After the sodden, murky, seemingly endless British winter, April feels like the ideal time for an adventure. Much of Europe is already basking in sunshine by this time of year, while the added bonus of Easter celebrations bring lively street parties to many towns and cities, so this can be a super time to travel. If you pick your spot (and are able to avoid the school holidays), you can often turn up tempting deals at this time of year too.
For sunbathing weather, Spain, Turkey and the Greek islands are always reliable options, while Paris, Ljubljana and Granada make perfect spring city breaks. But it’s worth considering longer-haul ideas too: much of southeast Asia is scorchingly hot in April but the monsoon rains haven’t yet arrived, while Japan celebrates cherry blossom season and Bhutan hosts its biggest cultural festivals. On the other side of the pond, Florida is about as free of mosquitoes as it ever gets in April, or how about hitting the slopes of Whistler for some late-season snow? Whatever your fancy, our go-to guide has you covered.
This article contains affiliate links that will earn us revenue
Why go in April? For stunning architecture and spring sunshine
No city in Spain looks as ravishing in spring as Granada. Home to the revered Alhambra, Spain’s most spectacular piece of Islamic architecture, its medieval buildings glow like embers in the spring light. It’s a pleasure to explore on foot, with a web of alleyways to discover, and terracotta houses festooned with spring blossoms. Better still, the punishing summer heat is still a month or two away. If you can be flexible, you should be able to dodge the Easter holidays when the town can be busy — late April is the better bet, when it’ll be warm and comparatively uncrowded. Depending on when Easter falls, you may also encounter a spring festival or two.
Just downhill from the Alhambra along the Albayzin, the Hotel Casa 1800 Granada offers elegance in abundance. Originally a “palacete” belonging to a 16th-century nobleman, it’s now a delightful 25-room hotel: think terracotta floors, canopy beds and balconies opening out onto Granada’s rooftops.
Trek through Andalusia like a Moorish pilgrim on U Tracks’ eight-day, self-guided hiking adventure, starting in Granada before heading up into the spiky Alpujarras mountains via the Rio Poqueira Valley and Trevelez, the highest village in the Alpujarras.
utracks.com
You’ve successfully signed up to the Travel newsletter
Explore our newsletters
An error occurred. Please use the link below. Travel newsletter
Explore our newsletters
Why go in April? For coastal views and trails with more room to yourself
With only five seaside villages in the Cinque Terre, this dreamlike stretch of the Italian Riviera can fill up with visitors very easily. Visit now, rather than over summer, to ease the burden on these steeply perched huddles of colourful houses and the winding roads and walking trails that connect them. Small local hotels should be open again, and though April showers in Italy are fairly frequent, the intervening days of gentle sun make for less sweaty hiking in the surrounding national park. The crescent-shaped region of Liguria gets gradually sunnier as you head west towards historic resort towns such as San Remo.
Spoil yourself with at least one night at the Belmond-owned Splendido Mare in Portofino, the favoured hotel for the Hollywood glitterati in the 1950s and 1960s.
Walking is the best way to experience the drama of the Cinque Terre coastline — so long as you don’t mind the ups and downs, of course. Exodus’ week-long route takes you through olive groves, vineyards and traditional towns like Portofino, Sestri Levante, Manarola and Portovenere.
Why go in April? For village feasts and outdoor activities without the crowds
April is the last month of low tourism season in most of Greece, though with the potential for lots of local activity. Orthodox Easter is hard to pin down: sometimes it’s the same day as its western counterpart, other years a week or five later — though typically it falls in April. In Crete, the southernmost major Greek island, villages will be busy with festivals both solemn and joyful. Aside from the chance to try special Easter dishes after the fast, it’s the perfect time for hiking in the mountains on cool-to-mild but sunny days. Beach resorts may not be open yet, but seaside cities make good bases, such as Rethymno with its Venetian-era old town.
Rimondi Boutique Hotel consists of three linked properties in Rethymno’s old town, including Rimondi Estate with 16th-century arched windows overlooking the central courtyard pool.
