Switzerland Easter weekend 5 nights - where to go?

Hello! Planning on traveling to Switzerland April 13-17, 2017. Concerned that it is Easter weekend and that this will impact our ability to enjoy the cities to their full potential. We plan on flying in and out of Zurich. Wondering if museums, boat rides, restaurants, gift shops and other tourist attractions will be open. What cities in Switzerland would be best to travel to during Good Friday, Easter Sunday and the Monday following knowing that shops will likely be closed? Don't want to travel somewhere that is totally deserted. We would love to enjoy nature/scenery, but would also like to experience the culture and shops. Lastly, are there any easter festivals that are worth going to in any of the cities?

Thanks so much in advance -- love this forum!

Hi gopher, thanks for posting here and glad to hear you appreciate our forum!

Generally, shops close down during holidays, so I expect quite some stores to be closed on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Try to plan your shopping activities on Saturday. Restaurants, museums, boats and other tourist attractions on the other hand should be accessible, as the Swiss themselves plan leisure activities on those days too. As many towns organize special Easter activities, I don't expect them to feel "deserted". Here are some examples for Zurich and Lucerne:

• Zurich Tourism
• Lucerne Tourism

For lots of pretty outdoor options I recommend you stay a couple of nights in Lucerne and/or the Jungfrau region. Please find information on towns and regions below:

• myswissalps.com/zurich
• myswissalps.com/lucern e
• myswissalps.com/jungfr auregion

Mind that April is low season, so double check opening dates for the trips you're interested in.