25 Fun Things to Do in November in Switzerland

November can be a fun time to visit Switzerland if you choose activities appropriate to the season. As winter approaches and mountains close to prepare for ski season, it’s best to visit Swiss cities where you can enjoy a wide variety of cultural activities and events. 

Here are the activities we suggest during November in Switzerland.

November Events 2024

Here are some fun November events to put on your calendar. They are described in more detail below.

Swiss Alps & Mountain Views

1. Mountain viewpoints open in November

Although most mountains are closed in November, a few mountain railways stay open year round, particularly tourist destinations like Zermatt, Jungfrau Region and Lucerne. Even if hiking trails are closed, you can still catch gorgeous views from the top of a cable car or mountain train.

During this time, usually only the restaurant at the top of the cable car is open. Also there may be reduced operating times for mountain railways and bus service. So plan carefully.

Here are a few mountain viewpoints that stay open most November:

See more Swiss mountain viewpoints open in November

2. Panorama train rides

A great way to see Switzerland on cold weather days is on a panorama train, which run through some of the most beautiful parts of Switzerland. For November, I’d suggest the following:

• Golden Pass Line from Lucerne to Montreux (about 5hr30 one way)
• Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano (about 4 hrs one way)

In all cases, you can book the official package, which usually includes seat reservations on special panorama train cars with bigger windows. Or you can spend less by buying a regular train ticket and riding in the second class cars on the same route.

Note that some panorama trains do not operate in November, including the Glacier Express.

See all panorama trains on SBB.ch

3. Hiking in November

In November, hiking season is basically over, with most services and trails closed as they prepare for ski season. During this time, you can usually hike at lower elevations around lakes and rivers, where you don’t need a gondola and pre-season snow quickly melts.

But you’ll need to plan carefully, checking local conditions for trail closures and bus schedules, which often reduce or stop in winter. 

If there is a stretch of unseasonably warm weather and no snow, some mountains will stay open through the first couple weeks of November. In some cases, they only open on weekends in November and have reduced operating hours. So check the schedules carefully.

See my list of suggested November hikes. I update this list each year based on current conditions and opening times.

Swiss Chocolate Experiences

November is a great time to explore the Swiss chocolate scene. You can visit one of the many Swiss chocolate museums or participate in one of these special chocolate experiences in November. 

4. Honold Chocolate Tram

Sold out for November 2024

Ride the Honold Chocolate Tram around Zürich, which you enjoy hot chocolate, cake and chocolate pralines and truffles. There are 25 tickets available for each time slot and they sell out quickly. Best to book as soon as they go on sale in mid October.

Dates: 8 – 15 Nov 2024

Location: Tram leaves from Zurich Bellevue tram stop

Book tickets on the Honold website.

More info: See our review. 

5. Chocolate workshops

Lindt offers a chocolate marking workshop where you make special Christmas creations like their signature chocolate bear. It’s a 90 min classes, best for children aged 5+. These workshops book out very quickly, so best to look at the dates already in early October.

Date: end of November to end of December

Location: Lindt Home of Chocolate – Seestrasse 204, 8802 Kilchberg

See Lindt workshop schedule.

Learn more: www.lindt-home-of-chocolate.com • our review of Lindt Home of Chocolate

6. Zurich Chocolate Walk

If you need a more impromptu activity, you can do our Self-guided Chocolate Tour of Zürich, visiting several fancy chocolate shops around Zurich old town.

Light Shows & Festivals

With dark evenings starting earlier, some cities host light shows and festivals. Here are a few happening in November. See more light festivals in Switzerland.

7. Rendez-vous Bundesplatz Bern

In late October and November, a free light and music show is projected on the Bern Parliament building. The 30 min show runs every night at 19:00, 20:00 and 21:00.

• Date: 19 Oct to 23 Nov 2024
• Location: Bundesplatz 3, 3003 Bern
• More info: www.bern.com

8. Eonarium Enlightment Geneva

At the historic Temple de Plainpalais in the heart of Geneva, this immersive music and light show is projected on the walls and ceiling. This year’s theme is “Four Seasons.”

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: 24 Oct 2024 to 26 Jan 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.

9. Illuminarium Zürich

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. For a fee, you can watch the Illuminarium light and music show projected on the building walls.

