Best Places to Visit in April
Peak cherry blossoms, Easter, and Southeast Asia's biggest holiday
April is when Northern Hemisphere spring hits its stride. Japan's cherry blossom season typically peaks across Tokyo and Kyoto in the first half of the month — one of the most tightly-timed, most-photographed travel windows anywhere. Easter often falls in April, driving a short, sharp travel spike across Europe and the Americas. Mid-April brings Southeast Asia's biggest shared holiday: Thailand's Songkran, Myanmar's Thingyan, Laos's Pi Mai and Cambodia's Chaul Chnam Thmey all fall in the same mid-April window, each a version of the same Buddhist solar new year, and each shutting down significant parts of daily business for several days. Meanwhile, the Southern Hemisphere's autumn deepens, and its shoulder-season value only improves.
Good to Know About April
- Japan's cherry blossom forecast is only reliable a few weeks out — the first official predictions come around December/January and shift repeatedly as spring approaches, so book flexibly if the bloom itself is the priority.
- Southeast Asia's mid-April new year (Songkran, Thingyan, Pi Mai, Chaul Chnam Thmey) affects the whole region at once — expect closures and transport demand spikes in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia simultaneously, not just one country.
- Easter's shifting date means April sometimes carries the Holy Week travel spike instead of March — confirm the specific year's date if planning around it in Spain, Italy or Latin America.
Destinations at Their Peak in April
Japan
19°C avg high · 135mm rain
Full timing guide
Italy
19°C avg high · 69mm rain
Full timing guide
Spain
19°C avg high · 50mm rain
Full timing guide
Mexico
27°C avg high · 25mm rain
Full timing guide
Nepal
29°C avg high · 65mm rain
Full timing guide
Vietnam
28°C avg high · 105mm rain
Full timing guide
Turkey
17°C avg high · 55mm rain
Full timing guide
Morocco
26°C avg high · 40mm rain
Full timing guide
South Korea
18°C avg high · 75mm rain
Full timing guide
Netherlands
14°C avg high · 40mm rain
Full timing guide
Iran
22°C avg high · 35mm rain
Full timing guide
Jordan
23°C avg high · 7mm rain
Full timing guideGood Value in April (Shoulder Season)
Not at their absolute peak, but a solid weather-to-price balance this month.
Events Happening in April
Songkran 2027: Thai New Year Dates, Cities & Survival Tips
April 13 – 15, 2027
Kentucky Derby 2027: Dates, Tickets & Louisville Travel Guide
April 30 – May 1, 2027 (Kentucky Oaks: Apr 30; Kentucky Derby: May 1)
Boston Marathon 2027: Patriots' Day Dates & Travel Guide
Monday, April 19, 2027 (Patriots' Day)
King's Day 2027 in Amsterdam: Koningsdag Dates & Travel Guide
Tuesday, April 27, 2027 (King's Night celebrations begin the evening of April 26)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is April the best time to see cherry blossoms in Japan?
Usually, yes, for Tokyo and Kyoto specifically — the main bloom typically peaks in the first half of April, though the exact timing shifts year to year based on winter and early spring temperatures.
Is Songkran only celebrated in Thailand?
No — the same mid-April Buddhist solar new year is celebrated across Thailand (Songkran), Myanmar (Thingyan), Laos (Pi Mai) and Cambodia (Chaul Chnam Thmey), each under a different national name.
Is April a good time to visit Europe?
Yes, generally — it's shoulder season with milder crowds and prices than summer, though Easter week (when it falls in April) brings a short, sharp spike in Spain, Italy and other predominantly Catholic countries.