WHAT TO PACK FOR A WINTER TRIP TO SWITZERLAND

We visited two very different areas of Switzerland while we were there in December.

Aye, both were very cold (Toto, we're non in warm winter SoCal anymore! Ha!). And yep, both required the obvious wintertime gear (jacket, hats, sweaters, you lot know, the usual things one would expect to wearable in Switzerland in December/January). Even so, one identify was a city (Lucerne) and 1 was a luxury ski town without cars (Zermatt), so, outside of the base layers, each spot required a few different pieces. Aka this isn't a trip you lot can expect to pack light for! I'll be doing full posts on each city sharing more details on what we did, where we stayed, where we ate and more, but for the sake of this mail, let'due south chat a little near the specifics of my Switzerland packing list, what I brought with me, items I found most useful and some helpful tips for each place (i.e. how you go around, what yous do, dress codes, etc.) so you can hands make the nigh informed packing decision. So, permit'due south dive into it, shall we? Here's what you lot need to know to assistance yous pack properly for winter in Switzerland-

PACKING FOR LUCERNE

Lucerne has all the urban city vibes. For the most part, you'll be walking around the town to get to all your activities, so be sure to have comfortable shoes and lots of warm layers (Oh, to visit in June/July when just a few less layers are required! Ha!). An over-the-shoulder purse is good to keep your easily free to document your trip with a photographic camera, or to only keep them tucked away in your coat pockets for extra warmth. And definitely don't forget gloves, preferably the ones with the touch screen ability because trust me when I say yous will not want your hands glove-gratis for more than than .2 seconds. While y'all're more than likely to exit for drinks than you are dinner In Lucerne (at least in our experience), yous don't demand anything overly dressy (a prissy sweater, jeans and boots/booties work just fine). The focus for Lucerne is definitely on layers, warmth, ease, comfort and convenience.

PACKING FOR ZERMATT

Zermatt, on the other hand, feels very much like the glam ski boondocks yous'd expect it to experience similar. There are no cars then y'all'll still exist doing lots of walking, just in more than snowfall (though they do do a skillful job of keeping the roads and pathways clear). At that place are definitely a lot more opportunities to exit for both dinner and drinks than I noticed in Lucerne, and while you may want to exist a bit trendier/fashion-forward, I would still say zilch overly fancy is needed. If yous go to après ski, literally everyone will be in ski gear (and I do hateful everyone). If you go to the top of the mountain/go skiing, y'all volition, plainly, want all the layers. Every bit for the glam, where I really noticed it was in the jackets (fur or Moncler), the boots (Moon Boots), the accessories and the ski gear. You lot certainly aren't frowned upon or looked down on if you lot're walking around in anything simply designer, but it's just something I took note of (merely, ya know, if you happen to have some Moon Boots or a Moncler hanging out in your closet I would say y'all maybe might want to definitely pack it and bring it to Zermatt with you).

Outside of all the standard things that come with me on any trip (things like my black tote bag, reusable h2o bottle, skincare line-up, jewelry, underwear, etc.), you can see everything I packed for visiting Switzerland, listed out below. I've linked verbal items where possible, or included similar pieces for things no longer available. And, of course, if you accept whatsoever specific packing questions, don't hesitate to reach out and inquire, or permit me know in the comments (below).

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WHAT TO PACK FOR A Wintertime TRIP TO SWITZERLAND

a few notes

  • While this was a winter trip, this was Not a skiing trip. Hence why y'all will find plenty of cold weather condition winter wear on my packing list, but cypher specifically for skiing. Of course, if we had planned to go skiing, I would have included a few more than things specifically for that, which I know seems obvious, but I just wanted to requite a heads up and fair warning for anyone using this packing listing who is planning to ski.

  • Anything with an asterisk is a slice I found especially helpful/was really glad I brought and, more often than not, wore on repeat throughout the trip.

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CLOTHES

If it's warm and cozy, y'all'll want it! Trust me, there's no such thing as too many warm apparel for wintertime in Switzerland!

  • Sweaters, the thicker and cozier the better (alpine print, chunky knit, turtleneck)

  • Crewneck sweatshirt* (comfortable, warm, piece of cake to layer and easy to keep casual or dress up, every bit needed)

  • Layering turtlenecks (white + black)*

  • Pants: blue jeans, black jeans*, fake leather, plaid

  • Thermal superlative + bottoms* (the ultimate winter trip layers; these items have been on every cold-atmospheric condition trip with me throughout the final 10 years and I swear past them)

  • Cozy pajamas

  • Warm loungewear (I love this alpaca hoodie and sweatpant set up)

Dazzler

The air is harsh, cold + dry, and so when it comes to packing up your beauty bag, you need all the farthermost moisturizing things you tin can go!

  • A very rich face oil

  • A super heavy duty cream for both face + body

  • Actress-nourishing sunscreen

  • Moisturizing sheet masks + cream mask (both totally saved my skin and kept it glowing throughout our trip)

  • Eye mask (to use in identify of standard eye cream since a mask is more moisturizing)

  • A rich, thick body cream

  • Thick lip balm

  • Beauty elixir (proficient to spritz on and keep your face feeling moisturized and fresh throughout the twenty-four hours)

  • Jade roller (to help de-puff from traveling and change in elevations)

WHAT I WISH I HAD PACKED

  • A cardigan (I only brought pull-over sweaters and I feel like a cardigan would take been a nice layer slice for places like the railroad train or when out to dinner, since I would get warmer inside)

  • White booties (just personally preference based generally on the fact that I kept maxim out loud "This outfit would look so much better, if only I had white booties!" Haha)

  • White jeans (see in a higher place, because basically I wished I had had white jeans for the same reason I wish I had had white booties with me)

  • More sweaters (no such thing equally too many and also considering I chop-chop got bored of the ones I did bring since that was basically all I wore)

  • A long puffer coat (a lesson learned the cold, difficult way; the coats I brought were all on the shorter side and it definitely would have been nice to have a footling extra length keeping me toasty and warm, especially for things like going upwardly the mountain in Zermatt)

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