April is supposed to be the turning point. The month where you finally pack away the big coat, start trusting the daylight, and feel winter loosening its grip. But too often it plays a different tune, drizzle on the windows, damp trainers by the door, and that cruel little temperature dip just when you thought you were free. You start the month hopeful, and end it wondering if spring’s ever going to clock in.
Here’s the fix. Instead of waiting for warmth to arrive, go and meet it. April is made for that first proper escape of the year, the one that shakes the grey out of your system and puts colour back in your cheeks. Think open-air lunches, sea-view mornings, sleeves forgotten, skin remembering what sunshine feels like. These six destinations are where April gets it right.
1. Where’s hot for culture and coast? Turkey
Weather: Max: 22 degrees (approx.) | Min: 13 degrees (approx.)
What to do:
- Wander through ancient ruins and amphitheatres, then break for strong coffee in a sunlit square.
- Spend lazy afternoons on the Turquoise Coast, hopping between pebble coves and long sandy bays.
- Take a boat trip from Kalkan or Kas, with sea breezes, hidden swim spots, and glassy April water.
- Hike a stretch of the Lycian Way, where pine forests meet panoramic cliff views.
- Eat your way through mezze feasts: chargrilled seafood, warm flatbreads, honey-soaked baklava, all best enjoyed alfresco.
Where to stay: Our ever-growing collection of luxury villas in Turkey is designed to suit family holidays and couples retreats alike. With many of them situated close to the beach, you can swim and sunbathe to your heart’s content. Be warned, though – the sea won’t be quite as warm at this time of year!
Further reading: Best Beaches in Turkey; Things to do in Kalkan
2. Where’s hot for a Greek island reset? Kos
Weather: Max: 20 degrees (approx.) | Min: 13 degrees (approx.)
What to do:
- Start your days on quiet, honey-coloured beaches before the summer crowds arrive.
- Cycle the coastal paths from Kos Town.
- Explore Ancient Agora, the Asklepion, and medieval castles, with warm sun but no sweaty queues.
- Visit family-run wineries in the hills for cool white wines and vineyard lunches.
- Let the kids roam the peacock-filled Plaka Forest and try early-season paddleboarding or kayaking in calm seas.
Where to stay: We’ve handpicked our delightful luxury villas in Kos so you can enjoy a luxurious and stress-free holiday. Minimalist and stylish, these villas feel like a home away from home.
Further reading: The Best Greek Islands for Families; Top 10 Villas in Greece
3. Where’s hot for myth, beaches, and meze? Paphos
Weather: Max: 20 degrees (approx.) | Min: 16 degrees (approx.)
What to do:
- Walk the seafront at golden hour, past tomb sites, mosaics, and crumbling columns with the sea right beside you.
- Take a short trip to Aphrodite’s Rock and swim where the goddess was said to rise from the foam.
- Spend slow mornings in beach cafés, then drift between sand-and-shingle coves nearby.
- Make dinner a ritual: order a table of mezze and work your way through halloumi, grilled veg, slow-cooked lamb, and citrusy salads.
- Dip into the old town for little craft shops, wine bars, and tucked-away courtyards that come alive in spring.
Cypriot cuisine is a key draw here: aromatic and flavoursome, it draws influences from the Middle East, Turkey, and Greece. To get an authentic dining experience, we’d suggest sharing various mezze plates before enjoying classic dishes such as souvlakia (grilled meat kebabs) and kleftiko (slow-cooked lamb).
Where to stay: Our luxury villas in Paphos make the perfect base for your island getaway, from traditional terracotta-tiled beauties to contemporary stunners.
Further reading: Paphos Travel Guide; Top 10 Things to do in Paphos
4. Where’s hot for volcanic scenery and reliable sun? Lanzarote
Weather: Max: 22 degrees (approx.) | Min: 14 degrees (approx.)
What to do:
- Explore the otherworldly landscapes of Timanfaya National Park, with black lava fields, rust-red craters, and viewpoints that look like Mars.
- Spend beach days at Papagayo or Famara, where April sun is warm but breezy enough for a nap.
- Try surfing or bodyboarding in Famara’s gentle spring swells.
- Visit César Manrique’s lava-bubble homes and art spaces, where architecture blends into the earth.
- End the day with fresh seafood and a volcanic Malvasía wine, watching the sky turn sherbet pink.
If lounging on the gorgeous beaches isn’t enough to wet your getaway appetite, why not hop on a surfboard, climb a volcano or enjoy the island’s lively nightlife? After all of that, it’s time to try the local cuisine, encompassing fresh seafood and indulgent desserts aplenty. For something different, try the colourful local parrot fish – an opportunity not to be missed!
Where to stay: Our elegantly stylish villas in Lanzarote are perfect for afternoons spent splashing around the pool and quiet evenings dining alfresco. With their sun terraces, barbeques and sea views, you’ll forget all about the unpredictable weather back home.
Further reading: Lanzarote travel guide
5. Where’s hot for short-haul sun? Costa Del Sol
Weather: Max: 25 degrees (approx.) | Min: 11 degrees (approx.)
What to do:
- Beach-hop between Nerja, Marbella, and Estepona, with wide promenades and early-spring sunshine.
- Time your visit with local ferias and food festivals for flamenco, lantern-lit streets, and late-night tapas runs.
- Wander Málaga’s old town and pop into the Picasso Museum, then refuel with vermouth on a plaza terrace.
- Do a day trip to whitewashed villages like Mijas or Frigiliana for mountain views and slow lunches.
- Book a vineyard tour in Ronda for big scenery and even bigger reds.
Where to stay: Our majestic villas in Costa Del Sol will treat you to a taste of Spanish opulence. Think infinity pools and modern interiors that will leave you feeling pampered and relaxed.
Further reading: Best Things to Do in Costa Del Sol
6. Where’s hot for golden beaches and Algarve charm? Albufeira, Portugal
Weather: Max: 25 degrees (approx.) | Min: 11 degrees (approx.)
What to do:
- Stroll the old town’s cobbled lanes and tiled façades, stopping for pastel de nata and espresso in the sun.
- Spend the afternoon on Praia da Falésia or Praia dos Pescadores, where cliffs glow gold in spring light.
- Take a boat along the coast to the Benagil caves, with a good chance of dolphin sightings.
- Settle into long seafood lunches: garlic prawns, grilled sardines, cataplana stew.
- Head out after dark for cocktail bars in town, or dive into the Strip’s nightlife.
Although it’s full of brilliant restaurants and upmarket bars, Albufeira is also home to a busy nightlife strip so party-goers can really let their hair down!
Where to stay: Our luxury villas in Albufeira are the perfect base for a large group or family trip. Private swimming pools and alfresco dining spots will make it feel like the height of summer.
Further reading: Algarve Travel Guide; Best Foodie Experiences in the Algarve
Feeling warmer already? If these destinations have sparked your interest in finding out where’s hot in April but you’re not sure which one to choose, feel free to contact our friendly concierge team who can help you with your 2026 villa holiday booking.
