Many cities in Switzerland host light festivals during the winter months, from November through January. Some are free or inexpensive to visit, with optional extras like light shows and concerts for a fee.
These festivals are a nice way to have a cheerful night out when the nights are long and dark.
Light Festival Dates 2025
| 26 Sept to 26 Oct 2025 | Thun Wasserzauber |
| 18 Oct to 22 Nov 2025 | Rendez-vous Bundesplatz Bern |
| 9 Oct to 22 Nov 2025 | Eonarium Light Show Geneva |
| 6 Nov to 30 Dec 2025 | Illuminarium Zürich |
| 8 Nov 2025 | Räbechilbi Richterswil |
| 19 Nov 2025 | Baden Lichtkunstwerk |
| 19 Nov to 7 Dec 2025 | Zauberpark Zürich |
| TBA, likely 2-31 Dec 2025 | Lausanne Lumières – Festival of Lights |
| 12 Dec – 20 Dec 2025 | Lenzerheide Zauberwald |
| 15-25 Jan 2026 | Lucerne Lilu Light Festival |
| 16 – 31 Jan 2026 | Lichtzauber Appenzell |
| 21 Jan – 1 Feb 2026 | Murten Light Festival |
| 16 Jan – 1 Feb 2026 | Geneva Lux Festival |
These dates were updated 3 Sept 2025 and may change without notice. Note that some light festivals from previous years are not happening this year. Check opening times carefully before making plans.
1. Thun Wasserzauber
This evening spectacle takes place nightly on the Aare river in the Thun old town. The show uses illuminated fountains, lasers, and visual projections to create vibrant displays synchronized to music.
The 20 minute show happens every evening at 19:30 and 21:15 and is free to attend. The light show is located directly in front of Hotel Freienhof, which offers a dinner packages with a view of the show.
- When: 26 Sept to 26 Oct 2025 / nightly at 19:30 and 21:15
- Cost: free
- Where: Aare river near Hotel Freienhof – See location on Google Maps.
- Public Transport: 5 min walk from Thun train station
- Parking: Parkhaus City West Aarestrasse 14, 3600 Thun / More options – ParkhausThun.ch
- More info: www.thunerwasserzauber.ch
2. Rendez-vous Bundesplatz Bern
This free light festival in Bern happens every night for a few weeks, starting the last week of October through the third week of November. Three times a night, a 30 mins light show is projected on the Bern Parliament building at 19:00, 20:00 and 21:00.
Combine this with a visit to a nearby museum like the Sensorium and dinner in the city.
- When: 18 Oct to 22 Nov 2025
- Where: Bundesplatz 3, 3003 Bern
- Cost: free
- Public Transport: Bern main station, then short walk to Bundesplatz
- Parking: Bahnhof Parking Bern – Hochschulstrasse 17, 3012 Bern
- More info: www.rendezvousbundesplatz.ch
3. Eonarium “Flow” Light Show – Geneva
This immersive music and light show is projected on the walls and ceiling of the historic Temple de Plainpalais in the heart of Geneva.
The 2025 theme is “Flow” The show lasts 30 mins and is offered a few times each evening of the event. You should book tickets in advance for a specific time slot.
- When: 9 Oct to 22 Nov 2025 • Thurs to Sun 17:00 – 20:30
- Where: Temple de Plainpalais, Av. du Mail 31, 1205 Genève, Switzerland
- Cost: must book tickets in advance, tickets start at CHF 17/adult
- Public Transport: closest tram stop Pont-d’Arve
- Parking: closest parking garage Uni-Mail – Quai Ernest-Ansermet 14, 1205 Genève
- More info: eonariumexperiences.com
Similar shows are usually offered during winter in other cities like Zurich, Bern, and Lucerne.
In Zurich, this show is happening at the Kirche auf der Egg in Zürich Wollishofen from 25 Sept 2024 to 5 Jan 2025. Learn more.
4. Räbechilbi Richterswil
Räbelichtli is a fall tradition where children make lanterns from turnips (or paper lanterns) and parade them around their village or neighborhood. These “Räbelichtli-Umzug” usually happen during the end of October through mid November.
