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Where is hot in April
Planning an April getaway? These are our top eight picks for Europe and beyond
Jo is an award-winning travel journalist and hiking holiday enthusiast. Her specialisms include sustainable travel and money-saving advice.
It’s been a long winter. And if the promise of summer is still too far away, an April holiday could provide a much-needed dose of vitamin D.
Better still, the Easter bank holidays mean you can maximise your annual leave for an extended time away from the daily grind.
Sicily is one of the warmest places in Europe in April, while laid-back Lisbon enjoys eight hours of sunshine a day - without the peak-summer crowds.
Or for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it’s cherry blossom season in Kyoto, which was voted one of the world’s best cities by visitors.
Block out your calendar because these are the best destinations for an April escape.
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Where to go on holiday in April?
- Bordeaux, France 17°C
- Tirana, Albania 17°C
- Málaga, Spain 19°C
- Lisbon, Portugal 19°C
- Sicily, Italy 18°C
- Tbilisi, Georgia 18°C
- Bali, Indonesia 31°C
- Kyoto, Japan 17°C
Where’s sunny and cheap in April
Bordeaux, France
April high: 17°C
Bordeaux is one of the cheapest spots we found to fly to this April, and there’s a lot more to this city than wine.
Its old-world centre is brimming with towering spires and 18th-century neoclassical grandeur, earning Bordeaux the nickname ‘Little Paris’. The tree-lined riverfront esplanade is also one of the prettiest walks in Europe, without the crowds.
Wander through the ivy-blanketed Chartrons neighbourhood, admire the Gothic Saint-Louis church, and window shop the boutiques of Rue Notre Dame.
Of course, the full-bodied reds are more than likely to feature: the Cité du Vin museum’s interactive displays cover 2,000 years of local winemaking. Your ticket also includes a free glass in the rooftop bar.
Otherwise, April is the perfect time to visit the nearby wineries to sample a few glasses amongst the vines.
Find a Bordeaux holiday with Which? Recommended Providers Trailfinders, Exodus Adventure Travels and Great Rail Journeys
Tirana, Albania
April high: 17°C
Albania’s post-communism transformation continues, most notably in its capital. Crumbling buildings have been cleaned up and turned into ever-evolving canvases for a thriving street art scene.
Many have become galleries and museums: the Bunk Art museums are housed in two sprawling nuclear bunkers built during the Cold War.
Climb the Brutalist monument, the Pyramid of Tirana, or ride the Dajti Ekspres cable car for panoramic views of the city and the surrounding mountains.
Or hire a car and visit the unspoilt Cape of Rodon, jutting into the Adriatic, in an hour; or sandy Golem Beach in 45 minutes.
Not only are flights cheap for April, but Tirana is one of Europe’s most affordable capitals.
Find a Tirana holiday with Which? Recommended Providers Trailfinders, Exodus Adventure Travels, Hays Travel and Saga Holidays
Málaga, Spain
April high: 19°C
The Andalucian city isn’t just a gateway to the Costa Del Sol - it’s a destination in its own right. Make sure to visit the 11th-century honey-coloured Alcazaba fortress - all horseshoe Moorish arches, tiled patios and ornate gardens. You’ll find a Roman theatre in its shadow at the foot of Mount Gibralfaro.
An ancient Roman settlement is also carved into Málaga’s foundations: glass panels are scattered through the city so you can catch glimpses under your feet.
And that is before you’ve swung by the fascinating Picasso museum or experienced the city’s celebrated food scene: from humble tapas to Michelin-starred fine dining. Espetos de sardinas (skewered sardines grilled over an olive wood fire) are a coastal speciality.
Easter is a particularly magical time to visit, when religious processions carrying heavily decorated thrones fill the streets for Semana Santa (holy week).
Find a Málaga holiday with Which? Recommended Providers Jet2 Holidays, Trailfinders, and Hays Travel
Lisbon, Portugal
April high: 19°C
This laid-back waterfront city is at its best in spring, with its old town in bloom and bathed in eight hours of sunshine a day.
The yellow number 28 tram rattles up to the hilltop Alfama district, where you can café hop its labyrinth of steep, cobbled streets. At this time of year, you’ll find bougainvillaea in a riot of pinks, purples and yellows adorning wrought-iron balconies and traditional wooden doorways.
