Zurich vs Bern: which is sunnier?
🇨🇭 Switzerland vs 🇨🇭 Switzerland · 100 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Bern is the sunnier overall: about 2,095 hours of sunshine a year to Zurich's 1,912. Bern has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 of 12 months, Zurich in 1 (6 within 2 points).
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| Zurich | Bern | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 1,912 | 2,095 |
| Sunniest month | September (65/100) | September (76/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 2/100 | 2/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 63/100 | 69/100 |
| Rain / year | 1,311 mm | 1,142 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 6 (high) | 6 (high) |
Zurich vs Bern month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zurich | Bern | Zurich | Bern | Zurich | Bern | |
| January | 0 | 0 | 3° | 4° | 94 | 77 |
| February | 0 | 0 | 5° | 5° | 73 | 62 |
| March | 12 | 13 | 10° | 10° | 91 | 80 |
| April | 43 | 44 | 15° | 15° | 91 | 83 |
| May | 59 | 56 | 19° | 18° | 141 | 130 |
| June | 64 | 70 | 23° | 23° | 139 | 117 |
| July | 63 | 69 | 24° | 24° | 144 | 121 |
| August | 63 | 68 | 24° | 24° | 146 | 126 |
| September | 65 | 76 | 19° | 20° | 103 | 83 |
| October | 42 | 49 | 15° | 16° | 100 | 94 |
| November | 6 | 6 | 9° | 9° | 87 | 82 |
| December | 0 | 0 | 4° | 5° | 102 | 87 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan even · Feb even · Mar even · Apr even · May Zurich · Jun Bern · Jul Bern · Aug Bern · Sep Bern · Oct Bern · Nov even · Dec even.
When to pick which
- November–February: too close to call — Zurich averages 2/100, Bern 2/100. Daytime highs are similar (5°C vs 6°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: too close to call — Zurich averages 38/100, Bern 38/100. Daytime highs are similar (15°C vs 14°C).
- June–August: Bern (average score 69/100 vs 63). Daytime highs are similar (24°C vs 24°C).
- September–October: Bern (average score 63/100 vs 54). Daytime highs are similar (17°C vs 18°C).
Full month-by-month guides: Zurich weather by month · Bern weather by month · Best time to visit Switzerland.
More comparisons: Zurich vs Basel · Zurich vs Friedrichshafen · Bern vs Geneva · Bern vs Basel · all head-to-heads