Travel to Switzerland in April
 

Folks - I would like to know how is the weather like in April in Switzerland. We are planning to visit between April 7 to April 14.
I'm not keen on skiing but would love to hike and see the nature.

Your help is deeply appreciated.
Tony Waria

It depends on where in Switzerland. In the higher mountains it will still be winter with lots of snow and no hiking available. (Some of the Swiss roads at the highest levels don;t open to traffic until May due to snow.) At lower levels you will be able to hike but it can cetainly still be quite cold.

Is May (15 - 24) a good time to visit than. I'm from California and certainly cannot stand much of snow and cold.

I would like to rent a car and drive around the country. I'm hoping that there wouldn't be any roadblocks or anything like that that would prevent me from visiting places.

Thanks in advance for your help
Sundeep

I would not go until June.

I was collectiong infos for my friends. According to the Grindelwald (Berner Oberland)Tourist Office, in mid-end May, hiking would be possible below 2000 meters which is less interesting than to hike at higher altitude. Bob's advice to wait till June (if you can)is good in this sense too.

A quick note to Bob re June. I used to feel the same way, but my last two June visits were uncomfortably warm. J.

Have been to Switzerland a couple of times at the end of May and it was very pleasant - not that we hiked - but folks did hike all the way up Mt. Pilatus (we passed them on the cog railway) and they had on either shirts or thin sweaters - no jackets. Also took the train up the Jungfrau and it didn't really get cold until you got near the very top. In the valleys - Interlaken, Lucerne etc. all you needed during the day was a t shirt.

I spent the month of April 2002 in the Vaud region near Aigle & Gryon. Almost all the ski lifts were closed ( I liked it that way, no crowds.) Daytime temps were 10 -12 C, there was snow on the ground higher up, but down near the river it was warmer and blossoming. The walking was wonderful. And there were plenty of great longer-distance hikes open for people more adventurous than me.

(sorry, sent too fast) good luck with your trip, tony.
Barbara