The local chef Stelios is your guide on Travel Editions’ Culinary Crete tour, which includes cookery lessons, visits to olive groves, honey producers, raki distillers and cheese makers, and of course plenty of taverna time. You even get to meet Stelios’s mum.
traveleditions.co.uk
Why go in April? For floral colour in the city of sultans
Summer in Istanbul brings oppressive crowds and stultifying heat, so spring is a far better time to travel. Temperatures are picking up, bringing outside tables back to the city’s cafés, and top sights such as the Blue Mosque and the Topkapi Palace are less crowded than at other times of year. A guided tour of the Sultanahmet quarter is a must-do, as is a bit of souvenir shopping in the chaotic Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. April is also a lively month to visit as the city hosts its own Tulip Festival, which takes place all through the month — the Tulip Period of the 1720s was a rich era of Ottoman art and architecture, and the flowers are a cherished national symbol today, so you’ll see them everywhere.
You couldn’t be any closer to the Hagia Sophia than at the Hotel Saint Sophia — you’re literally in the great mosque’s shadow here. The focus is on creating a practical, modern city hotel, lean on luxuries but high on modern comfort. The little hotel patio is a pleasant setting for breakfast.
Tour Altinkum’s eight-day tour combines Istanbul’s highlights with Turkey’s Unesco-listed treasures: the ruins of Ephesus, the hot springs of Pamukkale and the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia.
touraltinkum.com
Why go in April? To experience subtropical spring and see one of the world’s toughest trail races
Madeira’s nickname is “the island of eternal spring,” so it seems entirely appropriate to visit this Atlantic outpost in April. Verdant in the north and dry in the south, this subtropical island is famous for its craggy peaks and outlandish flora. In early spring, everything is in full bloom: from coral trees to jade vines, it’s a botanist’s bonanza. This is the perfect time of year to hike along the levadas, the irrigation canals built during the 16th and 17th centuries; summer is too hot and steamy for hiking, and autumn can be wet, so April is excellent walking weather. The annual Fest da Flor (Flower Festival) kicks off in May; if you’re here in late April, you might catch some of the preparations, as well as the Madeira Island Ultra Trail, in which elite trail runners battle it out over the island’s vertiginous peaks. You might even spy an early whale or two.
Madeira’s classic places to stay are its quintas, or country estates — but there are some superb modern hotels too. Saccharum Resort & Spa is among the swishest — a former sugar mill turned boutique hotel with incredible coastal views and a knockout infinity pool.
There’s a little bit of everything on Explore!’s eight-day family tour: levada hiking, whale watching, boat cruises, stand-up paddleboarding, Jeep tours, black sand beach lounging — and, of course, custard tart tasting.
Why go in April? For a city with a spring in its step
You don’t need American songs to tell you that Paris is a delight to visit in April — the signs of a city shaking off winter ennui are all-apparent, from the centuries-old Foire du Trône funfair to the Paris Marathon at the start of the month. It can still rain, of course, but strolls in the city’s famous parks and along the banks of the Seine will no longer be under bare branches. Peak season for visitors is still two months away. Spring is noticeably in the air in the 5th and 6th arrondissements, home to the Jardin des Plantes and Jardin de Luxembourg, as well as the Latin Quarter.
Paris’s posh hotels can be eye-wateringly expensive, but it’s quite possible to visit the city without breaking the bank, especially if you’re happy to stay a little further from the centre. The Hôtel des Arts is excellent value, in an attractive part of Montmartre, housed in a lovely old shuttered building with surprisingly modern, funky decor inside.
Contiki offers a rail buff’s dream trip from Paris to Rome by train, stopping in Lausanne, Milan and Venice en route. You could easily combine it with the Eurostar too.
Why go in April? To hike through England’s green and pleasant land
Cherry blossom season in Britain may not be the national obsession that it is in Japan, but anyone keen to recreate this springtime ritual at home will find superb sites across the country. In the Cotswolds, Batsford Arboretum holds the UK’s national collection of Japanese flowering cherries, usually best from mid-April, and there are others at Westonbirt. Woods may get a carpet of bluebells later in the month and you can also see new lambs on many farms across this rolling region of villages that thrived from the medieval wool trade.
For something different to the Cotswolds’ country hotels, try the Fish, where you can stay in shepherd’s huts, chalets and treehouses (as well as posh hotel rooms). It’s great for families too, with loads of activities on offer.
