Aletsch Glacier Aletschgletscher
The Aletsch Glacier is a valley glacier in the Bernese Alps, forming part of the Jungfrau-Aletsch protected area. It has an elevation of 2,333 meters, covers 118 km², and is 22,750 meters long. It is one of the 20 most looked-up sights in Switzerland on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
July and August are the warmest months, with average daily highs of 12 °C and lows of 2 °C. The coldest temperatures occur in January, with average daily highs of -9 °C and lows of -16 °C. Rainfall is present throughout the year; May is the wettest month with 239 mm of rain over 23 days, while February has the fewest rainy days at about 13.
The glacier is 74 km from Bern. For air travel, Bern Airport is 68 km away, and Milan Malpensa International Airport is 103 km away. Visitors can combine a visit to the glacier with trips to the Sphinx Observatory or Jungfraujoch, both of which are about 14 km away. Other nearby sights include Oeschinen Lake at about 28 km, Reichenbach Falls at about 31 km, and the Swiss Alps at 33 km.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 12 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | -9 | -7 | -4 | -1 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 3 | -4 | -9 |
| Average low, °C | -16 | -16 | -12 | -9 | -4 | -1 | 3 | 2 | -1 | -5 | -12 | -15 |
| Rainfall, mm | 173 | 152 | 189 | 185 | 239 | 206 | 202 | 205 | 177 | 195 | 186 | 180 |
| Rainy days | 15 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 23 | 21 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
