Easter Weekend in Switzerland: 20 Best Hikes & Activities (2024)

Planning outings for Easter weekend in Switzerland can be tricky. Everyone wants to plan an epic getaway for the long weekend. But often ski resorts are starting to close and summer trails won’t be ready for several weeks. 

If you want to explore Switzerland over Easter weekend, below are my suggestions for “Easter weekend worthy” hikes and other ways to enjoy mountain views.

Note: Conditions can change, with late snow storms or bursts of warm, sunny weather. So carefully check opening times and conditions before making plans. 

What to expect on Easter weekend

Easter is on Sun 31 March 2024. Both Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays and most stores and some restaurants will be closed on these days. Stores at train stations often stay open on Sundays and holidays.

Most ski resorts will still be open over Easter weekend. So if you want to be in the mountains, your best option is still skiing, sledding and winter hikes. But depending on snow conditions, some activities may not be open. So check opening times before making plans. 

Note that most spring flower hikes won’t be blooming by Easter. The popular Frick cherry blossom trail doesn’t bloom until about 15 April. 

Ticino for Easter

Since the Ticino region is warmer and sunnier than the rest of Switzerland, it’s a popular choice for Easter weekend. Particularly if you want to be in the mountains, since the snow usually melts there sooner and the mountain lifts start their summer schedule earlier in the season.

Tip: There is currently a  “Treno Gottardo Hit” discount, where you can get a round trip train ticket to Ticino from Zurich or Lucerne for only CHF 20 with Half-fare or CHF 40 full fare. You must book in advance for a specific date. There are 3,333 tickets until they sell out, latest 12 April 2024. As part of the offer, you also get a discount on some hotels, museums, and a couple mountains in the region, including Cardada.

1. Monte Generoso

Open Easter weekend, daily service starting 1 April 2024

This mountain is south of Lugano, near the Italian border. You can ride a cogwheel train to a viewpoint at 1600m, where you can admire many mountains and Lake Lugano from a safely enclosed terrace. At the top, there’s a restaurant, a small playground and plenty of room to wander.

You can do a short hike up to a higher viewpoint, definitely recommended. If there’s no snow, you can do a longer that starts along the ridge, dips into the forest, and traverses back around the mountain ending on some cliffs near the restaurant.

Learn more about Monte Generoso

Location: Monte Generoso train – Via Famiglia Carlo Scacchi 6, 6825 Capolago

Website: www.montegeneroso.ch • webcam

2. San Salvatore

Open year round

Just south of Lugano, you can ride a vintage funicular up San Salvatore. Then a short walk up some stairs to a beautiful panorama viewpoint over Lake Lugano. There is a restaurant up there, with a lovely outdoor terrace, reservations definitely recommended.

San Salvatore is the starting point for a popular hike to Morcote, considered by some the most beautiful village in Switzerland. If there’s no snow, that would be a nice choice, returning to Lugano by boat after the hike.

Location: San Salvatore funicular – Via delle Scuole 7, 6900 Paradiso

Website: montesansalvatore.ch • webcam • forecast

Learn more about San Salvatore

3. Cardada Cimetta – Locarno

Open daily starting 11 March 2024

The Cardada mountain above Locarno has beautiful views of Lago Maggiore and the surrounding mountains. From Locarno, you riding a funicular train, then transfer to a cable car to reach Cardada, where you’ll find a restaurant, playground and nice viewpoint. You can optionally ride a chair lift higher up the mountain to Cimetta for an even nicer viewpoint and another restaurant.

The mountain transport to the top usually starts its summer schedule in mid-March. If the snow has melted, you can usually start hiking in early April.

See details for Cardada Cimetta

Location: Locarno Funicular –  Viale Francesco Balli 2, 6600 Locarno

Website: www.cardada.ch • forecast • webcam

Near Zurich

During April, most mountains near Zurich are closed, taking a break until summer season. Below are a few outings I would recommend in early April for Easter weekend. See also April Spring Walks for Zürich Families and easy nature walks near Zurich. 

4. Boat to Rapperswil & city stroll

Rapperswil is a small town at the south end of Zurich lake. It has a nice castle, attractive old town to wander, fun playground, and pretty wooden walkway over the lake. If you have kids, you can combine this with a visit to the nearby Knie Kinderzoo.

For a nice day trip, we like to start by riding the ferry boat from Zürich to Rapperswil, about two hours. It’s a relaxing way to enjoy pretty views of the lakeside villages and mountains in the distance.

If you want to hike, instead of taking the boat, you can start in Pfäffikon and walk on the “Holzbrücke” trail that goes through a nature reserve and across a wooden walkway that crosses the lake. 

See details for Rapperswil outing

5. Sattel Hochstuckli

Satell Hochstuckli is one of the first mountains near Zürich to open for summer season, usually mid April. They are planning to run the gondola over Easter weekend, 29 March – 1 April 2024, assuming good weather.

During this weekend, the restaurants should be open and you may be able to walk on the Panorama trail. But the amusements aren’t scheduled to be open. Check the website for current status. 

