1 Seville
Holy Week
The pointed hoods may be a little on the spooky side, but there is no doubting the extraordinary energy of Seville's Holy Week celebrations, in which 60,000 participants progress through the city with gilded floats to commemorate the Passion. The ritual has flourished since the Middle Ages and is one of Europe's greatest public events.
2 Cyprus
Spring sun
Cyprus is one of the few destinations in the Mediterranean that can offer reliable sunshine in April. Temperatures should be averaging about 70F. Rainfall is a paltry one inch for the month, with only one day in five seeing even a light shower. Head for Paphos if you prefer a big resort, or up to the north-east Akamas peninsula for quieter villages and beaches.
3 Barbados
Bargains
A strange thing happens in Barbados in mid-April. The sun goes on shining, the weather remains as gorgeous as ever, but the beaches empty and prices fall sharply. For example, at the Coral Reef Club (www.coralreefbarbados.com) - arguably the best hotel on the island - rates virtually halve overnight on the Saturday after Easter (April 18).
4 Skyros
St George's Day
Agios Georgios is a popular saint in Greece and the festivities for April 23 are taken very seriously; nowhere more so than on Skyros, one of the prettiest of all Greek islands, just off Evia. Highlights of the three days of festivities include a bagpipe parade, a "geriatrics" race up a hillside, wrestling, and general feasting and dancing.
5 Kerala
Pooram
Pooram is a movable Hindu feast, and although it is usually held in April, this year it has shifted to May 3. It is most popular in parts of Kerala, in the south of India, where the most spectacular festivities are held in Thrissur, with processions of elaborately decorated elephants, firework displays and "melams" - performances on traditional Keralan musical instruments, which some liken to jazz.
6 Amsterdam
Queen's Day
Dublin has St Patrick's Day, Amsterdam has Queen's Day. Every year on April 30, the city (with most other Dutch towns) throws the wildest of wild street parties. Festivities kick off on the previous evening and last all night, continuing with a huge, unregulated street market — a sort of giant jumble sale. All comers can join in, as long as they observe the dress code: orange.
7 British
Country houses — reopening
After the long winter, when most of Britain's stately homes are "rested" from visitors, nearly all of them will reopen by the middle of April. Among the many National Trust properties, Greenway, Agatha Christie's house in Devon, has just opened for the first time, and throughout April Kedleston Hall in Derbyshire is holding an exhibition of images and costumes from the making of the film The Duchess, parts of which were shot at the hall.
8 The Lake District
Not so much rain
It may be the most beautiful part of England, but the problem with the Lake District is the weather. Driving rain can ruin a day - even a whole week - on the fells. Perhaps surprisingly, your best chance of decent weather is in April. It is the driest month of the year: Kendal averages just over three inches of rain (compared with nearly five in August), and gets the same sunshine as in July and August, with an average of five hours a day.
9 San Antonio
11 Fiesta Flambeau —
Be one in over a million during America's largest illuminated night parade on April 25, which only gets bigger annually. This year, at least 50 floats with thousands of lights, 40 bands and variety of dancers, will be entertaining the crowed through the downtown city streets of San Antonio. The journey will last for 2.6 miles!
10 Abu Dhabi
Big Boys Toys
Don't get left behind ladies, international brands will be showing off the latest technology for ultra cool rides, new trends in super suave clothes and of course - mind blowing developments in home entertainment systems between April 30-May 2. While there, do not miss the unveiling of the world's fastest street car, or the best in 4x4 and all terrain vehicles!
— The Telegraph Group Limited, London 2009
