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April is something of a sweet spot for travel – Europe finally wrestles winter back into its suitcase, North Africa basks before furnace-like heat strikes, and a slew of long-haul favourites sit neatly between rainy seasons and peak humidity.
And, despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East, there are plenty of spots still safe to visit, with both sunshine and safety guaranteed.
Time it right and and you can enjoy a trip to view orange blossom in Seville, tulip fields near Amsterdam or wildflowers along the Algarve’s cliffs. If you’re looking to go further afield, head to New Orleans for a break soundtracked by open-air jazz, or wander through the pagodas of Hanoi without the oppressive heat of summer.
Here are the top places to visit this April – with no fear of flight cancellations.
Seville, Spain
Average April temperature: 11-23°C
April brings Seville’s orange trees into fragrant bloom and welcomes the exuberant Feria de Abril festival, taking place this year between April 21 and 26.
The exuberant Feria de Abril festival takes place in Seville between April 21 and 26
As part of this huge celebration of Flamencan culture, horse-drawn carriages and flamenco dancers circle the Real de la Feria, and women in traje de flamenca (flamenco dresses) whirl inside striped casetas (fairground stalls).
Beyond festival week, the tiled courtyards of the Real Alcázar are jasmine-scented and cool, and the evenings are ripe for an extended stroll around the tapering lanes of the ancient Barrio de Santa Cruz quarter.
On a budget: Hotel Alcántara
Tucked into a narrow lane in the city’s old Jewish quarter, Hotel Alcántara occupies a converted 18th-century townhouse a short stroll from the cathedral. Rooms are compact but bright, with hues of lemon and lime.
Festooned with lemon trees and ferns, the courtyard is a real oasis, and makes a wonderful spot for an al fresco breakfast of Andalucian toast with olive oil, tomato and jamon serrano.
The rooftop plunge pool at the Hotel Mercer Sevilla peers across terracotta roofs towards the cathedral
Blow the budget: Hotel Mercer Sevilla
A stone’s throw from the Guadalquivir river in the El Arenal district, the five-star Mercer Sevilla is an Andalucian casa palacio dating from the late 19th century, complete with fountains, marble staircases and a lot of wrought iron.
Bedrooms are vast, with high ceilings and immense beds. The rooftop plunge pool peers across terracotta roofs towards the cathedral, and the restaurant María Luisa majors in polished Andalusian classics such as seafood paella with shrimp, cuttlefish and mussels.
The storied Café Hafa, a must-visit hangout since 1921 for bohemians from Paul Bowles to Mick Jagger
Tangier, Morocco
Average April temperature: 12-22°C
Spring softens Tangier’s whitewashed medina and brings cloudless views over the Strait of Gibraltar.
It’s warm enough for al fresco lunches at the storied Café Hafa – a must-visit hangout since 1921 for bohemians from Paul Bowles to Mick Jagger – but cool enough to climb to the Kasbah Museum, at the highest point of the medina, without retreating, whimpering, into the shade.
Wildflowers cover the surrounding Rif hills, while the beaches west of the city remain blissfully uncrowded.
On a budget: Aux 3 Portes
Inside the medina walls, Aux 3 Portes is a restored riad with zellige-tiled floors and carved cedar ceilings.
Its five rooms are arranged around a leafy courtyard, with crisp white linens and traditional plasterwork.
Antiques and curios are scattered around every room, while a breakfast of local breads, pastries and mint tea can be enjoyed on the terrace, with views straight over to Spain.
Mimi Calpe is a 1950s, French-style villa-turned-boutique-bolthole
Blow the budget: Mimi Calpe
Perched high above the Kasbah, Mimi Calpe is a 1950s, French-style villa-turned-boutique-bolthole, with cinematic sea views and a price point almost absurdly low for the level of opulence.
The monochromatic rooms have rainforest showers, while the terraces tumble down towards gardens scented with jasmine.
There’s a small pool on the top terrace, and local wines and beers are served of an evening in the garden nook.
April is tulip season in the Netherlands – particularly in the bulb fields near Lisse, just 45 minutes away from Amsterdam by train
Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Average April temperature: 6-15°C
April is tulip season in the Netherlands – particularly in the bulb fields near Lisse, just 45 minutes away from Amsterdam by train, where regimented bands of vermilion and yellow stretch towards the dunes.
Back in the Dutch capital, the galleries on Museumplein (including the wonderful Van Gogh Museum) aren’t too crowded, while buzzy neighbourhoods such as De Pijp are perfect for an evening wander to restaurants serving up cuisine from the Dutch diaspora. Try a Surinamese goat roti, or a plate of Indonesian nasi goreng with sweet soy sauce and an egg on top.
