This week, the residents of a number of Swiss cantons will be able to take to the streets or put their feet up thanks to Labour Day (May Day). For those looking forward to a day off on May 1, here are the parts of Switzerland that will see the best weather during the holiday.

Switzerland set to celebrate Labour Day

On May 1, the residents of eight Swiss cantons - Zurich, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Land, Jura, Neuchâtel, Schaffhausen, Thurgau and Ticino - will be given a day off to celebrate Labour Day, also known as International Workers’ Day or May Day. In Aargau and Solothurn, workers are usually given a half-day off.

While the occasion is traditionally seen as an opportunity to protest salaries and working conditions on the streets of the major cities, many families and individuals use the day as a time to relax and go on day trips. What's more, with May 1 falling on a Wednesday in 2024, just two days of paid leave creates a five-day weekend - it also combines well with the school holidays in most cantons.

Where will the weather be best during May Day 2024?

To help you plan your May Day activities for 2024, here’s where the best weather conditions will be during the holiday:

Central Switzerland and Zurich to get the best weather during Labour Day

According to MeteoNews, the weather on Labour Day itself is expected to be mixed, with scattered showers forecast in western Switzerland, Ticino and around Lake Constance - the heaviest rain is expected in Valais, while Canton Bern may even see some thunderstorms. The best weather will be found in central Switzerland, Zurich and Graubünden, though conditions will remain cloudy.

Temperatures are also set to vary, with the coldest temperatures expected in Lausanne (highs of 17 degrees celsius), Geneva (18 degrees), Ticino (17 degrees) and the Lake Neuchâtel region (18 degrees). By contrast, the residents of Lucerne, Zurich and Basel will all see the mercury rise to between 23 and 24 degrees. Sadly, the time for summertime swims is still a few weeks away, with water temperatures in Swiss lakes and rivers still hovering around 10 degrees.

Heavy rains forecast across Switzerland from May 2

Sadly, that is where the luck of the holidays (briefly) runs out, with the entirety of Switzerland set to see medium to heavy rainfall on May 2 and 3. The heaviest rain is expected on Friday, with temperatures ranging from 12 to 19 degrees on both days. However, most of the rain should depart from the morning of Saturday.

Summer weather to make a comeback in Switzerland

While the long-term forecast may vary, MeteoNews noted that sunny conditions are set to make a comeback in Switzerland from the middle of Saturday to Sunday. The best weather is forecast in eastern Switzerland, with temperatures between 18 and 23 degrees - though the residents of the rest of the country need not fret, as partly sunny weather and warm temperatures will dominate nationwide.