17 Best April destinations in Europe for 2024

• March 31 – Easter (early April crowds will be larger in Italy, Spain etc)
• April 25 – Liberation Day – Public holiday (Italy)

Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain

• April avg high: 72F/22C
• April avg low: 61F/16C
• April avg precip: 0.6″/1.5cm

The temperatures above may not look like sunbathing weather, but most April days in the southwest corner of Tenerife are a bit warmer than this and the beaches can get pretty full. The Canary Islands are the only warm-weather April destination that is officially in Europe, and that’s only because these islands off Africa are part of Spain.

Flights into Tenerife, which is the largest of the Canary Islands, are quite reasonable from the colder parts of northern Europe. And hotels here are quite a bargain as well, at least compared to the Caribbean or Mediterranean. You’ll mostly find Brits, Germans, and Nordic folks here, and in April it’s mostly the older generation. It’s worth noting that Tenerife is only one of the Canary Islands and there are beaches and historic towns on several others including Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and La Palma. On some travel websites they are all listed under Canary Islands, yet on most European travel sites the islands tend to be listed individually, so it could be worth checking at least a couple of them for the best deals. Unsurprisingly, you’ll usually have to pay a bit more for a place with a pool, but it is probably worthwhile unless you are very close to one of the sandy beaches. Hotel prices in 2024 are up a bit since last year so booking early seems wise to lock in a reasonable rate.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €61 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €83 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €17 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Tenerife
>>>Tenerife prices and travel tips

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Antalya, Turkey

• April avg high: 71F/22C
• April avg low: 51F/11C
• April avg precip: 2.4″/6.0cm

While part of Turkey is actually in Europe, Antalya is technically well into Asia. This historic Mediterranean town starts filling up with northern Europeans and Russians in April, and there is usually really nice sunny weather most of April that is warm enough for some sunbathing.

Flights into Antalya Airport are quite cheap, and the area even has an abundance of all-inclusive hotels along stretches of sand in both directions from the city center. Hotels within the historic center are excellent value, and Antalya is a very worthwhile cultural destination in addition to having pleasant weather this time of year. Like quite a few other countries, Turkey has been struggling with economic issues in the last few years, especially runaway inflation and a huge drop in the currency. The bottom line is that Antalya should be cheaper than it has been in a long time in 2024, but it’s wise to keep an eye on the news. Many resorts are very popular with Russians and serve them almost exclusively. Check the reviews to avoid these places if that matters to you. Room rates in 2024 are up from last year so it looks like it’s going to be busy this April.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €41 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €65 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €16 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Antalya
>>>Antalya prices and travel tips

Rome, Italy

• April avg high: 64F/18C
• April avg low: 47F/8C
• April avg precip: 2.2″/5.5cm

April is another ideal month to visit Rome because it’s usually warm enough for all sightseeing, but still early enough in the year that crowds are not out of control yet. That changes a bit around Easter, which is on March 31 in 2023, as the city fills up and the Vatican has big events. If you are coming during that week or the following week it’s important to book early and expect to pay quite a bit more.

The rest of the month is even more pleasant, and hotel prices are still modest compared to what they’ll be starting in June. The outdoor attractions such as the Coliseum and Ancient Rome can be brutal when the summer heat arrives, so this kind of weather is ideal in several ways. April is an ideal month for a tour of Italy since it has fairly mild weather, and Rome is the best place to start. It’s probably worth paying more for a place with a central location or at least near a transit hub, and it will save you time and probably money in the long run.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €100 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €111 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €26 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Rome
>>>Rome prices and travel tips

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Florence, Italy

• April avg high: 66F/19C
• April avg low: 46F/8C
• April avg precip: 3.1″/7.8cm

Since Florence is only a bit north of Rome, it has generally the same pleasant weather in April. This is the heart of Tuscany and starting in April it’s warm enough to start exploring some of the vineyards and lovely hill towns in this area, not to mention the fantastic sights in Florence itself.

Nearly everyone visits Florence on their way from Venice to Rome or from Rome to Venice, and the train only takes about two hours between them. It’s best to fly into Rome and head north or fly into Venice and head south. You can get cheap flights into the Pisa Airport, or visit it on a day trip.

