Travel
17 of the Absolute Best Places to Visit in April
April is an amazing month for travel. It pops to life after a long stretch of colder months (in the Northern Hemisphere anyway) and it welcomes outdoor exploration before the heat and humidity of summer step in. April is all light...
April is an amazing month for travel. It pops to life after a long stretch of colder months (in the Northern Hemisphere anyway) and it welcomes outdoor exploration before the heat and humidity of summer step in. April is all light showers, cool breezes, and flowers galore, making it the perfect time to get take a trip, grab your girls, pack your bags and hit the road, rails, or sky.

Seriously, there are plenty of cities, states, and countries the world over simply ideal for April travel, and with International Earth Day on April 22nd, let’s get to narrowing down where you should visit. Here are 17 of the absolute best places to find yourself in the merry month of April.

By: Jake Kilroy

Interested in traveling during the rest of the year? Check out our most anticipated hotels of 2017.
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Paris
Paris, France

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When it comes to visiting Paris, you choose good weather or good prices. In springtime, rather than summer, hotels are cheaper but rain may be more likely. The City of Lights is gorgeous, no matter the weather, though. The Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame are extraordinary year-round and it’s not like Parisians ever abandon their café culture. Then there are sights like the Catacombs of Paris, which could prove more powerful knowing a rainy day looms above. Meanwhile, there are so many museums to explore, like Musée d'Orsay, Musée Rodin, and The Louvre, and also a good number of striking churches, such as Sacré-Cœur and Sainte-Chapelle. Plus, there's the actual song "April in Paris," covered by everyone from Billie Holiday to Frank Sinatra, so what more do you need?
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Cuba
Cuba

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Spring makes for the best time to explore the wonder that is Cuba, because come June, the wet season rolls in and it can get pretty dang chaotic. In April, though, it’s warm weather without too heavy of a beating sun and there’s a sense of electricity in the air. You have a whole lot of fun options in just Havana alone, from exploring the old town to hitting a club to hanging with what seems to be half the city population at the long stretch of seaside sidewalk known as the Malecón. Meanwhile, a whole island awaits if you’re after more. You can hike Pico Turquino, find simpler life in Baracoa, and mellow out super well at one of the many coastal resorts in Varadero. It’s a good place to find yourself in.
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Marrakech
Marrakech, Morocco

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Morocco comes to life with the blossoming spring and a healthy dose of much missed sunshine. Aside from the bustling markets that you’ll inevitably find yourself seeking out, there are a wide range of activities available in a city as historical as Marrakech. Stroll peaceful settings like Majorelle Garden, Menara Gardens, Agdal Gardens, or the Museum of Moroccan Berber Culture. Explore epic sites like Koutoubia Mosque, Saadian Tombs, and El Badi Palace. Take in wondrous culture at the Marrakech Museum, Musee Boucharouite, and Dar Si Said. Plus, you have the chance to stay a pretty stellar oases, as they’re sprinkled throughout the city.
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Texas
Texas

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There is a lot to see in Texas, and you’ll definitely want to take it in before May, that’s for damn sure. Texan summers range, but you can bank on serious heat rolling through the cities and countryside—and it’s not like a coastal breeze tumbles across the state. So April’s your last month to do up Texas right for a good spell. Don’t worry, though, because April features an incredible score of festivities throughout the entire Lone Star State, including the Andrews Wild Wild West Fest, Austin Reggae Festival, Celina Cajun Fest, Dallas International Film Festival, Fort Worth Food & Wine Festival, Galveston Island Food & Wine Festival, Grapevine Jazz Wine Train, Houston Comedy Film Festival, Katy Jazz Festival, Kilgore Film Festival, and on and on and on. The whole state is a party in April and anyone’s welcome.
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NYC

