Where to go for Easter holidays 2024

Kirsten Henton

Kirsten Henton

Looking for a sunny Easter holiday? We've picked six of the very best places to go for Easter 2024, each with fantastic hot (or warm) and sunny weather and something to suit every type of holidaymaker, no matter how far you want to travel or how much you want to spend.

1. On a budget: Algarve, Portugal

  • Daily high: 19°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 8
  • Flight time from London: 2 hours 50 minutes

The Algarve, on Portugal's southern coast, is known for its huge variety of resorts and facilities, many geared towards families.

Whether you head for the luxury surroundings of Vilamoura, the well equipped resorts of Albufeira or the sheltered lagoons and dramatic scenery of Alvor, families are well catered to.

Expect to splash about in water parks, explore walking trails and biking routes, not to mention making the most of various playgrounds and kids' clubs. There are also many child-friendly restaurants and cafés that make dining out together easy.

Springtime in the Algarve, Portugal
Springtime in the Algarve, Portugal © F H Mira - Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0

Weather wise, the Algarve is lovely at Easter if you want a bit of warm sunshine. The sea is really too cold to enjoy at 16°C, unless you're suiting up for some water sports, however.

Days are sunny and pleasant with no heat and humidity, and little chance of seeing any rain, while evenings are cooler, so layers are needed.

When compared with the weather in the UK, the Algarve is truly pleasant at Easter, great for families with young children keen to keep amenities nearby and not wanting things too hot.

Top tip: book accommodation with a heated pool as the sea is really far too chilly for swimming, especially for kids.

Another great thing about visiting the Algarve is that it's generally easy on your wallet. You'll find great value holidays to the Portuguese coast and the low cost of living means it's affordable when you arrive.

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2. Splashing out: Maldives

  • Daily high: 32°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 9
  • Flight time from London: 10 hours 10 minutes

It's hard to imagine anywhere more dreamy than the Maldives. Platinum beaches and coconut-laden palms mix with the crystal clear water of the Indian Ocean to make it a true idyllic beach break destination.

Add to this some of the world's finest hotels, all enjoyed under ample sunshine with temperatures that rarely dip below 30°C by day throughout the year, and it's easy to see why it's such a hit.

If you're to go somewhere at Easter with every luxury included, where you'll find fabulously hot and sunny weather to boot, then the Maldives is for you.

Luxury hotel in the Maldives
Luxury hotel in the Maldives © Martin Valigursky - Adobe Stock Image

Easter is typically sandwiched between the region's two major monsoon seasons that greatly affect conditions in the Maldives between May and November, and December and March.

That's not to say you won't encounter any rain if you go at Easter, although it's likely to move on quickly, along with the clouds, in true passing tropical rainstorm fashion.

Top tip: even though April is one of the hottest months of the year, you'll find sea breezes help keep things fresh

Daytimes are lovely and hot, never sinking below 25°C at night and the very high heat and humidity keeps things intense.

There's loads of sun to be had but if you're lying out, be aware that there's also extreme UV at this time, so you will need plenty of the good strong stuff - SPF. Then there's the sea, which is delightful at 30°C, making snorkelling and water sports an absolute joy.

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3. Family fun: Orlando, Florida, USA

  • Daily high: 28°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 9
  • Flight time from London: 9 hours 50 minutes

It sounds cheesy (well, it is), but Orlando is the stuff of dreams, especially for kids.

Whether you hit the theme parks and meet familiar faces such as Mickey Mouse and Gru's minions or make for the water parks to slide and twist on some of the world's best rides, Orlando is crammed full of fun for everyone.

Family fun in Orlando, Florida
Family fun in Orlando, Florida - photo courtesy of Walt Disney World Resort

Early April sees temperatures continue to climb into the high twenties, although evenings are much cooler at around 15°C - that's a significant drop of more than 10°C.

There's loads of sunshine about with only a slim chance of seeing any rain. Moderate heat and humidity is starting to kick in, and the UV is also on the up at very high, so you will need to protect yourself and your little ones from exposure to the sun.

Generally, the weather in Orlando at Easter is hot, sunny and ready to be enjoyed.

Top tip: if you're hoping to swim, you'll find that the sea is generally warmer on the east coast than the west and that the sea is warmer than any of the big lakes - of which there are many!

Although there's enough in Orlando to keep any family busy for weeks on end, you may want to combine your trip with a visit to other parts of Florida.

There's so much to choose from - the Keys in the south, the Everglades National Park, and the retro sights of Miami Beach being just a few.

It's worth remembering that the weather is likely to be a little different closer to the coast than in Orlando, which sits inland. Typically, Miami is a degree or two cooler but with an hour's more sunshine and warmer evenings. The sea is also thoroughly pleasant at 25°C.

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4. Romantic retreat: Barbados

  • Daily high: 30°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 9
  • Flight time from London: 8 hours 50 minutes

Is there anywhere more romantic than the Caribbean? Known for its immense islands, pretty colonial towns, white sandy beaches, and an unrivalled selection of luxury resorts from the likes of Sandals, it's hard to think of anywhere so diverse with great weather thrown in.