The pic below is from my hike on the Panorama trail on 8.April a few years ago. There were small snow patches in the shade but not too much.

Summer season starts 20 April 2024, when they will open daily including the amusements: bouncy park, summer toboggan, etc.

Location: Sattel Hochstuckli gondola – Eumatt, 6417 Sattel

Website: www.sattel-hochstuckli.ch • webcam

Learn more about Sattel Hochstuckli

6. Walensee Waterfalls

The Seerenbach waterfalls should be running big and beautiful on Easter weekend. The falls are easy to reach, with a short hike through alpine meadows along the Walensee lake.

The trail starts in Betlis, which can be reached by car or boat. The boat service will be running on Easter weekend on Fri 29 March, Sun 31 March and Mon 1 April 2024 (but not Saturday).

You can hike back the way you came and stop at the restaurant near the ferry dock for refreshments. Or you can keep hiking on a longer trail through the forest to Quinten, where there are restaurants on the lakeshore. Then you can take the ferry back from there.

Theses hike will be much prettier in early May when the trees fill in. But the waterfall, lake and mountains are still beautiful in early spring. 

Location: Trail starts in Bettlis, where you can park. Or start in Walen and take the boat.

Trail: easy • 3.5 km round trip from Betlis • 110m up and down

Website: www.sattel-hochstuckli.ch • webcam

See details for Walensee hike

7. Etzel Kulm

This small mountain near Zurich has a beautiful panorama view across Zurich lake and the Einsiedeln region. It’s a short hike up to the viewpoint, where you’ll find a restaurant and small playground. The restaurant has a popular Easter Monday brunch, reservations required. 

My photo below was taken in early May. In April, it won’t be quite so green yet.

See details for Etzel Kulm

8. Rhine Gorge Viewpoint

Open year round

This hike does not rely on mountain transport, making a good choice for spring. Starting near the Flims village, you walk through the forest on a wide dirt path, suitable for strollers. Along the way, you’ll pass the beautiful Caumasee lake, worth a short detour for some pictures. 

The one way trail ends at a viewpoint over the Rhine river gorge, nicknamed the Swiss Grand Canyon. You can climb a tower for a better look. Near the tower, there are picnic areas and a nice restaurant (reservations recommended!). On weekends, there is a kiosk serving sausages and fries.

See details for Rhine river gorge hike 

Near Lucerne

Below are my top choices in the Lucerne area for Easter 2023. See more spring ideas for the Lucerne area.

9. Mt Rigi

The Rigi mountain railways are open year round, so you can always visit the spectacular Rigi Kulm viewpoint. You can even do the Rigi Round Trip from Lucerne, which includes a boat ride, making the day trip a little more fun and special.

The panorama trail is a hiking trail for both summer and winter (on groomed snow). In April, the trail is usually a bit messy, with melting snow and mud. But if you don’t mind that and have waterproof shoes, it can be a fun adventure. 

Definitely check the Rigi webcams and website before heading out. They usually post the trail status so you know if you can walk on it or not. The picture here was from our spring hike at Rigi on 7 April 2018, when it was still very snowy but warm enough for just a light jacket. 

Note that the Rigi Scheidegg cable car at the end of the full panorama trail has a maintenance break in late April. So if you visit during this time, you’ll need to do a shorter version of the hike as described in my post. Also, if there is snow, the cliff walk portion of the hike will be closed.

Location: Rigi mountain train in Arth-Goldau or Vitznau

Website: www.rigi.ch • webcam • forecast

See details for Rigi Panorama winter walk

10. Mt Pilatus

This mountain close to Lucerne city offers spectacular views of lakes and mountains in every direction. To reach the top, you ride a series of cable cars up to an observation deck on the rocky peak, as shown here.

If the snow is melted by Easter, you can walk to three different peak viewpoints above the observation deck. But these may close if there is recent snow. 

The amusements like the summer toboggan and ropes park are not scheduled to be open on Easter.

Note that on Easter weekend, the “Pilatus Golden Round Trip” is not possible, as the boat and cogwheel train do not open until 6 May 2024.

Location: Pilatus gondola in Kriens – Schlossweg 1, 6010 Kriens

Website: www.pilatus.ch • forecast • webcams

Learn more about visiting Mt Pilatus

11. Lake Lungern

This beautiful lake east of Lucerne is a great choice for an easy spring stroll. You can drive or take a train directly here, no gondola required. So you can visit any time of year. In April, the water level will be low and the trees not yet super green. But the mountain views are still very nice.

Along the lakeshore, there are lots of picnic areas with fire pits, as well as the Kaiserstuhl restaurant at the east end of the lake that offers an Easter brunch (reservations required!). Since there is public transportation on both ends of the lake, you can easily just walk half the trail instead of the full loop.

Location: Parking – Loppstrasse, 6078 Lungern

Website: forecast • webcam

Learn more about the Lungernsee lake walk

12. Lake Lucerne Boat Cruise

If the snow prevents a hike, you can still enjoy fantastic mountain views from a boat cruise on Lake Lucerne. You can cruise the full lake from Lucerne to Flüelen in about 4 hours. If you want a shorter tour, I’d suggest Lucerne to Brunnen or Brunnen to Flüelen, both of which are about 2 hours.

