Things to Do in Israel in April
April weather, activities, events & insider tips
April Weather in Israel
Is April Right for You?
Advantages
- Spring wildflowers transform the Negev Desert and Galilee hills into carpets of red anemones and yellow crown daisies - the single best month for desert hiking before summer heat makes it unbearable. Trails around Mitzpe Ramon and Ein Gedi are at their absolute peak.
- Passover week (April 12-20, 2026) means school holidays for Israelis, so major cities like Tel Aviv empty out while beach towns and nature reserves fill with locals - you get authentic Israeli family culture rather than just tourist scenes, plus Jerusalem becomes remarkably walkable once the holiday crowds thin mid-week.
- Mediterranean water temperature hits 19-20°C (66-68°F) - still brisk but actually swimmable for the first time since October. Tel Aviv beaches transition from winter quiet to spring energy, with beach bars opening extended hours and locals doing morning swims again.
- Weather sits in that perfect shoulder season sweet spot: warm enough for shorts and outdoor dining (25-27°C/77-80°F most days) but cool enough for full-day hiking or exploring Jerusalem's Old City without the brutal 35°C+ (95°F+) heat that arrives by June. Morning starts are genuinely pleasant at 15-18°C (59-64°F).
Considerations
- Passover week (April 12-20) creates a pricing spike - hotels in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv jump 40-60% during the holiday, and many restaurants close or go kosher-for-Passover only, limiting dining options. Book accommodations by January or expect to pay premium rates and deal with limited availability.
- Rain is unpredictable in April - you might get 10 sunny days straight or three sudden downpours that flood Jerusalem's streets and cancel Dead Sea hikes. The 51 mm (2.0 inches) average doesn't tell you much about when it'll hit, and locals are often caught off guard themselves since it's technically past rainy season.
- Sharav winds (hot desert winds from the east) can strike 2-3 times in April, spiking temperatures to 35°C (95°F) with dust and making outdoor activities genuinely miserable for 24-48 hours. You can't predict them more than a day ahead, and they turn Jerusalem into a furnace while coastal areas stay relatively bearable.
Best Activities in April
Negev Desert Wildflower Hiking
April is the only month where desert hiking combines blooming wildflowers with tolerable temperatures. The Negev transforms after winter rains - red anemones, yellow mustard flowers, and purple iris cover wadis and hillsides. Temperatures in the desert run 22-28°C (72-82°F) during the day, perfect for full-day hikes. By May it's already too hot, and by June the flowers are completely gone. Ramon Crater trails and Ein Avdat National Park are particularly spectacular. Start hikes early (7-8am) to catch the best light and finish before midday heat peaks.
Jerusalem Old City Walking Tours
April weather makes Jerusalem's stone streets actually pleasant - you can spend 4-5 hours walking without the summer heat exhaustion that hits by 11am in July. The 20-25°C (68-77°F) temperatures mean you're comfortable exploring the Christian Quarter, Armenian Quarter, and Temple Mount areas without constant water breaks. Passover week brings intense crowds Thursday-Monday, but mid-week and the weeks before and after are remarkably quiet. The Old City takes on special energy during Passover and Easter (which overlaps in 2026), with pilgrims and religious processions creating atmosphere you won't see other months.
Tel Aviv Food Market Tours
Spring produce hits Carmel Market and Levinsky Market in April - fresh strawberries, artichokes, fava beans, and the first mangoes of the season appear alongside year-round staples. The 24-26°C (75-79°F) weather means outdoor market browsing is comfortable, not sweaty. Passover week actually enhances food tours since you'll see special holiday foods like matzo variations, charoset preparations, and kosher-for-Passover treats that disappear after the holiday. Markets operate morning through early afternoon (8am-4pm typically), so book morning tours to catch the energy and best selection.
Dead Sea Floating and Hiking
April is the last comfortable month for Dead Sea visits before summer heat makes it brutal - temperatures sit around 28-32°C (82-90°F), warm but manageable. The real advantage is combining beach time with hiking nearby Ein Gedi Nature Reserve or Masada, which become punishingly hot by June. Water temperature is 24-26°C (75-79°F), genuinely pleasant for floating. Morning visits (7-10am) give you cooler temperatures and better light for photos. The Dead Sea is 430 m (1,410 ft) below sea level, so the atmospheric pressure and oxygen levels feel noticeably different - some people get light-headed initially.
Galilee Wine Country Tastings
April brings spring green to the Galilee hills and Golan Heights wine regions - vineyards are leafing out, wildflowers cover the hillsides, and temperatures sit comfortably at 20-24°C (68-75°F) for outdoor tastings. The wine regions around Dalton, Tabor, and Golan Heights are particularly beautiful in spring, and wineries open their terraces for the season. You're visiting after harvest (September-October) but before summer crowds, so tastings are relaxed and winemakers have time to talk. This is also the season for fresh goat cheese from local dairies, which pairs perfectly with Galilee wines.
Mediterranean Coast Cycling
The coastal bike path from Tel Aviv north to Herzliya and south to Jaffa is perfect in April - 23-26°C (73-79°F) temperatures, sea breeze keeping humidity manageable, and spring energy along the beaches. The path runs about 14 km (8.7 miles) from Tel Aviv Port to Jaffa, mostly flat and well-maintained. April means beach season is starting but crowds haven't hit summer levels yet, so the path isn't packed with tourists. Early morning rides (7-9am) give you the best conditions before midday heat, and you can stop at beach cafes that are just opening for the season. Tel Aviv's bike share system (Tel-O-Fun) makes this easy without booking tours.
April Events & Festivals
Passover (Pesach)
April 12-20, 2026 - the major Jewish holiday transforms Israel for a week. Jerusalem fills with pilgrims and families, synagogues hold special services, and Passover seders happen on the first two nights (April 12-13). Many restaurants close or switch to kosher-for-Passover menus, supermarkets clear out bread and chametz (leavened products), and you'll see families doing intensive pre-holiday cleaning. The middle days (Chol HaMoed, April 14-18) are when Israelis travel domestically - national parks, beaches, and attractions get packed with local families. It's fascinating cultural immersion, but plan accordingly for restaurant closures and higher prices.
Easter (Western and Eastern)
Easter falls on April 17-19 in 2026 for Western churches (Catholic, Protestant), overlapping with Passover and creating intense crowds in Jerusalem's Christian Quarter. Eastern Orthodox Easter follows a week later (April 24-26). The Via Dolorosa processions, Church of the Holy Sepulchre services, and Palm Sunday celebrations (April 12) draw thousands of pilgrims. If you want to experience the religious atmosphere, it's powerful - but expect security checkpoints, closed streets, and hours-long waits to enter major churches. Book Jerusalem accommodations by January if visiting during Easter week.
Independence Day (Yom Ha'atzmaut)
May 5, 2026 (technically early May but worth noting for late April planning) - Israel's Independence Day is preceded by Memorial Day (Yom HaZikaron) on May 4. Memorial Day is solemn with air raid sirens at 8pm and 11am when the entire country stops, followed by ceremonies at military cemeteries. Independence Day transforms into massive celebrations - free concerts, air force flyovers, parks filled with families grilling, and fireworks. Everything closes for Memorial Day, then everything opens for Independence Day parties. If you're visiting late April, consider extending to catch this uniquely Israeli experience.