• Date: 7 Nov to 30 Dec 2024
• Location: Landesmuseum – Museumstrasse 2, 8001 Zürich
• More info: my Illumiarium review • illuminarium.ch

10. Richterswil Räbechilbi

Turnip lantern festivals are popular all around eastern Switzerland. But the party and parade in Richterswil south of Zürich is the biggest, attracting thousands of visitors.

As soon as it gets dark, you can wander the village enjoying lanterns set in front of homes and businesses. Then at 18:00 the parade starts, looping around the center of the village. 

• Date: 9 Nov 2024 / parade at 18:00
• Location: Richterswil old town
• More info: my post about Räbechilbi • official Räbechilbi website

Fairs & Markets

11. Basel Herbstmesse

This large autumn fair is the oldest and biggest in Switzerland, with dozens of food and market stalls and fair rides spread across the city. Our family went for the first time in 2022 and had a great time.

• Date: 25 Oct to 11 Nov 2024
• Location: Basel city – Barfüsserplatz, Münsterplatz, Messeplatz, Rosentalanlage, Kasernenareal, Hallenmesse, and Petersplatz
• More info: www.herbstmesse.ch

12. Christmas Markets

Many Swiss Christmas Markets open at the end of November, on the weekend of the 1st Advent. That can be a fun time to visit Switzerland, experiencing the Swiss holiday culture.

Here are some Swiss Christmas markets that open in November.

See more Christmas Markets in Switzerland

Food & Drink Fairs

Lots of fun cultural events happen in November. 

13. Zurich Expovina Wine Ships

At the beginning of the November, Zurich hosts a huge wine tasting fair on several ferry boats docked in the city. For a flat fee, you can taste wine from dozens of vendors, with over 4000 wines from across the world. 

• Date: 31 Oct to 14 Nov 2024
• Location: Zurich Bürkliplatz ferry dock
• More info: expovina.ch

14. Bern Onion Market

The “Zibelemärit” in Bern is a one-day event market in . The main attraction are the beautiful onion braids and wreaths. Die-hard onion fans show up as early as 4:00 to scoop up the best ones, but there’s plenty to enjoy and buy if you arrive at a more reasonable hour around 9:00.

I went for the first time in 2022 with friends and was surprised how much we enjoyed it. Part of the fun is throwing confetti at other visitors, similar to Fäsnacht.  

• Date: 25 Nov 2025, official open time 6:00, best to arrive by 9:00
• Location: Bern Upper Old Town (Spitalgasse & Marketgasse is a good place to start)
• Cost: free
• More info: our Bern Onion Market review • bern.ch

15. Aarau Carrot Market

On the first Wednesday in November, Aarau hosts the “Rüeblimärt,” a large carrot market with 60+ carrot varieties for sale. Besides carrots, you’ll find elaborate decorative carrot displays and carrot themed food items including bread, cakes, quiche and more. 

• Date: Wed 6 Nov 2024
• Cost: free
• Location: Aarau old town, about a 10 min walk from the Aarau train station
• More info: www.rueblimaert-aarau.ch

Fun places to eat in November

Starting in October, winter gardens and fondue chalets open up all around Switzerland, even before Christmas markets open. These are a great place to winter food and drink with a festive atmosphere.

16. Frau Gerolds Winter Garten

At this festive winter garden in Zürich city, you can enjoy fondue or raclette under fairy lights with fires and blankets to help keep you warm. The food is self-serve, ordered at the counter (no reservation required).

On some nights, there are other food and drink stalls open around the garden. If you need to stay warm, you can reserve a table in their indoor “Winterstübli.”

• Location: Geroldstrasse 23, 8005 Zürich
• Cost: no entry fee, food from about CHF 20
• Dates: 15 Oct 2024 to 7 Mar 2025
• More info: www.fraugerold.ch

17. Zürich Oktoberfest at Bauschänzli

Enjoy a mini version of the popular Bavarian festival in Zurich city. It’s held in at the Bauschnänzli beer garten on a little island in the Limmat river.

There’s everything you’d expect: lots of beer, music, dancing, singing and traditional Bavarian outfits. Always a fun place to meet friends and cheer up the dark winter nights.

• Location: Zürich Bauschänzli
• Dates: 15 Oct to 9 Nov 2024
• Cost: CHF 50
• Website: zuercher-oktoberfest.com

18. Uetliberg “Winterzauber” & Fondue Chalet

Start with a short train ride from the Zürich main station to the Uetliberg mountain, where you’ll find a beautiful viewpoint over the city and lake. From October to March, you can enjoy fondue at their “Maiensäss” fondue chalet, in the rustic style of a traditional chalet from the Engadin region.

