Geneva in January: a seasonal travel plan
Geneva, Switzerland. In january, the average daytime high is 3.2 °C and the night-time low is -3.2 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Choose a month
Selected month: January
Temperatures by month
Air temperature: Geneva
Contents
Weather at a glance
- Daytime high
- 3.2 °C
- Nighttime low
- -3.2 °C
- Monthly precipitation
- 109.0 mm
- Days with at least 1 mm
- 13.1
- Daylight
- 9.1 h
2015–2024 averages. Daytime temperature is the average daily maximum; nighttime temperature is the average daily minimum.
Early, middle and late month
| Period | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Days with at least 1 mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days 1–10 | 3.8 | -2.1 | 4.6 |
| Days 11–20 | 2.2 | -4.6 | 4.4 |
| From day 21 | 3.7 | -2.9 | 4.1 |
What this month is like
Geneva, Switzerland. In january, the average daytime high is 3.2 °C and the night-time low is -3.2 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
There are 13.1 wet days on average, with about 109.0 mm of precipitation. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
How to plan the day
Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
Average daylight is 9.1 hours, so put longer routes in the brighter part of the day.
What to pack
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag.
Precipitation and an alternative plan
Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What to pack
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Average night-time temperatures fall below freezing, so add warm clothes for early outings. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
Compared with neighbouring months
Average daytime high: previous month — 5.2 °C, January — 3.2 °C, next month — 6.1 °C. Days with at least 1 mm of precipitation: 13.8, 13.1 and 10.0.
Things to do
Geneva closes in around the point where the Rhône leaves Lake Geneva: the Old Town and the promenade on the left bank, the Pâquis quarter by the station on the right. The lake sets the scale, trams and yellow shuttle boats link the banks, and the far shore fills a day.
The lakeside and the Jet d'Eau
The Jet d'Eau rises off the Jardin Anglais, with plane trees and benches along the promenade. Walk to the Bains des Pâquis, where people swim in the lake all year, and eat at the café there.
Old Town
The Old Town climbs above the Rhône: St Pierre Cathedral with its towers, Bourg-de-Four square and the Reformation Wall in its park. Go up one tower for the view, then come down to the water.
The international quarter and Carouge
The Palais des Nations stands in Ariana Park beside the Broken Chair and the Ariana Museum with its ceramics. Cross the park, then ride the tram to Carouge for dinner in a quarter with a different character.
Where to stay
Old Town
The Old Town is quiet and stony, with the cathedral, the town hall and narrow lanes together. Few restaurants open in the evening, but the promenade and Pâquis are ten minutes on foot.
Pâquis
Pâquis by the station lives on restaurants, small shops and nightlife. Streets are noisy, though the lakefront and the baths are two steps away.
Carouge
Carouge on the left bank feels like an Italian town: a market square, workshops and cafés. Trams reach the centre in fifteen minutes, and evenings stay calm.
Getting to and around Geneva
Geneva airport connects to Cornavin station by train in seven minutes. Trams and buses cover the city, and yellow shuttle boats cross the lake between the two banks. The old centre is compact, though the climb to the cathedral goes uphill. Buy tickets from the machines at the stops; drivers do not sell them, and lake boats are ticketed separately.
Three days in Geneva
Lakeside and Old Town
Start at the Jardin Anglais and the Jet d'Eau, follow the promenade to the Bains des Pâquis. After lunch climb into the Old Town for St Pierre Cathedral and the Reformation Wall.
The UN and Carouge
Morning in Ariana Park with the Palais des Nations and the Broken Chair, then the Ariana Museum. In the afternoon a tram to Carouge: market, workshops and dinner on the square.
The lake
Take a boat to Lausanne or Montreux and spend the day on the water with the Alps behind. Return to Geneva in the evening and walk the promenade to Pâquis.
Weather throughout the year
| Month | Daytime high, °C | Nighttime low, °C | Precipitation, mm | Days with at least 1 mm | Daylight, h |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3.2 | -3.2 | 109.0 | 13.1 | 9.1 |
| February | 6.1 | -1.3 | 70.2 | 10.0 | 10.3 |
| March | 9.4 | 0.8 | 88.4 | 12.3 | 11.9 |
| April | 13.1 | 3.7 | 73.5 | 11.2 | 13.5 |
| May | 16.6 | 7.6 | 120.3 | 16.8 | 15.0 |
| June | 21.7 | 12.8 | 112.1 | 16.7 | 15.7 |
| July | 24.8 | 14.8 | 74.0 | 11.5 | 15.4 |
| August | 25.0 | 14.6 | 80.6 | 11.4 | 14.2 |
| September | 20.6 | 10.6 | 89.4 | 11.1 | 12.6 |
| October | 16.3 | 6.7 | 102.9 | 12.4 | 11.0 |
| November | 9.0 | 1.8 | 102.9 | 13.3 | 9.5 |
| December | 5.2 | -0.9 | 127.0 | 13.8 | 8.7 |
Frequently asked questions
Geneva: what is the temperature in January?
The average daytime high is 3.2 °C and the night-time low is -3.2 °C. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and indoor activities for mornings and evenings.
How many days with precipitation are there in January?
On average, there are 13.1 days with at least 1 mm of precipitation; the monthly total is 109.0 mm. Precipitation is frequent. Keep several indoor activities in your plans and fit longer walks between them.
What should I pack for walks in January?
A warm coat, closed shoes, a scarf and several clothing layers will be useful. Average night-time temperatures fall below freezing, so add warm clothes for early outings. Add a waterproof outer layer and shoes that dry quickly.
How does the weather change from the start to the end of the month?
Average daytime highs by part of the month: 1–10 — 3.8 °C; 11–20 — 2.2 °C; 21 to month-end — 3.7 °C.
How many daylight hours are there in January?
The average is 9.1 hours. Daylight is limited. Set aside time for views and photographs before dusk.
Is Geneva worth visiting in January?
The climate suits a trip if daytime temperatures around 3.2 °C and nights around -3.2 °C work for you. Plan longer walks for the middle of the day and alternate them with indoor stops.
What can I do in Geneva on a wet day in January?
Keep an indoor backup route and a compact rain jacket in your day bag. Keep a museum, market, café or another indoor route near your accommodation.
What should I pack for Geneva in January?
Pack a warm coat, several layers, a hat and non-slip shoes. Average daylight is 9.1 hours.