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Português (PT)Where to go in April
Full spring in the north, and the month Songkran sets all of Southeast Asia moving.
April is one of the best-looking months in Europe and East Asia: much longer days, blossom, and temperatures that allow walking all day. Southeast Asia, meanwhile, enters the hottest month of its year alongside Songkran. Given the choice, put the trip where spring is arriving and save Southeast Asia for a cooler month.
8 places this month suits
Japan
Blossom peaks in the main cities and moves north through the month. The air is comfortable, but rooms are the hardest to book all year with prices to match.
Japan plansSouth Korea
Spring warms quickly and the cities fill with blossom, with long, walkable days — and noticeably cheaper than Japan in the same weeks.
South Korea plansItaly
The right weather before summer heat, with shorter queues than the month after and the small country towns fully open again.
Italy plansGreece
The islands open their season without being full yet. The sea is still cool for swimming, but this is the best month of the year for walking and for the ancient sites.
Greece plansSpain
The south is warm and dry with days long enough for both the cities and the coast, and prices have not yet reached summer levels.
Spain plansNepal
The main trekking season: good visibility and every route open before the monsoon. It is still cold at altitude, so pack properly.
Nepal plansNetherlands
Flower season with daylight stretching fast; the cities are easy to cycle and outdoor events return after winter.
Netherlands plansPeru
The end of the wet season, when the landscape is greenest and visitor numbers are still below the dry season. High-altitude routes are returning to normal.
Peru plansWhat this month does to a data plan
Songkran packs roads and stations in Thailand for a week, and water is a real risk to a phone. If you will be in it, use a waterproof pouch and get the plan activated before the festival days — setting one up on a wet street is no fun.
What to skip this month
Southeast Asia is in the hottest month of its year; unless the festival is the reason, pick another month. In Japan, the end of April runs into Golden Week, which makes domestic travel very tight.
Thai holidays in April and what they do to fares
April is the biggest Thai travel month. In 2027 Chakri Day falls on Tuesday 6 April and Songkran runs Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April on the Bank of Thailand list. Taking Monday 12 and Friday 16 April as leave gives nine days off from Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 April, and that is exactly when Bangkok to Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei fares peak.
The Chakri Day week is the cheaper alternative: Monday 5 April as leave makes a four-day weekend from Saturday 3 April. Japan's own Golden Week starts on Showa Day, 29 April, under Japan's national holiday law, so late April is crowded and expensive inside Japan.
Visa notes for Thai passport holders in April
These are the entry rules for the places this page recommends. Rules change, so confirm on the official page before you pay for flights.
- Japan: Thai ordinary passports are visa-exempt for short stays of up to 15 days; a longer trip needs a visa from the Embassy of Japan. Immigration rules: https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/index.html
- South Korea: short visits are visa-free, but Thai passport holders must hold an approved K-ETA before boarding unless an exemption is announced. Apply only on the official site: https://www.k-eta.go.kr
- Schengen countries (most of the EU plus Norway, Iceland and Switzerland): Thai passport holders need a Schengen visa, and since the Entry/Exit System started, fingerprints and a face photo are taken at the first border crossing. https://travel-europe.europa.eu/ees_en
- Anywhere else on this page: check the country's embassy in Bangkok or its official e-visa portal, starting from the Thai Department of Consular Affairs. https://consular.mfa.go.th
Weather and crowds at a glance in April
| Destination | Typical conditions | Crowds and prices | Official forecast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | Blossom moving north; mild | Hardest rooms of the year; Golden Week from 29 April | JMA blossom data |
| South Korea | Spring, warming quickly | Busy with Thai Songkran groups | KMA |
| Italy | Mild, some rain | Rising after Easter | Italian Air Force Meteorological Service |
| Greece | Mild; sea still cool | Islands opening, not full | Hellenic National Meteorological Service |
| Spain, Andalusia | Warm and mostly dry | Busy in local festival weeks | AEMET |
| Nepal | Clear, cold at altitude | Main spring trekking season | Nepal's Department of Hydrology and Meteorology |
| Netherlands | Cool, showery | Flower season crowds at weekends | KNMI |
| Peru | End of wet season | Below dry-season levels | SENAMHI |
Conditions are typical patterns, not a forecast. Check the national weather service listed for the week you travel.
When to book for April
- For the Songkran window, Thai travellers who want Japan or Korea commonly book four to six months ahead; leaving it to February usually means poor flight times or a higher fare.
- The cheapest fares tend to be on 13 April itself and the days after, when most people have already left; returning on 18 April is the dearest ticket.
- If a visa is needed, the visa appointment sets the timeline, not the fare: book the appointment first and buy refundable or changeable flights only after it is confirmed.
- Buy and install the eSIM at home in the days before departure; most plans in our catalogue only start counting days on first connection at the destination, which the plan page states.
Data needs in April
Thais leaving for Songkran often install the eSIM in a hurry at Suvarnabhumi on the busiest morning of the year. Do it at home the night before, and keep your Thai SIM active for bank OTP messages, which arrive by SMS on the physical line while data runs on the eSIM. A ten-day Japan or Korea trip with daily maps and photos usually suits a 1 GB to 2 GB daily plan or a fixed plan of 15 GB to 20 GB.
Where to go in April
How should I prepare for Songkran?+
A waterproof pouch for the phone, rooms booked ahead, and extra travel time — many roads close or crawl all day.
Is April wet in Europe?+
Rain comes in short spells rather than all day, especially in the north and west. A light rain jacket is enough; you rarely have to change the day's plan.
When does Golden Week start?+
Late April into early May — a long holiday when Japan travels at once: bullet-train seats sell out ahead and room rates climb visibly.
How many days off can Songkran 2027 give?+
The holidays are Tuesday 13 to Thursday 15 April. With leave on Monday 12 and Friday 16 April, the break runs nine days from Saturday 10 to Sunday 18 April.
Is Japan in Golden Week a good idea?+
Only if the dates cannot move. Golden Week starts on 29 April and Japan travels at once, so trains and rooms are full and rates are high.
Should I keep my Thai SIM on while travelling?+
Yes, if you need bank OTPs. Keep the Thai line on for calls and SMS and turn its data roaming off, so roaming charges do not start.
Is there a quieter April break than Songkran?+
The Chakri Day weekend. Chakri Day is Tuesday 6 April 2027, so a day of leave on Monday 5 April gives four days, with fares well below the Songkran peak.