When to Go

The four seasons are clearly defined here: nicely balanced periods of sun and rain bring springtime blossoms and flowers with a vengeance, thanks to the many orchards and fields; summer temperatures zoom upward to between 70 and 90 degrees, depending on whether it's a dry or wet one (although in recent years dry summers seem to prevail); the abundance of deciduous trees in this region means splashes of color in a crisp-aired, windy fall; and winter dumps lots of snow and brings temperatures hovering around -5 Celsius (23 °F) in town, down to -25 (-13 °F) on some mountaintops.

Summers in eastern Switzerland provide the best weather and activities but also the greatest traffic, both on roads and in towns; spring and fall are good alternatives.

Although most places in this region are not too terribly crowded even in summer, Stein-am-Rhein is an exception. It receives enough coach tours to virtually paralyze the village with pedestrians during high season; if you go, arrive earlier in the day or go on a weekday when crowds are a bit thinner.