April in Zurich, Switzerland, can feel quite pleasant, with temperatures sometimes rising into the 70s. This European banking capital boasts a number of activities, sights, restaurants and clubs this time of year. With the snow-covered Alps as backdrop, witness Zurich usher in springtime with traditional rituals and athletic events. This time of year is also characterized by a lower tourist population, enabling you to score an upgraded hotel room or restaurant.
On the third Monday of April, Zurich holds its Sechselauten, or spring festival. Sechselauten, which literally means “chiming six o’clock,” was meant to reflect that the increased hours of daylight allowed workers to stay in their workshops until 6 p.m. The festival dates back to 1818, and the city’s guilds celebrate by donning historical costumes and parading through the streets. The festivities start the evening before, when costumed children parade through downtown Zurich, and culminate with the burning of Boog, an artificial snowman meant to represent winter. Boog is placed atop a pyre, which is lit at exactly 6 p.m. When Boog’s head explodes, it marks the beginning of spring. The sooner the explosion, the longer and hotter summer will be, according to the tradition.
Every April Zurich closes off many of its streets for the city’s annual marathon. Runners start at Mythenquai and take a scenic path through the inner city, alongside historic buildings, streams and Lake Zurich. All participants must be at least 18 years old, and everyone who crosses the finish line with their transponder—given to them at the beginning of the race—receives a medal and a T-shirt. If the idea of a more than 23-mile course seems too daunting, you can take part in the 10-kilometer run through the city center or join in on a team run. Or just come and cheer on the participants as a bystander.
Because April is part of the “shoulder” tourist season, hotel rates are typically much lower than during the high season months of June, July and August. This means that you can book a more upscale room, or a room at a luxury hotel, such as the Eden Au Lac or Dolder Grand, which may be outside of your budget during the summer months. Likewise, you may also be able to get a table at one of the city’s most sought-after restaurants, such as the right bank’s Kronenhalle, or the left bank’s Zum Kropf.
April’s warming temperatures make it possible for the first time after winter to have a comfortable walking tour through the city’s historic neighborhood. Weave through the medieval houses, narrow lanes and guild halls, taking photos and picking up souvenirs from the local markets. Sites not to be missed are the double towers of the Grossmunster Cathedral and Peterskirche Church.
