There are several countries in Europe that are nice to visit in April (stock photo) (Image: Getty)
A travel expert has shared six European destinations she recommends visiting in April.
You might be planning to go on holiday in April over the Easter holidays but aren’t looking to go too far away. Staying in Europe could be a good option, and Emma, known as groundedinlondon online, has given her top picks of which countries to visit in the continent.
Emma is a seasoned traveller from London who has managed to travel around the world with her 9 to 5 job. She posted a video on TikTok where she listed her top six European destinations to visit in April, taking into consideration things like cost and weather.
Athens, Greece
Emma said: “I think April is a really good time of year to visit Athens. It’s not too hot, it’s not too cold.
“It’s also not too crowded and the average temperature is about 20 degrees. Also in April a lot of the days have clear, blue skies, there’s fewer crowds than in the summer and you can explore all the ancient landmarks like the temple of Olympian Zeus and the Acropolis without literally melting away in the summer heat.”
She added that she remembers when the Acropolis was shut down for a few hours one day last summer because the heatwave was “just too intense for people to even visit there.” Emma believes visiting Athens in April would be a “much more enjoyable and literally cooler experience” than going for a holiday there in summer.
For those wanting to enjoy drinks in Athens, Emma suggested going to the rooftop bars A for Athens, Thea Terrace and MS Roof Garden.
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Paros is part of the Cyclades islands (Image: Getty)
Paros, Greece
Emma continued: “Second and because April is such a sweet spot for visiting Greece, because the weather is not too hot and it’s not too cold, I definitely recommend visiting the Greek islands. I think that any of the Greek islands would be absolutely beautiful and amazing at this time of year but if I had to pick one I would probably pick Paros.”
She explained that Paros is part of the Cyclades islands which includes Santorini, Mykonos, Naxos and Milos. Paros is often compared to Santorini, according to Emma, but it is cheaper to visit because it is “slightly less accessible.”
The travel expert said you would have to get there by getting either a flight or ferry from Athens so you could “easily fit Athens and Paros into oe trip.”
Paros sees highs of 20 degrees in April and the average daily minimum temperature is 13 degrees, according to TUI. Tourism website Greeka brands Athens as “one of the most popular holiday destinations in Greece, mainly known for its traditional Cycladic architecture and enchanting sandy beaches with transparent waters.”
Emma recommended visiting Stavanger in Norway (Image: Getty)
Norway
The fjords in Norway is the third European destination Emma recommends visiting in April. The Norwegian fjords are a series of U-shaped valleys carved into the landscape by glaciers over millions of years.
Emma went to the Norwegian fjords three years ago on a cruise and visited a number of them, including places like Olden, Stavanger, Haugesund and Ålesund. She added: “And the reason we did it on a cruise was because Norway is astronomically expensive and just going on a cruise worked out (to be) the most budget friendly way.”
Algarve, Portugal
She continued: “Up next we have the Algarve in Portugal.This is famous for its cliff backed beaches, its seafood, and picturesque villages.” Emma thinks the weather in spring is perfect for exploring the different villages as the average daily temperature ranges from 15 degrees and 21 degrees.
The Algarve offers “sandy stretches as far as the eye can see, framed by golden cliffs”, according to Visit Portugal. You can also swim in the blue ocean and take part in water sports.
There are mountains, cities and towns in the Algarve, blending nature with bustling city life. Those wanting to tuck into some seafood can enjoy fresh fish on beach terraces and even Michelin-starred restaurants.
Kotor, Montenegro
April is the “shoulder season” (between peak and off-peak) in Kotor, Montenegro, according to the travel pro. At this time of year it will be “less busy and less expensive than other times of the year.”
The travel content creator added that she thinks this makes it a “really great time to wander through the Old Town.” This is a UNESCO World Heritage site and Emma remembers going on a hike from the bay up to the mountains when she visited Kotor a few years ago.
She described the views going up as “so beautiful” and the colour of the water in the bay is something she will “never forget.” Emma advised that the spring weather in Kotor will be better for people who enjoy doing outdoor activities.
Emma says the Isle of Skye is worth visiting in April (Image: Getty)
Isle of Skye, Scotland
Emma acknowledged The Isle of Skye in Scotland “might seem like a bit of a curveball” compared to the other places she mentioned but she thinks the north of Scotland looks “so, so beautiful and just so rugged and untouched.”
Emma added: “I love outdoor activities like hiking. I think in April it’s starting to warm up, the days are getting longer.”
Temperatures in the Isle of Skye in April reach up to 10 degrees with lows of 4 degrees. Emma continued: “I also love browsing Airbnb and I found these two beautiful Airbnb that you can stay in and I just think ‘what doesn’t look better than being in the middle of nowhere in nature?’
“I appreciate that not everyone wants to go to Scotland in April because it is definitely not warm. I would say it is crisp.”
Emma’ TikTok video has received 221,800 views, 4,385 likes and dozens of comments. One user said: “I went to Athens last year in April , it was perfect. We had beautiful weather and it was not too crowded.” Another added: “Amazing thanks! Planning a trip over Easter and some great inspo here.”