Read our full review of the Fish
Hiking is the best way to appreciate the Cotswolds’ glorious countryside and villages, and spring is a fine time of year to tackle the 102-mile Cotswolds Way (or a section of it, depending on your ambition level). Walkers’ Britain & Europe has a 12-day ramblers’ route from Chipping Campden all the way to Bath, including B&B accommodation and luggage transfers to enable you to hike nice and light.
walkersbritain.co.uk
Why go in April? To visit one of Europe’s loveliest capitals before the summer crowds arrive
Slovenia is inexplicably overlooked by British travellers, but it offers all you could wish for from a spring break: copious culture, fascinating history, great food and unspoilt nature. Its capital, Ljubljana, makes an ideal April getaway: compact enough to explore on foot, and studded with grand squares, parks and the winding Ljubljanica River. The best idea is to hire a bike and explore. The local architect Joze Plecnik was the creative mind behind the city’s Unesco-listed architecture, while the medieval Ljubljana Castle can be reached by funicular. Don’t miss a walk through Tivoli Park — at its best in spring — or an evening drink in one of the heritage pubs lining the riverfront. If you have time, a day tour to Lake Bled to see its picturesque castle is worth the effort, or there’s the Julian Alps, a magnet for hikers: trails creep higher as the winter snows thaw.
Brimming with art deco style, Hotel Cubo was built during the 1930s, and makes a stylish base on the edge of Ljubljana’s old town. It’s on a main road, but rooms are well soundproofed.
Intrepid’s family-focused, week-long tour offers markets and street art in Ljubljana, rafting the Soca River, biking trails in Kranjska Gora and walking in Triglav National Park.
Why go in April? For oasis towns before the big heat sets in
The Atlas Mountains divide Morocco into a northern part that is still pretty green in the spring, and a southern expanse of sand dunes and deep ochre canyons on the edge of the Sahara. April is a good time to tour the country, but this seasonal tipping point also suits trips to the desert: there are none of the night-time freezes of winter and days in the sun are not yet unbearably hot. Ouarzazate is the region’s main city, with its own earthen-walled kasbah and a convenient departure point for trips to the fortified town of Ait Benhaddou, star of dozens of films, and camel treks across the rippling orange sands.
Riad Chay is a delightful desert oasis, surrounded by palm trees and with views of the distant Atlas Mountains from its rooftop terrace. It’s decorated in rich, colourful Moroccan style, and several rooms overlook the lush interior garden.
G Adventures’ superb value 12-day trip takes in desert, mountains and coast, with a programme of 4×4 desert drives, breadmaking lessons from a Berber family, market visits and sandboarding in the dunes above Tamri beach.
Why go in April? For the last weeks of dry season in America’s near-tropics
The Sunshine State provides an escape from winter for much of North America, but from April it can stand down from this solo duty. Not before time too, because in May and especially June, the rain and humidity can be off-putting. This is also typically the last month to get out on the waters of the Everglades without mosquitoes keeping you company. In Miami, and especially among the art deco hotels of Miami Beach, prices in the second half of the month are down from their winter peak, while average temperatures of 25C are ideal for days out on the Florida sand.
For something homier than Key Largo’s mega resorts, try the Coconut Palm Inn, a secluded beachfront retreat where you can kayak, swim and paddleboard without the crowds.
Titan Travel offers an 18-day Miami, Key West and Treasured Islands of the Caribbean tour-cruise, which includes five nights on land split between Miami, Key West and Fort Lauderdale — then an 11-night Caribbean cruise with Holland America Line.
Why go in April? For perfect sea temperatures without the summer heat
As Agatha Christie well knew, there’s no better way to see Egypt than a cruise down the Nile — and April is a brilliant time to do it. Gliding through this ancient landscape aboard a riverboat feels entirely appropriate, and the stately pace allows maximum time to visit historical sites as well as less explored areas. Much of the lower Nile has only recently reopened to river traffic, and many of its sites receive far fewer tourists than the better-known areas in Luxor and Giza: Edfu Temple, dedicated to Horus, and the double temple of Kom Ombo, are well worth the trip.
Benben is a beautiful adults-only hotel situated on a secluded island near Aswan. With its whitewashed walls, turrets and castellations, it looks like a private castle, and the wraparound sea views are gorgeous.
Encounters Travel has an exciting 14-night boat trip between Cairo and Aswan, which also includes the lower Nile. As well as the main sites in Luxor and Giza, you’ll also visit less-touristy areas such as Tel el-Amarna and Beni Hassan.
