Spain in April?

1. At most of the popular destinations crowds won’t be terrible in April, but will get worse into May and especially late May.

2. If sticking to the larger cities you can get by using public transportation.

3. If there’s a particular hotel you want to stay at, it’s recommended you make advance reservations.

Other than Madrid at the end of each trip, we seldom go to the larger cities, but we always make advance lodging reservations. As many of the places we visit are not popular tourist destinations or are off the beaten path, we always have a rental car. What you do will depend on your destinations and what you feel comfortable with.

Spain is a large country (in European dimensions...) and it offers a great diversity of climates, areas, meals, landscapes, traditions,..., so it may be helpful to know where do you plan to go, for more accurate answers.

We were in Spain for a couple weeks this April. While we did not visit "major guidebook cities", we never felt that the quantity of other visitors was very great at all.

For instance, the two most famous and highly-visited places we went were Oviedo and Avila. We easily found top-notch accommodations in perfect locations and were not buffeted by any crowds at all. Both of their cathedrals, for example, are major UNESCO sites but we just waltzed in and easily found enjoyable food and drinks nearby after our visits.

I don't know exactly where you're going, but I can guess and public transport connects all of the major places very well. I'm a car traveler but since I presume this is a more city-centric trip having a car in those cities is a disadvantage. If you change your mind and decide to hit more out-of-the-way spots, Spain is great by car.

In our five weeks through France and Spain, nearly all in April, we never made a reservation more than one day in advance and we stayed in absolutely fabulous places throughout the entirety of our trip.

I'm thinking of going back in April. One thing I have discovered is that Semana Santa is right in the middle of April next year. Not sure how that will impact things, although I tend to travel a bit off the beaten path.

Was thinking Madrid, Toledo, Barcelona , Seville, Granda for starters

Barcelona is a year-round destination: for vacation tourism, elderly tourism, events tourism, fairs and exhibitions tourism, business tourism, weekend European tourism, sports tourism, and medical tourism. So, although crowds are large in summer, they continue to be also quite busy the rest of the year. Rather than "season", I would say it varies "per week", that is, whether that particular week of the year there are more or less "things" happening in the city.

I don't know what "Rick suggests" for my neck of the woods, so I need you to be more precise :)

For the most popular sites, DO PRE-BOOK in advance, from a few days to a few weeks in advance -depending on the site and the week of the year. Note that it's quite unlikely you'll find a ticket at the booth, if you know what I mean.

/Was thinking Madrid, Toledo, Barcelona , Seville, Granda for starters/

Well, you are doing the basics and most visited areas/cities, so just take into account that if you travel from April 14 to 21 (Holy Week dates for 2025), you will find crowds everywhere, as it´s a major holiday in Spain and many people take those days off. If it´s May or earlier April, things will be more relaxed, but as it´s been pointed out, you are travelling to come of the most visited places in Spain.

Never been to Spain so I feel I need to hit the basics. Thinking arrive in Spain around April 23 and stay for 5 weeks. Any other suggestions are appreciated. Rick Steves also suggests Segovia, Salamanca, Santiago. Is 5 weeks enough time

One could easily spend five months in Spain and not see everything there is to see. Five weeks is good for seeing the popular destinations. Don’t try to see everything on one trip or you’ll run yourself ragged and spend a lot of time traveling between locations.

Select places you want to see rather than places somebody says you should see. Only you know what you like. After deciding where you want to visit and what you want to see in those places, estimate how much time you think you’ll need to see them. Invariably you’ll spend more time than anticipated at some sites and less at others. Plan for some down time so you’re not always on the go.

You'll need to get your Alhambra ticket well in advance. The place sells out, sometimes far ahead of time. You can monitor the calendar on the ticket website to see what ticket availability looks like. The calendar is already showing heavy sales for April 18, 19 and 25, even now.

Official Alhambra website

April/May is a very peak period in Andalucia for the simple reason that the weather is miserably hot down there in the summer. Hotels in Seville become very expensive during Holy Week, and you may encounter extended cancellation periods. A Holy Week visit is an interesting cultural experience, but you won't be quite as efficient a sightseer as usual in Seville during that time, because there can be reductions in days and hours of operation at some sights. In addition, the crowds in the streets and the traffic-blocking parades can delay movement from place to place.

Seville is also very heavily visited during the April Fair, which affects hotel-room availability and cost (and I'm bet also cancellation periods). The Fair dates for 2025 haven't been announced yet, but I found a local website that anticipates it will run May 6 to 11. The April Fair is two weeks after Holy Week, so it sometimes fall in May.

I was there in 2018 . The weather was so nice and cool even though it was a bit cold in the evenings. You should take a jacket with you just in case

@MikelBasqueGuide a few questions

1. If visiting Madrid during Holy Week can I expect the usual tourist destinations to still be open? Are shops and restaurants closed during this time. A few of the sites I visited looked to still be open but didnt look like I can buy tickets for April this far in advance.
2. I know Easter is a major holiday in Spain - any suggestions on special events I should consider.
   
3. I am on the fence if the crowds during Holy Week will be a deterent or not. My options are flying in on the the 16th of April (cheaper airfare) or the following week of April 22nd

thanks

Hi! Some answers to your questions:

1- If visiting Madrid during Holy Week can I expect the usual tourist destinations to still be open? Are shops and restaurants closed during this time. A few of the sites I visited looked to still be open but didnt look like I can buy tickets for April this far in advance.

Madrid is a cosmopolitan capital and everything will be open, it´s a major holiday in Spain from Thursday to Sunday (or Monday, depending where) but all tourist attractions will not close.

2- I know Easter is a major holiday in Spain - any suggestions on special events I should consider.

In many towns and cities (not in Madrid or Barcelona, though), you cannot miss Easter processions. Even if you are not Catholic or religious, it´s a must-see. We do not attend Mass much any more, but we love our traditions!!

3-I am on the fence if the crowds during Holy Week will be a deterent or not. My options are flying in on the the 16th of April (cheaper airfare) or the following week of April 22nd

Expect crowds in Seville, Toledo, Granada...but not as much in the rest of the country. I would avoid Holy Thursday to Monday.

We have been to Spain a couple times in April, and even February and March (as well as September).

I think it is a great time to go. In Madrid, Barcelona, and the South, the weather is generally mild, crowds will be there, but not oppressive. Barcelona is always crowded, Madrid seems to be able to absorb the crowds, elsewhere manageable. The North Atlantic coast though will be a bit rainier, though the way weather is changing, you could expect some mild days in the sixties.

Most places you can get around without a car, at least in a half dozen trips I have never rented one. A car might be handy for visiting the smaller villages in the South (The White Towns for example) and if you really want to explore Galicia, Asturias, and the Basque regions. But you really do not want a car for any of the larger cities. Maybe look at a rental for a few days here and there, or to explore an area.

I generally book rooms for larger cities, and anywhere I am going for 4 nights or so. I might leave a few nights open one or two places in the itinerary. I generally use Booking.com for places to stay, on there you can see an array of options, as well as booked places, so if it looks like availability is shrinking, go ahead and book.

Holy week is more a local affair than tourist attraction most places, yes there may be closures some days, but many museums and sights are still operating most of the week.

Probably the main event that typically draws crowds in April is the Feria in Seville, but Easter is late in 2025, April 20, and the Feria does not start until two weeks after easter, putting it in May this year (May 5-11)