Switzerland, Austria in April

I guess you need to read "Dummies Guide for first time travellers to Europe", but it doesn't exist.
Any answer to such a general question would be much too much to fit in here. I suggest you go down to your local library, or second hand book shop, and buy one or two guide books for Austria and Switzerland. You have some reading to do, which should only increase your enthusiasm.

As for travelling by train: start with this webpage: http://seat61.com/Europe-train-travel.htm
Then read the rest of that website. It is the best website there is explaining how to travel by train.

In 10 days I would pick two, maximum 3 places to stay. Fly into Zürich, but don't stop there, catch a train direct from the airport.

• Luzern is good, Berner Oberland is better.
• Train to Salzburg. Slow, but you are going lengthwise through the Alps (Scenery!).
• Train to Vienna, a few nights and then fly home.

That is only one option, read up and decide for yourselves.

Spend a minimum of three nights in each location. Chris has a great suggestion. Not sure how much hiking can be done in the alps in April?

As this is your first trip to Europe, my first suggestion is to read Europe Through The Back Door, as that provides a lot of good information on "how" to travel well in Europe. After that use the country or city-specific guidebooks (preferably RS guidebooks) to plan hotels, sightseeing, transportation etc.

With only a very short 10 days, I'd suggest limiting your trip to TWO locations with perhaps a few day trips. You'll need to allow for transportation times between locations. In this case, Lucerne and either Salzburg or Vienna would be good. As you want to do some hiking, Salzburg would be my choice.

Staying in Lucerne will provide a beautiful city to come back to each night after your hiking excursions. There are lots of nice hotels and restaurants to choose from. However as with anywhere in Switzerland, it will be expensive so plan accordingly. While in Salzburg you could perhaps take a day trip to Hallstatt (depending on weather) as it's an incredibly beautiful location.

I'm not sure what the Berner Oberland will be like in April for hiking, as that's usually about the time the farmers spread fertilizer on their fields and the stench could be objectionable. The weather could also be rainy or muddy. I'd suggest visiting there on a day trip from Lucerne if the weather is good as it's an incredibly beautiful area with some interesting attractions.

Yes, travel by train (or other public transit) is by far the best method. Switzerland has an excellent transportation system and the trains, buses, etc. are well integrated. However, some degree of planning will be required especially in Switzerland as there are a number of different Passes available so choosing the best one can save some money.

Of course, using open-jaw flights would be the best idea so that you don't have to waste time and money returning to your starting point.

As you go through the planning, I'm sure the group here can help you work out all the details.

"I guess you need to read "Dummies Guide for first time travellers to Europe", but it doesn't exist."

Actually the owner of this website has written such a book - Rick Steves Europe Through The Back Door: https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/europe-through-the-back-door Your first step should be to read the first half of it (you can get it from your library, and don't worry if it's not the very latest edition). While you're at the library, try to get out Rick Steves Switzerland and Rick Steves Vienna, Salzburg & Tirol too. And while you're doing that, get out as many Switzerland and Austria guidebooks as you can. Cast a wide net. While there's invariably some duplication, each book will have things other books lack.

You'll find that Rick's books are the most helpful for a beginner, with the most nitty-gritty details. For instance, other books will say there's a bus between point A and point B. Rick will tell you exactly where to buy the ticket, where to wait for the bus, and the fact that it while it runs every half hour most of the day, it doesn't run from noon to 4.

Next, 10 days isn't a lot. You may want to focus on just one of these countries (and I'm saying "may" just to be polite). Particularly for a first trip, it's much easier. You only have to deal with one currency, and you will have less time in transit and more time for actual sightseeing, and you will not need a vacation after your vacation. You listed five places; trying to see them in ten nights is exhausting, and you won't remember which was which at the end.

Start by plotting how many nights you have on the ground. Remember that you land in Europe after the day of departure from the US (assuming, of course, that's where you're starting from); the day of departure from Europe is taken up with getting to the airport; and the day of arrival in Europe is often a jet-lagged haze, so you can't plan on going too far or doing too much.

Some specific advice for your itinerary is that April is often said to be the worst month to go to the Swiss Alps. It's between skiing season and hiking/walking season, it often rains, the lifts are closed at various times for maintenance, and they are fertilizing the grass with liquefied manure sprayed through high pressure hoses, so you get a "lovely" aroma while walking around. Luzern and Vienna will be fine at that time, but if you're going to pay Swiss prices, you will probably have a better trip to the Alps at a different time (summer and early fall for hiking, winter for skiing).

I know you know you're asking a general question. You'll see that this Forum is most useful for specific ones. "What should we see in Switzerland?" is hard to answer. "We have a special interest in car museums - are there any near Luzern or Salzburg?" or "My husband wants to eat steak but I'm vegan - is there a restaurant in Innsbruck where we can both have a satisfying meal together?" are questions that can be hard to get answers to from guidebooks, but will get great answers here. So, when you've done some basic research, come back and start a new thread.

Ken and I were posting at the same time, and you'll notice we had a lot of the same ideas.

Open jaw flights are called "multi city" or "multiple destinations" on booking websites. For instance, Chicago to Zurich and Vienna to Chicago. These are not always more expensive than a conventional round trip, and even if they are, you save a lot of time and money not backtracking (very important on a short trip). Don't look for two one-way flights, as that can be much more expensive.

Once you know the places you want to see, let us know what they are and where you live, and we can help with flights. The particulars are different for each case.

I want to spend about 10 days in Switzerland (Lucerne and hiking areas)

April is the wrong time of year for hiking in the Alps, although it might be possible in the lower Swiss Jura mountains. As noted by a poster above, it's the shoulder season when conditions are too warm for skiing but too much snow and mud remain for hiking. And the fertilizer part mentioned previously.