August in Switzerland: soaking up the last of summer

August in Switzerland feels a bit like the last full chapter of summer. The days are still long, the lakes are often wonderfully warm and there are still festivals, village parties and warm evenings outside everywhere.

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Still, August is different from July. July mostly feels like peak summer and holidays. August feels more like: squeezing everything out of summer before September starts. And for many new physios, this is also the month when the Switzerland adventure really begins.

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Here are three things to get out of Switzerland this month.

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August 1st: Swiss National Day

If you've just moved to Switzerland, August 1st is really worth experiencing at least once. It's Switzerland's national holiday. A bit like King's Day in the Netherlands, but the Swiss way: with flags, bonfires, fireworks, music, speeches and village parties.

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What I personally like about August 1st is that it often feels very local. Of course there are bigger celebrations in cities like Zurich, Lucerne, Interlaken or Montreux, but in smaller villages you often catch much more of the real Swiss atmosphere. People come together, there's food and music, and later in the evening usually fireworks or a bonfire.

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My tip: ask your colleagues where they're going. Locals usually know exactly where to find a nice party, viewpoint or fireworks nearby. And if you've just moved here, it's an easy way to get a feel for Swiss culture.

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Also nice: around August 1st, lots of farms and restaurants organise special brunches. Maybe not something you'd look for yourself, but it's exactly these things that make getting to know Switzerland so much fun.

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Events in August

Not everything in August has to be about mountains, hikes and lakes. Switzerland is also full of events, festivals and evenings when cities really come to life this month. Especially when you're new, these evenings are ideal for meeting people outside of work.

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A few events that stand out this month:

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The Locarno Film Festival (5 to 15 August) makes Ticino feel even more like a holiday than it already does. Palm trees, warm evenings, Italian vibes, and a major film festival right in the middle of town. The open-air screenings on the Piazza Grande are especially memorable. A great one if you fancy a slightly different kind of summer evening.

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Buskers Bern (6 to 8 August) is a street music and performance festival in Bern's old town. Everywhere you look there are artists, music, theatre and small acts. It feels less massive than some of the big festivals, and that's exactly what makes it so charming.

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The Street Parade in Zurich (8 August) is one of the biggest techno events in Europe. That day, the whole city turns into one big party around the lake. Even if techno isn't normally your thing, it's quite something to experience once. Busy, colourful and completely different from a normal Saturday in Zurich.

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If you live in or around Lucerne: the Lucerne Festival starts on 13 August. This one is more classical and cultural, but it's a big, well-known event in the city. Great if you feel like doing something other than hiking, swimming or going to a regular festival.

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And on the Landiwiese in Zurich, the Zürcher Theater Spektakel (13 to 30 August) brings theatre, performance, food stands and summer-evening vibes by the lake. Even if you don't actually go to a show, the atmosphere alone is often worth it.

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August in the Swiss workplace

August isn't just a month of festivals, swimming and summer evenings. At work, this month often feels a bit like a transition period. Many colleagues are still on holiday, some patients are away, schedules can run a little differently, and at the same time new people start after the summer.

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Especially if you're just starting out as a physio in Switzerland, this is good to know. Things can feel a bit chaotic at first, but that's not always on you. In many practices, clinics and hospitals, the team simply isn't running at full strength yet in August.

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At the same time, August is a lovely month to start. You're often not the only new person, colleagues slowly return from holiday and in many places the atmosphere is still a bit more summery and relaxed. So ask questions, watch how things are done, get to know the system and give yourself time to land.

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What also helps: use the summer to get to know your colleagues better. A swim after work, drinks, a barbecue, planning a hike or catching an event together. In summer it's often easier to connect outside of work too, and that really helps you feel at home faster.

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And maybe August shows better than any other month why so many physios love living in Switzerland. You work during the day, but afterwards you can still head to a lake, a festival, a terrace or the mountains. Because discovering Switzerland works just fine with a full workweek, and it's exactly that balance that makes life here so attractive to so many people.

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One last month of full summer

August is the month of warm lakes, long evenings, fireworks above the villages and cities coming to life one more time. Not a month to save for later. Treat yourself to a farm brunch, jump into the lake after your shift, look up at the sky on August 1st and put at least one of these events on your bucket list for your first year.

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And are you starting your first weeks as a physio in Switzerland this month? Give yourself time. It doesn't have to be perfect right away. If you look back in September and think: that was a good first month, you've done just fine.

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Still exploring what it would be like to work in Switzerland? Check out our current vacancies for physiotherapists.

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