Zurich · WinterMonth summary
Zurich weather in January
❌ Poor
🌡️ Temperature min / max
-2°C – 4°C
🌧 Rainy days
45% of days
☀️ Sunshine
5.3h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Winter
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
2.4/10
📅 📅 Best month
August (7.9/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Zurich in January?
❌ Poor
✅ Yes if: you enjoy winter atmosphere and the lowest prices of the year.
❌ No if: you're looking for sunshine or outdoor activities.
Our take: January brings a challenging climate (2.4/10). August offers milder conditions if your dates are flexible.
By trip type
Zurich in January by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ⚠️ Possible
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ❌ Not recommended
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : — No sea access
- 💰 💰 Budget : ✅ Low season
Local context
What to expect in January
🎯 Tourist low season — museums and monuments without queues Winter in Zurich is cool (4°C during the day). Days are short (5.3h of sunshine) but the city reveals a different side. Expect rain on 45% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended.
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Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌨️ January | -2°C | 4°C | 45% | 3.3 | 5.3h | 2.4/10 |
| 🌦️ February | -1°C | 7°C | 41% | 2.5 | 7.3h | 4.0/10 |
| 🌦️ March | 1°C | 10°C | 41% | 2.3 | 9.4h | 4.7/10 |
| 🌦️ April | 4°C | 15°C | 41% | 3.0 | 11.6h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌦️ May | 8°C | 18°C | 56% | 4.4 | 11.8h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌦️ June | 14°C | 24°C | 50% | 4.2 | 13.2h | 7.7/10 |
| 🌤️ July | 15°C | 25°C | 50% | 4.4 | 13.3h | 7.7/10 |
| 🌤️ August | 15°C | 25°C | 40% | 4.0 | 12.4h | 7.9/10 |
| 🌤️ September | 12°C | 20°C | 41% | 3.3 | 10.5h | 7.2/10 |
| ⛅ October | 8°C | 15°C | 37% | 3.0 | 8.2h | 6.0/10 |
| 🌦️ November | 2°C | 8°C | 43% | 3.3 | 5.9h | 4.0/10 |
| 🌦️ December | -1°C | 5°C | 46% | 3.2 | 4.6h | 2.1/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In January, Zurich averages 4°C, 45% rainy days and 5.3h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 2.4/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
January vs August (best month)
The best month is August (score 7.9/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +21°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : -5%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +7.1h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Zurich in January
Is January a good time to visit Zurich?
January is not recommended for Zurich (score 2.4/10). With 45% rainy days and 5.3h of sunshine, consider August (7.9/10) instead.
What's the weather like in Zurich in January?
It's cool with 4°C daytime and -2°C at night. 5.3h of sunshine per day. Pack warm clothes and favour indoor visits.
Accommodation
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