Why go in April? To see Japan’s famous cherry blossoms
It’s far from a secret, but if you want the quintessential time to see Japan, then it’s during cherry blossom season, when the nation’s trees burst out in a paintpot of pastel colours. The season is considered an especially auspicious time, and lots of Japanese people take time off to visit the nation’s gardens and temples, especially in places such as Yoshino, Kyoto, Nara and beside Lake Kawaguchiko; Sakura also holds a popular cherry blossom festival. One word of caution: it’s impossible to say for sure when the blossoms will be at their peak, so to be on the safe side, come as early in April as you can. You could time it with another of Japan’s peculiar spring festivals: Kanamara Matsuri, on the first Sunday of April, when giant phalluses are paraded round town to mark the arrival of spring. Nara makes a pretty base during cherry blossom time.
Hotels in Nara can be pricey, but the simple, classy rooms at Miroku Nara offer great value and Zen simplicity. The location near Nara Park is excellent too.
Wendy Wu is an Asia specialist, and has a range of itineraries: the 11-day Jewels of Japan group tour provides a good overview, with time spent in Tokyo, Kyoto, Mt Fuji and Hiroshima, and some fun activities including origami lessons, soba noodle-making and a visit to Himeji Castle.
Why go in April? For late skiing in Canada’s mightiest mountains
Winter sticks around in the ranges of western Canada: the Coast Mountains by the Pacific shores of British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains that rise along the province’s border with Alberta. April’s shoulder season can be a great time for sunny skiing, with lower prices (except around Easter weekend). Resorts such as Revelstoke and Fernie are usually still open in the month’s first week or two, while giant Whistler-Blackcomb near Vancouver and Lake Louise within the proud peaks of Banff National Park have ski seasons running into May in most years.
First Tracks Lodge is just yards away from the main gondola station in Whistler Creekside and has smart suites with huge stone fireplaces and full kitchens. They come with up to three bedrooms, making this an ideal option for family skiers.
Crystal Ski Holidays has some good seven-night ski packages to Whistler, staying at top hotels including the Westin Resort & Spa, Blackcomb Springs Suites and the Fairmont Whistler, with flights and transfers from Vancouver included.
Why go in April? To meet orangutans in the wild
Borneo (and a few jungle sanctuaries in other parts of Malaysia) is the only place on earth where you can see the “man of the forest” in his natural rainforest habitat. About 35,000 are thought to exist, although their habitat is threatened by palm oil plantations, logging and agricultural development. Meeting them in the wild is an unforgettable experience, either on a guided trek into the rainforest or on a canoeing expedition from an eco-lodge. Sabah is the wilder of the two Malaysian provinces, and therefore the best place to go for an orangutan encounter — you could combine it with some snorkelling in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park or Sipadan Island, some souvenir shopping in Kota Kinabalu and a two-day trek to the 4,095m (13,435ft) top of Mount Kinabalu. Borneo stays hot and steamy most of the year, but April is usually a tolerable time for trekking, and as it’s slightly further north, Sabah stays marginally cooler than the more southerly parts of the island.
Don’t miss the chance to stay at the Danum Valley Rainforest Lodge, a wonderful wildlife haven in southeast Sabah where you can still see wild orangutans in their natural forest habitat.
danumvalley.rainforestlodge.com
To help support local community and conservation projects, go with a local eco-operator such as Borneo Eco Tours, which owns its own Sukau Rainforest Lodge and employs mostly local staff. Their six-day wildlife safari is geared around seeing the Borneo Big Five: orangutan, proboscis monkey, pygmy elephant, crocodile and rhinoceros hornbill. It also includes a stay in the wondrous Danum Valley.
borneoecotours.com
Why go in April? For white sand beaches and coral gardens
The world’s second-longest barrier reef after Australia’s can be found in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Belize. Inland jungles hide ruined Maya cities and there’s a fascinating mix of people to meet in this cultural outlier of Central America. Although Easter is very busy, the latter part of April often sees fewer visitors; this is the last month of drier weather before rains pick up again (though June is still tolerable for sun between tropical showers). Ambergris Caye lies at the north end of the Belize Barrier Reef, touching Mexico, and it’s easy to lose track of days here snorkelling or stretching out on a hammock strung between coconut palms.
