Slush and unstable spring weather are good reasons to go to warmer climes. We tell you about visa-free destinations where you can swim with dolphins and sharks, sunbathe on snow-white beaches, admire millions of tulips, explore the desert or take a hot air balloon ride with a beautiful view.
Turkey
In April, the main symbol of the country, the tulip, or “lale” in Turkish, blooms. The period of the reign of Sultan Ahmed III in the first quarter of the 18th century is called the era of tulips: then more than a thousand varieties of these delicate plants were bred. At any time of year, images of the Ottoman Empire’s favorite flower can be found on ceramic panels and ornaments in palaces, museums and mosques. The traditional Ottoman “lale” is scarlet, with narrow pointed petals, reminiscent of Turkish sabers. There is a legend that happiness is hidden inside a tulip.
You can try to find your happiness and admire thousands of flowers of different varieties, sizes and shades at the Istanbul Tulip Festival, which will be held from April 1 to 20. Several million bulbs will be planted in Gulhane, Emirgan, Yildiz, Göztepe and Beykoz parks. There are a lot of locals here on weekends, so try to plan a visit to the tulip oases during the week.
If you want to avoid the crowds, head to ancient Bursa on the outskirts of Istanbul. The flower beds near the Nusretiye clock tower and in the botanical park are, of course, more modest than those in Istanbul, but there are fewer visitors. Koza Khan will help you catch the spring mood – a market of the late 15th century with almost a hundred cozy shops where handmade silk scarves have been sold for 500 years. You won’t be able to find two identical ones – each pattern exists in a single copy.
Solitude can be found on the shores of the still deserted pebble beach in Cirali, which is easily accessible in an hour from Antalya. The three-kilometer bay is ideal for meditation at dawn or a cozy family holiday: there are no all-inclusive hotels here yet. Walk to the ruins of the ancient city of Olympos, along the spectacular Lycian Way on the seashore, or climb Mount Chimera at dusk. It is called fiery or burning – natural gas escaping from the depths ignites, combining with oxygen. You can have a picnic near the many natural fires that once frightened people so much that they deserved mention in the Iliad.
How to get there
The cost of tickets for a direct flight from Moscow to Istanbul starts from 23,500 rubles* in both directions, to Antalya – from 25,500 rubles*.
Where to stay
In Istanbul
- At the Galata34 hotel (rating 9) – from 6,000 rubles* per night.
- At the OMMA HOTEL (score 10) – from 8,700 rubles* per night.
- At The And Hotel Sultanahmet (rating 9.3) – from 11,800 rubles* per night.
In Cirali
- In the guest house Mila Pansiyon (score 10) – from 3,000 rubles* per night.
- At the Ekinoks Hotel — Adults Only (rating 9.8) – from 5,500 rubles* per day.
- At the Canada Hotel & Bungalows (rating 9.4) – from 7,500 rubles* per day.
In Bursa
- At the Holiday Inn Bursa (rating 9.1) – from 6,400 rubles* per night.
- At the Bursa Ulupark Hotel (score 10) – from 7,000 rubles* per night.
- At the Kitapevi Hotel (rating 9.4) – from 10,200 rubles* per night.
Armenia
In April, apricot trees and lilacs bloom in Yerevan, the slopes of the surrounding mountains are covered with pink and white wild almond flowers, and snowdrops, crocuses, buttercups and irises appear in the city flower beds. The season has not yet begun, so there are few tourists, and it is not hot to walk yet – the daytime temperature remains at a comfortable level of +12–16 °C. From almost 700 steps of the famous Cascade you can see the majestic Ararat, the fountains will be turned on in the first days of the month, and the list of restaurants and coffee shops worth visiting has noticeably expanded over the past year. Some locations are located outside the center, but it’s worth getting to them. Try meat cooked in a tonir (a special type of oven like a tandoor), a meter-long kebab or bone-in shashlik at Grillian, black or pink khinkali at the Grtnak Tonratun cafe, pineapple creme brulee or coconut tiramisu at the Las Culturas restaurant.
For panoramic views of Ararat, head to the Khor Virap Monastery, 40 km from Yerevan. It is located on the site of the ancient capital of Armenia: according to legend, the monastery was built over the prison in which Saint Gregory the Illuminator languished for 13 years. His steadfastness impressed King Trdat III, and in 301, Armenia, following the ruler, converted to Christianity, becoming the first Orthodox state in the world. The dungeon has been preserved; you can go down the steep stairs and try to imagine how the saint lived here. Much later, in the 1660s, the Church of the Holy Mother of God was built. Photos of her silhouette against the backdrop of the biblical mountain are often used in advertising brochures – the view is truly stunning.
If you want to see the snow-capped peaks from above, arrange a hot air balloon flight in advance. A popular launch site is located in the vicinity of Yerevan in the village of Garni.
How to get there
Ticket prices for a direct flight from Moscow to Yerevan start from 25,500 rubles* round trip.
Where to stay
- At the hostel F & F Hostel (score 10) – from 3,400 rubles* per night.
- At the Sofia Hotel (score 10) – from 4,900 rubles* per night.
- At the Holiday Inn Yerevan, Republic Square (score 10) – from 11,500 rubles* per night.
Tunisia
It’s still too early to swim in Tunisia in April – the air temperature is about +20 °C – but this is a great time for excursions and trips around the country. Without the risk of heatstroke, you can wander through the ruins of Carthage and the blue-and-white streets of atmospheric Sidi Bou Said, the amphitheater in El Jem or the sand dunes of the Sahara. Be sure to stop by the archaeological museum on Birsa Hill to see the famous collection of Roman and early Christian mosaics and see the Lady of Carthage, an 11th-century portrait of the Byzantine empress. We advise lovers of ethnography and fans of the legendary Star Wars saga to go to the filming site of the epic, to the cave city of Matmata.