At the end of November, Uto Kulm also hosts a winter market with market stalls, mulled wine, candle dipping, camel rides, etc. So that would be the ideal time to visit. 

• Location: Uetliberg / ride S10 train from Zürich HB to Uetliberg stop
• Dates: October to March / daily 18:00 to 21:30 / reservations recommended
• Cost: Fondue starting at CHF 34/person, extra for sides like boiled potatoes
• Website: utokulm.ch

19. Gondola Fondue

Gondola cars have become a popular place to eat fondue. You’ll often see cute clusters of these gondolas in parks, town suqares and Christmas markets.

In Zürich, you can find the fondue gondolas at Restaurant Rigiblick, on the hill above Zurich city. Reserve here.

On the higher end, the Widder hotel has several fondue gondolas in it’s festive “Widder Wonder Garden.” Here a fondue dinner starts at CHF 98/adult, including a glass of champagne.

In Zug, the fondue gondolas are at the lakeside BadiBar, popping up in fall. In the adjacent park, there’s a Löyly Sauna, that you can privately rent for an hour and do cold dips in the lake. Then finish your evening with fondue. Reserve your gondola

See more fun fondue chalets near Zurich.

Explore cities

November is a great time to wander around the cities, which look festive even before the holidays are in full swing.

20. City walking tours

When you can’t hike in the alps, walking around Swiss cities and villages is a great way to experience the culture and see beautiful sights. All the big cities offer guided walking tours, which are an interesting and efficient way to explore a city.

We like the Free Walk Switzerland tours, available in Zurich, Lucerne, Bern, Geneva, Basel and more. It’s free but tips are expected. If those tours don’t match up with your schedule, you can book guided tours on a wide variety of themes through the local tourism office or online.

21. Puzzle trails & scavenger hunts

If you are traveling with kids, you may have more fun exploring cities with a puzzle trails, where you solve riddles and follow clues as you explore the city. 

We really like Sato Code, which has trails in the Swiss cities Zürich, Zug, Bremgarten, Lugano, and Locarno. FoxTrail is another good one with lots of trails within Switzerland in cities like Lucerne, Zürich, St Gallen, Rapperswil, Bern, Basel and Lausanne.

Indoor activities

As temperatures drop and rainy days dominate, we look forward to indulging our favorite indoor activities that we neglected in summer. Here are a few ideas, but see also our Rainy Day in Zurich list.

22. Museums

If you want something indoors, Switzerland is packed with so many interesting museums, many with cool interactive exhibits that are fun for young and old.

We particularly love the Technorama (science and technology), the Lucerne Transport Museum, and the Hergiswil glass factory.

See our favorite interactive museums

If you are traveling by public transport, make sure to check SBB Railaway for combo ticket discounts for these museums.

23. Thermal baths

When the weather turns cold, a great way to keep warm is at one of the thermal baths and spas in Switzerland, many of which have beautiful views of mountains and lakes.

• In Zürich, the Hürlimann spa has a rooftop bubble pool, a great place to watch the sunset over the city.
• Near Lucerne, you can ride up the Rigi mountain train to visit the mineral baths and spa at Hotel Rigi Kaltbad, which has an infinity pool with mountain views.
• With a big budget, the alpine spa at the Bürgenstock resort would be my first choice, with views across Lake Lucerne.

See our list of Thermal Baths for families

Winter sports

24. Skiing in November

Ski season in Switzerland usually starts around mid December. But if we get early show, a few higher elevation ski resorts may open in late October and November. This typically includes Zermatt, Saas Fee, Arosa,  Engelberg Titlis, Andermatt and Davos.

In this pre-season, they usually open a couple lifts and ski pistes, not the whole resort, and only the restaurants near these runs. Often the prices are lower during the pre-season, so you can sometimes ski quite affordably.

As of 11 Nov 2024, only Saas Fee and Zermatt have skiing open on the glaciers.

Learn morea bout November skiing in Switzerland

25. Ice skating

Most ice skating rinks open in October and stay open through the beginning of March. While primarily used by figure skaters and hockey players, most have open skating in the afternoons and all day on weekends.

Some have special events in the evenings and weekends, like music and lights, making a festive spirit before more Christmas activities start in December. The Zürch Dolder rink hosts holiday themed Ice Discos at least once a month. See program.

All rinks rent skates and often skating helpers/support for those just learning. See our favorite rinks near Zurich.