The 100+ best bad weather ideas in Switzerland

Our 30 best bad weather ideas for Switzerland

Even though there's a saying that there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing, sometimes you can’t ignore the persistent rain and thick fog.

If you’re looking for things to keep your kids entertained or want to do something fun with your family, friends, or just by yourself, our ideas can help you out.

At the beginning of this page, you can browse through bad weather ideas across Switzerland and book your ticket right away. In this article, we’ll go into a bit more detail about 30 ideas you can enjoy even when the weather isn’t great. By the way, there are also tips included that don’t require a ticket or extensive travel.

Outdoor activities in bad weather

Outdoor? Yes, outdoor!

While everyone is heading to the safe and dry, you can take a chance and venture outside on an adventure. There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad preparation. Therefore our recommendation: Bring the right equipment.

With warm and rainproof clothes, some spare dry clothes, waterproof shoes and an umbrella, you'll be ready for anything. To estimate how waterproof you need to equip yourself, it helps to take a last look at the weather forecast before you go.

Go to Europapark

Have you ever been to Europapark and had to wait in line for over an hour at your favorite ride? If the weather is bad, that won't happen to you. Unless the weather is absolutely hideous or it's pouring rain, a day at Europapark can be a good bad weather option. Dress warmly and waterproofly, take a layer of spare clothes and you will hardly think about the bad weather because of the joy of the short waiting times.

If it does get too cold or wet, you can watch one of the many high-quality shows, visit an indoor roller coaster or take a break in one of the many restaurants.

Take a Kayak Tour

At first glance, kayaking might seem like something to do only in nice weather. But the lake takes on a particularly mystical atmosphere when the sky is overcast and raindrops splash on the water beside you. Dressed appropriately, spending a few hours in a kayak—whether on a guided tour or paddling on your own—can be a remarkable experience.

• Kayak Tours in Switzerland

Check out Switzerland in miniature

Just because the weather outside is bad doesn’t mean you can’t explore Switzerland. Right next to the Rhine Falls in Schaffhausen is Smilestones. In this miniature world, reminiscent of the Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, a lovingly designed and detail-rich Switzerland awaits you. So if you're looking for a rainy day activity nearby, you don’t need to go any further than Smilestones.

And while you’re there, why not also visit the Rhine Falls? When it rains, it flows even more water and is even more impressive than usual.

Explore a Cave

Caves have their advantages. Apart from a few leaks, they're mostly waterproof and maintain a relatively consistent temperature throughout the year. So you can definitely escape the rain, and the fog won't penetrate deep inside the cave. The Beatus Caves by Lake Thun, the Hölloch in the Glarus canton, the Bear Cave on Monte Generoso, or the Nidlenloch in the Solothurn canton are just a few of the caves you can visit even in bad weather.

• Visit Hölloch, the largest cave in Europe located in Muotathal
• Train ticket to Monte Generoso

Admire a waterfall

Waterfalls are also dependent on rain. So if it hasn't stopped raining for a few days, a visit to a waterfall can be very impressive. Incidentally, the Rhine Falls are particularly impressive when the masses of water have been accumulating for several days and cascading down the Rhine. But the Trümmelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen or the Reichenbach Falls in Meiringen are also very impressive during or after rainfall.

Go Puddle Jumping

Bad weather means it's peak season for puddles. If you're a kid at heart or just want to unleash your inner child, throw on your wellies and jump into every puddle you find. With a warm shower, dry clothes, and a hot cup of cocoa waiting for you at home, it doesn't matter if you end up soaking wet.

Take a Boat Trip

Even on a boat, bright blue skies aren't guaranteed. A boat trip in overcast weather can be a mystical and memorable experience, especially if the fog doesn’t completely block your view. If you want to stay nice and dry, opt for a scenic cruise. You can also combine your journey with a brunch or a delicious lunch. With the right wind and weather protection, you can venture out to the deck for a bit, then warm up inside the boat afterward.

• Boat trips in Switzerland

Indoor Activities for Bad Weather

Indoor activities are perfect for those rainy days. Here are some ideas on how to spend your day indoors and where you can go for some fun.

Visit an Escape Room

While you and your friends or family tackle one exciting and tricky puzzle after another to escape the room you're locked in, you won't even notice the weather outside. Time flies by, and maybe the sun will be shining again by the time you’ve completed your mission.