Speaking of the north, Venice is still fairly chilly in April, but it’s absolutely worth a visit if you have an extra day or two. If you are coming from within Europe you can get cheaper flights into nearby Treviso Airport.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €94 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €106 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €26 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Florence
>>>Florence prices and travel tips

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Paris, France

• April avg high: 60F/16C
• April avg low: 46F/8C
• April avg precip: 2.0″/5.0cm

Fortunately for all of us, Paris has a milder climate than you might expect. April is obviously not a warm month in the City of Lights, but it’s fairly pleasant weather for sightseeing, with usually very little rain. Starting in May you’ll notice crowds getting larger and larger, so April is a very good compromise with acceptable weather and modest crowd sizes.

Hotels in Paris are pretty good bargains as well, especially if you book a place in more of a tourist neighborhood than a business neighborhood. The Metro/public transportation system in Paris is excellent as there is a station just a short walk from almost anywhere, so you can save a bit of money by staying a bit outside the city center and you’ll still be able to get around easily. Flights into Paris are still good deals as well, so this can be a good place to start or end a longer tour of Europe. You should consider a Paris Pass if you intend on hitting many of the top attractions in only a few days. Hotel rates are down a bit in 2024 compared to April of 2023 so this could be a good year to visit and maybe even splurge a bit with a centrally-located place.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €68 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €104 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €29 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Paris
>>>Paris prices and travel tips

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Nice, France

• April avg high: 62F/17C
• April avg low: 50F/10C
• April avg precip: 2.7″/6.8cm

The Mediterranean city of Nice is quite crowded all summer and fairly dead in the winter, so April is a good compromise month for a visit. The temperatures are warm enough for a long stroll along the beach or through the outdoor markets in the center of town, and chilly enough that you’ll be able to show off some of your favorite outerwear.

Nice has plenty going for it by itself, but it’s also a very short train ride (20 minutes or so) from Cannes in one direction and Monaco in the other. So this is an excellent base for trips around the French Riviera, with lower hotel and restaurant prices than some of those more famously expensive spots that you can easily see on day trips. With these wonderful day trips so near by it can make sense to stay in the district close to the train station rather than pay a lot more for something closer to the beach, especially since you won’t be spending much time on the beach pebbles in April anyway.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €74 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €105 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €23 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Nice
>>>Nice prices and travel tips

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London, England

• April avg high: 55F/13C
• April avg low: 42F/6C
• April avg precip: 1.8″/4.5cm

The weather in London can be lousy at any time of the year, and at least April is warm and usually dry enough that you can do everything that you want to do. London is one of those cities that is so crowded in July and August that some people regret visiting then, so actually a visit in April can be far more peaceful and enlightening.

Another plus is that flights to London can be pretty good bargains in the shoulder season like this. London hotels and hostels are also offering rates that are far lower than you’ll see in summer. London is very spread out and it’s probably best to pay a bit more for a central location rather than plan on commuting in and out of the tourist areas each day. You can also take the Eurostar train to Paris in a bit over two hours, and then begin a European tour from there. Hotel rates in 2024 are looking similar to last year so they are still relatively cheap by recent historical standards.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from £74 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from £83 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from £22 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for London
>>>London prices and travel tips

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Barcelona, Spain

• April avg high: 64F/18C
• April avg low: 47F/8C
• April avg precip: 1.9″/4.8cm

Speaking of cities that feel insanely crowded during summer, Barcelona is now another one, so visiting in the fringe months can be far more enjoyable. Since the architecture is the most notable thing about Barcelona, it’s a place where you’ll want to spend quite a bit of time outdoors. April is warm and dry enough to be able to enjoy your visit, even more so than July when it’s so hot that you have to seek shade on a regular basis.

First time visitors to Spain might not realize how different Barcelona and Madrid are from each other, and that there is a high-speed train that connects the cities in about three hours. It’s highly recommended to spend 3 or so days in each city if you can. Hotels here are pretty good value in April as well since it’s before the beach and summer season where crowds can become overwhelming. Room rates in April of 2024 are lower than last year as of the beginning of the year so this could be a great year to visit.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €59 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €70 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €23 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Barcelona
>>>Barcelona prices and travel tips

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Madrid, Spain

• April avg high: 64F/18C
• April avg low: 45F/7C
• April avg precip: 1.9″/4.8cm

As mentioned just above, the ideal plan is to visit Madrid and Barcelona as a pair, with about 3 nights in each. Madrid is a more formal and typical large capital city, but it’s also filled with interesting sights along with great museums, food, and nightlife.

