You’ve made it through the chilliest months of the year, but in April, you might still be enduring frequent grey skies and temperatures that aren’t exactly conducive for outdoor swimming or sunbathing. Now might be the perfect time to take advantage of the warmer spring weather in other locations in the U.S. or beyond. Whether you’re looking for warmth closer to home or want to jet off to a destination thousands of miles away, you’re sure to find the perfect sunny escape on this list.
Crete, Greece
Crete is the southernmost island in Greece, enjoying the country’s warmest temperatures, with April often idyllic. If you visit outside of Easter week, you can take advantage of lower rates and thinner crowds, wonderful for spending the day on Crete’s beautiful beaches like Balos, with its stretches of pink-hued sands accessed via a hike down the rugged cliffs or by boat. That makes for an even more tranquil setting, especially this time of year. You’ll find many charming Greek villages throughout the area to take advantage of warm hospitality and delicious traditional eats. Walled Old Town Chania offers a romantic base in a prime location for day trips to Balos Beach and hikes through the dramatic Samaria Gorge. It’s a postcard-perfect setting with a lighthouse, a beautiful harbor, and narrow cobbled streets lined with medieval buildings.
Cancun, Mexico
One of the top destinations in Mexico, Cancun is a famous spring break spot, but if you come during the second half of the month, you can enjoy the warm temperatures and pristine white sandy beaches without the crowds. You can spend your days relaxing, swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying other water sports in and on the brilliant turquoise sea or visiting the myriad of attractions, including Mayan ruins. The Xel-Ha eco-park offers zip-lining cenotes for swimming and other activities while entertainment can be enjoyed at Xoximilco, a theme park focused on Mexican culture, with music and food enjoyed while riding gondola-like boats called trajineras through the Mayan jungle.
Azore Islands, Portugal
While summer is the hottest time of year in the Azores, an archipelago of nine volcanic islands in the mid-Atlantic, April is a wonderful time to come, with the flowers starting to bloom brighter, the sun shining stronger, and the days getting longer. It’s also a peak month for whale watching, with many different whales passing through during their migration, including blue whales, sei whales, and fin whales. Humpbacks are occasionally spotted and sperm whales can be seen year-round. This is a hiker’s paradise too, with a myriad of trails, from paths along the coast to challenging treks to volcanic peaks. Other highlights include hot springs to soak in, formed by the volcanoes that formed the island, black sand beaches, underground caves, and waterfalls. Sao Miguel is the largest island, home to the capital of Ponta Delgada, the capital, which is where most visitors begin their explorations.
Miami, Florida
Summer is blistering hot in Miami, but April offers mild weather with plenty of sunshine and countless magnificent beaches without the need for a jacket. The posh South Beach area in Miami Beach is ideal for people watching and enjoying the historic pastel-hued art deco buildings. You’ll find lots of ways to enjoy the water, including jet-skiing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating, and stand-up paddleboarding. This is also a great spot to watch for dolphins. Guided tours are available that will bring you to paddle or even swim with them in the wild.
Marrakech, Morocco
Nestled at the foot of the Atlas mountains, the city of Marrakech enjoys pleasant weather in April with daytime highs in the mid-70s, perfect for sightseeing and exploring the bazaars. Plus, the hillsides will be bursting with almond blossoms. Beautiful if chaotic, it’s an exciting mix of old and new where you’ll see fortune tellers, snake charmers, and centuries-old markets that are full of color, including barrels of spices like turmeric, saffron, ginger, and cinnamon that are tucked among the tapestries and hookahs. Savor the eats sold in food stalls featuring skewers of seasoned meats and much more, or sit down at one of the wooden tables to enjoy a full meal featuring roast lamb with couscous or something more daring like steamed sheep’s head.
Seville, Spain
The capital of Andalucia, Seville is wonderfully warm but not too hot in April, with highs in the 70s. This is a great time to enjoy colorful parades and festivals like the Feria de Abril with flamenco dancers and Sevillanos on horseback. Take in sights like the Alcazar and Seville Cathedral on a walking tour, shop the markets for locally grown produce, go wine and tapas sampling, and catch a live flamenco performance. You might want to take a day trip to the beach too, with the coast just a little over an hour away. Matalascañas is the closest and offers a four-mile expanse of pearly sands.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston can be brutally hot with high humidity during the summer, but in April, temperatures are perfectly warm while the magnolia trees will be in bloom, creating a gorgeous display. The city celebrates its horticulture with the month-long Spring Festival of Houses and Gardens, and you’ll be able to walk through the private gardens of some of the most magnificent historic homes, many highlighted by brightly colored azaleas. The city also has a beautiful waterfront, opportunities for surfing and standup paddleboarding, golf courses galore, countless eateries serving high-quality Southern fare, and lively nightlife.
