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Trip to Switzerland in early April 2019, now second guessing because weather would be better in September. Anyone with experience there?

Right now I have booked, in early April 2019 , 2 nights Zurich, 4 nights lugano, 5 nights wengen, and 4 nights lucerne. This will be my first time in Europe and am traveling by myself.

I originally wanted to go to Switzerland because of all of the beautiful pictures I saw of the Lauterbrunnen region. April was the only month that could work with my work schedule. Plus I didn't want to have to wait a long time to take the trip!

Originally I read that April can still be beautiful and I'd have a good time. Now as I'm reading more and more it seems like nothing will really be in bloom at that point. Has anyone had a good time in April? Should I instead plan for Late August/Early September? It would just be a bummer to have to make it a year away.

I'm not interested in skiing or anything like that, the most outdoorsy thing I will do is do some easy trails for the views. Everything is booked as refundable so I have some flexibility, but I really don't want to wait a whole year to go on a trip.

Thoughts?

8 Answers

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  • 7 months ago

    It is a mistake to visit Switzerland in April because the mountain passes are closed and this is the special beauty of Switzerland. In September everything is open.

  • W
    Lv 5
    2 years ago

    April can be quite cool here, but I've experienced some brief periods of comfortable daytime weather that cools down after sundown. September is definitely the better time of year weather-wise. Remember that Switzerland is about the same longitude as Nova Scotia.

  • 3 years ago

    You stay 5 nights in Wengen?! Although it is a extremely beautiful town on mid - level of Jung Frau, it is very small and its transportation to other part of Switzerland is very inconvenient, since you need to take 2 train rides from Interlaken to Wengen! If you need to leave Jung Frau zone for sightseeing, you must take 2 train rides downhill and the same action uphill for everyday! I stayed 2 nights in the town, I love it so much since it was very beautiful, but the transportation was really a nightmare.

    You also spend too much time in cities. Although every Switzerland cities are excellent, you should leave the cities to visit more natural environment. Why don't you visit Zermatt and Matterhorn at Southern Switzerland? The mountain is gorgeous and the mountain climbing tram is also excellent.

  • Orla C
    Lv 7
    3 years ago

    First of all, Switzerland was another country affected by the very short spring in 2018, which meant that a lot of trees didn't bloom when they normally do. Don't assume that this is the norm - it isn't. You'll still be able to see lots, experience lots in April.

  • ?
    Lv 7
    3 years ago

    Apart from the fact that during April, which is usually after the Ski-season, many places close so their owners can take a quick break before the Summer season begins, the weather in April could be anything from snow still, to rain, to maybe an early Spring. And late Winter storms are quite often severe. Winter's last knockings. I'd suggest if you can, you go in early September which is when we often took a European break - schools back, so less crowded. Obviously the towns shouldn't be a problem, weather-wise, in April.

    ps If you do go in April, and want to see snow on the mountain-tops, before it all melts, you will!!

  • 3 years ago

    The problem with April in Switzerland is the weather can be really bad, and especially in the mountains. You could easily find Wengen inside the cloud layer, and it is like being in the thickest, wettest fog you can imagine. Note the problem seems to be specific to April (and to a lesser extent for November).

    Winter has not yet passed in much of Switzerland in April, and that can mean many of the passes through the mountains can still be closed. For example, one cannot drive to the monastery at the Saint Bernard Pass until the snow is gone. I once tried to drive to Lucerne from western Switzerland via the Furka Pass in May and it was still closed by snow (we took the auto-train). .

    The weather in the valleys during April - such as for Lucerne and Zurich - is likely to be heavy overcast with rain + possible snow & slush. I am not sure about Lugano in April.

    If I had to choose between April and September to visit Switzerland for regular tourism it would be September. May is also a really nice month to visit Switzerland.

    ----------

    I went to high school in Leysin, Switzerland, which is at a little higher elevation than Wengen. Most of the businesses in Leysin would simply close for the entire month of April, and the school always gives Spring Break in April. I have since then visited Switzerland scores of times and at all times of the year.

  • 3 years ago

    I was in Geneva and Bern one March. We wore coats- but the weather was fine. Some things were in bloom. Sure, May or September might be better, but April is fine.

  • 3 years ago

    I have never traveled to the mountains in Switzerland in April; but, at first glance, I am skeptical about 5 nights in Wengen in April: the winter season is ending (has ended) and the summer season has not started yet..

    You may find here some pictures from Wengen in April 2018:

    https://twitter.com/wengenCOM

    For Zurich, Lucerne, Lugano, ... there should not be any problem in April..

    Let's wait for the answer of a Swiss.

    http://www.willgoto.com/

    .

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