Depending on which boat you take, they sell drinks and snacks or have a full restaurant on the boat. They also offer a special Easter brunch on their historic paddle steamer boat (reserve here).
Location: ferry dock near Lucerne main train station

Website: www.lakelucerne.ch

Learn more about cruising Lake Lucerne.

13. Swiss Path

This long distance path wraps around the southern half of Lake Luzern, aka Vierwaldstättersee, is my go-to hike for the shoulder season. It has beautiful mountain and lake views and passes through lovely meadows and forests.

It’s low elevation so usually possible in early April unless we get a late snow storm. But don’t expect the trees to have leaves or wildflowers to be blooming until early May.

The trail is broken up in sections, so you can hike as little or far as you like. Even though some of the path is along busy roads and you are never that far from civilization, we still like this path quite a lot.

See details for the Swiss Path

Near Interlaken

Most of the ski areas in the Jungfrau Region are open through mid April. During this time, you may be able to hike on the winter trails, assuming good conditions. There are also some lower elevation activities like waterfalls and gorges that are also fun to visit during this time. See more spring hikes for the Bernese Oberland. 

Note that Ballenberg and Giessbach Falls are not open for Easter weekend, but open a couple weeks later.

14. Aare Gorge

Opens 29 March 2024

The Aare Gorge usually opens the beginning of April, so a good choice for early spring. There is a 1.6 km walk through the gorge on raised walkways, so you can enjoy the river rushing through without getting wet.

There is a restaurant and playground at the entrance to the gorge. It’s also nice to visit the nearby town Meiringen. Typically I suggest combing the gorge with the nearby Reichenbach falls, but they do not open until the end of April.

Location: Aareschluchtstrasse, 3860 Schattenhalb

Cost: CHF 10/adult, CHF 6.50/children age 6-16, under 6 free

Website: www.aareschlucht.ch

See details for Aare Gorge.

15. Lauterbrunnen Valley Walk

Open year round

If you are in the Jungfrau Region and want to avoid the snow, stay in the valley where you can stroll year round, with beautiful mountain views and cliff walls on both sides. 

The “path” is on a quiet country road with restricted traffic. You can walk all the way to Stechelberg (4.3 km), where you can catch a bus back to your starting point. Or you can simple walk as far as you like and walk back. You may also be able to visit the Trümmelbach Falls on your way back, which open in April.

Location: start walk at Lauterbrunnen train station

Cost: free

Website: Lauterbrunnen weather forecast & webcam 

See details for Lauterbrunnen Valley Walk

16. Grindelwald First Cliff Walk

If you want a beautiful mountain viewpoint in the Jungfrau Region, Grindelwald First would be my top pick. The gondola to Grindelwald First runs mostly year round, accessing the exciting First Cliff Walk, which is a metal walkway built into the side of the mountain. From here you have views of the Eiger and many other impressive mountains.

If you want to hike, you can try the winter walk towards the Bachalpsee lake. But note that you won’t see the water as it will be covered with snow and ice.

There is a restaurant at the gondola station. Over Easter, the zip lines may be open, but the Go Cart and Scooter rides usually don’t open until June.

Location: Grindelwald First gondola – Dorfstrasse 187, 3818 Grindelwald

Website: check status • webcam

Learn more about Grindelwald First

17. Jungfraujoch & Schilthorn viewpoints

For more beautiful mountain viewpoints in the Jungfrau Region, but not necessarily a hike, many travelers visit Jungfraujoch (shown below) and Schilthorn, which are open mostly year round. (The Schilthorn cableways will be closed for revision from 22 April to 26 April 2024).

For a special experience, you could ride up to the Jungfraujoch then hike to Mönchjochhütte, which opens 16 March 2024. Under the Sphinx Observatory, you can exit the complex to the snow and join the groomed winter trail to the hut (about 45 mins each way). You can eat at the hut and even sleep overnight (reservation required). More info about the Mönchjochhütte.

Zermatt in April

In Zermatt, the ski resort is typically open through end of April, with most lifts closing 21 April 2024, a few open till 1 May 2024.

If you visit Zermatt over Easter and don’t ski, you can visit the tourist viewpoints, go sledding and hike on winter trails. See all winter hikes in Zermatt.

19. Gornergrat viewpoint & winter hike

During April, I would suggest visiting the Gornergrat viewpoint, as shown below. This is reached via the cog railway from Zermatt village. It is open year round.

If you want to hike, I suggest Rotenboden-Riffelberg winter walk (#113) accessed by the Gornergrat mountain railway. It’s about 2.4 km and takes about 1 hr. In Feb 2021, we did the Rotenboden snowshoe trail parallel to the winter walk and it was fantastic.

20. Matterhorn Glacier Paradise viewpoint

You might also visit the Matternhorn Glacier Paradise, accessible year round by gondolas from Zermatt village. There is a small viewing platform, glacier ice cave, restaurant and other amusements.

Website: Zermatt website • forecast • webcams • live status map