Those starting a longer Europe tour can fly into Madrid and then take that train to Barcelona, and then another train to Paris from there, or a different train along the Mediterranean coast. You can also take a night train to Lisbon from Madrid, which is an adventure on its own. Room rates in April of 2024 are looking a bit lower than last year as well so Spain seems like a good place to go this year.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €58 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €76 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €23 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Madrid
>>>Madrid prices and travel tips

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Malaga, Spain

• April avg high: 70F/21C
• April avg low: 51F/11C
• April avg precip: 1.6″/4.0cm

There are actually days in April where it’s warm enough for sunbathing in the Malaga area, which also includes the Costa del Sol towns to its west. But even if you don’t come for sunbathing, you’ll at least get nice weather with almost no rain. Many Brits and Nordic people live here all year round, but the main tourist season doesn’t really begin until late May.

Some of the towns in this area are filled with hotels, but others have far more short-term apartment rentals, so it’s good to check both options. The actual city of Malaga has a historic center that is more interesting than you might expect, so there is more to do here than just walk around in the nice weather. Marbella is the most famous of the small Costa del Sol towns and probably the most upscale as well. Torremolinos was the first of these fishing villages to transform into tourist towns, and it’s probably still the most interesting of them. You can get really good hotel deals in this area in April because there are so many places and they don’t fill up until it gets warmer.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €48 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €74 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €19 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Malaga
>>>Malaga prices and travel tips

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Lisbon, Portugal

• April avg high: 67F/19C
• April avg low: 53F/12C
• April avg precip: 2.6″/6.5cm

Lisbon has one of Europe’s best climates any month of the year, and April is obviously no exception. Being on the southwest coast as it is, the city gets warm gulfstream breezes that keep it nicer than the inland cities on the same latitude. Lisbon is another ideal city to fly into for the start of a tour of Europe, as you can get to Madrid or many other Spanish cities quite easily on your way towards France.

Portugal’s remoteness seems to help keep visitor numbers lower than they deserve, and that helps keep prices modest as well. Hotels and hostels here are good deals most of the year, and the quality is surprisingly good even in the lower price ranges. Hotel prices in April of 2024 are looking very tempting so you can probably afford something nicer than you might have imagined. The food here is another highlight and sit-down meals are surprisingly affordable for a European capital.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €53 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €85 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €19 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Lisbon
>>>Lisbon prices and travel tips

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Split, Croatia

• April avg high: 63F/17C
• April avg low: 51F/11C
• April avg precip: 2.5″/6.3cm

You’ve likely heard of Dubrovnik, which is the most famous tourist town in Croatia, but Split is actually a better stop for many people. The historic town centers are very similar except that Split’s is larger than Dubrovnik’s walled city, and Split is a bit older as well. Dubrovnik is also a busy cruise port, which is another reason to avoid it unless you are on a cruise yourself.

Split is also a good transport hub in Croatia as the train stops here near the ferry port, which can get you to one of the nearby islands. Apartment rentals called “sobes” are more popular here than normal hotels, and usually cheaper as well. This area is also overcrowded in summer, so April is a nice month to be able to see everything and still have decent weather. If you are looking for a place to stay for a week or more in April you’ll get excellent value here because they have a huge number of summer rentals that are otherwise empty until May or so usually.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €41 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €59 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €12 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Split
>>>Split prices and travel tips

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Prague, Czechia

• April avg high: 57F/14C
• April avg low: 38F/3C
• April avg precip: 1.5″/3.8cm

As a city nowhere near the coast, Prague has pretty chilly winters, so April is really the first month of the year when temperatures are pleasant enough for a visit. Fortunately Prague normally gets almost no rain in April either, so as long as you bring a jacket or sweater you can probably leave the umbrella at home.

