Tourist Places In Asia In April – April brings a seasonal shift across the globe, making it the ideal time of year to explore ancient wonders, embark on epic adventures and sample fresh local produce.
So pick up your passport and pack your bags for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Here is our guide to the very best places to go in April.
Tourist Places In Asia In April
A field of pink muhly grass by Cheomseongdae, an ancient astrological observatory in Gyeongju, South Korea; emerald pool in Dominica © iStock
The Best Time To Visit Southeast Asia — Climate Planner
Think cherry blossoms only appear in Japan? Think again. South Korea will provide equally dazzling screens in the spring. Several flower-related festivals are held in the capital Seoul in April; wander under dreamy flowers at Seokchon Lake, on Yeouido Island and through the grounds of the 15th-century Changgyeonggung Palace. Further south, around Busan, the port city of Jinhae is picture-perfect. Gyeongju hosts an annual Cherry Blossom Marathon in early April. The former capital of the ancient Silla dynasty, the city is also home to more temples, tombs, pagodas and palaces than anywhere else in the country.
Dominica (one of our top travel picks for 2023) is not like other Caribbean countries. Black sand, lush jungle, a relative lack of slick and elegant resorts: this is a tropical paradise as nature intended, rustic and authentic. It is a great place for hiking (unusual for the region). It’s arguably even better for spotting huge marine creatures: around 200 sperm whales plus porpoises and dolphins live here year-round, while migrating humpbacks pass through (January–April) and four species of sea turtles – leatherbacks, loggerheads, greens and hawksbills – come breeding (March–October).
Compact Jordan offers the complete package. Ancient wonders? Visit the 2,000-year-old rock-hewn city of Petra or the Crusader castle of Karak. The city’s sights? Try Roman Jerash or the souks in Amman. Jaw-dropping scenery? Camp in the otherworldly deserts of Wadi Rum. More surprisingly, Jordan can also be very green – especially at this time. In April, humidity and rainfall are low, temperatures are a delightfully mild 20–23 °C (68–73 °F), the central valleys are lush from winter rains and wildflowers are blooming everywhere. In particular, the Ajloun forest blooms with strawberry trees and rock roses, while Dana’s oases are bright with oleanders and birds. Petra’s vastness can also be explored without breaking a sweat.
For an excellent South African all-rounder, look no further than KwaZulu-Natal. The province has a golden facade in the Indian Ocean, the country’s highest peaks and glorious big game parks. The land is also steeped in history, particularly the bloody skirmishes of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, best appreciated on guided tours of the battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. Soak it all up in the Australian autumn, when the weather is still warm (24°C; 75°F) and the skies dry. Conditions are generally stable even in the spear-like Drakensberg Mountains, opening up a world of fantastic walking at all levels, via geological amphitheatres, pools and waterfalls, impressive spiers and San rock art.
Singapore: A Small Asian Heavyweight
Samples of suds at Benchtop Brewing in Richmond; view of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome © Carlos Bernate/Visit Richmond; Cristina Gottardi
There’s a lot of info about Virginia’s capital – and it’s not just the coming of spring (although April is really lovely here). A burst of creative energy has given this handsome but old-fashioned feel of the “River City” a new vitality. The alcohol scene is certainly thriving, earning Richmond the nickname “America’s Beer City.” In fact, more than 20 craft breweries call the city home, all of which can be visited along the Richmond Beer Trail. The ale-averse may be pleased to discover that Richmond also has a burgeoning cocktail scene: order something fantastic at The Jasper, which oozes easygoing style, or settle down at classic dive bar Fuzzy Cactus.
History buffs might want to visit Rome on their birthday. The Eternal City was founded on 21 April 753 BC, and every year it is celebrated with events, light shows and truckloads of fireworks. Festivities aside, April and May are lovely times to visit. Rome is a city for sightseeing, which is far better done on milder spring days (15–20 °C; 59–68 °F) than in the depths of winter or the height of summer. It’s also less crowded (and a bit cheaper), and seasonal attractions are open. On top of it all, the menus abound with such tasty spring things as artichokes and asparagus. A Roman specialty that combines peas, fava beans, lettuce and artichokes,
Once the heartland of the Spartans, the mountainous Peloponnese peninsula hangs south of mainland Greece and is both historically rich and wonderfully fertile. Then come in the mild, sunny spring to walk the ruins – Olympia, Mycenae, Epidaurus – in pleasant temperatures (average high 21°C; 70°F) and eat yourself silly. Specialty products range from Kalamata olives to
Southeast Asia Budget Travel Guide (updated 2023)
Aubergine and whole roasted suckling pig to Menalon mountains vanilla fir honey, which has protected origin status. Even better, tourism here is more community-focused than mass-market, with family-run food tours, guesthouses and taverns that let you sample authentic services. The wine is also great: try super reds from Nemea and sweet white Malvasia from Monemvasia.