On a budget: Motel One
There are two Motel Ones in Amsterdam, but the central location is the one to book – as opposed to its sister hotel deep in the Zuid (southern) suburbs.
A collage of bicycle wheels on the walls of the breakfast room is an indicator of pride the owners of this quirky design hotel take in their home city, while the rooms are surprisingly chic for this price, with granite bathrooms and rainforest showers.
The Pulitzer is spread across 25 interconnected Golden Age canal houses
Blow the budget: Pulitzer Amsterdam
Spread across 25 interconnected Golden Age canal houses, the Pulitzer is an intricate maze of split-level corridors and polished antiques.
The rooms vary hugely, with beamed attic eyries to canal-view suites with claw foot bath tubs.
The leafy inner garden is a superb spot for an al fresco breakfast of local fish and cheeses (don’t miss the smoked eel), while the softly lit Janz restaurant offers views over the canal, Dutch wines and impeccable Dutch-meets-Med dishes such as roasted celeriac with potato mousseline.
It’s warm enough to eat grilled sardines al fresco in the beautiful old fishing village of Carvoeiro
The Algarve, Portugal
Average April temperature: 12-20°C
Clifftop walks between Praia da Marinha and Benagil are edged with wildflowers in April, while the Atlantic Ocean glows an improbable turquoise.
It’s warm enough to eat grilled sardines al fresco in the beautiful old fishing village of Carvoeiro, and time on the myriad championship golf courses in the region are easier to secure.
Evenings cool quickly – you may need a sweater for sunset drinks – but you can forget about the sunscreen.
On a budget: NH Marina Portimão Resort
Set directly on the marina between the sands of Praia da Rocha and Ferragudo, this low-rise resort offers apartment-style rooms with balconies overlooking moored yachts.
The interiors are simple but spacious, with kitchenettes and tiled floors, while two outdoor pools (one of which is a large saltwater) and a kids club make this a great family option.
You’ll be rewarded for efforts towards sustainability, too: reject turn-down service for a day and you’ll receive drinks vouchers instead.
Casas da Quinta de Cima consists of nine farm cottages surrounded by lemon and avocado fields
Blow the budget: Casas da Quinta de Cima
An intimate country-house stay near Cacela Velha, Casas da Quinta de Cima is a world away from the manicured, golf resort style of the rest of the Algarve.
In the east of the region, this retreat consists of nine farm cottages surrounded by lemon and avocado fields.
Each room is individually styled, with a gloriously vintage feel to the four-poster beds and clay tiles.
There’s an honesty bar next to the pool, stocked with local wines, while a breakfast of local cheeses, hams and breads should set you up perfectly for a day of horse-riding with a local guide, which can be arranged by the owners.
The trekking routes towards Machu Picchu reopen in earnest during April
Cusco, Peru
Average April temperature: 7-19°C
April marks the return of clearer Andean skies after the rainy season – from Sacsayhuamán’s vast stone ramparts, the views across red-tiled roofs and distant peaks are transcendent in the early morning.
The trekking routes towards Machu Picchu reopen in earnest during April, with firmer underfoot conditions. The days are bright and dry, though the nights remain sharply cold at 3,400 metres, demanding you put on a couple of alpaca layers once the sun dips.
On a budget: Wyndham Costa del Sol Cusco
On the edge of the city centre, this 17th-century mansion’s centrepiece is a sizeable central courtyard framed by stone arches, with lots of cosy nooks for sitting in the public areas.
Breakfast starts at 4.30am – ideal if you’re heading to Machu Picchu at dawn and need some early sustenance – and comes in the form of guacamole, caprese salad and olives, as well as the usual eggs and pastries.
The rooms are comfortable enough, though a tad bland.
The Monasterio oozes Baroque sumptuousness with its cloisters centred around a 300-year-old cedar tree
Blow the budget: Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel
Housed in a former seminary, this Belmond property oozes Baroque sumptuousness with its cloisters centred around a 300-year-old cedar tree.
Original frescoes line the corridors, and the onsite chapel is one of the most beautiful in the city. Dining takes place in the Oqre restaurant where decadent takes of Peruvian cuisine are served to a soundtrack of regular live opera performances.
Try mains of shrimp in coral sauce with buttery cheese and chimichurri.
Sunrise over Hoan Kiem Lake where dawn tai chi sessions unfold in humid-but-bearable warmth
Hanoi, Vietnam
Average April temperature: 21-30°C
April sits between Hanoi’s cooler winter and the summer deluges. Around Hoan Kiem Lake, dawn tai chi sessions unfold in humid-but-bearable warmth, while ornamental vines of bougainvillea spill over colonial balconies in the Old Quarter.