The biggest celebration is in Richterswil, about a 20 min drive south of Zürich. The whole village is decorated with thousands of turnip lanterns and there is a big lantern parade around the village. This event attracts up to 20,000 visitors, so it can be very crowded.
There is a fee to enter the village, which helps cover the town’s costs of hosting the festival. There are market stands with crafts, food and drink in the center of the village, opening in the afternoon.
See our post about the Richterswil Räbechilbi
- When: 8 Nov 2025. Market stands open at 15:00, parade starts around 18:30 and lasts 1 hour
- Where: Richterswil village center – see on map
- Cost: CHF 8/person
- Public Transport: Richterswil train station, adjacent to festival entrance.
- Parking: best not to drive, but limited parking at Rosengartenstrasse 3, 8805 Richterswil and Gartenstrasse 10, 8805 Richterswil.
- More info: www.vvrs.ch/arbeitsgruppen/raebechilbi
5. Illuminarium Zürich
For six weeks from mid November to end of December, the Swiss National Museum (aka Landesmuseum) is transformed into a light festival, with thousands of lights covering the courtyard walls and filled with yummy food stands.
The festival courtyard is free to visit. For a fee, you can watch a 20 mins light and music show projected on the building walls. Combine this with other Christmas festivities in Zürich.
- When: 6 Nov to 30 Dec 2025, light shows about every 30-45 mins from 17:00 – 21:30
- Where: Zürich Landesmuseum – Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zürich
- Cost: free to visit illuminated courtyard with food stands. Tickets required for light shows, see current prices
- Public Transport: Zürich HB main train station, adjacent to Illuminarium entrance.
- Parking: Parkhaus Hauptbahnhof – Sihlquai 41, 8005 Zürich
- More info: illuminarium.ch
6. Baden Lichtkunstwerk
While most Swiss cities are decorated in lights during the Advent season, Baden takes it a bit further, with over 10,000 fairy lights and special Angel figures created by well known artist.
You can enjoy the lights on a 1.8 km loop walk through the old town.
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- When: 19 Nov 2025 thru Christmas
- Where: Baden old town
- Cost: free
- Public Transport: Baden train station
- Parking: Parkhaus Bahnhof Baden – Oelrainstrasse 21, 5400 Baden
- More info: deinbaden.ch
7. Zauberpark Zürich
A festival of lights and music held in a park at the Zürich airport. The main attraction is a series of artistic light installations scattered around the park, the same that will be on display the second half of December at the Lenzerheide Zauberwald (see below).
In addition to the light walk, each evening has a children’s program and musical concert, as well as food and drink stands. If you just want to see the lights, you can purchase a less expensive “light walk only” ticket, which can be used after 21:00.
- When: 19 Nov to 7 Dec 2025
- Where: Flughafen Park at the Zürich airport (see on map)
- Cost: light show only CHF 20/adult • concert + light show tickets start around CHF 44/adult
- Public Transport: Zürich Flughafen, Bahnhof – tram 10 or 12 as well as many trains and buses
- Parking: any of the airport parking, show your parking ticket at the Zauberpark entrance to get a discount parking ticket
- More info: zauberpark.ch
8. Lenzerheide Zauberwald
This winter festival offers musical concerts and a snowy forest filled with elaborate light installations. Many of the installations are interactive, making it fun for kids to explore not just observe.
Since this is in a mountain resort, I’d suggest staying overnight, combining this with a ski or sledding day, a special family excursion for the holidays.
- When: 12 Dec – 30 Dec 2025
- Where: Lenzerheide Eichhornwald forest (see on map)
- Cost: light walk only CHF 25/adult • concert + light walk tickets start around CHF 39/adult. See current prices.
- Public Transport: Lenzerheide Lai/Post bus stop, then 450m walk through the village to the entrance of the Zauberwald
- Parking: Parkplatz Fadail – Large lot with flat fee and free shuttle to entrance of Zauberwald (every 15 mins from 17:30 to 22:00) or 15 min walk.