Come fall season, when the vines blaze autumn orange across the hillsides as they wait to be picked, raise a glass like a true Wellingtonian. The Wairarapa Wine Region, just an hour’s drive northeast of New Zealand’s capital, has a climate similar to Burgundy and a wild, rural, undiscovered feel. Head to Martinborough, the charming old town at the heart of the local wine industry. Top quality pinot noir comes from the family-owned vineyards here. Luna has an on-site restaurant. smaller, more intimate options include Nga Waka and Schubert. Gourmet tours and food-wine pairing experiences are possible, combining visits to some of the 20 local wineries; expect to sip wine paired with beer from the region’s craft breweries and nibble on plates of world-class cheeses. Or take a self-guided cycle among the vines – the cellar doors around here are practically close to each other and easy to reach with a pedal.
Do you want to plan further ahead? Here are the best places to travel every month of the year.
Get ready for a journey through every country in the world. This fourth edition of The Travel Book features incredible photography illustrating each country, accompanied by a profile that includes details on when to visit, what to see and do and how to learn more about the country’s culture. Spring is here – even if there’s still some late-season snow in the Alps – with Dutch tulip festivities, the Cotswolds in bloom and festive water fights across Thailand. Here’s where you shouldn’t miss this month.
Top Theme Parks Asia
April is the month where everything is to play for. The Med is back in action for sun and coastal fun, putting short-haul getaways to the beaches back within reach, while the latest alpine snow keeps winter sports enthusiasts entertained a little longer. In most Alpine resorts, the ski season ends this month, with some high-octane festivals to see it off – among them Zermatt Unplugged in Switzerland and Top of the Mountain in Ischgl, Austria, which brings music to the mountains.
Further afield there are Thai New Year celebrations that bring the cities to life, Coachella kicks off the summer music festivals out in the California desert and travels are enriched by Easter celebrations all over the world. Semana Santa (2-8 April 2023) brings colorful festivities to Spain, with processions filling the streets of towns and cities, particularly across Andalucia, where parades of ornate religious floats make their way between cathedrals and a carnival-like atmosphere pervades. Seville, Zamora, Salamanca and Valladolid are known for their ancient and all-encompassing Holy Week traditions, but there are some spectacular celebrations in coastal cities including Málaga, Murcia and Cartagena, which offer the chance to combine culture with a beach holiday.
In more northern latitudes, April sees the peak of spring with tulips and Japanese flowering cherry trees. You’ll find some of the best of the latter this month in the Cotswolds, as well as more than 5,000 cherry trees planted across Hamburg, Osaka’s sister city, where Japanese communities organize fireworks and cherry blossom parties to usher in the season — with similar celebrations in northern cities such as Copenhagen and Stockholm.
If you can’t make it to this sunny southern Spanish city to experience the famous Samana Santa celebrations, the Feria de Abril (April 23-29, 2023) is a great alternative. What began as a cattle fair in 1847 has become a highlight of Seville’s annual calendar of events, which takes place two weeks after Easter when the scent of orange blossom and night-blooming jasmine once again fills the air, awakened by the warmth of spring. The illuminations, fireworks, flamenco dancing and round-the-clock partying see Seville at its most festive – but remember that bullfighting, although controversial, remains a traditional focal point of the fiesta. Feria fun can be found all over the city, but the main action is at the recinto ferial (fair) in the riverside Los Remedios neighborhood, where more than 1,000 casetas (small tents) welcome local families, guilds and groups for snacks, drinks and dancing, with a select few open to the public. There is a fairground, horse and carriage rides and an impressive number of participants dressed in traditional costumes, from free-flowing Sevillana dresses to traje corto
