20 Best Beaches to Visit in April

The best beaches to visit in April offer a unique blend of pleasant weather and fewer crowds, as it’s spring in the Northern Hemisphere and fall in the Southern Hemisphere. This is normally shoulder season, meaning there are fewer people around as you enjoy the mild weather.

It’s also a time of celebration, especially in the Caribbean with events such as Antigua Sailing Week. In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s a chance to enjoy the pleasant weather after the heat of summer.

Whether you’re welcoming the start of warm weather or bidding it farewell, beside the sea is always a great place to be. From the Bahamas in the Caribbean to Bondi in Australia, these are the best beaches in April.

Higgs Beach, Key West, Florida

April sees warm temperatures (into the low 80s Fahrenheit), and relatively low humidity in Key West. This dry season weather brings plenty of sunshine and minimal rainfall, perfect for lazing on Higgs Beach, one of the best beaches in Key West.

Besides the soft sand and warm blue waters, you can enjoy volleyball courts, picnic areas, and water sports. A sailboat concession offers you the chance to be out on the Atlantic Ocean as well.

Key West is the southernmost city in the continental United States. Walk the long wooden pier at Higgs Beach, or the nearby White Street Pier, for a sense of being just a few feet further south.

Playa Mia, Cozumel

Playa Maya is a beach park on the southwest coast of Cozumel. From water slides to glass-bottom kayaks or paddleboards, not to mention good restaurants, it has a full range of all-day activities.

In April, Cozumel enjoys pleasant weather, typically up to mid-80s Fahrenheit. The warm water is ideal for snorkeling in Cozumel, as well as swimming or any water sports.

Central to this is the pristine white sandy beach. When you’ve explored all the other attractions, nothing beats relaxing in a beach chair under a brightly colored sunshade.

Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman

Starting on the edge of George Town, Seven Mile Beach is a short walk from the duty-free shopping area of Grand Cayman. Whether you keep walking to discover if the beach is actually seven miles long is up to you; there are plenty of distractions along the way.

The sparkling white sands and crystal clear waters can bring out many visitors. However, the beach is long enough to absorb them all, with plenty of bars and restaurants to relax in.

April is the dry season in the Caymans, with temperatures hitting the low 90s. The water temperature is equally mild, perfect for diving or snorkeling in Grand Cayman without a wetsuit.

Isla Verde Beach, Puerto Rico

Isla Verde is one of the best beaches in Puerto Rico, stretching to three miles of white sand.  With a lively reef to snorkel on and swaying palms for shade, San Juan’s most popular city beach has appeal for everyone.

In April, Puerto Rico has warm, pleasant weather, with temperatures into the low 90s Fahrenheit. The protection of the reef and the warm water creates calm conditions here for swimmers and snorkelers of any ability.

In the center of the beach, there is enough wave action for a beginners’ surf school. Nearby are inviting restaurants and tempting shopping for all tastes.

Grand Case Beach, St. Maarten

Grand Case Beach, on St. Martin, the French side of the Dutch-French island, has soft sand, turquoise water, and many beachside attractions.

The most famous of these are the numerous “lobos”—barbeques serving Creole Caribbean cuisine, making this the ideal spot for combining local food with some beach time.

Grand Case is a former fishing village on the northwest of the island. The beach has white sand, calm waters, and a picturesque weathered pier.

Offshore is Creole Rock, a popular diving spot in St. Maarten and glass-bottomed boat tour destination. April is the dry, sunny season with temperatures typically around the mid-80s.

Reduit Beach, St. Lucia

Regarded by many visitors as the best beach to visit on St. Lucia, Reduit is a five-mile stretch of golden sand. It fronts horseshoe-shaped Rodney Bay, lined with watersports concessions.

The mild April weather of St. Lucia makes for equally warm water temperatures. Swimming, snorkeling, and water sports such as windsurfing are among the more active ways to pass the time.

Behind the beach is an impressive range of restaurants. These range from Creole food shacks to international offerings including pizza, Chinese, and Indian.

