159 destinations scored for April.
Where to travel in April
Peak bloom month: Japan's blossoms, Holland's tulips, and the desert belt's spring finale.
The straight answer
The best places to travel in April are Kyoto and Tokyo at cherry blossom peak, Amsterdam in tulip season, and Jordan, Morocco, and Lisbon in ideal spring weather.
April is bloom month across the northern hemisphere, and it holds several of the most photogenic travel windows on Earth at once. Japan's cherry blossom peak typically lands in early April in Tokyo and Kyoto. The Dutch tulip fields hit full color, with the bulb region at its most saturated around mid-April. Washington, DC often carries its blossom peak into the first days of the month.
The Mediterranean and the Middle East are in their spring sweet spot. Lisbon, Istanbul, and the Greek islands are opening up with mild sunshine and pre-summer prices, while Jordan and Morocco offer their best combination of warm days and cool nights. This is the last comfortable call for most of the desert belt until fall.
Two warnings define April. Southeast Asia hits its hottest weeks of the year, with Thailand regularly topping 100F (38C), which is exactly why the Songkran water festival exists. And Japan's Golden Week holidays begin in late April, turning the country's trains and hotels into a national crush. Time both carefully.
Our April picks, ranked
Each one opens its own month page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
The full April board
All 159 destinations we cover, scored for April.
At their best in April
62 places. One of their best months of the year.
Paris
Classic spring, highs near 60F (16C), some showers
Rome
Lovely, highs near 68F (20C)
Florence
Lovely, highs near 66F (19C), some showers
Venice
Mild, highs near 63F (17C)
Lisbon
Bright, highs near 67F (19C)
Amsterdam
Cool spring, highs near 55F (13C), changeable
Istanbul
Mild and bright, highs near 63F (17C)
Jordan
Ideal, Petra highs near 72F (22C)
Morocco
Ideal, Marrakech highs near 79F (26C)
Tokyo
Mild and lovely, highs near 66F (19C)
Kyoto
Mild and beautiful, highs near 68F (20C)
Vietnam
Warm everywhere, center beaches prime, south peaking near 95F (35C)
Singapore
Hot, humid, highs near 89F (32C), afternoon storms return
Seoul
Mild and bright, highs near 63F (17C)
Sydney
Mild autumn, highs near 72F (22C)
Washington, DC
Classic spring, highs near 67F (19C), some rain
Hawaii
Warm and settling, highs near 82F (28C)
Mexico City
Warmest, driest month, highs near 81F (27C)
Peru
Drying and clearing, Cusco highs near 68F (20C), cold nights returning
Sicily
Pleasant, highs near 67F (19C)
Seville
Warm, highs near 74F (23C), some rain
Madrid
Spring, highs near 64F (18C), some showers
Madeira
Pleasant, highs near 68F (20C)
Bruges
Mild, highs near 58F (14C), showers
Athens
Pleasant, highs near 68F (20C), mostly dry
Malta
Warm, highs near 68F (20C), mostly dry
Taiwan
Warm, highs near 78F (26C), mostly pleasant
Osaka
Mild, highs near 68F (20C), light rain
Okinawa
Warm, highs near 76F (24C), sea near 75F (24C)
Palawan
Hottest month, highs near 92F (33C), very dry
Nepal
Kathmandu highs near 82F (28C), warm valleys, afternoon clouds on the peaks
Bhutan
Paro highs near 66F (19C), mild, some afternoon clouds
Beijing
Mild, highs near 70F (21C), dry, occasional dust days
Shanghai
Mild, highs near 68F (20C), some showers
Borneo
Highs near 90F (32C), among the driest months
Uzbekistan
Warm, highs near 72F (22C), blossoms and green hills
Puerto Rico
Warm and mostly dry, highs near 85F (29C)
The Bahamas
Warm and dry, highs near 82F (28C), water warming
Aruba
Dry and sunny, highs near 87F (31C)
Turks and Caicos
Dry and sunny, highs near 85F (29C)
St. Lucia
Warm and dry, highs near 86F (30C)
Barbados
Warm and dry, highs near 86F (30C)
Belize
Driest month, highs near 86F (30C)
Galapagos Islands
Hot, highs near 85F (29C), water near 77F (25C)
Buenos Aires
Mild, highs near 72F (22C)
Atacama Desert
Mild days near 75F (24C), cold nights near 36F (2C)
New Orleans
Warm, highs near 78F (26C), low humidity for now
Las Vegas
Warm, highs near 78F (26C)
Charleston
Warm, highs near 76F (24C), low humidity
Savannah
Warm, highs near 78F (26C)
Nashville
Warm, highs near 71F (22C), stormy days
Key West
Warm, highs near 82F (28C), dry
Austin
Warm, highs near 80F (27C), spring storms possible
Los Angeles
Pleasant, highs near 73F (23C)
Grand Canyon
Mild, highs near 60F (16C), dry
Zion
Warm, highs near 72F (22C)
Great Smoky Mountains
Mild, highs near 71F (22C), showers
Sedona
Warm, highs near 73F (23C), dry
Napa Valley
Pleasant, highs near 71F (22C), mostly dry
Madagascar
Warm, highs near 79F (26C) in the highlands, rains ending
Seychelles
Hot and calm, highs near 88F (31C), light winds
Melbourne
Mild, highs near 68F (20C), cool mornings
Also good
56 places. Solid conditions, no major caveats.
