10 Great Countries and Places to Travel in April

10 great countries to travel in April

April is a time when fresh vitality and energy fill the air. Spring breezes start to blow in earnest, and along with green sprouts, flowers of every color come into bloom. Maybe that’s why, every year around this time, adults and children alike get seized by the urge to just take off somewhere. Weather that’s neither hot nor cold stokes the urge to travel. On top of that, with its mild weather and the fact that it’s the off-season, April has plenty of appealing destinations. So which countries are great to travel to in April? Let’s take a close look together below.

1. Greece — Athens

Greece, Athens

First, Athens, Greece, makes the list of great April destinations. Greece is counted among the best places to visit any time of year, but the reason I specifically recommend April is that it’s the off-season. Not being peak season means there aren’t as many tourists, so you can sightsee at your own relaxed pace. In the case of Athens, which I’m featuring, peak season brings such crowds that even taking photos — let alone proper sightseeing — is said to be difficult. So if you visit Athens in the off-season, you can join popular tours more cheaply and at leisure. Visiting ancient ruins under mild, cool weather seems like it would make a wonderful memory in its own right.

2. Netherlands — Amsterdam

Netherlands, Amsterdam

Amsterdam in the Netherlands — also known as the home of tulips — also makes the list of great April destinations. As the chilly cold and frosty weather retreat, April in Amsterdam is said to be a time positively brimming with bright energy. In particular, if you visit on King’s Day, held every April 27, flower-decked boats fill the canals, live music spills out into the streets, and markets pop up all over the city. Roaming the streets with delicious food in hand makes for a relaxed and romantic trip.

Beyond that, Amsterdam offers attractions like the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and boutique shopping. It’s far, but the experience is all the more rewarding — so why not head to the Netherlands for your trip this April?

3. England — London

England, London

London, England — counted among the cities with the most foot traffic in the world — is also great to travel to in April. Peak season is just beginning, so there aren’t too few or too many tourists, and the weather boasts the perfect temperature for a stroll. You get the advantage of leisurely touring London’s signature attractions like the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Gardens, and Kew Gardens. That said, as mentioned, London is always bustling with foot traffic, so it’s hard to expect cheap airfare or lodging, and you should note that popular tours require reservations.

4. Italy — Venice

Italy, Venice

Despite negative talk about bad smells and rampant disease, Venice, Italy — which still draws countless tourists every year — was also selected as a great April destination. Its romantic canals and beautiful alleyways, easily worth shrugging off the slander and rumors, have even been named places you must see before you die. April in Venice isn’t peak season, so you can travel at your own pace, and it boasts pleasant, mild weather. In Venice you can also encounter glasswork and leatherwork by Italian artisans. If you want to truly soak up Italy’s colors while picking up a special souvenir, I recommend a trip to Venice this April.

5. United States — California

USA, California

The spring breezes have started to blow, but if you still can’t quite let go of winter, I recommend California, USA, as a great April destination. Lake Tahoe in California lets you take in snow-capped mountain ranges even in April, and you can still ski. Skiers from all over the world are said to visit to enjoy the late winter here.

Also, at Newport Beach in California, you can watch the gray whale migration every April. Since it’s the season before peak season kicks in, you can enjoy quiet package tours, and the mild, warm weather makes for ideal sightseeing.

6. Mexico — Puerto Vallarta

Mexico, Puerto Vallarta

Mexico, which makes the list of ideal destinations almost every month, is also great to travel to in April. Among its cities, Puerto Vallarta is relatively safe by Latin American standards and has plenty of resorts and attractions. April is the season before peak season starts, so there aren’t many vacationers, which has the advantage of cheap lodging and airfare. The temperatures are pleasant, the weather is mild, and it barely rains, so you can enjoy all sorts of activities on the beautiful beaches. Relax, then also visit attractions like the Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and you’ve got an ideal spring trip.

7. Australia — Sydney

Australia, Sydney

April in Sydney, Australia, unlike the other countries, isn’t the season before peak season — it’s the season when peak season ends, since it’s autumn, when cool breezes begin to blow. With the summer crowds gone, Sydney offers cheap airfare and hotels, and you can enjoy all kinds of packages and tours in peace. That also means you can leisurely tour signature attractions like the Opera House, Hyde Park, the Royal Botanic Garden, Manly Beach, and Bondi Beach.

8. Indonesia — Bali

Indonesia, Bali

The reason I’m introducing Bali, Indonesia, as a great April destination is that it’s the season when Southeast Asia’s distinctive humid weather and rainy season come to an end. From April through October, Bali’s rainfall drops sharply, so it boasts mild weather and pleasant temperatures. Touring places like Uluwatu Temple and Tanah Lot in this season means low discomfort and great photos. And in Bali’s Nusa Dua, come April you can book a luxury water villa to relax in. These villas put the sea right before your eyes, with no need to walk to the beach — it’s reminiscent of a top-tier resort in the Maldives.

9. Japan — Osaka

Japan, Osaka

You probably all know exactly why I recommend Osaka, Japan, as a great April destination — it’s the season when Osaka’s signature Osaka Castle and lavish cherry blossoms create a beautiful scene. Strolling along cherry-blossom paths in the mild weather is said to let you escape the busy everyday and the stress that’s been wearing you down. Delicious food and large shopping centers are also relatively easy to find, so every April many people plan a trip to Osaka. One thing to note, though: this season brings way, way too many Korean tourists, so keep that in mind when planning your trip. For some reason we Koreans oddly dislike running into our own kind (?) abroad. Haha.

10. China — Yangzhou

China, Yangzhou

If you want to take in neat, carefully cultivated nature, I recommend Yangzhou, China, as a great April destination. Every April, the rare bonsai trees of Yangzhou put out green leaves and bloom beautiful flowers. And when the Yangtze River and Jiangsu Province around Yangzhou meet April’s mild temperatures and blue skies, they’re said to boast magnificent scenery. On top of that, there are reportedly more than 200 small gardens that have been tended and maintained for centuries — so if you want to encounter the history of Chinese bonsai and tidy gardens, set off for Yangzhou this April.

I’d thought I loved and adored travel, but it makes me genuinely sad that the only places here I’ve been to are Osaka in Japan and London in England. I visited London in winter, so I didn’t get to taste the April mood, but I went to Osaka in late April, when the cherry blossoms were starting to fall. I didn’t get to properly see Osaka’s signature sights, but I remember it being quite enjoyable thanks to the pleasant weather and cool breezes. Above all, there weren’t insanely (?) many tourists, so the short waits at restaurants and attractions worked in my favor. Anyway, I hope this piece helped everyone planning an April trip. Bye!