With the snow inching down the mountain, it is time to prepare for Swiss winter. 

If this is your first time experiencing winter in Switzerland, you may have some questions: What winter clothes do I need? Are winter tyres essential? How does the heating work?`Can I rent skis? 

So for you “just landed” in Switzerland newbies, or for those who love a checklist, I’ve compiled a list of tasks and tips I mentally go through each winter. Everything from clothing to preparing your car, we will have you ready for the cold season in no time. 

Preparation Tips for Swiss Winter

Preparing Your Winter Wardrobe

• Late September is time to go through your winter wardrobe, bringing it up from the cellar if needed, and note down anything missing or needing replacement. Especially important for kids who most likely have grown since last winter. 
• Pop your gloves and scarves into a basket for easy access for that first snowfall or cold morning.
• Chelsea reminded me of the importance of sunscreen in winter, too – so pop some of that near your outdoor supplies too. 
• Before buying new, check for second-hand deals as other people go through their winter wardrobes. Facebook marketplace, Ricardo and Tutti, as well as speciality second-hand kid clothing pop-ups (called Kinderkleiderbörse in German) is a good idea. 
• We’ve written a few winter clothing articles over the years:
  • My “What to wear in winter” guide
  • Kaccey’s “How to dress Kids for Swiss Winter“
  • Geeta’s “Finding your Swiss winter style“

Preparing Your Car 

• It is time to start to think about winter tyres. While according to insurance provider Mobiliar, they are actually not compulsory. BUT if you are in an accident with summer tyres, your insurer may not pay out. Plus, summer tyres are useless in snow and ice, so change to winter tyres once the temperatures dip under 7c.
• You can change and purchase tyres at your local garage or a specific tyre company. You will have to decide if you want to keep them with your provider (for a fee) or take them home with you to store them yourself. 
• Pop into your car ice scraper and a small soft brush. We have this which is long enough to reach all of our windows and get the snow off the top of our car. 
• Keep your car outside? Look for a windscreen cover to help avoid a build-up of ice and snow. I am going to try this out myself this winter.
• I also like to keep a cheap pair of leather gloves in the car during winter just in case I forget mine. Handy for driving on cold mornings and when you have to scrape the ice off your windscreens
• Also, pop a spare container of windscreen washer fluid into your car, ensuring it is suitable for colder temperatures. Thanks to the salt on the roads, you will use your windscreen washer fluid more than usual.
• I also like to pop a blanket into our car in case we break down in the winter. Or ready to snuggle after a ski lesson or winter walk.

Preparing Your Garden

• Research what plants in your garden need protection from the cold weather. These will require wrapping up, or sometimes even bringing them inside, to protect from frost. Jumbo (previously Coop Bau and Hobby), Migros DO IT, or your local garden centre has everything you need for this task.
• Decide if you need to put away your garden furniture or not – or perhaps purchase a cover or move things to your cellar.
• Figure out if you need to turn off your outdoor water to avoid frozen pipes and empty and store your hoses to avoid damage.

Preparing Your Home

• Check who is responsible for clearing snow and ice. If you are in an apartment, it could be your landlord, but not always.  If you are in a house, it might fall into your hands.
• If you are responsible for clearing snow and ice, purchase a snow shovel and special salt to avoid icy paths. 
• Learn about the heating in your apartment – do you have radiators or central heating? How do you check everything is in order?
• If you are in a house and heating with oil – you will likely be responsible for filling the tank. Ask your landlord for tips. A full oil tank is even more important this winter due to energy shortages. An article for energy-saving tips is next week. 
• Once the heating is on, it is time to stop tilting those windows all day, especially during these energy-saving times. Instead, open your windows fully for 10 minutes a couple of times a day to get fresh air.
• Are you sensitive to dry air? You may want to invest in an air humidifier, especially at higher altitudes. 
• Now is the time to stock up on firewood. This can be from a local farm, forestry or, for smaller portions, home improvement stores. However, in 2022, the demand for firewood is astronomical, so expect high prices and difficulties sourcing if you are a new customer.
• I like to prepare our home for the darker, colder nights (like I shared in this post) by putting out blankets, stocking up on new candles and making sure we have plenty of lamps ready. 
• Winter is raclette and fondue season so grab a fondue set or raclette oven ready for your at-home cheese feasts.
• My friend suggested stocking up on winter drinking supplies is also a great idea – she was thinking of spices and red wine for glühwein (we have a great recipe from Shona here), which got me thinking about other winter warming drinks.

Winter Holidays and Activities

• Plan to ski all season? Autumn is the time to rent skis and snowboards. Renting early means you are prepared for the first snowfall and often have a better choice. You can rent skis at large sporting stores and smaller speciality shops. In years gone by, when we were regular skiers, we rented from Toni Sport in Rothenturm. But as we are currently “holiday” skiers and now rent at the resort on a need-to-use basis.
• Now is the time to book your skies for a service if you own skies.
• Will you or your kids take regular ski lessons throughout the season? Now is the time to choose a resort and look at their ski lesson offerings. 
• Research which ski resorts you want to try this year. Or, if you already have a favourite resort, check out their season pass. 
• This task is a little late, especially in popular resorts, but if you haven’t, its’ time to look into booking a ski week holiday. Ski week or “sportsferien” is the 1-2 week school holiday in late winter and is hugely popular in Switzerland. Locals often re-book their accommodation a year in advance, as we do in Scuol, so finding a place can take work. While you are at it, if you want your kids to attend ski school during these holidays, book now too. 
• Do you want to try another winter activity like snowshoeing? Now is an excellent time to research and eventually purchase new equipment before supply dwindles.

Swiss Integration 

• Take a look at the upcoming events in your area, noting things you want to join in. A list of local events often lands in my letter box around this time of year. Another great source is the events page on the local tourism websites. For last-minute ideas, check our weekly z’Nüni Bites newsletter. 
• If you want to join in something like decorating an advent window in your village, now is the time to ask the organiser. A low key way to get involved in the local community.