Where’s hot in April?
Fed up of the UK’s grey and rainy skies? Ready to escape April showers for warm sunshine on your face and a margarita by the pool? Spring is the time of year when Mother Nature waves her magic wand and transforms landscapes right across Europe into a kaleidoscope of colour. If you’re wondering where’s hot in April, we highly recommend Cyprus and Lanzarote, which both share warm temperatures above 20°C, offering weather that’s perfect for sunbathing and sightseeing.
Cyprus
A beautiful jewel of the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus makes our where’s hot in April shortlist because it welcomes visitors back time and again thanks to its sandy shores, archaeological sites filled with history, beautiful hiking routes and buzzing nightlife. When you can bear to pull yourself away from your plush Villa Poseidon complete with sunbathing terrace, large pool and pool table, take a stroll into nearby Coral Bay, where you’ll find plenty of souvenir and trinket shops selling pottery, ornaments, lace and jewellery. Browse the many stores selling local handmade produce that you can enjoy back at your villa. Try stuffed vine leaves, a fresh catch of the day, halloumi, chickpea dips and small Greek honey-flavoured doughnuts known as Loukoumades. Looking for something a little more high-end? There are plenty of designer boutiques around Gladstonos and Mylona in nearby Paphos where you can splurge on something special.
Spend a while lounging on Coral Bay’s 600-metre Blue Flag beach, which offers great sunbathing, watersports and snorkelling opportunities for the whole family. Tuck into some delicious Cypriot fare at a taverna before spending the afternoon at the Tombs of the Kings archaeological site, located just a mile north of Paphos harbour, and featuring carvings and monuments that date all the way back to 4 BC.
Hiring a car? Take a drive down to the south coast to visit the ancient city-kingdom of Kourion, which features Roman and Byzantine ruins dating back to 1200 BC. Nature lovers are catered for too – a drive to the Larnaca Salt Lake on the island’s south-west coast might give you an opportunity to spot various migratory birds, including pink flamingos, in their natural habitat.
Lanzarote
Although Lanzarote is one of the smaller Canary Islands at just 60km long, there’s plenty to do to keep you and your family entertained when you’re not dining alfresco or enjoying the private pool in your spacious Villa Jazmin. The great outdoors is a way of life here, with plenty of walking trails, driving routes, beautiful beaches and national parks to discover.
Right across the island, you can’t help but notice the presence of the inspiring local architect and artist, Cesar Manrique. He passed away in 1992, and visitors to the island can visit his iconic home and gardens, which were constructed beneath lava crust and volcanic rock. Also worth visiting is his Jardín de Cactus, which is home to over 450 different species of cacti, and also boasts a restaurant offering Canarian potatoes with mojo sauce, octopus, local cheese and even a cactus burger.
Hiking lovers will enjoy exploring the rugged terrain on a tour of Timanfaya National Park – an ideal place to watch the sun rise (or set), as you explore craters, sand dunes and the otherworldly beauty that is the jagged nearby coastline. The visitor centre gives you all the information you need to drive, walk or even take a camel ride through this stunning park. However you choose to experience it, it’ll be a holiday memory the whole family will treasure.
Book your perfect holiday villa in the sun with our exclusive range of properties in Cyprus and Lanzarote.