One reason why Prague is a recommended city in April is that it’s another one that can feel so insanely crowded in July that it’s unbearable. It might feel a bit cold in April here, but it’s still far more pleasant than battling the monstrous crowds in summer. Hotel prices are good bargains this time of the year as well. You’d pay double for the same room in summer, so you can afford to splurge on something nicer and with a more central location. The public transportation system here is a bit intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it it’s easy, fast, and cheap.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €52 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €71 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €19 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Prague
>>>Prague prices and travel tips

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Budapest, Hungary

• April avg high: 61F/16C
• April avg low: 43F/6C
• April avg precip: 1.9″/4.8cm

If you read the description of Prague (just above) in April, it’s pretty much the exact same story for Budapest in April, but the weather here is a bit warmer. Budapest doesn’t get quite as crowded as Prague does in summer, though it can also be quite hot here so July and August are not ideal times to come in any event.

Those who are doing a tour of Europe that includes both Prague and Budapest will probably want to stop in Vienna in between, and perhaps even the lovely small town of Cesky Krumlov. Buses can be more frequent than trains in this part of Europe, usually with lower prices and similar travel times as well. Budapest is one of Europe’s great bargains, as it is always near the top of the Europe Backpacker Index list of the cheapest tourist cities on the continent.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €52 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €73 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €11 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Budapest
>>>Budapest prices and travel tips

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Athens, Greece

• April avg high: 68F/20C
• April avg low: 49F/9C
• April avg precip: 1.2″/3.0cm

As you can see above, Athens has a very pleasant April climate, which is ideal for the type of sightseeing you’ll do here. The main attractions are outdoors in this historic city, so a visit in summer can be problematic in the brutal heat. Many people visit Athens for a few days and then head to one of the nearby islands by ferry from the cruise port here of Piraeus. Most of the islands are pretty dead until at least after Easter (April 9 in 2023), and it’s slow through the middle of May.

There are a couple of smaller islands that are close enough to Athens for a day trip visit. If you really want to also visit an island you might consider Santorini, Mykonos, or Rhodes. Those all have airports and towns that are going all year round, although still quite slow outside of the summer months.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €47 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €58 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €14 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Athens
>>>Athens prices and travel tips

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Valletta, Malta

• April avg high: 64F/18C
• April avg low: 54F/12C
• April avg precip: 1.1″/2.8cm

If you don’t care much about sandy beaches and are just looking for a European island destination with pleasant weather in April, then consider Malta. The only proper beaches are a long way away from the main towns, but still the weather is good enough in April to spend plenty of time outside and even relax on the rocks that serve as beaches in the best areas such as Sliema.

Valletta is actually the small and historic capital town that is a charming place to spend a day or two, but if you are coming for longer than that you’ll probably want a hotel in Sliema or farther west along the coast. The nightlife here is quite good, especially for those who enjoy cheap beer and wine. English is the main language, so it’s one of the easier places to visit in southern Europe.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €57 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €68 for two people

>>>Check hotel deals for Valletta
>>>Valletta prices and travel tips

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Interlaken, Switzerland

• April avg high: 57F/14C
• April avg low: 38F/3C
• April avg precip: 3.4″/8.5cm

While it’s still fairly cold in April, and very cold at the higher altitudes, Interlaken is really an all-year destination. The area is home to perhaps Europe’s two most scenic spots in the Jungfraujoch railway and the Schilthorn observation deck, and those can be good any time of year as long as you don’t get unlucky with a foggy day.

In winter this is a ski area and in summer this is the hiking and trekking capital of Switzerland. April is kind of an in-between month where you might be able to do both of those things. It’s best to plan your activities at the last minute, once you know what the weather will be like at the time. My article on where to go in Switzerland is very comprehensive so it could be worth a look if you want to visit the Alps in April. Honestly, Interlaken is good for transport connections, but staying in one of the small villages in the nearby Lauterbrunnen Valley will be something you’ll remember for the rest of your life.

• Good 3-star hotels in April from €123 for two people
• Good 4-star hotels in April from €187 for two people
• Hostel dorm beds in April from €31 per person

>>>Check hotel deals for Interlaken
>>>Interlaken prices and travel tips