London
Classic spring mix, highs near 57F (14C), showers
Barcelona
Pleasant, highs near 66F (19C), some showers
Prague
Cool spring, highs near 56F (13C), changeable
Santorini
Pleasant, highs near 66F (19C), sea still cold
Ireland
Brightening, highs near 54F (12C), sun and showers
Croatia
Mild, highs near 63F (17C), some rain
Dubai
Hot, highs near 91F (33C)
Egypt
Warm to hot, Cairo highs near 83F (28C), Luxor near 95F (35C)
Cape Town
Mild, highs near 73F (23C), first fronts possible
Bali
Drier and bright, highs near 89F (32C)
Maldives
Hot and increasingly humid, highs near 88F (31C)
New Zealand
Crisp and golden, highs near 64F (18C)
Fiji
Warm, drying out, highs near 86F (30C)
New York City
Spring proper, highs near 62F (17C), rain likely
Riviera Maya
Hot and mostly dry, highs near 86F (30C)
Costa Rica
Hot, first storms late month, highs near 90F (32C)
The Amalfi Coast
Spring, highs near 66F (19C), some showers
Lake Como
Mild, highs near 63F (17C), showers
Cinque Terre
Spring, highs near 64F (18C), some showers
Provence
Spring, highs near 66F (19C)
The French Riviera
Spring, highs near 64F (18C)
The Algarve
Warm, highs near 68F (20C), occasional showers
Porto
Spring, highs near 64F (18C), showers
Vienna
Spring arriving, highs near 60F (16C), some showers
Budapest
Mild, highs near 63F (17C), some rain
Berlin
Mild, highs near 58F (14C), blossoms by mid month
Munich
Mild, highs near 58F (14C), showers and even late snow
Copenhagen
Mild, highs near 52F (11C)
Finnish Lapland
Cool, highs near 37F (3C), very long days
Scottish Highlands
Cool, highs near 53F (12C), showers and some sunny spells
Edinburgh
Cool, highs near 53F (12C), showers
Salzburg
Mild, highs near 58F (14C), showers
Krakow
Mild, highs near 57F (14C), showers
Crete
Pleasant, highs near 69F (21C), sea still cool
Canary Islands
Pleasant, highs near 73F (23C)
Mallorca
Warm, highs near 68F (20C), sea still cold
Kotor
Pleasant, highs near 66F (19C)
Cappadocia
Mild, highs near 61F (16C), occasional rain
Hong Kong
Warm and humid, highs near 77F (25C), first heavy showers
Sri Lanka
Hot and humid, highs near 89F (32C), inter-monsoon storms
Jamaica
Warm and mostly dry, highs near 87F (31C)
US Virgin Islands
Warm and mostly dry, highs near 86F (30C)
Punta Cana
Warm, highs near 85F (29C), mostly dry
Bermuda
Warming, highs near 71F (22C), water near 68F (20C)
Los Cabos
Dry, highs near 85F (29C)
Puerto Vallarta
Dry, highs near 84F (29C)
Guatemala
Warmest and driest, highs near 80F (27C), hazy late in the month
Panama
Hottest month, highs near 91F (33C), first rains late
Cartagena
Mostly dry, highs near 89F (32C), breezes fading
Rio de Janeiro
Warm, highs near 84F (29C), less rain
San Francisco
Mild, highs near 63F (17C), mostly dry
San Diego
Mild, highs near 68F (20C)
Boston
Cool, highs near 57F (14C)
Seattle
Mild, highs near 59F (15C), showers
Yosemite
Mild, highs near 65F (18C)
Uluru
Warm, highs near 84F (29C), cooler nights
Quiet value
23 places. Fewer crowds and lower prices, with honest tradeoffs.
IcelandThe in-between: aurora season winds down, summer access not yet open. Quiet, cheap, and honest about mud.