Frigate Bay Beach, St. Kitts

Frigate Bay Beach sits on a narrow peninsula in the southeast part of St. Kitts. The dark sand beach therefore has a rougher Atlantic as well as a calm Caribbean side.

This gives beachgoers the choice of gentle snorkeling or more thrilling surfing and windsurfing. Of course, you can also just chill on one of the many sun loungers.

The clear Caribbean water is very appealing in April, when the weather is at its mildest. Another option is just to walk the sand, looking at the many beautiful shells and enjoying the sunshine.

Magens Bay, St. Thomas

Magens Bay lies on St. Thomas, which belongs to the U.S. Virgin Islands. This mile-long stretch of soft, white sand is regularly voted among the world’s best beaches to visit.

The beach is lined with tall palm trees on one side and strikingly clear Caribbean waters on the other. This picture of perfection is enhanced by the tropical greenery of the hills behind.

The deep bay makes for calm, sheltered water, putting swimmers and snorkelers in their element. Behind the beach, those hills can be explored on hiking trails that open up panoramic views.

Read: Best Beaches in St. Thomas

Eagle Beach, Aruba

Aruba, the smallest of the Dutch ABC islands of Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao, is known for its perfect beaches. The most photographed is Eagle Beach, in part because of its windswept fofoti trees.

The powdery-sand beach in Aruba is idyllic any time of the year, but April is both warm and dry. It’s also outside the peak visitor season from December to March so you’ll have plenty of sand to yourself.

Eagle Beach is well supplied with shaded picnic areas and water sports rentals. Several good restaurants and bars provide enticing options for relaxing after a lazy swim or snorkel.

Te Amo Beach, Bonaire

Bonaire does not have as many sandy beaches as Aruba, so Te Amo, or “I Love You” stands out. Its powdery white sand leaves the water remarkably clear and perfect for snorkeling.

Te Amo Beach is near Bonaire’s airport and watching airplanes take off or landing is another pleasant pastime. The food truck here specializes in fish wraps (try the barracuda) and sashimi.

Offshore, you’ll find coral and plenty of sealife, while shrubby trees provide shade along the sand. As in the rest of the ABC Islands, April is shoulder season and a perfect time to visit Bonaire for more solitude.

Knip Beach, Curaçao

Split into big and small beaches, Grote Knip and Kleine Knip, this is considered the best beach in Curaçao. Given the competition, that’s high praise indeed, but the white sand and blue water live up to the dream.

This public beach has few facilities, apart from the occasional food truck, something that only adds to its appeal. In April, it’s even better with the fresh spring weather and fewer sunbathers.

The water can still be slightly chilly at this time of year in Curaçao, so consider a shorty wetsuit if  you want to tackle the long swim out to the reef. Alternatively, a number of rock formations beside the beach provide plenty of interest for snorkelers.

Carlisle Bay Beach, Barbados

April in Barbados sees temperatures averaging 77°F, which should inspire you to head down to Carlisle Bay and its beautiful shoreline, one of the best beaches in April for cooling off and splashing around, the rhythms of reggae in the air.

The humidity will occasionally break with short, refreshing, tropical showers. Of course, that’s no problem if you’re already in the warm water or enjoying a beach bar.

April is the time of the Barbados Reggae Festival and the Oistins Fish Festival, both packed with atmosphere to get you into the spirit of the tropics.

Read: Best Beaches in Barbados

White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, BVI

White Bay is known as the place where the Caribbean cocktail Painkiller was invented. You might well wonder what pain needs to be killed in this idyllic spot, unless it’s the pain of leaving.

Try one anyway at the Soggy Dollar Bar, haunt of many boats from nearby islands. The habit of sailors swimming ashore with some cash in a pocket led to the unusual name.

Get in the water yourself to discover why this is one of the best beaches to visit in the Caribbean. In April, air temperatures average 84ºF, with the sea typically a balmy 80ºF.

