Travelling in Switzerland in April over Easter
Deb, a traveler from Australia, plans a trip to Switzerland in April with a detailed itinerary including stops in Zurich, Interlaken, Zermatt, St. Moritz, and Lucerne. She needs advice on whether to choose first or second-class travel due to luggage concerns, the Easter period's impact on attractions and transport, and the feasibility of catching an 11.00am flight from Lucerne to Zurich Airport.
- Consider getting the Swiss Travel Pass for its advantages, including discounts on mountain excursions and museum entries.
- First class offers more space for luggage, but second class is also comfortable; avoid peak travel times if traveling with heavy bags.
- Most attractions remain open over Easter, but expect some shops to be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday; restaurants typically stay open.
- Check for early train connections from Lucerne to Zurich Airport to ensure timely arrival for your flight.
- For a traditional Swiss dining experience in Lucerne, try Pfistern near Chapel Bridge.
AI-generated summary-
Hi All
My name is Deb from Australia. We have the good fortune of being able to visit Switzerland in April and I have a few questions I would like assistance with please. By way of background:
4th April – Arrive Zurich. Catch train from airport to Zurich HB. Stay 3 nights
7th April- Arrive Interlarken, spend 3 nights
11th April – Arrive Zermatt stay 1 night
12th April – Take Glazier Express Train to St Moritz and stay 1 night
13th April – Arrive Lucerne stay 3 nights
16th April -Take train from Lucerne to Zurich airport for flight at 11.00am.
1st question -We plan to purchase a Swiss Travel Pass for 15 days. We are not light packers and were wondering whether first class will be less busy and have more room for luggage when travelling between destinations in April. Thoughts re 1st class versus 2nd class? How busy is Switzerland in April? Also where do you put your luggage on the train – is their a designated spot? We also plan to take advantage of the discounts offered for mountain excursions, boat travel, and museum entry in the respective locations and thought the pass will be worth it. Is it?
2nd question – What happens in Switzerland over the Easter period 10-13 April. Are tourist attractions ie (cable cars) still open. Do shops and restaurants close over this period? Anything we need to know about rail closures? Its my birthday on the 13th April. We will celebrate in Lucerne. Any suggestions for a swiss traditional restaurant or experience.
3rd question – Is our plan to travel from Lucerne to Zurich airport to catch a 11.00am flight achievable?
Appreciate your advice
Kind Regards Deb
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G’day Deb and Welcome to MySwissAlps
1. For a discussion on 1st v 2nd Class see http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/rail-pass-clarification.
April is low season in Switzerland.
2. I don’t have experience of Easter in Switzerland.
3. I’d be tempted to go direct to Luzern on arrival and spend a night or two in Zurich at the end. Will make for a more user friendly airport run.
Hi Deb,
Welcome to MySwissAlps!
That’s a great itinerary and getting the Swiss Travel Pass is a certainly a good idea. Should you get a 1st or 2nd class railpass is up to you. 1st class offers more leg room but I’ve always travelled 2nd class and find it equally comfortable though it does get crowded sometimes. A lot of people use the train to commute to and from work so between 8am and 9am and 4pm and 6pm weekdays are probably peak travel times you’d like to avoid if you carry a lot of luggage. Details about travelling on 1st and 2nd class trains are explained here: http://www.myswissalps.com/train/practical/2nd1stclass
Have a look at these threads for more insights:
http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/what-is-the-difference-in-1st-class-and-2nd-class
http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/stp-first-vs-second-classFor information about travelling with luggage on the train: http://www.myswissalps.com/train/practical/luggage
For more information about the Swiss Travel Pass: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/price
The Swiss Travel Pass also works like a Museum Pass. You can find more details here: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/details
I woudn’t worry so much about travelling over the Easter period. The trains will run as usual, perhaps with reduced services on some routes, but I don’t anticipate any major closures. Shops are usually closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, however most restaurants will stay open. Just to let you know, the shops at big train stations such as Zurich and Lucerne are open 365 days a year in case you need to get something urgently.
For a Swiss dining experience, you could check out Pfistern in Lucerne. It’s located near the Chapel Bridge. There are also various similar options in the old town offering beautiful view of the river.
On the 16th April, there is a direct service from Lucerne to Zurich Airport at 7.35am, arriving at 8.44am. Please check the timetable for other possible connections: http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable. I strongly recommend taking the earliest possible connections.
Here are a few more links for your upcoming trip:
- Zurich: http://www.myswissalps.com/zurich
- Interlaken: http://www.myswissalps.com/interlaken
- Zermatt: http://www.myswissalps.com/zermatt
- Glacier Express: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress
- Lucerne: http://www.myswissalps.com/lucerne
Regards,
Anna
Hi Rockoyster and Anna
Thankyou for your advice. This is a great website.
Regards
Deb
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