Switzerland in April

You may find some things closed, depending on the snow and where you go in Switzerland. That may be the in-between period between winter and summer, when some gondolas are closed. We were in the Berner Oberland area in June and some trails had just opened due to snow.

Hi Jerry,

My husband and I traveled in the Nyon area April 27-30 this year. After I read your post I looked at the photos to see what I wore. I did not see one pic where I wore a coat. I brought a coat but I put it in my backpack early on and never took it out 'til I got home. It seems I wore a light-weight shirt one day, and a lightweight Columbia sweater another day. We traveled on from there to Lake Brienz area on April 30 where I see I wore a short sleeve shirt much of the next six days. Of course, weather predictions are only predictions. It could be very different next year. I don't always do tourist related things so I can't give you much info about that. I can tell you that one day we took the train from Brienz to Montreaux the first week of May just to see the Freddie Mercury statue which is near Lake Geneva. The weather was sunny and the flowers along the lake were beautiful. We sat outside and ate ice cream before heading back to Brienz.

Happy Travels!

Traveler Girl

Hi Jerry,

The Lake Geneva area (Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux) is absolutely charming in Spring, with everything blooming along the lake and sunny mild days (it can be sometimes rainy, as it was this year, but if you have a rain coat or an umbrella it's all good). I live close to Vevey and truly love the Spring weather, especially late April and early May.
The above mentioned cities are full of history and stunning architecture, many famous international artists vacationed here or even lived parts of their lives - Charlie Chaplin, Victor Hugo, Ersnest Hemingway, Freddie Mercury and Queen, Lord Byron and so on.
Close to Vevey, there is Chaplin's World, the mansion where Chaplin, his wife Oona (the daughter of the famous writer Eugene O'Neill) and their 8 children lived for 25 years. In Montreux, you can see, besides Freddie statue as mentioned by someone else, the recording studio owned by Queen and where they recorded their last 6 albums.
Not to mention the spectacular views over the lake from the famous UNESCO listed Lavaux region and its centuries old vineyards with small picturesque villages inhabited mainly by winemakers.
If you need more info, please feel free ask me.

I would try to work it where you do something city focused before the cruise and something more nature focused after the trip. Not as convenient maybe, but I'd consider it a safer bet.

Thanks for all the great recommendations. We love spring too and are not afraid or rain or snow. I guess I was just thinking that since it is so mountainous that snow could be a problem for moving about in general but I am sure that the roads and rails are kept clear because citizens use them to get about as is done anywhere. I do appreciate all the ideas and will use them in my planning.

For clarification, the railroads are kept clear year-round but many mountain passes close until some time in May.
Late April should be lovely in the lowlands: lake Geneva as suggested, also around Luzern, and you can still do a quick visit (no hiking) to the Berner Oberland in between.