Stroll on the beach on the sheltered west coast, Barbados
Stroll on the beach on the sheltered west coast, Barbados © boophotography - Fotolia.com

Sitting to the east of the Caribbean with nothing between it and Cape Verde except the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, Barbados has long been favoured by couples and honeymooners.

Whether you're lying on a lounger, cocktail in hand, sipping champers on a sunset cruise, or dining out on gourmet seafood at Daphne's or The Fish Pot, Barbados is the place to unwind and reconnect.

Top tip: for warm, calm waters, stick to the beaches on the west of the island, as those to the east are more exposed to the cooler currents and elements of the Atlantic.

For those after somewhere to go at Easter for real heat without excessive stickiness, Barbados is a great option.

Temperatures are lovely and high, evenings stay warm dropping no lower than 22°C, and there's oodles of sunshine with very little chance of rain.

There's high heat and humidity but compared to the likes of the Maldives or even Sri Lanka, it's less ferocious. The UV, however, is extreme, so you will need plenty of SPF if you're out and about, especially in the midday sun. The sea is warm at 26°C, ensuring swimming, snorkelling, or just lolling about is like soaking in a nice big bath.

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Can't decide? Pit two destinations against each other to compare temperature, sunshine and more with our weather comparison tool.

5. Stay short haul: Fuerteventura, Canaries

  • Daily high: 22°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 8
  • Flight time from London: 4 hours 20 minutes

No compilation of great holiday destinations at Easter would be complete without a nod to the Canary Islands.

A firm favourite, the Canary Islands feature time and time again, and that in itself is a testament to the reliability of finding truly lovely weather there all year round.

Cofete Beach on Fuerteventura's wild west coast
Cofete Beach on Fuerteventura's wild west coast © Tamara Kulikova - Fotolia.com

Of course, it depends what you want but for sunshine to warm your face and water to dip your toes in, you can't go wrong with the wild island of Fuerteventura.

Fuerteventura has taken the top spot for two reasons: its warm, dry weather in April, and the fact that you can find great value holidays if you're looking for somewhere that's not too far from home.

Top tip: stick to beaches in the east for calmer waters, as this side of the island avoids swells from the Atlantic Ocean.

Expect highs in the low twenties with long periods of intense sunshine as the UV level is very high, although heat and humidity is nonexistent. Evenings are chilly at around 14°C, and you'd be incredibly unlucky if you encountered any rain.

The sea is a far cry from the temperatures of the Indian Ocean or Caribbean, but at 18°C, you could swim or, preferably, don a suit and try some water sports - kayaking and surfing are especially popular.

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6. Go long haul: Sri Lanka

  • Daily high: 32°C
  • Daily hours of sunshine: 9
  • Flight time from London: 10 hours 30 minutes

Sri Lanka ticks a number of boxes. Not only is it ideally located for some fabulous weather, but it's also a budget-friendly destination to explore.

Lying under 600 miles northeast of the Maldives, the weather in Sri Lanka is unsurprisingly similar at this time of year, although you could see a touch more rain.

Days are long, hot and humid, while evenings remain warm and close, dropping to around 24°C. There's lots of sunshine to be had, and the sea is perfect at 29°C by April.

Part of the Golden Temple complex at Dambulla, Sri Lanka
Part of the Golden Temple complex at Dambulla, Sri Lanka © Mlnuwan - Fotolia.com

Sri Lanka is blessed with a little bit of everything. Whether you want to go walking, get to grips with the island's history, head off leopard spotting, or simply sunbathe and relax by the pool, you will find it in Sri Lanka.

The tea plantations offer a glimpse into a world gone by, while the national parks (no less than 26) give you plenty of opportunities to get up close with wildlife.

Top tip: avoid the serious heat by the coast by heading inland where the days are still lovely and warm but evenings much cooler.

As for the beaches, well, they're just as varied, from the powerful waves at Tangalla and Mirissa, to the calm waters and laid back vibe of Unawatuna, and fish-rich corals off Hikkaduwa.

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As you can see, there's a real choice of places to go at Easter with great weather, be it close to home or further afield, luxury or budget, child-friendly or romantic.

Where to go at Easter 2024: Holiday ideas for the best weather
Where to go at Easter 2024: Holiday ideas for the best weather © Patrick Daxenbichler - Fotolia.com

You can also read more about where to go holiday in April and the weather in April worldwide right here. If you're thinking about staying in the UK, check out our top 10 UK destinations for April.

Can't find what you're looking for? Check out our complete collection of travel offers on holidays, flights, hotels and more.

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Kirsten Henton

Kirsten Henton

Kirsten Henton is Weather2Travel.com's editor. Kirsten writes, commissions and edits our travel features, liaising with our contributors and ensuring copy is spick-and-span. A member of the British Guild of Travel Writers, Kirsten also freelances writing articles on travel, history and the outdoors for titles such as Scotland Magazine and BBC Travel.

Article updated on Thursday 1st February 2024 in: Beach Family Romantic Season Winter sun

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