Europe in spring holiday ideas
Spring is in the air, the flowers are growing, the puffins arrive at the end of the month. Everything is coming back to life after the cold.![]()
If there’s one thing our local specialists love waxing lyrical about, it’s Europe in spring. Our experts have been extolling the joys of the season for years: it’s blossom season; it’s cooler; it’s less crowded; it’s great for families on their Easter break. Let them count the ways.
“I love the spring,” says Lucy Arkwright, who hosts our holidays in Spain’s Sierra de Aracena from her village guest house. “The colour of the sweet chestnut when it comes out is so vibrant – and you get the wild peonies growing underneath... in the spring the flowers and birdlife are absolutely amazing.”
“It’s magical in spring,” agrees Annie Antonatou. Annie is based in Greece and runs some of our top sailing holidays in the Greek Islands. “The islands can look barren in summer but there are so many wildflowers in spring that people are shocked. It’s nice to combine sailing with walking then.”
You don’t have to go to the sunny south for a bright boost, either. “April is often fantastic here,” says Julie Dubois, who organises our small ship cruises in the Scottish Hebrides. “Spring is in the air, the flowers are growing, the puffins arrive at the end of the month. Everything is coming back to life after the cold.”
“I love the spring,” says Lucy Arkwright, who hosts our holidays in Spain’s Sierra de Aracena from her village guest house. “The colour of the sweet chestnut when it comes out is so vibrant – and you get the wild peonies growing underneath... in the spring the flowers and birdlife are absolutely amazing.”
“It’s magical in spring,” agrees Annie Antonatou. Annie is based in Greece and runs some of our top sailing holidays in the Greek Islands. “The islands can look barren in summer but there are so many wildflowers in spring that people are shocked. It’s nice to combine sailing with walking then.”
You don’t have to go to the sunny south for a bright boost, either. “April is often fantastic here,” says Julie Dubois, who organises our small ship cruises in the Scottish Hebrides. “Spring is in the air, the flowers are growing, the puffins arrive at the end of the month. Everything is coming back to life after the cold.”
When is spring in Europe?
Meteorological spring is March, April and May, slotting into the Gregorian calendar used in Europe. Astronomical spring, on the other hand, lasts from around 20 March to 21 June. It’s measured by the movement of the Earth as it orbits the sun, so it can shift by a day or two each year. That said, the classic signs of spring tend to appear even earlier in Southern Europe, with blossom appearing as early as February.Best places to visit in spring in Europe
Azores, Portugal
Migrating blue whales make a splash in the Azores between March and May, swinging by for a feast of plankton on their journey north. Sei and fin whales also pop up around this time, so whale watchers are in for a triple treat. Be prepared for rain, yes, but also be prepared for fantastic flower displays. Hydrangeas start blooming across the island in May, framing caldera viewpoints and walking paths – a bright violet splash against the rust-black soil and green hills.
Our top spring trip in the Azores: Azores whale watching tour
Dalmatian Coast, Croatia
The weather is finer, the seas are fairer, and relatively few people seem to have clocked on to these facts. This makes spring a great time to cruise Croatia’s perpetually popular Dalmatian Coast. If you go early, you’ll be one of the first voyagers as the season starts up again. Around Easter, keep an eye out for the delicately painted eggs called pisanice hanging in windows, doorways and gift shops. Come May, you might experience spring showers – a lovely spritz while hiking craggy islands and lake-bedecked national parks.
Our top spring trip in Croatia: Croatia small ship cruise
Atlantic Coast, Portugal
The west coast of Portugal drives up the drama in early spring, with wild waves that result in great scenes for our cycling holidays along the Atlantic coast. Later in the season, it’s all about the blissfully peaceful beaches – a far cry from the busy summer. Elsewhere in Portugal, the Douro Valley and Peneda-Geres National Park are great for walkers with a wish for wildflowers.
Our top spring trip in Portugal: Porto to Lisbon self guided cycling holiday
Turquoise Coast, Turkey
The Lycian Way is popular with our hikers in spring, with walks taking place under blue skies and cooler temperatures. It’s still warm, mind you, and the scenery is easily at its prettiest – both here and elsewhere on the south-west coast – thanks to a coating of wildflowers and blossoming trees. Cycling is also sublime, and our gulet sailing cruises start to head out later in the season.
Our top spring trip in Turkey: Lycian Way walking holiday
Arctic Finland
Sun and sea not your scene? Head to Finland for the final hurrah of snowy weather. The March equinox reliably brings out the best of the Northern Lights, thanks to a boost of solar activity. There’s skiing all over the north, but the far north-east is heaped with some of the best powder – great for cross country skiing and snowshoeing under the longer, lighter days.
Our top spring trip in Finland: Finland Northern Lights holiday
Costas & mountains, Spain
Spring arrives early in sunny southern Spain, with the heady perfume of pink-and-white almond, orange and jasmine blossom in February. The Costas are great for walking, cycling, fitness breaks and enjoying outdoor activities in scenic spots before the sizzling summer sets in. In the Picos and Pyrenees, spring arrives later but in similar fashion: a bounty of blossom, plus wildflower meadows, butterflies, migratory birds and a splash of snow on the higher paths.
Our top spring trip in Spain: Catalonia self guided walking holiday
Amalfi Coast, Italy
The Amalfi Coast wakes up in spring – ferries increase, restaurants emerge from their winterlong siesta, and the legendary lemon harvest begins. Our small group tours wake up too, taking you hiking along the coast in comfortable temperatures and sunshine. Lemon blossoms bloom later in the season; you’ll smell them before you see them.
