

Parka Jackets

Parkas aren’t a fancy name for a jacket. Parkas essentially are slightly longer than regular jackets. In addition to this, a Parka is better insulated, and sometimes has an inner lining of warm material. A Parka jacket always comes with a hood. It could have the option of being a detachable one.

Kosha’s range of water-resistant Parkas is a great fit for swiss winter conditions. These jackets can be worn in temperatures that extend from 0 degrees Celsius to around -20 degrees Celsius. It is advisable to pair this jacket with a base layer as the temperature goes lower. It is available in black and navy colours for men.

Kosha’s fleece lined parka for women are an absolute must-have! It comes in beige and red. It has a detachable hood with a fur lining for added insulation. The stylish appearance paired with the many utilities makes this jacket an obvious choice.

Check out Kosha’s parka for men here

Check out Kosha’s parka for women here

Sweaters and Pullovers

Sweaters are the natural winter apparel that everyone packs without fail. Wear it with a pair of blue jeans and high boots, voila. Ready for that Instagram upload! The one good thing about carrying a sweater is that it is either worn or removed. Hear me out. You are either so cold that you wear a sweater or you feel irritated by the texture and you remove the sweater, there’s simply no in-between.

Kosha’s sweaters are different in this aspect. Wearing those doesn’t feel like a task. You can wear these sweaters as easily as your other winter apparel. These sweaters offer the woolen comfort that many winter jackets fail to provide. Made with merino wool, these sweaters are reversible and are available in colours olive- came, grey-charcoal, Coffee- Burgundy, and Black- Navy for men.

These merino wool sweaters are available for women in normal full-sleeved and turtle-neck full-sleeved options. They are pleasing to the eye while being very soft on the skin. The colours available are blue, charcoal, maroon, grey and black.

Check out the merino wool sweaters for men here 

Check out the merino wool sweaters for women here 

Baselayers 

Base layers are probably the most underrated piece of winter clothes that are hardly known to most people. They do three of the most important functions – preventing the existing body heat from escaping, not letting the outside cold air seep in and the third would be keeping the skin comfortable as they form the innermost layer that is constantly in touch with the body. Hence, it is essential that the base layer is chosen well. Kosha’s base layers guarantee all these three requirements. 

Initially, Kosha received feedback about their base layers being too itchy on the skin. This was when Kosha used only Merino wool for the sweaters. After encountering this, Kosha mended their product. The current base layers are made with merino wool and bamboo thus ensuring all the insulation properties while being softer on the skin.

The base layers are available as half-sleeved tees, full sleeve tees, joggers, and so on.

Check out Kosha’s full-sleeved thermal tee for men here

Check out Kosha’s full-sleeved thermal tee for women here 

Woolen bottoms - Snow Pants

With low altitude mountain peaks that have vertical drops, Switzerland is one of the most popular destinations for skiing. If you are visiting the country during winters then skiing in the swiss snow will definitely be on your bucket list. 

The Alps welcomes adventurous tourists to places like Champery, Zermatt, St Moritz, Andermatt, etc welcome such adventurous tourists. 

Snow pants for winter

Proper skiing gear is a must have in such weather conditions. Snow wear that is waterproof and windproof in nature should be used. Columbia has snow pants that are waterproof and breathable.

With zipper hand pockets and bottom zip legs, the pants have an adjustable exterior waist. Use these pants for skiing comfortably with free movements. The colours available for men are bright indigo, collegiate navy, and mountain red. Columbia’s snow pants for women are available in several colours. 

 Warm accessories

Gloves

It is necessary to keep your hands protected while visiting a place with low temperatures.  Outdoor activities like skiing require gloves that shield the palms while making sure that you gain a certain grip.

Check out Kosha’s gloves for him and her. 

Scarves

The neck and throat region of the body should be kept covered so that the chilly air doesn’t seep in. Accessories like scarves, mufflers or strolls make sure that they add in to the insulation that is provided by the jacket.

Check out Kosha’s scarves for him and her.

Beanies and monkey caps 

What helps me battle the chilly winds in Bombay is putting cotton balls in my ears! It sounds weird for sure but covering the ears goes a long way in providing heat to the body. The ears and head can be shielded from the winds and snow with covers like the monkey caps and beanies. Monkey caps are generally preferred by the kids as they tend to restrict mobility. 