Pearl Island, Nassau, Bahamas

This private island, only eight miles from Nassau, has two exquisite beaches. You can compare them for rich white sand and bright blue water, but either looks like paradise.

There are rental facilities for paddle-boarding and kayaking, with a lighthouse to climb for island views. Take a boat across a narrow strait to Pigs Beach, where the famous swimming pigs are an added attraction for photographers and animal lovers.

Sea temperatures around 76°F in April are ideal for swimming and snorkeling in the Bahamas, as well as any other water activities.

Las Bachas, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos

Named for two barges left by the US after World War II, Las Bachas in Santa Cruz Island is a lovely white sand beach. A “wet” landing for those visiting the Galapagos, it’s known for two small flamingo ponds and its population of marine iguanas.

You’ll also see plenty of Galapagos birds, including Darwin finches and mockingbirds. April is a good time for birdwatching, with many species nesting and breeding.

At this time of year, the weather (mid-70s to mid-80s Fahrenheit) is also perfect for snorkeling in the Galapagos. You might encounter sea turtles, rays, or even sea lions.

The barges themselves are no longer visible unless unusually high and low tides expose their rusting remains in the sand, but the name has stuck.

Positano Beach, Amalfi Coast, Italy

One of the Amalfi Coast’s most picturesque towns, Positano sprawls down an impossibly scenic cliff to its tiny harbor and four beaches.

Spiaggia Grande, the town’s main beach, is a pebble’s throw away from the many shops and restaurants that entice visitors. In summer, this seems like a meeting place for the world, but April in Europe brings fewer visitors so you can appreciate it at its best.

Beside the beach is a pier from which ferries and scenic boat trips depart. The Amalfi Coast is best seen from the sea, but hiking the Path of the Gods offers spectacular views from on high.

Elia Beach, Mykonos, Greece

April marks the start of the high season in Mykonos with many restaurants and other businesses gearing up for summer. Daytime temperature may hit the mid-60s Fahrenheit but the searing summer heat is still to come.

What remains a constant is the beauty of Elia, one of the prettiest beaches in Mykonos. Its long golden sands are sheltered with a deep bay that highlights the bright blue water. The sea is yet to warm up, but is still inviting for a bracing dip.

Beachfront tavernas, restaurants, and bars provide the chance to explore Greek cuisine. They can be enjoyed all the more without the busy beach clubs that thrive in summer, making Elia one of the best beaches to visit in April.

Playa Las Teresitas, Tenerife, Canary Islands

This beautiful man-made beach in Santa Cruz de Tenerife is almost a mile long. Sand imported from the Sahara is protected by a breakwater that creates calm waters for swimmers and sunbathers.

Tenerife has a pleasant climate all year, even in winter. April is warm with temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to mid-70s Fahrenheit.

The Atlantic Ocean surrounding The Canaries means the water is colder, but not extremely so. This helps make April an ideal time to enjoy Tenerife’s many charms in full.

Praia Formosa, Madeira

While Madeira is not known for its beaches, this subtropical Atlantic island is delightfully balmy in April. This spring season brings pleasantly warm days and cool nights.

Praia Formosa is the largest public beach in Funchal, with a beautiful natural setting. The black volcanic sand beach is well sheltered from winds by high cliffs.

While you might not want to spend much time in the water, paddleboarding or other water sports are available. There are also many restaurants and cafés from which to enjoy the tranquil view.

Read: Best Things to Do in Madeira

Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

Star of film and TV, Bondi Beach is maybe the most famous beach in the world. The golden sands and famous surf of this Sydney beach suburb certainly need no introduction.

April is the fall in Australia, making it a shoulder season for visitors. Temperatures will still be the mid-70s Fahrenheit, though, and the water is warm enough for swimming.

This quieter time gives you the perfect opportunity to learn to surf, run barefoot along the sand, or walk the art-lined promenade. The many great restaurants and lively cafés, another essential part of the Bondi experience.

Has this guide to the best beaches to visit in April given you ideas for your next vacation? Then find the perfect cruise for you and your loved ones by browsing our April cruises.