Things to Do in Interlaken in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
April Weather in Interlaken
Is April Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing means accommodation costs drop 20-30% compared to peak winter months - you'll find quality hotels in the CHF 120-180 range that would cost CHF 200+ in January through March
- Snow conditions are actually excellent for high-altitude activities - Jungfraujoch at 3,454 m (11,332 ft) and Schilthorn at 2,970 m (9,744 ft) maintain solid snow cover while valley temperatures warm up enough for comfortable sightseeing
- Fewer tour buses and significantly smaller crowds at major viewpoints - the Harder Kulm funicular and boat landings on Lake Thun have maybe half the visitors you'd see in summer, which makes for better photos and a more relaxed experience
- Extended daylight hours with sunset around 8:15 PM by late April give you genuinely long days for activities - you can easily fit a morning mountain excursion and afternoon lake cruise without feeling rushed
Considerations
- Weather unpredictability is real - you might wake up to brilliant sunshine and face rain or even wet snow by afternoon, which means you need flexible plans and can't bank on specific weather for activities booked days in advance
- Lower elevation hiking trails between 800-1,500 m (2,625-4,921 ft) are often muddy or still have patchy snow coverage, limiting your options if you're specifically here for valley hiking rather than high-altitude snow activities
- Some seasonal businesses haven't fully opened yet - certain mountain restaurants, cable car routes, and tour operators run reduced schedules until May, so you'll want to verify operating hours rather than just showing up
Best Activities in April
Jungfraujoch High-Altitude Railway Excursions
April is genuinely one of the better months for the Jungfraujoch trip because you get the full winter snow experience at 3,454 m (11,332 ft) without the January-February crowds and brutal cold. The Ice Palace and Sphinx Observatory viewing platform offer spectacular visibility on clear mornings - which happen more frequently in April than you'd expect, typically before 11 AM. The temperature up top sits around minus 10°C to minus 15°C (14°F to 5°F), which is actually manageable with proper layering, compared to the minus 20°C (minus 4°F) you'd face in deep winter.
Schilthorn Cable Car and Revolving Restaurant Visits
The Schilthorn at 2,970 m (9,744 ft) offers better value than Jungfraujoch for many travelers and tends to have clearer afternoon weather in April for whatever reason. The Piz Gloria revolving restaurant gives you the full 360-degree panorama over 45 minutes, and April's longer daylight means you can do a late afternoon ascent around 3 PM and still have excellent visibility. Snow coverage remains solid for the Thrill Walk cliff-side platform experience. The James Bond exhibition is entirely indoors, making it a perfect backup if clouds roll in.
Lake Thun and Lake Brienz Boat Cruises
The lake cruise season officially starts mid-April, and you'll catch it right as boats resume regular schedules but before summer crowds arrive. Water temperatures are obviously still cold at around 8°C (46°F), so this is purely sightseeing rather than swimming, but the surrounding mountains have that dramatic spring snow-capped look against green valley floors that you don't get in summer. The 2-hour Thun to Interlaken West route passes castle viewpoints and connects to Harder Kulm funicular. Afternoon departures around 2 PM tend to have calmer water than mornings.
Harder Kulm Funicular and Panorama Viewpoint
This 1,322 m (4,337 ft) viewpoint is genuinely underrated and perfect for April because it's low enough that weather tends to be clearer than higher peaks, yet high enough for spectacular views over both lakes and the Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau range. The 10-minute funicular ride from Interlaken town means you can make this a spontaneous decision based on morning weather rather than committing to a 3-hour Jungfraujoch journey. The two-lakes bridge viewing platform and restaurant terrace get afternoon sun, making it pleasant even when valley temperatures are only 12-14°C (54-57°F).
Lauterbrunnen Valley Waterfall Walks
April is actually peak flow season for Lauterbrunnen's 72 waterfalls because of snowmelt from surrounding peaks. Staubbach Falls drops 297 m (974 ft) right in town and is genuinely impressive with spring runoff volume. The valley floor walk from Lauterbrunnen to Trümmelbach Falls covers about 3 km (1.9 miles) on paved paths that are accessible even when higher trails are muddy. Trümmelbach's interior glacier waterfalls are completely weather-independent and open from early April. Bring waterproof layers - the mist from falls creates its own microclimate and you will get damp.
Grindelwald First Mountain Activities
The First Cliff Walk and suspension bridge at 2,168 m (7,113 ft) typically open by mid-April depending on snow conditions, offering that adrenaline element without requiring skiing ability. The First Flyer zipline and Mountain Cart downhill scooters usually start operations around April 20-25 once lower sections clear. Even if adventure activities aren't fully open early in the month, the gondola ride itself provides stunning Eiger North Face views and access to snow-covered hiking areas. Weather tends to be more stable here than Jungfraujoch for afternoon visits.
April Events & Festivals
Unspunnenfest Preparations and Regional Folklore Previews
While the major Unspunnenfest traditional Swiss festival happens in September, April sees various regional folklore groups holding practice sessions and smaller demonstrations around Interlaken, particularly at the Kursaal Congress Centre. You might catch alphorn rehearsals or flag throwing practice sessions on weekends. It's not a formal tourist event, but worth noting that local cultural activity picks up as groups prepare for summer festival season.