 Check out Kosha’s beanies here

Warm shoes or boots

Footwear is key winter apparel that needs to be looked into well in advance to Switzerland packing. Normal walking shoes just wouldn’t do. For activities in the snow, skid proof and even comfortable walking shoes that are well gripping should be worn.

They protect the feet while giving the extra comfort that helps in carrying on with the physical activity that comes with outdoor sports. Be it long boots, waterproof leather boots, or normal shoes that help with grip on the snow, choose the right fit. 

Check out Decathlon’s waterproof shoes for men here

Check out Decathlon’s waterproof shoes for women here

Warm socks 

Finding warm and comfortable socks along with winter boots is very important. Socks shield your feet from the uneven ground and sometimes from the uncomfortable shoes too. They form the innermost lining that is in constant touch with the feet and should hence be made of proper wool that is insulating soft for the skin. 

Check out Kosha’s no-blister socks for men here 

Check out Kosha’s no-blister socks for women here 

Importance of layering and how to stay warm in Switzerland in winter

Switzerland doesn’t fall short when it comes to the number of things to do over there. Apart from the well-known activities like sightseeing, the country is renowned for holding festivals for visitors. January commences the new year as well as the snow festival for Switzerland.

Switzerland - Heaven on Earth

Winter brings in a lot of opportunities to look deep into the Swiss culture. To celebrate the authentic white Christmas, you should visit the Christmas markets, go skiing, taste some mouth-watering cheese fondue, go dog sledding (the ethical one), pay a visit to a chocolate factory, and maybe live in an igloo!

FAQ's

What is the coldest month in Switzerland?

The coldest month in Switzerland is January, with an average temperature of -1°C (30°F) in the mountains and 1°C (34°F) in the lowlands.

Do I need to pack different clothes for different regions of Switzerland?

Yes, you will need to pack different clothes for different regions of Switzerland. The mountains are much colder than the lowlands, so you will need to pack warmer clothes if you are planning on spending time in the mountains.

What is the best way to stay warm in Switzerland in winter?

The best way to stay warm in Switzerland in winter is to layer your clothing. This will help you trap heat and stay comfortable even in the coldest weather. Be sure to include a base layer, a mid-layer, and an outer layer in your clothing selection.

What kind of boots should I wear in Switzerland in winter?

Warm, waterproof boots with good traction are essential for walking in the snow and ice in Switzerland in winter. Look for boots that are made of a material that will keep your feet dry, such as leather or rubber.

What should I avoid wearing in Switzerland in winter?

You should avoid wearing light, cotton clothing in Switzerland in winter. This type of clothing will not insulate you from the cold and can actually make you colder. You should also avoid wearing open-toed shoes or sandals.

Conclusion

Switzerland is breathtaking all year round but winter is the time the country is at its liveliest. By welcoming most of its tourists, the people make sure they show the people the best Switzerland has to offer.

Make sure you have the time of your life and let nothing ruin it! Start your research months in advance and ensure that you pack the winter apparel that suits your style and needs. 

Travel light by carrying a capsule wardrobe - you can do this by having some pieces of clothing that go with multiple other garments like one top that goes with a skirt and two different pants. Just take those items you absolutely can’t do without. 

Packing cubes are also a great way of being neat and tidy while saving space. These are small cubic pouches that help assort the clothes into sections and get them packed in a better-organized fashion. This helps ensure that you travel light while helping you shop less and thus contribute to sustainable fashion that further is a step towards being eco-friendly by choice. 

Sometimes travelling light and being eco-friendly might not go hand in hand for eg- a metal water bottle is heavy but it is better for the environment than a plastic water bottle. So choose wisely!  

It is a win-win to have a travel capsule wardrobe as it needs no extra cost, in turn, it helps you save a few bucks! There are several other travel tips and packing tips that you can follow that will help contribute to environmentally friendly sustainable fashion.

Apart from the wardrobe, carry all the important travel documents like travel insurance to be prepared in case of emergencies. Start your research now and have a comfortable and stress-free trip!

Check out Kosha’s website here to make your packing and deciding process easier. We hope we could help you with the curated list. Happy Holidays!! 

This blog article is written by Kosha Team Member – Sanika Totade.

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