Palm Springs, California
An oasis in the desert, one of the best months to visit Palm Springs is April. This hip mid-century town offers bright blue skies without the sizzling temperatures of summer. Explore the many enticing boutiques, galleries, and eateries downtown, and if you’re here during the first week of the month, check out the Indian Wells Arts Festival. On the first Wednesday of the month, you can stroll the Artwalk at the Backstreet Art District. There are many opportunities for getting active, including hiking the scenic trails at Mount San Jacinto State Park, accessed via the Palm Springs Tramway. Most hotels and some vacation rentals include pools that are ideal for lounging around afterward.
Sedona, Arizona
Sedona is one of the best destinations for hiking in Arizona, and April is a great time to enjoy treks to the area vortexes where you’ll be surrounded by awe-inspiring red rock scenery while taking advantage of the high concentration of electromagnetic energy that’s said to be conducive for healing and self-exploration. There are many other outdoor activities to enjoy, from mountain biking and golfing to Jeep tours, and right in town, you’ll find many art galleries, interesting shops, spas for pampering treatments, and all sorts of eateries.
Kauai, Hawaii
There is no bad time to visit Kauai, but in April, the island truly lives up to its name the “Garden Isle,” with gardens like the Limahuli Garden & Preserve at its best. The native ko’oko’olau will be displaying its beautiful yellow, daisy-like flowers among lush plants like rare native ferns. Of course, you can enjoy the island’s many other attractions too, like snorkeling among sea turtles and colorful fish, gazing at the waterfalls and spectacular gorge in Waimea Canyon, the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” soaking up the stunning beauty of Hanalei Bay and perhaps embarking on a flightseeing tour for a bird’s-eye view over it all.
Guanacaste, Costa Rica
April is a hot and dry month in the Guanacaste region of Costa Rica, with warm sea temperatures along its northern Pacific coast that make it ideal for swimming. Enjoy the endless beaches like Playa Blanca with its calm waters, and Playa Hermosa, popular for diving and other water sports. This is also when you’ll see the beautiful flowering trees throughout much of the Nicoya Peninsula, and rodeos are frequently hosted now too. Check out Nancite Beach, one of two locations in the country where Olive Ridley Sea Turtles come to shore for the annual mass sea turtle nesting, while Rincon de la Vieja National Park is known for Rincon de la Vieja Volcano with an active landscape of geysers, mud pots, hot springs, and fumaroles.
Buenos Aires, Argentina
April marks the start of autumn in Buenos Aires, with the summer crowds gone and the weather starting to cool, bringing pleasantly warm temperatures without much rain. Off-season rates can be enjoyed at the hotels and while you’re out dining and dancing the night away, you’re more likely to be among locals than tourists. This is a great time to take part in Milongas, AKA nights of tango dancing at social clubs and on ballroom floors. There are many museums to explore like The Evita Museum, which focuses on the lifetime of the famous first lady of Argentina and you won’t want to miss the neoclassical Palace of Argentine National Congress. Be sure to take a stroll along the Puerto Madero waterfront at sunset too, where you’ll enjoy a perfect vantage point for watching the sun go down.
Cape Town, South Africa
Through the month of April, Cape Town will be warm and dry, the last good month of the year to visit until November. There are lots to do here and within a relatively short drive, including a climb up Table Mountain for the adventurous or an easy ride to the peak via the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, which offers rotating 360-degree views. Boulders Beach is a highlight in the park as the only place on Earth where you can get close to African penguins. It’s a top spot for families with calm, shallow water to splash around in. Cape Town is also a popular jumping-off point for visits to Kruger National Park, with direct 2.5-hour flights available to enjoy opportunities for watching the Big Five: lion, leopard, black rhino, elephant, and Cape buffalo.
Cairo and the Nile River, Egypt
There are just two seasons in Egypt, summer and winter. April marks the end of the winter season as one of the best months for visiting Egypt, with comfortably warm temperatures typically in the mid-70s to low 80s and in the 60s at night. Most fly into Cairo, offering the chance to marvel at the Pyramids, which lie on the city’s outskirts. You’ll find plenty of other delights in the city too, including the intriguing souks. The markets are filled with color, aromas, and the sounds of live music. Many fascinating ancient temples and other sites can be explored while on a river cruise of the Nile, like Luxor and Karnak with tombs, temples, and the monuments of the Theban Necropolis. Along the Red Sea Riviera, there are beautiful beaches popular for swimming, snorkeling, and diving among vibrant coral and abundant marine life.
