Pentecost weekend in Switzerland: What traffic and weather can we expect?

In 2025, June 9 is a public holiday in Switzerland for a majority of residents, giving families and individuals the chance to put their feet up. If you are planning an excursion or holiday during the long weekend, here’s all you need to know about the latest traffic and weather forecasts.

Heavy traffic expected across the Swiss road network

With Whit Monday being a holiday in all but four cantons, Neuchâtel, Solothurn, Valais, and Zug, as well as many places across Europe, Swiss roads and motorways are expected to be very busy. According to the traffic forecast from the Federal Roads Office (ASTRA), heavy traffic should be expected from June 6 until the early hours of June 10.

Touring Club Switzerland anticipates that the heaviest southbound traffic should be expected on June 6 and 7, subsiding slightly on June 8 and clearing by June 9. Northbound routes will be most congested later in the holiday, from June 9 onwards.

Which parts of Switzerland will see the biggest jams?

The heaviest traffic, perhaps unsurprisingly, should be expected on the two most popular routes through the Swiss mountains, namely the Gotthard Road Tunnel (A2) and San Bernardino Pass (A13), and around the cities of Zurich, Basel, Bern, Lucerne, Lausanne and Geneva. However, ASTRA noted that many more routes will be congested:

• A1: Geneva, Kirchberg-Schönbühl, Härkingen-Wangen aA, Aarau West-Birrfeld
• A2: Basel, Belchen Tunnel-Härkingen, Lucerne, Altdorf-Biasca (Gotthard), Lugano-Mendriso
• A4: Adlikon-Winterthur Nord
• A8: Interlaken-Spiez, Sarnen-Lopper junction
• A9: Lausanne, Vevey-Bex Nord
• A12: Châtel-St-Denis-Vevey
• A13: Sarganserland-Thusis Süd, Andeer-Mesocco
• A15: Hegnau-Brüttisellen
• A16: Courgenay-Glovelier
• Border crossings in Basel, Vallorbe (Vaud), Chiasso-Brogeda and Gaggiolo (Ticino) 

In addition, routes to and from Swiss ski resorts and in the central valley of Ticino between Bellinzona and Locarno are also expected to be chock-a-block. For more information about the forecast, check out the ASTRA website.

Swiss airports expect surge in passengers during Pentecost

When it comes to Swiss airports, Zurich, Basel, and Geneva are all expecting a large number of passengers during the holiday weekend. Basel EuroAirport wrote in a statement that “increased passenger volumes may lead to longer waiting times at both passport control and the check-in zones”.

Passengers are therefore advised to arrive well in advance of their flights and take special precautions when it comes to hand luggage in order to avoid unnecessary wait times at security.

SBB to run extra trains to Ticino from June 6

To help more people visit holiday hotspots in the south of the country, Swiss Federal Railways will increase the number of long-distance trains running between German-speaking Switzerland and Ticino. Additional carriages will also be added to existing services.

Despite the increased capacity, SBB still expects trains to be very busy and has advised passengers to book their trip early and reserve seats. They also reminded passengers that anyone who wants to take a bicycle through the Gotthard Base Tunnel will have to pre-book a space.

Weather forecast in Switzerland for the Pentecost weekend

Finally, the weather in Switzerland during the Pentecost weekend will be quite a mixture. Unfortunately, June 7 will be characterised by showers and thunderstorms across the country, with temperatures between 21 and 26 degrees celsius. Sunday will be slightly chillier (15 to 19 degrees), but the rain will start to clear from the west.

However, there is good news for Whit Monday itself. The day will bring scattered sunshine and cloud throughout the day, with temperatures a pleasant 18 to 21 degrees - perfect for an early summer bike ride or hike. The sunniest conditions are expected around Lake Geneva, Valais and Ticino.