Best places to travel in April

April is when spring stops being a promise. Kyoto’s cherry blossom is out, Amsterdam’s tulips are in season, Istanbul is covered in them too, and Seville celebrates Holy Week and the Feria. It’s busy in the famous places, so book early, and it’s still warm and quiet in plenty of others.

These are the best places to travel in April, picked from our city guides using their own weather, crowds and daily costs.

🌍 The best places to travel in April

📍 Kyoto, Japan

☀️ 20° average high👥 very busy💶 about €48 a day

Cherry blossom and Golden Week arrive together in Kyoto in April, at about 20°. Temples, shrine gates and the bamboo grove are at their most beautiful, and the city is at its busiest, so go early in the morning. Budget about €48 a day on a shoestring.

📍 Istanbul, Türkiye

☀️ 17° average high👥 busy💶 about €41 a day

Istanbul’s guide marks April for its tulips, with highs of about 17°. Hagia Sophia, the bazaars and ferries across the Bosphorus for the price of a bus ticket make it one of the great city breaks on two continents. A shoestring day costs about €41.

📍 Amsterdam, Netherlands

☀️ 14° average high👥 very busy💶 about €65 a day

Tulips and King’s Day on the 27th make April Amsterdam’s busiest spring month, at about 14°. Canals, gabled houses and three of Europe’s best museums are a short walk apart. It’s expensive, at about €65 a day on a shoestring, and you’ll need to book well ahead.

📍 Seville, Spain

☀️ 24° average high👥 very busy💶 about €42 a day

Holy Week and the Feria make April Seville’s most famous month, at about 24°. The orange trees, the flamenco and the cathedral are all at their best, and the city is very busy. Budget about €42 a day and book beds early.

📍 Kathmandu, Nepal

☀️ 28° average high👥 very busy💶 about €17 a day

April is rhododendron season around Kathmandu, at about 28°, and one of the best months for trekking before the monsoon. Thamel is where every trek is arranged. At about €17 a day, it’s one of the best-value picks of the spring.

📍 Granada, Spain

☀️ 20° average high👥 busy💶 about €38 a day

Holy Week processions fill Granada in April, at about 20°. The Alhambra stands above the city, the Albaicín’s Moorish lanes wind below it, and tapas come free with every drink. At about €38 a day on a shoestring, it’s cheaper than Seville.

📍 Funchal, Portugal

☀️ 21° average high👥 busy💶 about €42 a day

Madeira’s Flower Festival falls in April, when the island is at its greenest, at about 21°. Levada walks start right from the city, and a cable car climbs to the village above. Plan on about €42 a day on a shoestring.

📍 Athens, Greece

☀️ 20° average high👥 fairly busy💶 about €43 a day

Orthodox Easter usually falls in April or May in Athens, and at about 20° it’s a good month to see three thousand years of history before the heat. Dinner at ten and nights out at midnight come at about €43 a day on a shoestring, cheaper than any comparable capital.

🏙️ Best city breaks in April

Our city break guides with good weather in April, the most hostels first.

1. 1BarcelonaSpain19°, fairly busy
2. 2RomeItaly19°, busy
3. 3KathmanduNepal28°, very busy
4. 4ParisFrance16°, busy
5. 5DubaiUnited Arab Emirates33°, fairly busy
6. 6LondonEngland15°, busy

🥾 Best places for adventure in April

Guides marked for adventure with good weather in April.

1. 1KathmanduNepal28°, very busy
2. 2Ninh BinhVietnam28°, very busy
3. 3UbudIndonesia29°, fairly busy
4. 4TokyoJapan19°, very busy
5. 5YogyakartaIndonesia31°, fairly busy
6. 6AmsterdamNetherlands14°, very busy

💸 Cheapest places to travel in April

Good weather in April and the lowest shoestring budget.

1. 1AmritsarIndia€13 a day
2. 2HanoiVietnam€15 a day
3. 3DarjeelingIndia€15 a day
4. 4Lake TobaIndonesia€15 a day
5. 5Da NangVietnam€16 a day
6. 6KochiIndia€16 a day