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Of all the fascinating places in the world, New York City requires the most minimal of introductions or explanations. It’s like telling you to visit a friend you’ve known your whole life. From afar, thanks to movies and TV shows, it seems like there’s really never a bad time to visit the Big Apple. There’s always something cool happening. Yet, while technically true, your New Yorker friends will tell you not to visit them in summer. [There’s a million things to do, but it’s damn hot and crazy muggy.] That's why you go just before. Come April, the cold season has mellowed out and warmer weather winds through the city. The sun is shining with less crowds, if such a thing exists in NYC. In April, there are baseball games, basketball games, and concerts pretty much everywhere. April also means the Tribeca Film Festival, the Easter Parade, the Brooklyn Folk Festival, and the Macy's Flower Show. Then there’s all the museums, theaters, and everything else. Plus, Central Park is ready for its annual influx of springtime guests, and Earth Day goes properly big in New York City. Do it all and have the best time!
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Cairo
Cairo, Egypt

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Simply put, the time to travel to Cairo is April. Crowds have died down and so have prices and temperatures. Of course, Cairo has magnificent sites to behold, no matter the month, like the Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. Explore the Old City, take in the Egyptian Museum, check out Salah El-Din Citadel, relax in Al Azhar Park, and have yourself at a time at Khan el-Khalili. Additionally, there are things such as Cairo Fashion Week and the Ismailia International Film Festival that make the month extra special for travelers.
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Florida
Florida

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Before the entire state turns hot, humid, and expensive, you can have the time of your life in Florida. There are an estimated billion things to do across the state, though Orlando’s metropolitan area obviously holds many of the big-time sights—Walt Disney World, Epcot, Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Disney's Blizzard Beach, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Universal Studios Florida, and Universal’s Islands of Adventure, to name a few. There’s also the Florida Film Festival as well as the Florida Music Festival and Conference in April. If you’re looking for less chaos, though, spring is also the best time to visit the Everglades. It may be peak season, but it’s still the best stretch of months weather-wise for such a swampy (and seriously beautiful) national park. Meanwhile, Miami has a legendary nightlife, the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral will blow your mind, Busch Gardens will bring you to Tampa, and the reef islands of Dry Tortugas National Park is definitely something to see, and the Florida Keys are unreal fun and wonderful—especially Key West.
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Zermatt
Zermatt, Switzerland

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Unless you're a winter junkie above all else, spring is the time to find yourself in Zermatt, April especially. The month offers the best of both worlds, with a summer vibe in town and the snowy Matterhorn standing fiercely over it. Indeed, even in springtime, ski resorts are open and thriving with top-rated pistes ready to thrill. Really, how can you pass up the chance to tackle Europe’s highest ski lifts with weather that doesn’t stomp your bones? In April, Zermatt is less crowded with the sun shining, so you have the brilliant choice of skiing, hiking, or taking in good food and drink all day.
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Tokyo
Tokyo, Japan

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Tokyo is something wonderful to behold in springtime. Japanese cherry blossoms pop with colorful life and everyone comes out to spend their afternoons in one of the many local parks. It’s truly a spectacular city come April, with lovely outdoor activities such as bike rides and boating excursions. Tokyo also offers one heck of a brightly colored nightlife that is seemingly endless. Otherwise, this April provides plenty of local festivities to explore, including 'The Art of Disney: The Magic of Animation' exhibition, Brut Wine Bar Pop-Up, Craft Sake Week, Flower Dream (Japan's biggest blossom festival), 'Marvel: Age of Heroes' Exhibition, Minne Handmade Market, and Paper Expo.
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Chicago
Chicago, Illinois

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Winter is a long, cruel season in Chicago, so April’s a rather dandy guest that everyone welcomes, since it’s the first month of the year a person can stroll with a smile. Sure, there's a chance of rain, but it's not snowing or blowing what feels like icicles in your face. April also proves to be the calm before the tourist storm, which typically hits by June, with so many big things to do with the sun out. Meanwhile, April in Chicago has its killer share of events with more elbow room to bear. With more money in your pockets due to lower rates about town, you can bounce through C2E2 (the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo), the Chicago Artisan Chocolate Festival, the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival, the Randolph Street Market Festival, and baseball games for both the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. Woo!
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Savannah
Savannah, Georgia

