Where Is Hot in April? The Best Spring and Easter Sun

Where is hot in April? Quick comparison

Here's how the main spring sun destinations compare. The figures are typical daytime highs; the sea is usually much cooler than the air in Europe at this time of year.

Where is hot in Europe in April?

Europe in April is warm rather than hot. The Atlantic islands are the most dependable, and the eastern Mediterranean warms up fastest, but anywhere on this list can have a cool or showery spell.

Canary Islands

The Canaries remain the safest bet for sunshine in April, with highs of around 23°C and very little rain. The south of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, along with Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, see the most sun. The sea is still fresh, at around 19°C, so most people swim in heated pools until May.

Each island has a slightly different feel. Tenerife and Gran Canaria have the biggest choice of hotels and the most to do, Fuerteventura has the longest and emptiest beaches, and Lanzarote mixes volcanic scenery with quieter resorts. Easter week is one of the busiest of the year across all of them, so book early if you're tied to the school holidays.

Madeira

Madeira is mild at around 20°C, and April is when its gardens and hillsides are at their most colourful. It's a great choice for walkers and anyone who prefers comfortable sightseeing weather to lying by a pool.

Spring is also festival season in Funchal, the island's capital, with a flower festival that usually takes place in late April or May. The streets fill with floral displays and parades, so check the dates if you'd like to see it, as hotels book up around the main weekend.

Cyprus

Cyprus is one of the first places in the Mediterranean to feel properly warm, with highs of around 22°C in April, rising through the month. Paphos and Ayia Napa are popular bases. You'll get long sunny days, wildflowers in the countryside and quieter beaches than in summer.

The flight is about 4.5 hours, and Cyprus is two hours ahead of the UK once the clocks change.

The sea is still cool in April, at around 18°C, so it's more of a sunbathing and sightseeing break than a swimming one. Inland, the Troodos Mountains are green and full of blossom, with painted churches and small wine villages to explore. Cyprus celebrates Orthodox Easter, which often falls on a different date from Easter in the UK. In 2027 it falls on 2 May, a big week for local celebrations and family gatherings.

Southern Spain and the Algarve

Southern Spain and Portugal's Algarve both average around 21 to 22°C in April, with longer, brighter days than at home. Seville is warmer still, often in the mid-twenties, which makes it one of the best spring city breaks in Europe.

Spring is also when Seville puts on two of Spain's biggest festivals: the Holy Week processions in the week before Easter, and the Feria de Abril a couple of weeks later. Both are spectacular, but hotel prices rise sharply, so book early or plan around them.

The Algarve is a short flight of under three hours and is especially good for golf, cliff-top walks and quiet beaches before the summer crowds. If you're thinking of a villa or a coastal base, our guide to Algarve holidays covers the main resorts and when each one is busiest.

Greek islands

The Greek islands are lovely in April, with green hills, wildflowers and very few crowds. Highs are typically around 20 to 21°C, a little warmer in Crete and Rhodes than in the Ionian islands. Many hotels and tavernas only open from around Easter, so check before you book.

Greek Easter is the biggest festival of the year and often falls later than Easter in the UK, on 2 May in 2027. Corfu is famous for its celebrations, including the tradition of throwing clay pots from balconies on Holy Saturday morning. It's a memorable time to visit if your dates line up.

Be prepared for changeable weather. April can bring rain and cool evenings, especially early in the month, and the sea is still chilly. For a walking-and-exploring break, though, islands such as Corfu are at their prettiest, and our Corfu holiday guide has more on the island's different coasts.

Short-haul destinations with stronger heat

If you want proper beach weather without a long-haul flight, these two are your best options in April.

Morocco

Marrakech warms up quickly in spring, reaching around 26°C by day in April, while nights are still cool. It's a great time to explore the medinas, gardens and the Atlas Mountains before the summer heat arrives. On the coast, Agadir is milder, at around 23°C, with a long beach and plenty of resort hotels.

Many visitors combine the two, spending a few nights in a riad in Marrakech before heading to the coast. The drive between them takes around three hours.

Egypt

Egypt's Red Sea resorts, including Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, reach around 30°C in April. It's the warmest beach destination within about five hours of the UK, and the sea is warm enough for long snorkelling sessions. Check GOV.UK for current visa and entry rules before you travel.

Marsa Alam, further south, is quieter and has some of the best reefs on the coast, while El Gouna, north of Hurghada, is a smart resort town built around lagoons. Spring is a particularly good time to go, before the heat of summer, when temperatures regularly pass 35°C.

Long-haul beach holidays for April

Long-haul destinations offer the most reliable heat, but April is a month of change in several of them, so timing matters.

Dubai is already hot in April and climbs steadily through the month, so it suits sun-lovers more than anyone who struggles in the heat. Thailand is at its hottest before the rains arrive in May, while the Caribbean is still enjoying its dry season, making it one of the most comfortable long-haul choices.

To see which of these has good offers for your dates, have a look at our current long-haul holiday deals before you decide.

Remember that long-haul destinations need more time to make the journey worthwhile. Ten nights or more is ideal for Thailand, while a week works well for Dubai or the Caribbean if you don't mind the overnight flight home.

Where is hot at Easter?

Easter moves around, and that changes the answer. In 2027, Easter Sunday falls on 28 March, so most school Easter holidays run from late March into early April. That's a little cooler across Europe than a late-April Easter.

• Families: the Canary Islands are the easiest choice for an early Easter, with around 22 to 23°C and short flights. Egypt is warmer if your children are happy with five hours in the air.
• Couples: Marrakech, Seville and Cyprus all suit a spring break that mixes sunshine with sightseeing.
• Guaranteed heat: Dubai, Thailand and the Caribbean are hot whenever Easter falls.

When Easter falls in late April, the Greek islands, southern Spain and the Algarve become much more appealing. Either way, you can compare Easter family holiday deals to see what's available for the school holidays.

When to book an April holiday

Prices for April holidays are shaped by the school calendar. The two weeks around Easter are the busiest and usually the most expensive, especially for family hotels and flights from regional airports.

• If you're not tied to school dates, the weeks after Easter are often quieter and better value, and the weather keeps improving through the month.
• Book early for Easter itself. Popular family hotels in the Canaries and Egypt fill up months in advance.
• Compare package and separate bookings. Package holidays bundle flights and hotels and often include financial protection, which is worth checking for any holiday you book.
• Check opening dates in Greece and Croatia, where some smaller hotels and restaurants don't open until after Easter.

When you're ready to start looking, compare current beach holiday deals from the UK for spring dates and filter by the place that suits you.