The 12 best places to visit in April 2024

Sun worshippers, get your buns to Costa Rica. April is the hottest month of the year here, with temperatures hovering in the late 30s (centigrade), and there isn’t much in the way of rain to break the cycle. That makes it the perfect time to explore the beaches before finding shade in the enchanting old towns, before the onset of wetter weather in May and June. Don’t forget the sun cream, whatever you do.

🦜Discover the best things to do in Costa Rica

April is the perfect middle-ground month for visiting Lake Tahoe. Fewer visitors, longer days, the same old beauty. What’s not to like? Lake Tahoe is peeking out of its burrow once spring comes around, and there is something truly magical about being one of the first on the scene. A decent amount of snow remains, so skiing is still an option, although rising temperatures allow for charming walks and all the rest.

🌲Discover the best things to do in South Lake Tahoe

Once known as the ‘Paris of the East’ but then devastated through years of civil strife, the Lebanese capital of Beirut has had a tumultuous few years but remains loved by locals and tourists alike for being one of the most vibrant, cosmopolitan and liberal cities in the Middle East. April is a fabulous time to get out on foot—stroll the Corniche, or meander around Byblos just to the north.

📍Discover the best things to do in Beirut

Yes, April is easily the most popular time to visit Japan – but there’s a very, very good reason for that. Cherry blossom – or sakura, in Japanese – sweeps up the country from mid-March all the way through to May, cloaking the nation in a dusting of ridiculously pretty pink ‘n’ white petals. The season kicks off in the warmer south (Fukuoka, Kyushu and the like), before working its way north through Kansai, Kanto, Tohoku and finally Hokkaido. Hunting the blossom northwards is a great way to see the length of Japan – and now the country is finally fully reopened, there’s nothing to stop you!

🗼Discover the best things to do in Tokyo

Belize may not have much landmass, but what it lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality. It has its very own barrier reef (second only in size to Australia’s more famous one), which is where you’ll find the iconic Great Blue Hole. Inland await ancient Mayan ruins, and it is all pleasantly balmy in April.

🏖️Discover the best things to do in Belize

Ah, Porto. Land of steep hills, the beautifully tiled Sao Bento station, and a city centre packed to the rafters with quaint and colourful houses (which are Unesco protected). But what is the city most known for? Port, of course! And April is the time to pay a visit to where all that glorious stuff is produced. Head to Porto for a weekend and make sure to book a trip into the absolutely dazzling Douro Valley to learn all about how the ruby, tawny and white ports are made. And if the sun comes out while you’re back in town, grab a port-tonic from one of the many, many roof terrace bars. 

🍷Discover the best things to do in Porto

The ‘undiscovered’ tag attached to the Balkans is a misnomer (the summer crowds in Sarajevo, Belgrade, and the rest are proof of that), but North Macedonia remains bizarrely off the radar of most travellers. Head here in April to find your new favourite place, from the consul architecture of Bitola to the mountain beauty and monuments of Kruševo, via shimmering Lake Ohrid, kitschy capital Skopje and more. The mosque in Tetovo might be the most beautiful in the entire region. 

Hawaii enjoys beautiful weather and comfortable temperatures year-round, with temperatures reliably staying above 26C/79F and below 31C/88F. April, however, is a particularly pleasant time to visit, slipping in between the spring and summer vacation seasons. The entire Hawaiian archipelago comprises over 100 islands, and the top draws include Maui, Oahu and Kauai.

🌺Discover the best things to do in Hawaii

This ridiculously stylish Swedish city, spread across numerous islands linked by over 50 bridges, is a delight to visit in April: temperatures are still chilly (7C/44F, so dress warmly), but days are often bright and sunny, and by the end of the month have doubled in length (8 hours of light) compared to the start of March. Other than the views of the city itself, top attractions include the Nobel Museum and Storkyrkan Cathedral, a 13th-century masterpiece.

🏢Discover the best things to do in Stockholm

Venice, Venice, Venice. What else is there to say about arguably Europe’s most popular tourist destination? The famous city can get a little claustrophobic in summer, but spring is a surprisingly accessible time for this place. Sure, there are still plenty of people, but the air is a little thinner and the streets a little quieter, making it easier to find a way under the skin of Venice and into its poetic soul. Prices are a little lower too, which is never bad here.

🛶Discover the best things to do in Venice

Spain encompasses a vast region and topography, so the April climate will depend on where you go, but generally speaking, coastal areas—which include the Catalonian capital of Barcelona—are balmy, enjoying temperatures of around 20C/68F (brave travellers can enjoy sea-swimming). Further south, the beautiful Andalusia region is even warmer, though still comfortable enough to explore on foot its pretty villages, like Frigiliana, before the stifling heat of summer arrives.

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While Japan’s cherry blossom season seems to grab most of the world’s attention, Washington D.C. has a pretty good one too, which typically spans late March into early April. The best place to see it is the Tidal Basin, where over 3,000 trees transform into radiant blooms. The weather can be slightly unpredictable at this time of year, swinging between cold rainy days and warm sunny ones, so keep an eye on the forecast before you jet off.

🏙️Discover the best things to do in Washington D.C.