12 of the best places to visit in April 2026

April brings a seasonal shift across the globe, making it the ideal time of year for exploring ancient wonders, embarking on epic adventures and savoring fresh local produce.

So grab your passport and pack your suitcase for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Here’s our guide to the very best places to go in April this year.

1. Lake Maggiore, Italy 

Best Italian destination in April

Northern Italy’s not short on gorgeous lakes: Como, Garda, Lugano, Iseo – each has unique charms, and all have lured travelers since before the days of the Grand Tour. As the elite built grand villas on their shores, competitive construction led to the creation of some truly spectacular landscapes – formal or classical, floral or verdant. But none comes close to the wedding-cake extravagance of lsola Bella on Maggiore where, in the 17th century, Count Borromeo created a 10-tiered, 37m/121ft-high garden for his wife Isabella. Go in April, just after it opens for the year but before the hordes intensify, to absorb its baroque excess in relative peace. This is a great month to visit Maggiore in general, as the lake’s delightful towns awaken – Cannobio, Stresa and Verbania, where you can admire the lavish botanic gardens at Villa Taranto, open from April. 

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Planning tip: Milan’s Malpensa, the nearest international airport, is around 1 hour by train from Maggiore. 

2. Ireland 

Best for train journeys

Ireland is never short of rain, but, oddly, April is one of the driest months. Also, being after St Patrick’s Day and before peak season, all the big attractions are open but it’s still relatively quiet. That makes it a great time to travel around Ireland by train – a green option for a green island. Irish Rail can get you to many key locations: from Dublin, trains fan out to Sligo (hometown of WB Yeats), the craic-filled bars of Galway, colorful Killarney (and the surrounding national park) and historic Cork. There are plenty of smaller stop-offs that might be made en route – or simply enjoy the views of spring-flush Ireland unrolling past the window. 

Planning tip: A week-long rail loop from Dublin might include Westport (in Mayo), Galway, Limerick, Killarney, Cork, Waterford and back to Dublin (albeit with the occasional backtracking). You could also add on Sligo (good surf in April) or Belfast.

3. Peloponnese, Greece

Best for local food and exploring ruins

Hanging south of mainland Greece, the mountainous Peloponnese peninsula, the one-time heartland of the Spartans, is both historically rich and fantastically fertile. So come in mild, sunny spring, to walk the ruins – Olympia, Mycenae, Epidaurus – in pleasant temperatures (average maximum 21°C/70°F) and to eat yourself silly. Specialty produce ranges from Kalamata olives to tsakoniki eggplant, and roast suckling pig to the Menalon mountains’ vanilla fir honey, which has protected-origin status. Even better, tourism here is more community-focused than mass-market, with family-run food tours, guesthouses and tavernas enabling you to sample authentic flavors. The wine is great, too: try super reds from Nemea and sweet white Malvasia from Monemvasia.

4. Philadelphia, USA

Best place in the US for cherry blossoms

The USA’s original capital, Philly, is not short on history. It’s here that you can visit Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence was adopted), the Benjamin Franklin Museum and the Liberty Bell. But it’s also a city of excellent outside spaces, arguably at their finest in spring when its many cherry trees are in full bloom. Fairmount Park, 2000 landscaped acres hugging the banks of the Schuylkill River, is the pick of the spots. It’s also home to the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center, which holds an annual sakura festival, and Kelly Drive, which is lined with boughs. The park also has biking and hiking trails, a venerable zoo and the Museum of Art (of Rocky-running-up-the-steps fame). April’s mild temperatures (average highs of 19°C/66°F) and lack of crowds make exploring a pleasure too. 

Planning tip: Allow at least three days to tour the main sites and outside spaces. Combine Philly with Washington, DC (1 hour and 45 minutes by train), which also holds a springtime cherry blossom festival.

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5. New Hampshire, USA 

Best for walks and waterfalls 

This pretty pocket of New England shakes off winter in fine fashion: in April, temperatures begin to rise (average highs of 21°C/70°F), snow disappears and wildflowers flourish. April also catches the tail end of maple sugaring season, when the trees squeeze out their last delicious dregs and the sugar shacks are still open for tours, tastings, wagon rides and pancake breakfasts. The landscape feels alive too. All that snowmelt tops up the state’s 100-plus waterfalls, from 43m-high (141ft) Arethusa to Flume Gorge. Some cascades can be seen via scenic drives – try the Kancamagus Scenic Byway, which passes through the heart of the White Mountains, or enjoy alternative watery views on a loop of Lake Winnipesaukee. Others require a wilderness walk to reach; plot a hike around Crawford Notch State Park and you could tick off ten falls in one day. 

Planning tip: Two Amtrak train services (the Downeaster, which connects to Boston, and the Vermonter, which runs to Washington, DC) stop at cities in New Hampshire.

6. Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico 

Best for beaches and ruins 

The Yucatán ticks a lot of boxes. The beaches here – Caribbean-lapped lovelies, all-white sand and palm trees – are idyllic. The hinterland is fantastic too, an adventure playground of thick jungle and cool cenotes (sinkholes), perfect for swimming. And it’s historically fascinating. The Maya civilization, which flourished from 2000 BCE until the 17th century, made quite a mark, building some of their most impressive temples here, from mighty Chichén Itzá to lesser-known Uxmal, from the well-preserved pyramids of Ek' Balam to cliff-top Tulum, right by the sea. Warm, dry April offers perfect beach weather and warm, calm seas – great for watersports and super for snorkeling – and, as peak season tails off, you can roam the ancient sites with smaller crowds. 