It’s an excellent window for sailing among Ha Long Bay’s limestone karsts, before the monsoons and rougher seas kick in over May and June time.
On a budget: Silk Path Boutique Hotel, Hanoi
Overlooking Hoan Kiem Lake, the Silk Path Boutique blends French colonial detailing with dark wood interiors, marble floors and stained glass.
The 33 rooms have wooden floors polished to within an inch of their lives, while the rooftop terrace cocktail bar offers superb views over the waters come dusk.
While there are the usual continental options of pastries and fruit at breakfast, you’d be wise to plump for the delicious Vietnamese options that include noodle soup and steamed rice rolls.
The Metropole exudes colonial grandeur with its white shutters and slow-turning ceiling fans
Blow the budget: Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi
Right in the heart of the historic French Quarter, Hanoi’s Metropole exudes colonial grandeur with its white shutters and slow-turning ceiling fans.
The original wing, dating back to the turn of the 20th century, oozes character with its creaking wood floors, period furniture and four-poster beds; opt for a room here over the less characterful contemporary wing.
There’s a tranquil open air pool as well as daily tours of the place, where you can visit the bomb shelter and hear about past guests who include Muhammad Ali and Charlie Chaplin.
Archaeological sites such as Knossos are ripe for exploration
Crete, Greece
Average April temperature: 12-20°C
Wild anemones and poppies scatter Crete’s hillsides in April, with archaeological sites such as Knossos ripe for exploration – without the high-summer glare.
The gorgeous Venetian style harbours in Chania feel unhurried, their pastel façades reflected in the still waters, while Orthodox Easter preparations bring candlelit processions to village squares.
On a budget: Olive Green Hotel Heraklion
A modern eco-hotel in central Heraklion, smart-room technology and sustainable materials are used throughout Olive Green.
The rooms are minimalist with olive-toned palettes and rainfall showers, while the 626 restaurant focuses on Cretan produce with dishes, such as chicken gyros on homemade sourdough, and traditional Cretan orange pie with vanilla ice cream and hazelnut crumble.
Blow the budget: Amirandes, Heraklion
Built around a sizable lagoon, and with an Olympic-sized swimming pool, this elegant retreat has fibreglass animals in the garden and staff often attired in togas.
All 212 rooms have sea or garden views – though it’s worth shelling out a little extra for a ‘Swim Up’ room, which comes with a small private pool.
The cream, beige and blue colour schemes flatter the natural sunlight, and while there are half a dozen restaurants to choose from onsite, the finest experience is undoubtedly at Minotaur, where surrounded by the owner’s collection of Picassos you can dine on veal fillet with celeriac risotto and handmade tortellini filled with Cretan white cheese.
April brings clarity to the Bay of Naples, with Vesuvius sharply etched against cobalt skies
Naples, Italy
Average April temperature: 10-20°C
April brings clarity to the Bay of Naples, with Vesuvius sharply etched against cobalt skies.
It’s warm enough to explore Pompeii without succumbing to oppressive heat, and the sun is manageable enough to wander Spaccanapoli’s churches and baroque palazzi without wilting.
Pizzerias spill on to pavements, wisteria climbs courtyard walls and evenings are mild enough to sit in one of the numerous city squares with a bargain-priced glass of the city’s ubiquitous aperol spritz.
April evenings are mild enough to explore Spaccanapoli and sit in one of the numerous city squares in Naples
On a budget: The Foria House
On the northern edge of the Old Town, this 19th-century palazzo is an easy walk from the Archaeological Museum and the Duomo.
The rooms feel residential rather than corporate, with frescoed ceilings and terrazzo floors complete with wrought iron balconies and huge windows overlooking Via Foria.
Breakfast, which can be taken in the garden on a spring morning, includes sfogliatella pastries and proper espresso. There’s a two night minimum stay, but frankly, you’ll want to stay for a week – such is the homespun charm of the place.
Blow the budget: Romeo Napoli
Yes, it’s seriously pricey, but Romeo Napoli delivers the very glossiest of contemporary luxury with Philippe Starck-designed interiors, original Marc Chagall paintings and a working vintage jukebox in what was once the HQ for the Lauro shipping firm.
The Celestial beds are supremely comfy, surrounded by slatted blinds, exotic dark woods and if you can get a room on the upper floors, you’ll have views straight out to Vesuvius.
If you really want to push the boat out, make a dinner reservation at the Alain Ducasse restaurant, where menu highlights (and there are many) include friarielli with baby clams and black lemon, or wild forest mushrooms served with tarragon and seaweed.