Matachica Resort & Spa, on Ambergris Caye’s east coast, has palm-thatched casitas, cabanas and beach bungalows in ice cream colours.
Belize is a fantastic destination for a family adventure, and Explore’s 14-day tour ramps up the fun factor. Included are visits to Mayan ruins in Lamanai, Tikal and Xunantunich, snorkelling on Belize’s barrier reef, a jungle trek to Davis Falls and wildlife-spotting galore: expect green iguanas, baboons, bats, toucans and more.
Why go in April? For Himalayan flowers and timeless festivals
Rhododendrons bloom on the hillsides of Bhutan, most typically in April — just one reason why it’s a lovely time of year for trekking and discovering the diligently preserved culture of this half-hidden Himalayan kingdom. Average temperatures stay in the high teens and the monsoon is not due to arrive until June. Early April also brings the tsechu (festival) for the Paro region, with colourfully costumed dancers donning elaborate masks. The valley is also the perch for the iconic Paro Taktsang (aka the Tiger’s Nest monastery) and is helpfully the main entry point for visitors, via its mountain-ringed airport. The protocol for visiting Bhutan has changed since the pandemic: visitors are now charged a daily Sustainable Development Fee of $100, and have to arrange their own accommodation, activities and meals on top.
Stay in old-fashioned style at the Tiger Nest Resort, where the spacious suites offer panoramic views of the Himalayas.
An organised tour makes visiting Bhutan a breeze. Highlights of Intrepid Travel’s nine-day Premium Bhutan tour include the hike to the Tiger’s Nest, visits to a traditional papermaking factory, a visit to Gangtey Goemba monastery in the Phobjikha Valley, and Punakha Dzong, home of the chief abbot of Bhutan.
Why go in April? To explore Kakadu National Park without the crowds
Kakadu, Australia’s largest national park, hits all the classic images you have of down under: rust-orange rocks, snaking billabongs, towering termite mounds and amazing indigenous rock art. Fittingly, it’s where most of Paul Hogan’s Eighties classic Crocodile Dundee was filmed. It’s also the only place where both fresh and saltwater crocodiles live — so take care around waterways. April is a great time to visit, as it’s on the cusp between the wet and dry seasons, meaning there’s less chance of rain and washed-out roads. There’s the added bonus that there are no school holidays in April, which means it’ll be blissfully free of crowds.
Intrepid has a rewarding hiking tour incorporating Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Litchfield National Parks, with time spent trekking through Katherine Gorge, looking for rock art in Kakadu and spotting crocs at Cahill’s Crossing.
The most fun place to stay inside the national park is Cooinda Lodge, a slick operation that also operates cruises on the nearby Yellow River and guided fishing tours. You can choose to stay inside the original lodge, in a safari-style tent or a garden villa. There’s a restaurant on site, and two pools — essential for escaping Kakadu’s scorching heat.
Why go in April? For the best opportunities to see India’s national animal
It’s dry, very dry, in the heart of India this month, and otherwise-elusive animals must show their faces at watering holes. Bengal tigers are top of the food chain and wildlife spotters’ wishlists in many of the nature reserves of Madhya Pradesh (meaning “Central Province”). Bandhavgarh National Park is one of India’s best places for encountering these endangered creatures. Temperatures often rise well above 30C, limiting the appeal of midday excursions, but architectural treasures such as the temples of Khajuraho, Gwalior Fort and the princely city of Orchha are best seen at first and last light.
Experience Agra as the locals do by skipping the hotels and staying with a veteran guide. Gopal Singh and his wife Vandna serve fantastic homecooked meals at their charming B&B the Coral Tree Boutique Homestay.
Exploring India solo can be daunting, so it’s sensible to go with an experienced operator, especially if it’s your first time. G Adventures’ 15-day Rajasthan Adventure loop is superb value, including all the key sights: the Taj Mahal in Agra, tiger safaris in Ranthambore National Park, the forts of Jaipur and Udaipur’s royal palace.
Additional reporting by Rory Goulding
We regularly reassess and refresh this list, adding the latest advice and inspiration
What’s your favourite place to visit in April? Please share in the comments below
Promoted Content
© Times Media Limited 2025.
Registered in England No. 894646. Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, SE1 9GF.
Enjoy unlimited access to all articles. Ends soon.
