Rainy Day Activities in Switzerland

Surprising local spots in Switzerland for bad weather

Reading Time:    6 Min.

Publication:        September 04, 2025, Jessy Thür

Grey clouds and rain forecasts often dampen the mood, but they are the best invitation to discover Switzerland from the inside. Instead of rushing to the museum, it's worth checking out alternative, charming indoor locations: climbing halls, tea houses, bookstores with cafés, repair cafés, arthouse cinemas, and creative studios. Here are seven highlights that will keep you dry and surprise you.

1. Reach for the sky in indoor climbing centers

Rainy weather is perfect for getting your head and hands up high. Whether bouldering or rope climbing, modern climbing centers throughout Switzerland offer sporting challenges and, at the same time, space for socializing and relaxation. The climbing center in Weinfelden offers bouldering areas for all levels of difficulty, a children's area, top rope walls, and a training area. If you don't have your own equipment, you can rent it on site, and afterward, there is a cozy bistro where you can relax.

At the gasworks in Schlieren, spacious climbing areas and special family courses provide variety, and there is also a bistro for breaks in between. In Bern, the Bimano Boulderhalle not only offers 800 m² of bouldering space but also a creative children's play area with a climbing tent and mini skate park, a real highlight for families. These places offer more than just exercise; they create opportunities to meet people, strengthen body awareness, and make rainy days an active experience.

2. Tea houses: small oases of serenity

A place dedicated entirely to tea is like a liquid haven of peace: rare varieties, perhaps a tea ceremony, or simply listening to the rain, warming you up and slowing you down. Especially in cities like Zurich or Bern, small, owner-operated tea houses such as the YuLu Teahouse in Uster often offer just such a quiet retreat.

3. Bookstores with cafés: Literary & cozy

Bookstores that also have a café are literary islands. Perfect for rainy afternoons. Browsing among the shelves with a cup of coffee or tea in a relaxed atmosphere can be enchanting. Many of these stores also host readings or interactive events, such as CoalMine in Winterthur.

4. Repair cafés: Repair instead of throwing away

Sustainable, social, and authentic: At the Repair Café, people get together to fix things, with coffee and cake included. This not only results in repaired items but also in genuine connections. In Lucerne, for example, such events take place at Bourbaki. Here, people meet regularly to repair broken everyday items such as toasters, lamps, or bicycles with expert assistance. In Bern, too, the doors of the Viktoria fire department workshop are open for spontaneous visits. The open workshop invites people to simply drop by with their broken appliances and work together to find solutions.

5. Vintage and arthouse cinemas with character

If you want to escape the rain, small arthouse cinemas offer a refreshing alternative to mainstream cinemas. They show indie films, classics, and themed series in a cozy atmosphere with lots of charm.

The Kino Nische cinema in the Gaswerk in Winterthur, for example, regularly hosts indie film evenings in a relaxed sofa cinema, while in Zurich, the Xenix Kino offers a dedicated, non-commercial program in a historic sofa theater. The cooperative cinema Wildenmann in Männedorf combines arthouse cinema with a local film festival.

These cinemas are perfect for anyone looking for cinematic art and a special atmosphere on rainy days.

6. Craft workshops & DIY studios

Pottery, screen printing, or jewelry making—creative studios often offer open workshops or spontaneous courses. Ideal for parents with children, creative Sundays, or even as an unusual date idea. Such places are often small start-ups or community projects that are better discovered than specifically sought out.

For example, MiMa Factory in Zurich and St. Gallen offers macramé, dream catcher, or bracelet workshops in small groups. In just a few hours, you can create your own work of art in a relaxed, supportive environment, even if you have no previous experience.

Conclusion: Rain as an opportunity for discovery, encounters, and inspiration

Rain does not mean stagnation, but opportunity. From sporting activities in climbing halls to creative inspiration in studios to communal repairs or cinema with history. Switzerland offers a surprising number of places that not only fill gray days but enrich them.

You can find more exciting and surprising places to visit on rainy days in Switzerland at yellowpages.swiss. Whether you're looking for creative workshops, cozy cafés, or unusual leisure activities, let yourself be inspired and discover local highlights.

All information provided without guarantee.

Image Sources: Climbing Wall - Pexels, DIY Workshop - Freepik

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