What to pack for Switzerland in February

13 rain days a month finds every seam. A real shell, not a windbreaker.

Lows around 32°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up.

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

The layer you'll wear more than any other.

Your fingers go numb in 32°F air, especially on exposed ridges.

Snow covers the terrain and sidewalks ice over; regular shoes fail.

Snow reflects UV back at your eyes even when the index is low.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Altitude and cold air dry out cuts and scrapes faster than usual.

This country runs on Type C or J. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Ten hours of daylight means cameras drain faster than at lower latitudes.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Dark by 6:50pm. Every campsite chore after that is a two-hands job.

Day hikes from base camp need layers, water, and a map at eye level.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

Wet snow soaks through regular gloves in under an hour of hiking.

For the mornings and the nights.

Wind at this speed turns any gap in your layers into a problem.

Wet feet in February snow means hypothermia sets in within hours.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

Checked luggage moves through multiple airports across the region.

Wet snow soaks gear. Rolling duffels keep damp items separate from dry clothes.

Thermal socks, gloves, and base layers compress poorly without organization.

A month in the mountains generates laundry faster than hand-washing keeps up.

Lows around 32°F. One blanket that packs small covers the car, the campsite and the beach at sunset.

Train noise through tunnels and wind at altitude make quiet hours difficult.

Melting snow seeps into boots from the sides all day long.

Mountain roads twist sharply and 10.3 hours of daylight means driving in dusk.

One outlet at the guesthouse turns into four with a multi-port charger.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

Switzerland requires documents at every border crossing through the region.

International travel through Switzerland requires locks on checked bags.

Boots, a sleeping bag, and winter coat compress down to fit carry-on limits.

Trains cross borders at night. A pillow helps you sleep through station noise.