- More info: zauberwald-lenzerheide.ch / See our detailed post about the Lenzerheide Zauberwald
9. Lausanne Lumières – Festival of Lights
Enjoy light installations by about twenty artists, projected every evening on buildings in Lausanne’s town center. It’s about a 3 km loop around town to visit all the buildings, free to visit.
They usually they offer free guided tours on Saturdays, in English, no registration required.
Combine this with a visit to the Lausanne “Bô Noel” Christmas Markets scattered around town.
- When: TBA – probably 2-31 Dec 2025
- Where: Lausanne town center, suggested start at Fontaine de la Riponne (see on map)
- Cost: free to visit, free guided tours in English on Saturdays in December
- Public Transport: Lausanne main train station, then metro to Riponne M. Béjart
- Parking: many parking lots in city center. Suggested: Parking Riponne (Rue du Tunnel 1, 1005 Lausanne)
- More info: www.lausannelumieres.ch
10. Lucerne Lilu Light Festival
For two weeks in early January, you can visit 20 light installations scattered around Lucerne old town. The lights are on every night during the festival starting at 18:00 and are free to visit, no ticket required.
They also have two indoor light and music shows each night, about every 30 mins, tickets required.
- When: 15-25 Jan 2026, every evening 18:00 – 22:00
- Where: Lucerne old town and lake promenade
- Cost: free to visit light installations, tickets required for indoor light shows
- More info: www.lichtfestivalluzern.ch
11. Lichtzauber Appenzell
This “light magic” experience is hosted by Resort Hof Weissbad in late January. It’s a circular walk through the park with artistic light installations, interactive objects and music.
It requires a entrance ticket for adults, which also includes a hot beverage and your public transport ticket to and from the event within the “Ostwind Tarifverbunds” network.
Hotel guests have free entry, so it would be a good excuse to book a winter getaway to this region. The hotel has a large wellness center with indoor/outdoor pools, sauna, steam baths, etc. Check out the winter hiking options in Appenzell.
- When: 16-21 Jan 2026 • every evening 18:00 – 22:00
- Where: Resort Hof Weissbad – Im Park 1, 9057 Weissbad • 3 min walk from Weissbad train station
- Cost: CHF 15/adult, under 16 free
- More info: www.hofweissbad.ch
12. Murten Light Festival
In January, the small village of Murten hosts a light festival with 20 light installations around the village. As part of the festival, you can decorate floating lanterns, put a wish inside, then launch them on the lake (CHF 5/lantern).
There is also a 20 min light show at the Deutschekirche (aka German church, see on map), separate ticket required.
- When: 21 Jan – 1 Feb 2026, every evening 18:00 – 22:00
- Where: Murten old town
- Cost: CHF 8/adult (online price), children under 16 free but still require a ticket. Limited number of visitors each evening. Light show at the Deutsche Kirche CHF 10/adult, children under 16 free but require a ticket.
- Parking: Parkplatz Pantschau – Ryf 78, 3280 Murten, short walk from Murten old town.
- Public Transport: Murten/Morat, Bahnhof, short walk from Murten old town. Purchase tickets through SBB.ch to get a 30% reduction on your festival ticket.
- More info: www.murtenlichtfestival.ch
12. Geneva Lux Festival
This festival of lights offers 20+ light installations around the center of Geneva, particularly along the lakeshore. These include light sculptures, projections and performances.
There are four suggested routes, including shorter family routes and a route to visit just the new installations.
Optional 2hr guided tour on Saturdays during the festival for CHF 15 (book online here). Tour starts at 17:30 at Geneva Tourist Information Centre, Quai du Mont-Blanc 2. Tours available in English and French.
- When: 16 Jan – 1 Feb 2026
- Where: suggested start Geneva Tourist Information Centre, Quai du Mont-Blanc 2
- Cost: free to visit
- Parking: Parkplatz Pantschau – Ryf 78, 3280 Murten, short walk from Murten old town.
- Public Transport: Gare de Genève (Geneva main train station)
- More info: https://evenements.geneve.ch/genevalux-oeuvres/
Which light festival is your favorite? Any other light festivals in Switzerland I should include?
