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Switzerland in mid April

Hello all, I am planning trip to Switzerland in mid April next year for 10 days and would like to know if it is too early in spring to travel there. With Good Friday and Easter fall into that period, are the museums will be closed for the holidays?

Thank you in advance for all the sugestions

Posted by
12040 posts

If your plan is to visit the mountains, April is the single worst month. The ski season ends, and there's too much wet snow and mud to hike. The high trails are inaccessible and much of the mountain tourist infrastructure shuts down until the summer season begins. And the weather is often overcast, so those stunning Alpine views hide behind a dull gray veil.

Stick to cities at that time of year, or else go with very low expectations.

Posted by
11294 posts

In addition to all of Tom's points, other posters have raised a further problem. April is when they fertilize the grazing fields using liquefied manure sprayed from pressure hoses. This means a lovely "aroma" as you're walking around, even if you don't sink into the mud.

Unless you are very drawn to Swiss cities, I'd go another time (or, if you have to travel at that time, go to another place). Switzerland is very expensive, and I would have been very frustrated if all I could see was the indoor attractions.

Posted by
19638 posts

April is when they fertilize the grazing fields using liquefied manure sprayed from pressure hoses. This means a lovely "aroma" as you're walking around, even if you don't sink into the mud.

The smell of Wisconsin in the spring.

Posted by
23 posts

Thank you for replying. I definitely want to be outdoor for the scenery and will change my plan to the end of May. Hopefully the weather will be lot nicer.

Posted by
12040 posts

The hiking season really doesn't start until mid June. May weather has a lot of variation year to year.

Posted by
32171 posts

"April is when they fertilize the grazing fields using liquefied manure sprayed from pressure hoses. This means a lovely "aroma" as you're walking around, even if you don't sink into the mud."

It's also the aroma one gets to "enjoy" when driving through the Fraser Valley (B.C.) at certain times of the year. The Chilliwack area is especially noticeable as there are large fields on either side of the freeway. It also happens in parts of the Okanagan at times, as there are some huge fields for corn and other crops.

Posted by
271 posts

Strangely that smell helps to loosen up my tight shoulders. After a while you can't even smell it (a lie). But for some reason it does relax me a little.