Madeira’s Flower Festival is held at the end of April, when Funchal’s streets are carpeted in intricate floral displays
Madeira, Portugal
Average April temperature: 15-21°C
Subtropical gardens erupt in colour during Madeira’s Flower Festival, which is held at the end of April, when Funchal’s streets are carpeted in intricate floral displays.
The Atlantic remains brisk, but cliff-backed natural pools provide some dramatic bathing without summer’s cruise-ship throngs.
Take a walk through the narrow irrigation channels of the Levada before taking a whale and dolphin watching boat trip; there’s up to 20 different species passing through at this time of year.
On a budget: Funchal Design Hotel
A sleek, design-led stay in central Funchal, this compact hotel offers monochrome rooms with modern art prints and polished wood floors.
It’s a real contrast to the old-fashioned ‘quintas’-style accommodation options that dominated Madeira in the past.
Plus, there’s a small restaurant serving Madeiran specialities including eggplant caviar. The marina and cathedral are both a short walk away.
The Royal Savoy’s tiered sun terraces (which descend to the ocean), art collection and swimming pool exude a raffish, breezy atmosphere
Blow the budget: The Royal Savoy
Sitting on a private bay on the seafront, the Royal Savoy’s tiered sun terraces (which descend to the ocean), art collection and swimming pool exude a raffish, breezy atmosphere.
It’s worth paying extra for one of the suites which come with private balconies, marble bathrooms and kitchenettes. And don’t forget to pop into the specialist gin bar, Thatcher’s, named after our late PM, who spent her honeymoon with Dennis here.
April is festival season in New Orleans, when live music fills open-air stages across the city
New Orleans, US
Average April temperature: 15-26°C
April is festival season in New Orleans, when live music fills open-air stages across the city. The free, four-day French Quarter Festival takes place this year between April 16-19, with the Jazz and Heritage festival ushering in May, from April 26 to 30.
The Mississippi glints beyond Jackson Square, and oak-lined avenues in the Garden District drip with Spanish moss.
Crucially, temperatures are warm but not yet sweltering, making muffuletta and beignet-fuelled wanderings entirely manageable.
On a budget: The Inn on Ursulines
Dating back to the 1700s, this beautiful retreat is ideally located, situated on a quiet(ish) side road between the action on Bourbon and Royal.
Said to have once been owned by a voodoo priestess, everything is a lot more demure now in the rooms, which feature Carrera marble bathrooms, thick burgundy coloured curtains and sound proofing – so you can get some shut-eye despite the nocturnal hedonism going on elsewhere in the French Quarter.
Blow the budget: Windsor Court Hotel
A short stroll from Canal Street, the venerable Windsor Court feels unmistakably old-school, with chandeliers, English-style afternoon tea and spacious suites.
Even the smallest rooms are generously sized, with floral fabrics and marble bathrooms – though these are all put in the shade by the magnificent views over the mighty Mississippi.
The Grill Room is one of the best eateries in the city to sample high-end versions of Louisiana dishes such as frogs leg tempura, roasted foie gras and sautéed shrimp with citrus fruit.
April brings a Mediterranean brightness to Western Anatolia and the port city of Izmir’s palm-lined Kordon promenade, where locals linger over strong coffee with views across the Aegean
Izmir, Turkey
Average April temperature: 11-22°C
Despite the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East, Turkey remains completely safe to visit according to FCDO travel advice, barring longstanding advice to stay 10km away from the border with Syria.
April brings a Mediterranean brightness to Western Anatolia and the port city of Izmir’s palm-lined Kordon promenade, where locals linger over strong coffee with views across the Aegean.
The ancient agora can be explored without the summer glare, and the ferries across the bay run beneath crisp blue skies.
Inland, the vineyards around Urla begin to green, making this a superb month for leisurely coastal drives.
L’Agora is set within a restored stone building near the ancient Kemeraltı Bazaar
On a budget: L’Agora Old Town Hotel
Set within a restored stone building near the ancient Kemeraltı Bazaar, L’Agora combines exposed brick walls with simple modern furnishings.
The 18 rooms vary in size, but many retain original arches and high ceilings. Breakfast is served in a cobbled courtyard shaded by vines, and the agora is only a short walk away.
Blow the budget: DoubleTree by Hilton Izmir – Alsancak
In the commercial heart of Alsancak, this contemporary high-rise offers polished rooms with sea or city views.
The feel is definitely international comfort rather than anything distinctly Turkish, though there is a rooftop restaurant and bar overlooking the bay, plus an indoor pool and spa.
It’s also very well placed for the clock tower, the bazaar, the Kordon promenade and ferry links across the Gulf of Izmir.
