Month guide · Zurich · Switzerland
Zurich in April
What April is really like in Zurich: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Roland zh , upload on 14. September 2009, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
April is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 14°C (57°F), lows of 4°C (39°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 13.6 hours of daylight. Spring blossom and lengthening days, with the city's biggest traditional festival.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 14°C (57°F) / 4°C (39°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 13.6 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in April
April is the 6th-warmest month in Zurich: days average 14°C (57°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 4°C (39°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 30 days. Compared with March (10°C (50°F)), April is warmer; by May highs climb to around 18°C (64°F).
- Sunrise (15 April)
- About 06:37
- Sunset (15 April)
- About 20:14
- Daylight
- About 13.6 hours
Spring (March–May). Blossom, the Sechseläuten festival in April and the opening of the lake baths in May; showery but fresh.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, April rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in May). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in April
- Sechseläuten — guild parade and burning of the Böögg snowman (usually the third Monday of April)
- Zurich Marathon (usually April)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in April
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Neighbourhood · Zurich West
Im Viadukt and Zurich West
The arches of a 19th-century railway viaduct now hold design shops, cafés and the Markthalle food hall, running for about 500 metres through Kreis 5.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Architecture
- After dark
Garden · Seefeld
Zürichhorn: Pavillon Le Corbusier and Chinese Garden
Walk the lakeside promenade from Bellevue to Zürichhorn, about 30 minutes, and return by boat or tram.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Off the beaten path
Viewpoint · Niederdorf
Polybahn and Polyterrasse
The red Polybahn funicular, running since 1889, climbs from Central to the terrace of ETH Zurich's main building, designed by Gottfried Semper.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- Photo spot
- History
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Religious site · City and Lindenhof
Fraumünster
Visit on a bright day, ideally in the morning, when the sun lights up the Chagall windows.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 14°C, lows near 4°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is April a good time to visit Zurich?
A shoulder-season month, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Zurich in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is April a good time to visit Zurich?
It is a shoulder-season month. Spring blossom and lengthening days, with the city's biggest traditional festival.
+How warm is Zurich in April?
Average highs are around 14°C (57°F) and lows around 4°C (39°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Zurich in April?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.