I am Planning to spend two days with family in Zermatt and Interlaken two days , which one will be preferred staying in Zermatt two days or Lucerne two days . My starting point is Montreux , I can travel to Interlaken , stay for two days and travel to Lucerne stay for two days . From Lucerne to Venice . Looks like both Rothorn and Matternhorn Galcier paradise both not open during the period ( April 28 to April 30 ) .
Thanks in Advance
I was going to say Zermatt because they have some nice children's activities and playgrounds, but then I saw your dates. In late April you will be between seasons and many things are shut down, as you discovered with the lifts. The playgrounds say they are always open all year but might not be as nice. Have a look:
Lucerne is a nice city and the kids might enjoy the indoor activities there if the weather is nice. And it is an easy trip to Venice from there: train to Milan ( some direct, some with a transfer at Arth-Goldau) then change in Milan for the Frecce train to Venice.
A lot depends on the kids’ ages. I would choose Lucerne because you could take the boats on the lake, visit Mt. Pilatus, taking the world’s steepest cog railway to the top and the double gondola ride down the other side. It also has the Swiss Transportation Museum with trains and planes and automobiles - plus boats! Also a very large model train exhibit. The kids can climb on and into locomotives and look at the cutaways to see what makes them go. Especially great visit in inclement weather.
I don't know Zermatt but Lucerne certainly won't keep you bored regardless of wheather and your interests. Philip already mentioned most of what I was going to suggest...
You'll easily be able to reach various mountains: Pilatus, Rigi, Titlis-Engelberg, Brienzer Rothorn, Stanserhorn.
You've got a nice lake to go on boat tours.
You've got the glacier garden, bridges, castle walls of Lucerne and The Swiss Transport museum right there. The aare gorge and the open air museum in Ballenberg is right between Interlaken and Lucerne and according to the museum website it would be open by mid April.
In Lucerne, in the Glacier Garden (right next to the Dying Lion monument) there is a mirror maze that my kids really enjoyed.
Lucerne for all reasons mentioned.