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Come March, the sun struts out and stretches its legs across Savannah, and by April, sunshine practically drips off the live oaks and Spanish moss—all before the sweltering humidity finds a summer home. Georgia’s oldest city is a magical place that seems as timeless as it is contemporary, with its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and awesome food-and-drink scene that’s ready to make your day and night. The city of southern hospitality thrives on people being out and about, which is why there are monthly activities around Savannah like First Friday Fireworks and the Second Saturday Art Walk. In April, though, there also happen to be goodies such as the Savannah Music Festival, the Earth Day Festival, the Savannah Asian Cultural Festival, the Savannah Orchid Show, and the Sidewalk Arts Festival.
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Puerto Rico

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From December to March, a score of people hit Puerto Rico to escape cold weather. Wait until April when the crowds have thinned and hotel rates drop, and then enjoy the sunshine and breezes of island life. Any trip to Puerto Rico should be all relaxation and exploration. Behold the beauty of El Yunque National Rainforest, Flamenco Beach, Luquillo Beach, Mosquito Bay, and Parque de las Cavernas del Río Camuy. Plus, you can enjoy all the epic goodies that San Juan has to offer, especially Old San Juan.
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Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Denmark

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Copenhagen comes to grandiose life in May, with its cheerful residents, transplants, and tourists spending the entire summer at sidewalk cafés and art-music festivals. People are everywhere, and while that’s an infectious scene, it definitely ends up being a costly one. April, however, sees a jump in temperature after a crisp season—no one's exactly heading to Copenhagen for spring break in March—and prices haven’t reflected the warmer months yet. Also, Tivoli Gardens, the second-oldest operating amusement part in the world, opens on April 6th after shutting down on New Year's Eve, so that should obviously be top of the list.
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New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana

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If you didn't hit the Big Easy for Mardi Gras, roll into town in April. The humidity isn’t bad and the city is still lively. [When is it not, honestly?] There's a lot to do and see in the touristy (yet still fun) chaos of the French Quarter, and there's a whole lot more down off Frenchmen Street. In a magical place like New Orleans, with a small town vibe coursing through the state’s largest metropolis, it feels as if every restaurant and bar is your new favorite. That’s just the kind of scene it is, where you think the best meal is at every joint you stop in. Come April, you have all sorts of big deals on the calendar too—the French Quarter Festival, the Wednesday at the Square Concert Series, and, of course, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Come celebrate existence in New Orleans!
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US Virgin Islands
US Virgin Islands

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It’s not really a surprise that the United States Virgin Islands welcome their fair share of spring breakers when spring rolls around. What may catch you, though, is that the peak season begins around the holidays. Indeed, from December to March, tourists pour into the Caribbean and resort prices increase by as much as 50%. Come April, however, the festive nature is most certainly still there, but it’s a bit warmer with less of a crowd to enjoy the many beachy treasures to be had. Plus, come April 1st, the St. Thomas Carnival kicks off its month-long party of pageants and calypso shows. The last week of Carnival means epic partying, which pairs nicely with the parades, fireworks, and a food fair.
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Lisbon
Lisbon, Portugal

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Once summer rolls around, good luck finding a solid deal or space to sit in Lisbon. The local population surges and rates skyrocket, but, hot damn, that's not the case in April. It’s grand weather, with a chance of rain, and city wakes up in a big way. In such a gorgeous city with a rich heritage, there are tremendous architectural, cultural, and historical sights to see, such as Belém Tower, the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, and St. George’s Castle. Meanwhile, you can hit the many museums and markets, or simply eat well, take in street art, and surf the coast.
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Cyprus
Cyprus

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Given that many coastal resorts on Cyprus don't open back up until April, you probably shouldn’t hit the island too early in the year—although wildflowers seem to peak in March. Beauty awaits travelers pretty much everywhere, from Nissi Beach to Cape Greco to Fig Tree Bay to Finikoudes to the Millomeris Waterfalls. You also have the chance to explore a good number of stunning monasteries, such as Agios Neophytos, Kykkos, Machairas, Stavrovouni, and Trooditissa. Otherwise, relax in a big way with springtime delivering blue skies, bluer water, and sublime breezes on pristine beaches.

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