Our top spring trip in Italy: Amalfi Coast walking holiday
Scottish Highlands
Spring is a great time for Scotland – the changeable weather balanced by bluebells, baby animals and bonnie landscapes fresh with flowers. The fairy-tale streets of Edinburgh are less busy, and it’s a similar story in other popular spots, including the Glenfinnan Viaduct, Skye and Mull. Our rail tours carry you effortlessly through the landscapes – or you can choose to celebrate the start of the small ship cruising season (and the arrival of puffins on Staffa) with a trip to the Scottish Hebrides.
Our top spring trip in Scotland: Scotland grand rail tour
Malta & Gozo
Many families turn to the Med in spring. We recommend going for Malta and Gozo, where blue skies and even bluer seas make a brilliant backdrop for our active holidays. The temperatures are great for the Maltese archipelago’s specialities: hiking in nature parks speckled with wildflowers and admiring spectacular spring sunsets from beaches that are usually packed in summer.
Our top spring trip in Malta: Malta & Gozo holiday
Madeira, Portugal
We’d be remiss not to include Madeira – an Atlantic island with a subtropical climate that gives it the moniker ‘the Island of Eternal Spring’. Despite the lovely name, spring does stick to March-May, celebrated with flower festivals in Funchal, as well as the arrival of dolphins and great temperatures for walking the levada trails.
Our top spring trip in Madeira: Madeira walking holiday
Greece sailing holiday for families
Sailing trip for families/friends in Greek islands
From
£580 to £750
7 days
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Croatia self drive holiday
A self drive discovery tour of beautiful Croatia
From
£1295 to £1950
15 days
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Arctic icebreaker cruise, Spitsbergen
Wildlife-focused, expert-led small ship Arctic cruises
From
£3690 to £14445
8 days
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Northern Lights photography holiday in Iceland, coast & ice
Photographic trip in the stunning west and southeast Iceland
From
£4100 to £4400
10 days
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Painting Holiday in Crete
Painting and sketching outdoors by the Cretan Sea
From
€1160 to €1210
8 days
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Changing seasons
Our experts might have been singing the praises of spring for ages, but louder factors are jump-starting a more widespread shift in holiday habits. It isn’t just the pull of a cooler, quieter spring; it’s the push of holidaymakers starting to avoid summer, whether due to the increasing costs of travelling in the high season, overtourism protests spurred by local people crowded out by mass tourism, or climate change-charged heatwaves and wildfires.
Climate change also means that spring is transforming. “With climate change we often get better weather in the mountainous regions than the coast, especially in the shoulder seasons,” says our cycling tour specialist Marlene Smith when we chatted with her about Spain and climate change.
The sunnier, milder weather might be considered ‘better’ by tourists, but it’s a disturbing trend for local people who know that this isn’t the norm. In many places, the speed of change is outstripping the ability of harvests, wildlife and people to adapt.
Climate change also means that spring is transforming. “With climate change we often get better weather in the mountainous regions than the coast, especially in the shoulder seasons,” says our cycling tour specialist Marlene Smith when we chatted with her about Spain and climate change.
The sunnier, milder weather might be considered ‘better’ by tourists, but it’s a disturbing trend for local people who know that this isn’t the norm. In many places, the speed of change is outstripping the ability of harvests, wildlife and people to adapt.
As our article on climate change in Greece explains, change is especially challenging in rural areas. Our holidays are happily connected with local communities, from bakeries for breakfast rolls to activity centres that take you white-water rafting. For many itineraries to exist, tavernas, ferries and bike rental shops also need to open to support incoming guests – so it depends on all businesses to shift together.
That said, our Europe specialists are mainly small, locally based enterprises – mountain B&Bs and villa yoga retreats – so they can often still adapt more quickly than behemoth multinational companies. In some regions, you’ll find increasing holiday choice in spring as our activity tours siesta for the sizzling summer months and increase their spring departure dates.
That said, our Europe specialists are mainly small, locally based enterprises – mountain B&Bs and villa yoga retreats – so they can often still adapt more quickly than behemoth multinational companies. In some regions, you’ll find increasing holiday choice in spring as our activity tours siesta for the sizzling summer months and increase their spring departure dates.
Our travellers also ask…
Is spring a good time to visit Europe?
We might have played our hand early here, but yes – we think spring is a brilliant time to visit Europe. The temperatures are warming up and the wildlife and wildflowers are waking up. Spring is also great for visiting popular spots without suffering – or contributing to – the overcrowding that can occur in popular summer spots like Barcelona and Majorca in the peak summer months.
Where in Europe is it warm in spring?
The warmest regions of Europe are in the south, around the Mediterranean and just north of the African coast. That includes the Canary Islands, the Algarve and Andalucia, southern Turkey, and islands like Cyprus, Malta, Crete and Sicily.
When is spring break in Europe?
Forget beer-chugging college students. Spring break is a more literal affair in Europe, when all schools and universities have a two-week break over Easter. It’s busy in places, but not as busy as summer, so it’s a great time for a family holiday. Easter is a changeable feast, so keep an eye on the calendar, but it’s always in March or April.
What is the best spring skiing in Europe?
Finland. Ski-worthy snow sticks around for April – and even till early May – making it one of the longest ski seasons in Europe. The longer, lighter days of spring increase the chance of bluebird days, when you’ll be gliding around in the sunshine. Plus, being so far north, many ski areas can reduce their use of environmentally damaging ski cannons, relying more on snow fences – and a local love for traditional cross country skiing.
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