Best time to visit Basel
The best time to visit Basel is September, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Basel, Basel-City, Switzerland
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4.4 °C / 40 °F | -0.9 °C / 30 °F | 91 mm / 3.6 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 6.5 °C / 44 °F | -0.6 °C / 31 °F | 71 mm / 2.8 in | good month, for Fasnacht (Basel Carnival). The weather alone makes it neither best nor good. |
| March | 10.7 °C / 51 °F | 1.7 °C / 35 °F | 81 mm / 3.2 in | good month, for Fasnacht (Basel Carnival). The weather alone makes it neither best nor good. |
| April | 15.2 °C / 59 °F | 5 °C / 41 °F | 87 mm / 3.4 in | good month |
| May | 18.5 °C / 65 °F | 9 °C / 48 °F | 131 mm / 5.1 in | good month |
| June | 23.1 °C / 74 °F | 13.1 °C / 56 °F | 122 mm / 4.8 in | good month |
| July | 25 °C / 77 °F | 14.5 °C / 58 °F | 120 mm / 4.7 in | good month |
| August | 24.2 °C / 76 °F | 14 °C / 57 °F | 125 mm / 4.9 in | good month |
| September | 20.2 °C / 68 °F | 10.6 °C / 51 °F | 92 mm / 3.6 in | best month |
| October | 15 °C / 59 °F | 7.1 °C / 45 °F | 89 mm / 3.5 in | good month |
| November | 8.7 °C / 48 °F | 2.9 °C / 37 °F | 94 mm / 3.7 in | neither best nor good |
| December | 5.1 °C / 41 °F | 0.1 °C / 32 °F | 104 mm / 4.1 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: good
- MMarch: good
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: good
- JJuly: good
- AAugust: good
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: good
- NNovember: neither
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- September
- Good
- February–August, October
Cold, dark winters (Nov-Mar) hold Basel back for exploring, though February and March get a lift from Fasnacht. April to October are reliably good, and September is the standout month: mild, sunny and the driest of the warm season.
Why these months
February · good
Made good by Fasnacht (Basel Carnival).
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 63%, precipitation 71 mm / 2.8 in.
Against: feels like (high) 3.2 °C / 38 °F, average daily high 6.5 °C / 44 °F, wet days 12.2 days, relative humidity 81%, days with heavy rain 2.2 days, sunshine per day 6.4 h, average daily low -0.6 °C / 31 °F.
Also on: Chienbäse fire parade (Liestal).
Watch out for: Fasnacht crowds.
March · good
Made good by Fasnacht (Basel Carnival).
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 70%, precipitation 81 mm / 3.2 in, relative humidity 75%.
Against: feels like (high) 7.5 °C / 46 °F, average daily high 10.7 °C / 51 °F, wet days 13.2 days, days with heavy rain 2 days, average daily low 1.7 °C / 35 °F.
Also on: BaselWorld watch and jewelry fair, Chienbäse fire parade (Liestal).
Watch out for: Fasnacht crowds.
April · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 74%, feels like (high) 13.1 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 87 mm / 3.4 in, average daily high 15.2 °C / 59 °F, relative humidity 71%, average daily low 5 °C / 41 °F.
Against: wet days 12.8 days, days with heavy rain 2.8 days.
Also on: BaselWorld watch and jewelry fair.
May · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.6 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 18.5 °C / 65 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 69%, precipitation 131 mm / 5.1 in, average daily low 9 °C / 48 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Against: wet days 17.5 days, days with heavy rain 4.3 days.
June · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.5 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 23.1 °C / 74 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, precipitation 122 mm / 4.8 in, average daily low 13.1 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 73%.
Against: wet days 16 days, days with heavy rain 4.3 days.
Also on: Art | Basel, Liste, Voltashow and Hot Art art fairs.
July · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 25.5 °C / 78 °F, average daily high 25 °C / 77 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, precipitation 120 mm / 4.7 in, average daily low 14.5 °C / 58 °F, relative humidity 69%.
Against: wet days 15.2 days, days with heavy rain 4.1 days.
August · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 24.8 °C / 77 °F, average daily high 24.2 °C / 76 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 76%, precipitation 125 mm / 4.9 in, average daily low 14 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 73%.
Against: wet days 14.8 days, days with heavy rain 5 days.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 19.7 °C / 67 °F, average daily high 20.2 °C / 68 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 73%, precipitation 92 mm / 3.6 in, average daily low 10.6 °C / 51 °F.
Against: wet days 12.2 days, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, relative humidity 78%.
October · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 65%, feels like (high) 13.7 °C / 57 °F, precipitation 89 mm / 3.5 in, average daily high 15 °C / 59 °F, average daily low 7.1 °C / 45 °F.
Against: wet days 12.6 days, days with heavy rain 3 days, sunshine per day 7 h, relative humidity 85%.
Also on: Basel Herbstmesse.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Münstertal-Wieden, 36 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 1.1 °C | 3.2 °C | 7.5 °C | 13.1 °C | 17.6 °C | 23.5 °C | 25.5 °C | 24.8 °C | 19.7 °C | 13.7 °C | 6.3 °C | 2.1 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 2.8 days | 2.2 days | 2 days | 2.8 days | 4.3 days | 4.3 days | 4.1 days | 5 days | 2.9 days | 3 days | 2.8 days | 3.4 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 11 pm | 11 am | 5 pm | 5 pm | 5 pm | 9 pm | 7 pm | 6 pm | 9 pm | 9 am | 9 pm | 9 am |
| Sunshine per day | 4.9 h | 6.4 h | 8.4 h | 10.1 h | 10.5 h | 11.6 h | 12.3 h | 10.8 h | 9.1 h | 7 h | 5.3 h | 4.4 h |
| Relative humidity | 85% | 81% | 75% | 71% | 74% | 73% | 69% | 73% | 78% | 85% | 87% | 88% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 10.7 µg/m³ | 15.3 µg/m³ | 14.3 µg/m³ | 10.7 µg/m³ | 11.5 µg/m³ | 12.9 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 11 µg/m³ | 10.2 µg/m³ | 12.5 µg/m³ | 13.4 µg/m³ | 14 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 20.1 µg/m³ | 25.8 µg/m³ | 24.1 µg/m³ | 17.5 µg/m³ | 18.2 µg/m³ | 19.8 µg/m³ | 18 µg/m³ | 17 µg/m³ | 16.6 µg/m³ | 19.5 µg/m³ | 23.1 µg/m³ | 26.2 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Fasnacht (Basel Carnival) Major
February and March, dates vary from year to year
- Chienbäse fire parade (Liestal)
February and March, dates vary from year to year
- BaselWorld watch and jewelry fair
21 March–10 April
- Art | Basel
11–20 June
- Liste, Voltashow and Hot Art art fairs
June
- Basel Herbstmesse
October and November, dates vary from year to year
- Basler Weihnachtsmarkt
24 November–23 December, dates vary from year to year
Worth knowing before you go
- Fasnacht crowds
February and March, dates vary from year to year