With the spring solstice in the rear view and the clocks ticking forward, there are days when it feels like spring has finally sprung in the UK. Then the heavens open and the mercury drops.
April is a cruel mistress, as prone to sleety showers as sunshine, so for many it’s prime time to jet off to more certain weather.
Plus, booking a post-Easter trip can be the best way to bag a bargain.
We’ve rounded up ideas for beautiful destinations where April sun comes with the territory — and none are more than a four-hour flight from the UK.
Lefkada, Greece
Average April highs: 19℃
Flight time from UK: 3 hours and 30 minutes.
Nicknamed the ‘Greek Caribbean’ for its dazzling ocean and sugar white sand, Lefkada is a slice of paradise that remains under the radar for British tourists.
The jewel in the crown of the seven Ionian islands, it is the only Greek island you can reach by car. A 30-minute drive takes you off the mainland via a causeway from Preveza Airport, which is served daily by budget airlines including Ryanair and easyJet from April to October.
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A good base is Agios Nikitas, a fishing village full of whitewashed villas and off-beat tavernas.
Stroll and swim on Porto Katsiki, regularly voted one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Raise your heart rate with a windsurfing session at Vasiliki. Hike the verdant hills and end the day with an ouzo at glamorous hilltop bars such as Amente or Utopia.
Capri, Italy
Average April highs: 20℃
Flight time from UK: 2 hours 30 minutes to Naples (plus a ferry)
The mystical, magical island of Capri has bewitched visitors for centuries.
Adrift in the Bay of Naples, this small, cliff-laden rock feels as if it’s suspended between two worlds–a sparkling sea of cobalt and endless azure sky.
Capri springs to life again in April, with just enough sun to allow for swimming. If you don’t dare to dip in the sea, there’s still plenty to do.
Take the chair lift to Monte Solaro for a spectacular panorama over the Gulf. Hire a fishing boat and explore the island’s caves and grottoes. Window shop on the bohemian but decidedly bougie streets.
Seville, Spain
Average April highs: 25℃
Flight time from UK: 2 hours and 45 minutes
This Spanish jewel is finally getting its flowers, but the best time to visit is in spring or autumn, before temperatures climb too high.
Plus, if you work around the school holidays, you’ll miss the hordes who descend for Easter break.
Seville is serious about its food, and the best way to get acquainted with it is on a food tour. One of the top-rated is a three-hour jaunt with Secret Food Tours, which gives you a taste of the best of Andalusian cuisine.
Churros, pork skewers, fried eggplant slathered in molasses… Need we say more?
Walk it off in one of the many pretty parks — our favourite is Royal Alcázar — then finish the day with sangria on one of the city’s buzzy rooftops bars. If you’re brave, try a flamenco class.
Madeira, Portugal
Average April highs: 21℃
Flight time from UK: 3 hours and 30 minutes
Marooned in the Atlantic, Madeira’s lava-hewn mountains and deep turquoise waters have led many to call it the ‘Hawaii of Europe’.
The Portuguese archipelago may be just a short ferry ride from Spain’s Canary Islands, but it remains comparatively unspoiled by mass tourism. Even year-round flights from London, Manchester and Bristol.
Hike lush green trails and leap from cliffs on an abseiling adventure tour. Stroll along Seixal beach and take a dip in a volcanic rock pool. Explore the charming streets of Funchal, Madeira’s compact but colourful capital.
And don’t leave without trying poncha, a traditional cocktail made from sugarcane rum, honey and citrus juice.
Izmir, Turkey
Average April highs: 22℃
Flight time from UK: 3 hours and 40 minutes
Known as the ‘Pearl of the Aegean’, Turkey’s most liberal city is also its most overlooked. Visitors to the spectacular ruins of Ephesus usually fly into Izmir–and hightail it as soon as they can.
But that is a mistake. Enriched by migration, this vibrant city is a brilliant mix of Mediterranean lifestyle and ancient history, plus one of the best food scenes in the country.
Get lost in the Kemeralti Bazaar. Walk the Kordon promenade at sunset. Spend the evening bar-hopping in the trendy Alsancak District.
When you’ve had your fill of the city, head west along the coast to Çeşme, a resort town with a stunning beach.
Palermo and Cefalu, Sicily
Average April highs: 19℃
Flight time from UK: 3 hours
Palermo is a city that defies expectations. Best-known for its mafia connections, the Sicilian capital is both melting pot and meeting point.
The crossroads of the Mediterranean, it was founded by the Phoenicians and ruled by the Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, French, and Spanish before becoming part of Italy during the country’s unification in 1861.
Today, this diverse history means it has all the things you could want in a city: great food, great art and easy connections to the entirety of Sicily’s coast.
Base yourself in Palermo and take a day trip to Cefalu, an ancient fishing village 50 minutes east by train. Here, you can hike, swim or pass a few hours people watching over Limoncello spritz at one of many seaside trattorias.