Enjoy panoramic views over the church domes and spires to the Tagus River, before catching a Fado show – this haunting style of music was originally sung by sailors’ wives and is accompanied by classical Portuguese guitar.
No visit is complete without devouring a pastel de nata, the traditional custard tart that's baked to perfection and piled high in pastelaria windows. Lisbon was rated four stars for its food and drink in our survey of the best city breaks in Europe.
Find a Lisbon holiday with Which? Recommended Provider Jet2Holidays
Sicily, Italy
April high: 18°C
The largest island in the Mediterranean, Sicily has charming hilltop towns, well-preserved archaeological sites and white sandy beaches in abundance.
Admire late-Baroque architecture and ancient ruins in the Unesco World Heritage capital, Catania – a port city at the foot of Mount Etna.
A hike up its slopes and a visit to the volcanic black pebble beach Praiola aren't to be missed. Or venture further to Torre Salsa Nature Reserve for sand dunes and lush green olive groves.
In April, the days are getting warmer and longer, but the island is still much less crowded than in the busy summer months. On Easter Sunday, the town of Prizzi in Palermo hosts The Dance of the Devils, a festival with plenty of colourful costumes that symbolises the battle between good and evil.
Find a holiday to Sicily with Which? Recommended Provider Audley Travel, Hays Travel, Jet2Holidays, Kuoni and Trailfinders
Best holiday destination for April (long-haul): Tbilisi, Georgia
April high: 18°C
Wedged between Europe and Asia, Georgia is gradually making its way onto travellers' wish lists and for good reason. Expect majestic mountains, hilltop monasteries, and a thriving food and drink scene.
Go in April to avoid the summer heat, especially if you plan to visit the lowlands. Capital Tbisili’s dramatic valley setting and colourful Old Town, with its cobblestone streets and dome-shaped bathhouses, are sure to dazzle.
Culinary highlights include khachapuri (an oval-shaped pizza topped with cheese and egg) and khinkali (plump broth-filled dumplings). Pair either with a delicious glass of red; Georgia is one of the world’s oldest wine-producing countries, with more than 500 native grape varieties.
Orthodox Easter (which this year falls at the same time as Roman Catholic Easter) is the most important religious holiday in Georgia, with sombre parades and atmospheric services at local churches.
Find holidays to Georgia with Which? Recommended Provider Exodus Adventure Travels and Trailfinders
Bali, Indonesia
April high: 31°C
With its sun-soaked beaches and beautiful temples, the Indonesian archipelago has been seducing travellers for decades.
They come to gape at the floating Hindu water temple of Ulun Danu Beratan or soak in the sacred springs of Tirta Empul. Ubud also beckons in the uplands, with its terraced rice paddies and lush rainforest.
Or simply lie back and enjoy your own sandy corner of paradise on the Bukit peninsula, famed for its technicolour sunsets.
April is the start of the dry season, when the weather is warm and sunny, but the hordes of tourists have yet to arrive.
Escape to Bali with Which? Recommended Provider Audley Travel, Hays Travel, Kuoni and Trailfinders
Kyoto, Japan
April high: 17°C
The second-best long-haul city break according to visitors, Japan’s imperial capital is even more magical during cherry blossom season.
From late March to mid-April, these fragrant powder-pink sakura – said to be a symbol of human mortality because of their short lifespan – bloom all over the city. Arashiyama Monkey Park Iwatayama, also home to more than 100 Japanese macaque monkeys, is one of the best spots to see them. Don’t miss a stroll through the nearby bamboo forest or the chance to drift down the Oi River on a houseboat.
Year-round sights include Unesco-listed Buddhist temples, Zen gardens and Fushimi Inari – a Shinto shrine made up of thousands of crimson torii gates that climb the forest trail of Mount Inari. Visitors awarded Kyoto the full five stars for its cultural sights.
Make sure to also visit the Gion district at dusk. With a bit of luck, you’ll see geisha roam Shimbashi street in traditional kimono.
Find a holiday to Kyoto with Which? Recommended Provider Audley Travel, Exodus, Kuoni and Trailfinders