PatagoniaBeautiful and increasingly risky: peak foliage early month, then closures accelerate. A photographer's gamble, not a first-timer's window.
StockholmSpring arrives late. Walpurgis Night bonfires on April 30 at Skansen.
Norway's FjordsFruit trees start to bloom along the Hardangerfjord in some years late in the month. Many tourist services are still closed.
MykonosThe island reopens through the month, often around Greek Orthodox Easter. Good for walking and Delos; not yet beach weather.
AzoresPrime whale-watching season begins, with blue and fin whales passing. Green, empty, and good value if you pack rain gear.
SardiniaEaster processions, especially the Spanish-influenced rites in Alghero and Castelsardo. Resorts begin reopening late in the month.
Lake BledSpring green and waterfalls at full flow. Vintgar Gorge usually reopens in spring, depending on conditions.
KeralaPre-monsoon thunderstorms. Thrissur Pooram often falls in April or May.
GoaSticky heat. Good deals, but the season is winding down.
Kuala LumpurMornings are usually clear, afternoons often stormy. Plan outdoor sights early and museums later.
Delhi and AgraHeat sets in fast. Doable with early mornings and midday rest, and hotels drop prices.
OmanThe coast is getting hot, but Jebel Akhdar's rose harvest and cooler mountain air make it a smart pick for the highlands.
Abu DhabiBeach and pool weather, but midday is too hot for sightseeing. Prices begin to drop.
OaxacaOne of the hottest months. Semana Santa processions are moving if Easter falls here; otherwise the city is quiet and warm.
MedellinThe first rainy season begins. Mornings are usually fine; plan indoor time for the afternoon.
ChicagoOpening Day at Wrigley and Sox park, the first architecture boat tours, and tulips on Michigan Avenue. Pack for everything.
VancouverPeak cherry blossom season through much of the month and the start of whale-watching season. Showers are still common.
NamibiaA smart shoulder month: rains finished, landscapes still green, heat easing. Easter holidays bring a short spike.
Okavango DeltaRains largely finished and floodwater moving south into the Delta. A good value month as camps shift into high season.
MauritiusThe rains taper, the sea is still warm, and prices soften. A good value month, especially late in the month.
Great Barrier ReefThe wet season winds down; Easter school holidays bring a busy stretch. Stinger suits still essential.
TahitiThe wet season winds down. A strong value month as rain becomes less frequent.Tradeoffs
8 places. Real upsides and real downsides. Read the month page before booking.
Swiss AlpsSki season winds down through the month and lifts start closing for maintenance. Valleys bloom; the high country goes quiet.
ThailandBrutal heat, softened by Songkran's nationwide water fight in mid April. Transport and hotels jam around the holiday as the whole country travels.
OrlandoCrowds hinge on where Easter lands, and it moves year to year. The weeks after Easter week calm down nicely.
The DolomitesSki season winds down around Easter or early in the month. After that, lifts and many hotels close.
HokkaidoMud season: resorts close, snow is dirty, mountain roads stay shut. Cheap but not pretty.
Luang PrabangSmoke and heat, but Pi Mai (Lao New Year) in mid April is the most festive time of year here. Book early for it.
RajasthanHeat arrives in force. Ranthambore tiger sightings improve as animals gather at water, but midday is brutal.
Victoria FallsPeak flow. The spray column can be seen from miles away; views are often obscured, and rafting is usually suspended. Spectacular from the air.Think twice
10 places. Heat, storms, closures, or the year's worst crowds.
East Africa SafariThe wettest month: many seasonal camps close, roads bog, skies dump. Deep discounts at the lodges that stay open.
AlaskaThe in-between month: winter operations wind down, summer ones have not opened. The first cruises appear at the very end of the month.
YellowstoneMost roads remain closed until the staged openings begin in late April. Late-month visitors on the newly opened west-side roads get bears and near-empty boardwalks.
Angkor WatPunishing midday heat. Khmer New Year in mid April is festive but many locals travel home and the temples fill with domestic visitors.
BanffThe limbo month: skiing winds down, the lakes are still frozen, trails are icy or muddy, and many summer operations have not started.
Quebec CityMud and meltwater season. Maple sugar shacks are the main draw; everything else is between seasons.
MontrealThe awkward thaw: dirty snowbanks, bare trees, and terraces not yet open. Sugar shacks are the main reason to come.
Glacier National ParkMud and snow season with most facilities closed. Plowing is underway; the park is mostly a construction zone for snow.
AcadiaPark Loop Road reopens around mid month, but many businesses are still closed and the landscape is brown and muddy.