You can bask in the sun to bring home an even tan, and undergo a course of thalassotherapy (sea water treatment) on the island of Djerba. The best sandy beaches with turquoise water are located in the northeast of the island. Due to the proximity of the Sahara Desert with its dry and hot wind, the beach season begins here a little earlier than in continental resorts. It won’t be boring here: if you get tired of lying by the sea, you can visit a water park, an archaeological museum or a crocodile farm, ride camels, go diving or windsurfing.
How to get there
There are currently no direct flights from Moscow to Tunisia; the cost of tickets with a transfer in Istanbul or Algeria starts from 40,500 rubles* round trip.
Where to stay
- At the Dar Ya Hotel (rating 8.4) – from 3,700 rubles* per night.
- At the Hôtel Belvédère Fourati (rating 8.9) – from 5,700 rubles* per night.
- At the Dar Ben Gacem Kahia Hotel (rating 9.5) – from 6,800 rubles* per night.
Maldives
An option for those who miss a full-fledged beach holiday. April is the velvet season on the islands: the peak of tourist activity subsides, but the weather remains comfortable. The monsoon season will begin in May, and while the daytime air temperature remains around +32 °C, the water is a couple of degrees cooler. There are fewer tourists on the snow-white beaches, there is more space under palm trees – spring on the atolls has many advantages. Add to this the ideal conditions for diving and snorkeling: at this time of year the sun shines almost ten hours a day and there are practically no storms, the water is clear and calm.
You can explore the colorful underwater life without going far from the hotel: many resorts have their own house reefs. Another option to swim among corals, starfish, clownfish, turtles, manta rays and even reef sharks is to go on a snorkeling excursion. Hanifaru Bay is considered one of the best places in the Maldives. Seeing hundreds of species of fish and corals while enjoying beaches, paradise views, seafood and coconuts between swims is a worthy vacation plan.
How to get there
Tickets for direct flights on the route Moscow – Male start from 73,700* rubles round trip, travel time is almost nine hours.
Where to stay
- In the guest house One The Island (rating 10) – from 6,500 rubles* per night.
- At the Kihaa Maldives resort hotel (rating 8.2) – from 15,500 rubles* per day.
- At Kudafushi Resort & Spa (score 9.2) – from 33,200 rubles* per day.
Israel
A spring trip to this country is an opportunity to combine an intense beach, cultural and health holiday. In the southernmost resort of Israel, Eilat, the average air temperature in April is +31 °C, the water is 8–9 degrees cooler. On the seven-kilometer coastal strip there is enough space and entertainment for everyone: the sandy and pebble northern beaches with a gentle slope are popular with families with children, and the southern ones, with the telling names Coral and Dolphin reefs, are chosen by lovers of diving, snorkeling and contact communication with bottlenose dolphins. Near the shore here is Israel’s only reef, 1,200 m long, a popular dive site among tourists. The underwater observatory park, whose halls are located at a depth of 12 m, offers an opportunity to get acquainted with the colorful world of the Red Sea and its inhabitants without special equipment.
For a healing climate, salt and mud therapy, go to Ein Bokek on the Dead Sea. This is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth: a liter of water contains about 330 grams of salt, so you can safely lie on the surface of the sea. Numerous resort clinics offer health and beauty programs: allow 7-10 days for a full course. Spend the rest of your vacation exploring the sights and shrines of Jerusalem: walk along Via Dolorosa, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and the Western Wall.
How to get there
The cost of tickets from Moscow to Tel Aviv for direct flights starts from 82,000 rubles* round trip, Red Wings and El Al fly. It’s cheaper to fly with a short transfer, for example, to Antalya: the price starts from 54,000 rubles*.
Where to stay
- At the Ahla Dive Time hotel (rating 9) – from 5,200 rubles* per day.
- At The Reef Eilat Hotel by Herbert Samuel (rating 8.9) – from 11,900 rubles* per night.
- At the Dan Panorama Eilat hotel (rating 9.2) – from 12,000 rubles* per night.
- At the Spa Club Dead Sea Hotel (rating 8.2) – from 17,000 rubles* per day.
Bali
The rainy season on the Indonesian island ends in March, and the high tourist season starts in May, so visiting Bali in April is a great opportunity to relax at reasonable prices (by local standards). If it rains, it happens mainly at night; the temperature of water and air fluctuates between +28–30 °C. Another plus is small waves: there are no storms, and beginners can comfortably learn the basics of surfing and kitesurfing.
For divers and snorkelers, we recommend choosing the fishing village of Pemuteran in northern Bali: it has the largest area of shallow-water corals on the island. In addition to them, an artificial reef and about 13 interesting dive points were created, including a Hindu temple at a depth of 28 m and the Garden of the Gods with 30 sculptures. And you will be accompanied throughout the dive by seahorses, reef sharks, turtles and moray eels.
Take your children to the resort of Sanur in the southeast of the island: coral reefs and breakwaters protect a seven-kilometer beach with golden sand from ocean waves, so the coastal strip will be comfortable for swimming with kids. In the nearby water park you can swim with dolphins, and with teenagers it will be interesting to explore mangrove forests, coffee plantations and ancient Hindu temples.
How to get there
There are currently no direct flights from Moscow to Denpasar; the cost of tickets with two short transfers starts from 77,000 rubles* round trip. Travel time will be 22-24 hours.
Where to stay
- In the guest house Tropical Bali Hotel (rating 9.4) – from 4,400 rubles* per night.
- At Villa Kampung Kecil (rating 9.5) – from 9,000 rubles* per night.
- At Maya Sanur Resort & Spa (score 9.4) – from 13,200 rubles* per day.
*Prices are current at the time of publication.
