Greece or Spain in April with Kids?
 

We are planning a one-week trip to Europe next April and are considering Spain or Greece. I'm having a very tough time trying to decide!

We do not want to get caught up in the Easter crowds in southern spain. Can anyone tell me if Easter will be a crazy time in Greece, too?

I believe April will be too chilly for beaches in both countries. We are interested in history, culture, architecture. Our girls are 11yo and 8yo, and we will be coming from NYC.

I'll take any suggestions you can give me. We are looking for itinerary suggestions. And anyone who wants to make the Greece vs. Spain decision for me is welcome to! :-)

Cheers.

April 16 is the Greek Orthodox Easter and is a very busy travel time for Greeks.

Go to Morocco, no Easter.

So, both the Orthodox and Western Easters fall on the same date this year. Would you be taveling before or after the 16th ? If after, there shouldn't be a problem in Spain. Semana Santa is the week leading up to the 16th when there are crowds. Then again, there is nothing quite like Semana Santa so it would be interesting to visit one of the major sites - Seville, Malaga, etc - for just one night, Thursday's best.

Yes, go to Morocco ! It's a perfect time of year there.

It looks like we will overlap with Easter. I don't want to be there for the crowds, so I guess we should think about somewhere other than Spain or Greece, right? Darn. Any ideas? Not Italy or France. Where in Europe is wonderful in April? Thanks, experts! (Morocco is too far for this trip.)

Morocco is no farther than western Europe and, in fact, runs on GMT !

Actually Easter in Greece can be a wonderful experience. You need to book flights, ferries, and accommodation for the islands well in advance, but don't expect huge crowds. The islands are much busier in July and August than at Easter.

There are rituals everywhere in Greece throughout the Easter week, but a couple that stand out in my mind are:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michae...b_5182131.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8FGGsOb-o0

For a full description of Easter events see:
http://www.greecetravel.com/easter/

We have our hearts set on Europe for this trip. Thx.

If nothing else, look at that YouTube of Pyrgos on Santorini at Good Friday. I can watch it again and again, and it brings tears to my eyes!

Perhaps I'm wrong, but it's not my impression that every part of Spain is as crazy as Andalucía is over Holy Week and Easter. Perhaps others can comment whether other regions are appropriate that time of year if you don't want to get caught up in Easter crowds.

How about Albania, Kosovo, or Bosnia ? Otherwise you'll get Easter in Europe.

Bedar, we must choose our battles, I fear. OK, Christian (I'm assuming) but without Christ and "wonderful in April" (but not Italy or France).


Malta

Is a week the entire time, including flights to and from Europe? A week could be only 7 days total, leaving only 6 days on the ground, or it could mean a week with the weekends on both ends, etc. That little difference could affect advice because you might want to consider flight lengths.

You are coming from NY, so have many options for non-stop flights. NYC to Madrid is a tiny bit over 7 hours. NYC to Athens is over 9&1/2 hours. Add the amount of time to get from Athens to one of the islands, and you gave eaten up a lot more of your travel time just getting somewhere.

For most sightseeing with least travel time, do Madrid, Toldeo (day trip from Madrid) Seville and Córdoba. If you have time, Madrid (with day trip), Granada and Seville would be good.

Semana Santa is not crazy in all of Spain.
Barcelona should be fine.

Don, if you liked the one for Pyrgos check the youtube video for Easter on Chios. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu2TiMypiW0

Thanks, everyone. Our other option is to do this trip in February instead. The weather won't be great, but it should be less crowded. Spain in February? Greece in February?

I would stick with April for best weather.

There will be no crowds in Greece during Easter, except for specific occasions like the candlelit processions on Good Friday which you can avoid if you wish. Greeks return to their home villages to celebrate Easter with their families, and that is why public transport is busy at the beginning and end of the Easter week.

I think you are getting entirely the wrong impression about crowds at Easter. Athens will probably be less busy than normal with so many people away for the holidays. Many hotels on the islands will still be closed, and others just opening.

Don't go during February! Weather is too unreliable, and in some parts of Spain and Greece there is even snow.

Barcelona would be a good option, easter is very low key here, a world apart from the crowds in Andalucía.

Or go to plain fantastic San Sebastián, when I lived here I didn't notice Easter at all.
http://www.euskoguide.com/places-bas...stian-tourism/
On Fodor's 2016 go list: http://www.sansebastianturismo.info/...s-go-list-2016

New York Times recently recommended San Sebastián, Málaga and Barcelona as the three Spanish cities on their list of the top 52 cities around the world to visit in 2016. http://www.expatica.com/es/news/OP-N...de_574459.html