ZanzibarThe wettest month. Rough seas, flooded lanes in Stone Town, and several beach hotels closed for the season.The US in April
20 states are in their best window.
Washington, DC
Early April frequently catches peak or near-peak bloom at the Tidal Basin, followed by the best sightseeing weather of the capital's year.
Charleston and Savannah
The Lowcountry's showcase month: gardens in full bloom, 75F (24C) days, and patio dining before the humidity arrives.
Moab
Arches and Canyonlands in the mild-weather sweet spot between winter cold and dangerous summer heat. Book lodging early; the secret is out.
Great Smoky Mountains
Peak spring wildflower season in the richest wildflower forest in North America, before summer's haze and crowds.
Think twice about: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
April events worth flying for
Humpback Whale Season in Maui
Maui, Hawaii
Roughly December to April, with the peak from January to March
Cherry Blossoms in Washington, DC
Washington, DC
Late March into early April, with peak bloom varying a week or two year to year
Cherry Blossom Season in Japan
Japan nationwide, sweeping south to north
Late March through April, moving south to north across the country
Tulip Season in the Netherlands
Lisse & Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mid March through mid May, with the fields at their boldest in mid-to-late April
Semana Santa in Seville
Seville, Spain
Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, so it moves with Easter and falls between mid March and late April
Songkran in Thailand
Thailand nationwide, biggest in Chiang Mai & Bangkok
Mid April, traditionally April 13 to 15, with celebrations stretching longer in Chiang Mai and some cities
Fiesta San Antonio
San Antonio, Texas
About ten to eleven days in mid to late April most years, traditionally tied to San Jacinto Day on April 21; when Easter falls late it can run into early May
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Indio, California
Two consecutive Friday to Sunday weekends in mid April, with the same lineup both weekends
Holidays and breaks in April
A holiday week has its own crowds and prices. These guides rank the world for that exact week.
Where to go for Spring Break
The week the whole country goes somewhere warm at the same time. Pick the right warm, or pick a different week.
Where to go for Easter Week
The week half of Europe and all of Latin America goes on holiday. Go where Easter is the show, or go where it is not a holiday at all.
Hidden gems in their April window
75 places from our lists whose best window includes April.
12 Underrated European Cities That Are Still Cool- Bologna, Bologna, Italy. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Colmar, Colmar, France. Apr-Jun · Sep · Dec
- Valletta, Valletta, Malta. Apr-Jun · Oct
- Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands. Apr-Jun · Sep
- Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
Hidden Gems of Italy- Matera, Matera, Basilicata. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Orvieto, Orvieto, Umbria. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Ravenna, Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Bologna, Bologna, Emilia-Romagna. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Mantua, Mantua, Lombardy. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
America's Coolest Small Towns Nobody Talks About- Marfa, Marfa, West Texas. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
- Bisbee, Bisbee, Arizona. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
- Beaufort, Beaufort, South Carolina. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
- Paducah, Paducah, Kentucky. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Eureka Springs, Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Apr-Jun · Oct-Nov
The Best National Parks Nobody Visits- Congaree National Park, Hopkins, South Carolina. Oct-Nov · Mar-May
- Guadalupe Mountains National Park, West Texas. Oct-Nov · Mar-Apr
- Capitol Reef National Park, Torrey, Utah. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Pinnacles National Park, Central California. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
Europe's Most Charming Small Towns- Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany. Apr-Jun · Sep · Dec
- Sintra, Sintra, Portugal. Mar-May · Oct
- Giethoorn, Giethoorn, Netherlands. Apr-Jun · Sep
- Ronda, Ronda, Spain. Mar-May · Oct
- Obidos, Obidos, Portugal. Apr-Jun · Sep-Oct
Japan Beyond Tokyo and Kyoto- Kanazawa, Kanazawa, Ishikawa. Apr-May · Oct-Nov
- Takayama, Takayama, Gifu. Apr · Oct
- Naoshima, Naoshima, Kagawa. Apr-May · Oct-Nov
- Kurashiki, Kurashiki, Okayama. Apr-May · Oct-Nov
- Yakushima, Yakushima, Kagoshima. Apr-May · Oct-Nov
