Most people dream of visiting Europe and it’s no wonder why. It has numerous countries, each with its own distinct culture and traditions, as well as a wide range of climates that definitely influence the overall experience. So now that you’ve decided to go to Europe, it’s time to answer the question, when? April is the perfect time to visit, as it is the end of the winter season and the start of summer, which conveniently provides the perfect weather to go exploring in. It is also considered ‘low season’ so there will be ample accommodation and few crowds that would normally impinge on your experience. Here is a list of some places to visit in Europe in April.
1. Amsterdam, the Netherlands (from USD 38.0)
A trip to Amsterdam in April will give you two experiences! Firstly, King’s Day, held yearly on April 27th. His birthday is a day that calls for grand celebrations. There are parties held both during the day and night time and there are also music festivals held in his name. It is a great opportunity to celebrate the monarchy. The second event to attend is the Tulip Festival, an event where the colourful, blooming tulips are put on display. Its held at more than 85 locations, private and public alike. If you have a bit of cash to spare, you can embark on a helicopter ride to see the tulip fields from a birds’-eye view. The most popular place to visit is Keukenhof Gardens spanning 32 hectares (79 acres) of flowering beauties. This year’s theme is “World of Colours”.
Keukenhof Ticket & Transport from Amsterdam Station(Guide option)
Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes
2. Seville, Spain (from USD 197.0)
Semana Santa is also known as the holy week in Spain. It will be celebrated from 5th to 12th April, the last week before Easter. It’s a grand celebration spanning multiple cities but most famously, Seville. The celebration is a retelling of the Passion of the Christ by the Catholic church and famously features processions that tell these stories. Each procession has two floats: one features the Virgin Mary, and the other a scene from Christ’s Passion. Hours on end of practice is required in order to ensure synchronicity. There are two important types of players: the nazarenos who come in thousands and walk in between the floats, and the costalenos who carry the pasos, the floats with statues.
Seville Holy Week Private Tour
Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
3. Bern, Switzerland
How about a trip down to Bern to enjoy jazz music under the crisp spring sun? Bern hosts a jazz festival every year. It’s a 10-week festival with over 200 concerts, attracting an audience of up to 30,000 jazz enthusiasts from around the world. This year marks the 45th festival and takes place between 17th March to 23rd May, and will be held at various locations like Hotel Wardhorn, Kursaal, and Hotel Schweizerhof. A number of famous artists have performed over the years, including Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Sonny Collins. While you’re in Bern, you can check out the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site as well.
4. Nürnberg, Germany
The Nuernberg Spring Festival takes place this year between April 11th to 26th at the Funfair grounds near Outzendteich Lake. It usually attracts a staggering 2 million visitors. It is a celebration of Franconian culture and features an abundance of music, dance, food, and activities. There is even an Easter egg hunt held for the children. This elaborate fun fair celebrated its 100th year in 2019.
5. Leuven, Flemish Brabant Belgium
If you’re a beer enthusiast, then this is the event for you! It was created in 2004 by the Zythos organization, a group whose goal is to promote and protect beer culture. In fact, Zythos is an ancient Greek word that means “beer”. This festival has 88 stands that feature more than 500 types of Belgian beer. Entrance is free, but tasting isn’t. To do so, you need to buy a set of tokens that you can use as payment at the stalls. You can even keep the cups as souvenirs, or exchange them the next year for a new cup! This year, it will be held on the 25th and 26th of April in Leuven, which is about 25 kilometres (16 miles) from Brussels.
6. Edinburgh, Scotland
This is an ancient, iron age Celtic ritual that celebrates the start of summer and the return of fertile land. It consists of four quarter-day festivals and features parades, bonfires, and other events. It will be held at Calton Hill on the 30th of April this year with the parade starting from the National Monument. The events focus on two characters – the Green Man and the May Queen. The use of fire symbolizes rebirth, cleansing, and purity and thus promotes new beginnings. Please note that the celebrations may not be children-appropriate due to the nature of some of the costumes.
7. Budapest, Hungary
Held this year from the 3rd to19th April, this festival features a lot of international and local music. It is coordinated by Müpa Budapest, the Budapest Festival Tourism Center, and the Hungarian Tourism Center. The festival spans 40 venues and 120 or more events and showcases a lot of opera, jazz, and classical music. You definitely do not want to miss out on one of the largest cultural events in Hungary!
8. Greece
Don’t get confused by the date, Greek Easter is based on the Julian calendar so it is not held on the conventional Easter day. This year, it will be held on the 19th of April. It is considered to be one of the biggest holidays of the year, a time where the greeks break their fast with specific food items. Roasted lamb, tsoureki, a sweet bread, and red easter eggs frequent the tables. The red eggs are actually dyed and symbolize Christ’s tomb. It begins with a Holy Saturday service which consists of a midnight service, church bells, and celebrations. If you’re there, you might hear “Christos Anesti” as a greeting; be sure to reply with “Alithos Anesti” which means “Christ has risen” and “He has indeed risen” respectively.
9. Rome, Italy
Mostra delle Azalee is a grand celebration of sports, concerts, and exhibitions from 13th April to 12th May this year. It features widely and intricately decorated Spanish steps, as well as the laying out of blooming azaleas for display. It is truly a breathtaking experience to walk amongst these displays of beauty.
10. Mayrhofen, Austria
If you’re in Austria this year from 13 to 18th April, then you have to check out the Snowbombing festival! It is considered to be one of the biggest snow and music festivals in Europe. It started in 2000 and was held in Risoul in France, but was shifted to Mayrhofen in Austria from 2005. The appeal of this festival is live music that’s played in strange locations like igloos and forests. This year, artists like Liam Gallagher, Chase & Status, and Mr. Motivator will be gracing the stage.
Enjoy Europe in April
Check out all these places to visit in Europe. Whether you’re there for the activities or for the views, you’re sure to have fun! These events will take up your time–but in a good way! Do let us know what you think.
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