• Book Escape Rooms in Switzerland

Go Surfing

Yes, you can actually surf in Switzerland. And even indoors! If you're not a fan of getting wet in the rain but don't mind getting splashed, indoor surfing could be a great option for you. Whether you're a pro surfer or a beginner, it doesn't matter. There are options for all skill levels. With a surfboard under your arm and flip-flops on your feet, you'll definitely feel the summer vibe, even if the weather outside suggests otherwise.

• Oana Surf - the artificial Citywave for surf training

Visit the Glasi Hergiswil

At the beautiful Lake Lucerne, the glass factory “Glasi Hergiswil” has been creating its stunning products by hand for over 200 years. On the museum tour, you’ll discover everything about the history of this fascinating craft. There’s even a window where you can watch the professionals at work, as well as a factory shop offering the glass products.

Treat yourself to a wellness day

If homemade yogurt masks and salt-oil scrubs are not your thing, you can spend a few relaxing hours at a spa. Whether in the sauna, enjoying a massage, or in a whirlpool, the bad weather will soon be forgotten. Some spas are located on mountain peaks, like the one on Rigi, while others can be found in hotels or cities.

• Spa and wellness offers in Switzerland

Dive into a virtual world

If you’re not sure what to do when the weather is bad, you can always escape reality and immerse yourself in a virtual world. With VRillant, you can choose from various games that are sure to take your mind off the weather outside. The games in Lucerne and Zurich have poetic names like Tower Tag, Jungle Quest, Alice in Wonderland, or Rotten Apple.

• Virtual games in Zurich
• Virtual games in Lucerne

Visit a Chocolate Factory

If you can’t soak up your endorphins from the sun, at least chocolate will do the trick. So why not visit a chocolate factory and watch as your happiness hormones kick in? In Switzerland, there are several chocolate makers that have set up visitor centers. This way, you’ll quickly forget about the dreary weather outside and the feeling that you might be missing out on something important.

• Chocolate factories in Switzerland
• Chocolarium Ticket in Flawil

Become a Coffee Pro

If you love coffee and have always wondered how baristas master their craft so perfectly, you'll enjoy a barista course. There are providers all over Switzerland eager to show you how to become a pro. In a taster course, you'll get a glimpse into the world of coffee and learn all about its origins, handling, and preparation of this popular drink.

Join a Creative Workshop

You never stop learning. Bad weather can't change that. If you want to learn something new, like making silver jewelry, painting ceramics, or pouring concrete, let our workshops inspire you. Nothing makes you forget the weather quite like fully immersing yourself in something. And if something beautiful comes out of it, even better, right?

• Creative Workshops throughout Switzerland

Visit a cheese factory

Chocolate and cheese go hand in hand in Switzerland. If you're more of a savory person, a visit to a cheese factory might distract you from the bad weather. We've written a detailed article about cheese factories in Switzerland for you. Maybe there's one close to you?

Spend a day at the Swiss Transport Museum

The Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne is the most visited museum in Switzerland, and for good reason. The offerings are so diverse that you can easily spend a day exploring exhibits on past and future modes of transport, enjoy a journey into space at the planetarium, experience the Swiss Chocolate Adventure, or watch a film on the largest screen in Switzerland. The weather doesn't matter at all.

Play a Round of Paintball

When the weather's bad and you're stuck on the couch for hours, a lot of energy can build up. A perfect way to release that energy is to visit a paintball arena, where you shoot paintballs at your opponents. There are different providers in Switzerland offering both indoor and outdoor paintball. Invite your friends and jump into the colorful fun. But be careful! You should have a certain tolerance for pain and be ready for a few bruises.

Visit the Museum

A trip to the museum is an absolute classic when the weather is bad and is always a great option. Whether it’s raining, snowing, foggy, or just plain cold. If you have a museum pass—such as a bank card from Raiffeisenbank—you get free entry to over 500 museums.

In our article on 15 extraordinary museums in Switzerland, you’ll find even more inspiration for a special museum visit.

Have fun at the swimming pool or water park

Swimming pools and water parks are a popular choice when the weather isn’t cooperating. Pack your swimsuit and dive into the waves.

• The 13 most exciting water parks in Switzerland
• Splash and Spa Tessin
• Alpamare Pfäffikon
• Säntispark Abtwil

Visit a zoo

Even though zoos don’t only have indoor areas, they offer a good chance to partially escape the weather. You can observe how animals behave in bad weather. Do they hide away, brave the elements, or take a cozy nap under a tree indoors?