Asia's Most Underrated Places- Hoi An, Hoi An, Vietnam. Feb-Apr
- Taitung, Taitung, Taiwan. Oct-Apr
- Con Dao, Con Dao Islands, Vietnam. Mar-Jun
Beach Towns That Are Still Cool- Isla Holbox, Isla Holbox, Mexico. Nov-May
- Caye Caulker, Caye Caulker, Belize. Dec-May
- Nosara, Nosara, Costa Rica. Dec-Apr
- Sayulita, Sayulita, Mexico. Nov-Apr
- Port Aransas, Port Aransas, Texas. Mar-May · Sep-Nov
Skip the Crowds: Where to Go Instead- Valencia, Valencia, Spain. Mar-Jun · Sep-Oct
- Ghent, Ghent, Belgium. Apr-Jun · Sep
- Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands. Apr-Jun · Sep
Whale Watching by Month: Where the Whales Are, All Year- Blue whales off Mirissa, Southern coast, Sri Lanka. Dec-Apr
- Sperm whales and spring migrants in the Azores, Pico and Faial, Azores, Portugal. Apr-Jun
Winter Sun Escapes: Where It Is Actually Warm in January- Maldives, Indian Ocean. Jan-Apr
- Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, and Cancun, Mexico. Dec-Apr
- Aruba, Southern Caribbean. Dec-Apr
- Barbados, Eastern Caribbean. Dec-Apr
- Key West, Florida Keys. Dec-Apr
The Best Scuba Diving by Season: Where to Dive, Month by Month- Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia. Oct-Apr
- Palau, Western Pacific, Republic of Palau. Nov-Apr
- Tubbataha Reefs, Sulu Sea, Philippines. Mar-Jun
- Sipadan, Semporna, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Apr-Oct
- Komodo National Park, Flores, Indonesia. Apr-Nov
The Best Ski Destinations by Month: Where the Snow Is Best, and When- Mammoth Mountain, Eastern Sierra, California. Mar-May
- Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland. Nov-Apr
- Chamonix, Haute-Savoie, France. Feb-Apr
Safari Timing Guide: When to Go, Park by Park- Central Kalahari green season, Central Kalahari Game Reserve, Botswana. Dec-Apr
Fall Foliage Around the World: Where and When the Leaves Turn- Arrowtown, Near Queenstown, New Zealand. Apr
- Patagonia's lenga forests, Torres del Paine, Chile, and El Chalten, Argentina. Apr
The Best Stargazing Destinations, and When the Skies Are Clearest- Maunakea, Island of Hawaii. Apr-Sep
- Wadi Rum, Southern Jordan. Mar-May · Sep-Nov
- Big Bend National Park, West Texas. Mar-May · Oct-Nov
- Death Valley National Park, California and Nevada. Oct-Apr
Wildflower Superblooms and Flower Seasons: Where and When to Go- Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, Lancaster, California. Mar-Apr
- Carrizo Plain National Monument, San Luis Obispo County, California. Mar-Apr
- Texas Hill Country bluebonnets, Fredericksburg, Ennis, and the Hill Country, Texas. Mar-Apr
- Keukenhof, Lisse, Netherlands. Apr
Monsoon-Safe Asia: Where to Go From June to September- Malaysia's east coast islands, Perhentian, Redang, and Tioman, Malaysia. Apr-Sep
- Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Mar-Sep
Where April works against you
- Thailand, unless you came for Songkran. April is the hottest month of the year, with afternoons regularly past 100F (38C). The nationwide Songkran water fight in mid-April is a legitimate reason to be there; ordinary sightseeing is not.
- The plains of India. Pre-monsoon heat in Delhi, Agra, and Rajasthan runs brutal, often past 100F (38C). The Taj Mahal deserves better than a heatstroke march.
- Japan during Golden Week. The string of national holidays starting in late April sends the entire country traveling at once: sold-out trains, packed hotels, and peak domestic pricing. Finish your trip before it starts.
- Rome at Easter. Holy Week floods the city with pilgrims and tour groups, and hotel rates spike around the papal ceremonies. Wonderful if that is the point of the trip; miserable timing if it is not.
April travel, quick answers
Where is hot in April?
The Riviera Maya and Caribbean are still dry and hot, Dubai runs reliably warm before its summer extremes, and Southeast Asia is at its hottest of the year. For comfortable warmth instead of intensity, Jordan, Morocco, and Egypt sit in the 80s F (around 30C).
Where should I avoid in April?
Mainland Southeast Asia's peak heat unless Songkran is the goal, the Indian plains before the monsoon, Japan once Golden Week begins in late April, and Rome during the Easter crush.
Is April a good month for Europe?
One of the best. Lisbon, Istanbul, Paris, and the Greek islands are open, mild, and cheaper than summer. The one caveat is Easter week, which spikes crowds and prices in Rome and across southern Europe.
Can I still catch cherry blossoms or tulips in April?
Yes, that is the month. Tokyo and Kyoto typically peak in early April, and the Dutch tulip fields are at their fullest around mid-April, with the season running from roughly late March into early May.
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