Planning tip: Avoid the all-inclusives in places such as Cancún (though the resort’s airport is a useful gateway). Instead, seek out community-based tour operators and homestays that benefit the Indigenous Maya, where you might sleep in hammocks, eat traditional food and visit off-the-beaten-track cenotes. 

7. Palau

Best for underwater experiences 

The Micronesian nation of Palau looks pretty amazing above water: it’s a sprinkle of 200-odd lush-green limestone outcrops, sheltered lagoons, white sands and blindingly turquoise seas. But it’s under water where things become truly spectacular. This is the sub-aqua Serengeti, with 1500 fish species, soft corals and sea fans, sheer drop-offs and WWII wrecks. April marks the dry season, when seas are calmer and clearer. Whale sharks and manta rays are also more likely to be spotted from January to April, while green and hawksbill turtles are most often seen April to July. The icing on the cake? Jellyfish Lake, a lagoon pulsating with a million translucent, stingless jellies – it’s like snorkelling through the chorus line of an immense submarine ballet.

Planning tip: Keen divers should consider a liveaboard trip, to maximise dive opportunities and ease access to the best sites (including Blue Corner and German Channel).

8. South Korea

Best for cherry blossoms and temples

Think cherry blossoms only pop in Japan? Think again. South Korea puts on equally dazzling displays come springtime. Several flower-related festivals are held in capital Seoul in April; wander beneath dreamy blooms at Seokchon Lake, on Yeouido Island and through the grounds of 15th-century Changgyeonggung Palace. While you're in Seoul you'd be remiss not to indulge in the incredible food scene. Further south, around Busan, the port city of Jinhae hosts the country's most extensive cherry blossom festival. Meantime, Gyeongju hosts an annual Cherry Blossom Marathon in early April. The former capital of the ancient Silla dynasty, the city is also home to more temples, tombs, pagodas and palaces than anywhere else in the country.

9. Jordan

Best for hiking and ancient ruins

Compact Jordan offers the complete package. Ancient wonders? Visit the 2000-year-old rock-hewn city of Petra or Karak’s Crusader castle. City sights? Try Roman Jerash or the souks of Amman. Jaw-dropping landscapes? Camp in the other-worldly deserts of Wadi Rum. More surprisingly, Jordan can also be very green – especially at this time. In April, humidity and rainfall are low, temperatures loiter delightfully at a mild 20–23°C (68–73°F), the central valleys are lush from winter rains and wildflowers bloom everywhere. In particular, Ajloun Forest is abloom with strawberry trees and rock roses, while Dana’s oases are bright with oleander and birds. Also, the vastness of Petra can be explored without breaking a sweat.

10. Marrakesh and the Atlas Mountains, Morocco 

Best for shopping and hiking

Ah, Morocco in spring: almond blossom blooming and hillsides green. Temperatures in the lowland are sitting happily at around 25°C (77°F) – just right for city wandering – and in the highlands it’s a little cooler making it pleasant for hikes. First, head for marvelous Marrakesh. Get swept up with the snake-charmers, orange juicers and acrobats thronging the sprawling Djemaa El Fna square (where every night feels like a festival); barter for spices, scarves and babouches (slippers) in the medina’s souqs; and admire the heady mix, from exquisite Islamic architecture to the Jewish district to leafy Ville Nouvelle. Marrakesh is also a great place for the food lovers, too: eat traditional tagines and modern Moroccan-with-a-twist, or take a food tour. Then make a break for the Atlas Mountains. Morocco’s mightiest peaks (including 4167m/13,671ft Jebel Toubkal, the highest of all) are within easy reach, and flush with wildflowers at this time. Take a hike and immerse yourself in Amazigh culture.

Planning tip: Consider starting your visit to Marrakesh with a tour to help orientate yourself within the medina and to pick up some shopping and restaurant tips.

11. Wairarapa Wine Region, New Zealand

Best for cycle touring among vineyards 

Come grape-harvest season, when the vines blaze autumnal-orange across the hillsides as they wait to be plucked, raise a glass like a true Wellingtonian. The Wairarapa Wine Region, only an hour’s drive northeast of New Zealand’s capital, has a climate similar to Burgundy and a wild, rural, undiscovered feel. Make for Martinborough, the charming old town at the heart of the local wine industry. Top-quality pinot noir hails from the family-owned vineyards hereabouts. Gourmet tours and food-wine pairing experiences are possible, which combine visits to some of the 20-odd local vineyards; expect to sip wines alongside beers from the region’s craft breweries and munch on platters of world-class cheeses. Or take a self-guided cycle amid the vines – the cellar doors around here are conveniently close to one another and easy to reach by pedal.

12. Melbourne, Australia 

Best for city lovers 

April is a perfect time to wander the laneways and buzzy neighborhoods of Melbourne, Australia. Take a street art tour in Collingwood, sip world-class coffee in Fitzroy or catch an AFL game at the MCG. The pleasant autumnal weather (highs around 20°C/68°F) makes it an ideal time to meander around the Royal Botanic Gardens (aflame with autumn color) and stroll seaside in St Kilda. Spend the day in one of Melbourne's many art galleries, but be sure to check out the First Nations Art exhibit at the National Gallery of Victoria in Federation Square. In April, the Comedy Festival (the world’s third-largest laugh-fest) also hosts shows around the city.

You'll also want to eat like a local in Australia’s cuisine capital, where the menu moves from the flavors of the Mediterranean to zesty Asian bites to the sweet spices of Africa – all served as stylish yet affordable plates. 

Planning tip: The vineyard-streaked Yarra Valley makes a lovely, easy escape, especially during autumn’s grape harvest.