Best Places to Travel in April Around the World

Spring has officially arrived, even if a dusting of late-season snow still lingers in the Alps. From vibrant tulip festivals in the Netherlands to the Cotswolds bursting into bloom and Thailand’s exuberant water fights, April offers a world of seasonal celebrations. Here are the destinations you won’t want to miss this month.

April is a month full of possibilities. The Mediterranean is warming up, making coastal getaways and sun-soaked escapes easily accessible once again. At the same time, the final stretch of the Alpine ski season offers one last chance for winter sports enthusiasts to hit the slopes. Most resorts across the Alps wind down this month—but not without a celebration. Expect high-energy, high-altitude festivals to mark the end of the season, including Zermatt Unplugged in Switzerland, where nearly 70 artists bring music to the mountains in unforgettable style.

Further afield, April brings vibrant celebrations around the globe. Thailand marks its New Year with exuberant city-wide water fights during Songkran, Coachella ignites the music festival season under the California desert sun, and Easter traditions around the world add a rich cultural layer to travel experiences.

In the northern latitudes, April marks the height of spring’s floral splendor, with tulips and ornamental Japanese cherry blossoms in full bloom. Some of the best cherry blossom displays can be found in the Cotswolds, along Hamburg’s avenues lined with over 5,000 cherry trees, and during the Hanami celebrations at Berlin’s Gardens of the World. Similar scenes unfold in other northern cities like Copenhagen and Stockholm, where parks and boulevards burst into pastel-colored bloom, drawing visitors and locals alike outdoors.

Thailand

 Mid-April marks the traditional New Year across much of Southeast Asia, and in Thailand, the festival of Songkran (April 13–15) transforms cities and towns into jubilant battlegrounds for an epic, three-day water fight. While solemn rituals still take place at Buddhist temples—where monks sprinkle water as a symbol of spiritual cleansing and blessings for the year ahead—the atmosphere outside is anything but quiet. Streets come alive with vendors selling oversized water pistols, buckets, and cups filled with everything from icy water to a gritty, symbolic mix of clay and water—and, of course, the occasional cocktail. With temperatures soaring during the hottest time of year, the soaking is not only welcome but embraced with laughter and good humour. Chiang Mai, in the north, hosts the country’s most iconic celebrations, while in Bangkok, Khao San Road becomes ground zero for the capital’s spirited festivities, as the backpacker district shuts down for the splash-filled revelry.

French Alps

 For late-season skiing, the Espace Killy ski area is one of the safest bets in the Alps. While spring snow coverage is no longer a given across the region, altitude remains your best ally—and here, the higher elevations keep the slopes open through the end of April. Anchored by two world-class resorts, Val d’Isère (6,070 ft) and Tignes (6,560 ft), the area benefits from Val d’Isère’s predominantly north-facing terrain and Tignes’ exceptional high-altitude skiing on the Grande Motte glacier (11,338 ft), where snow lingers for up to nine months a year.

With a combined 190 miles of runs catering to all ability levels, the Espace Killy offers far more than just traditional skiing. Think tobogganing, snowshoeing, husky sledding, and even ice diving for the adventurous. A well-connected lift system allows for seamless access across the area, often letting you ski or board right back into town—whether it’s your legs or the snowpack that decides it's time to call it a day. The combination of varied terrain, reliable altitude, and off-slope activities makes this a spring destination with broad appeal.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

 April bursts into colour in the Netherlands, making it one of the most festive times to visit. The highlight is Koningsdag (King’s Day) on April 26, when orange-clad crowds flood the streets in a nationwide celebration of the king’s birthday. In Amsterdam, the city transforms into a giant open-air party with lively flea markets, canal-side festivities, and music festivals spilling into every corner.

But the colour doesn’t stop at orange—the tulip season is in full bloom this month, painting the city and its surroundings in vibrant shades of red, pink, yellow, and purple. The Tulip Festival, from March through April, brings a wave of special plantings, floral parades, and themed events to parks and gardens across the city. 

Cotswolds, UK

 April brings the Cotswolds into full bloom, offering some of the most picturesque spring scenery in the UK. Just outside the charming, honey-hued market town of Moreton-in-Marsh, Batsford Arboretum is home to the UK’s National Collection of Japanese flowering cherry trees. With more than 120 varieties spread across the gardens, the arboretum reaches its floral peak around mid-April—though the exact timing varies slightly each year, depending on the weather.

An hour’s drive south, Westonbirt, the National Arboretum, puts on an equally dazzling show, with not only cherry blossoms but also vibrant displays of magnolias, camellias, and rhododendrons early in the season. As spring deepens, woodland floors across the region become blanketed in native bluebells, particularly throughout April and May. For peaceful spring flower walks, explore the Cotswolds’ many nature reserves, including Littleworth Wood near Snowshill Manor and Garden, and the tranquil Foxholes and Frith Wood reserves—each transformed into a sea of soft blue and green during the season’s peak.

Seville, Spain

 April is an extraordinary time to visit Seville, when the city bursts into life with the sights, sounds, and soul of Semana Santa—Spain’s iconic Holy Week celebration. Spanning the days between Palm Sunday and Easter, this deeply rooted tradition fills Seville’s sun-drenched streets with dramatic, daylong processions led by centuries-old brotherhoods. Dressed in traditional robes and hoods, they carry towering, flower-adorned floats depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ, all set to the rhythm of beating drums, solemn brass bands, and swirling incense.

Dating back to the 16th century, Semana Santa was born out of a desire to express faith through public devotion—and today, it remains one of Spain’s most captivating spiritual and cultural spectacles. Even for non-religious visitors, the atmosphere is electric: emotional, theatrical, and profoundly moving. Seville’s elegant architecture, warm spring weather, and deep-rooted traditions make this a must-experience destination in April.