January in Basel — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.8/10January averages 1°C (33°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 63 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 8.6 hours of daylight.
It scores 3.8/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Basel — 4.7 points higher on the same scale.
February in Basel — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 4.9/10February averages 4°C (38°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 49 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 10 hours of daylight.
It scores 4.9/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Basel — 3.6 points higher on the same scale.
March in Basel — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.8/10March averages 6°C (44°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 75 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 8 sunny days and 11.6 hours of daylight.
It scores 5.8/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Basel — 2.7 points higher on the same scale.
April in Basel — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 6.5/10April averages 8°C (47°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
Rainfall runs 86 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 14 sunny days and 13.4 hours of daylight.
It scores 6.5/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Basel — 2 points higher on the same scale.
May in Basel — reliably good (4th best month)
Good · 7.6/10May averages 14°C (57°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 108 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 23 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 7.6/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
June in Basel — reliably good (3rd best month)
Good · 8/10June averages 18°C (65°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 107 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 28 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 8/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
July in Basel — the year's strongest window
Best window · 8.5/10July averages 20°C (67°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
Rainfall runs 86 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 31 sunny days and 15.4 hours of daylight.
On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Basel at 8.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
August in Basel — reliably good (2nd best month)
Good · 8.3/10August averages 20°C (68°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.
Rainfall runs 92 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 24 sunny days and 14.1 hours of daylight.
It scores 8.3/10 here, 2nd of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.
Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.
September in Basel — reliably good (5th best month)
Good · 7/10September averages 15°C (59°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 115 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 12 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 7/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Basel — 1.5 points higher on the same scale.
October in Basel — workable with trade-offs
Trade-offs · 5.7/10October averages 13°C (55°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.
At 102 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 1 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 5.7/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Basel — 2.8 points higher on the same scale.
November in Basel — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.7/10November averages 5°C (42°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.
At 115 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.
It scores 3.7/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Basel — 4.8 points higher on the same scale.
December in Basel — the hardest end of the year
Hardest · 3.2/10December averages 2°C (35°F), cold enough that sightseeing works in bursts rather than in one long day on foot.
Rainfall runs 96 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 8.2 hours of daylight.
It scores 3.2/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.5/10 in the destination's best month.
Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
Pack insulated layers, a windproof shell, gloves and boots with grip, a packable rain layer.
If your dates are flexible, July is materially better in Basel — 5.3 points higher on the same scale.