Watch a movie in the cinema

With your eyes fixed on the screen, a bag of popcorn in hand, and good company beside you, you'll quickly forget that the sun has decided to stay hidden today. Plan a spontaneous trip to the cinema and catch a good film to escape the weather. At the Verkehrshaus Luzern, for example, you can enjoy an exciting 3D evening program with feature films or a matinee showing of documentaries.

Become a professional coffee maker

If you like coffee and have always wanted to know how baristas master their craft so perfectly, you'll love a barista course. There are providers all over Switzerland who will be happy to show you how to become a professional. A taster course will give you an insight into the world of coffee and teach you all about the origin, handling and preparation of this popular drink.

Play a round of paintball

When the weather is bad and you spend hours on the sofa, a lot of energy can build up. An ideal outlet for this energy is a visit to a paintball arena, where you shoot paintballs at your opponent. There are various providers in Switzerland that offer indoor and outdoor paintball. Invite your friends and throw yourself into the colorful fun. But be careful! You should have a certain pain tolerance and be prepared for bruises.

Have fun in an indoor amusement park

Indoor amusement parks are the perfect place to keep your children busy. Whether it's bouncing on the trampoline, on the climbing wall or in a parkour zone, nobody gets bored here.

Go to a climbing gym

Climbing is a wonderful sport that you can do both indoors and outdoors. If the weather doesn't permit a trip to the mountains, you have the option of proving your climbing or bouldering skills as Spiderman or Spiderwoman in a climbing gym. If you don't have any equipment, you can hire it from the climbing gym and start your fight against gravity.

Take a look at the largest gemstone collection in the world

In Uznach in the canton of St. Gallen you will find the largest gemstone collection in the world. The gemstone center is over 2400 m² in size. Here you can admire an incredible wealth of precious, glittering and shiny stones. If you wish, you can buy a specimen that you particularly like as a souvenir. As the gemstone center is not a museum, gallery or exhibition, you don't have to pay admission. You can simply walk past and enjoy the bright colors. The unpleasant weather outside will soon be forgotten.

Visit the tropical butterflies

In the Papiliorama in Kerzers, there are over 1000 butterflies to see over an area of 1200 m². While it rains cats and dogs outside, you can watch the tropical creatures go about their daily lives in the dry. The 120 plant species in the tropical climate under the spacious dome will immediately transport you to another world.

Afterwards, the Nocturama awaits you, where you can observe the nocturnal animals. A bright full moon night is simulated here during the day, when numerous animals such as bats, sloths and raccoons come out of their hiding places.

Indoor Activities for Bad Weather at Home

You don't have to leave your home and plan an outdoor activity just because the weather's bad. There's plenty you can do within your own four walls. Here are our tips for you.

Bake a Cake

When was the last time you baked a cake? Or dropped off some homemade muffins to your neighbor? If the weather is dampening your mood, the delicious smell of a freshly baked cake or the sight of lovingly decorated muffins can brighten up your day.

Practice your hand lettering

Writing beautifully takes practice. If you created a folder on Pinterest a long time ago with all the beautiful lettering that you would like to try out, now is the time. Design a beautiful card or write a saying that you can put on your fridge.

Design a photo book

Are the photos from your last but one vacation still lying around in a box or are they just sitting in a folder on your computer, unsorted? Then it's high time to indulge in the beautiful memories and compile them into an album.

Organize a murder mystery dinner

If it's raining, storming, snowing, foggy or a tornado has just passed, the scene is set for an exciting evening with friends where you solve a mysterious murder. Buy a playset, cook something delicious and invite your friends over for a murder mystery dinner.

Enjoy a good movie

Annoying weather is perfect for watching your favorite Netflix series or a good movie without feeling guilty. With a bowl of popcorn and a comfy blanket, nothing stands in the way of your cozy morning, afternoon or evening of cinema entertainment.

Pamper yourself with a homemade spa

There are plenty of recipes for homemade yogurt masks or scrubs. Look in your pantry and fridge for spa-worthy ingredients, find your favorite recipe online and treat yourself to a pampering wrap while the weather outside does its thing. Incidentally, a face mask with Greek yogurt, a teaspoon of honey and a teaspoon of cocoa powder makes for particularly fine skin.

Plant a herb garden

A small herb garden for the balcony is surprisingly easy to make. All you need are a few cardboard cups or other containers, some soil and a few herb seeds, which you can buy in specialist shops. And since plants need water to grow, perhaps the rain is even justified today?

As you can see, even when the weather is bad, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself and your family entertained. Pick your favorite activity and show the weather that you won’t be put off.

Because the sun will definitely shine again.