The Best Places to Visit in Spring

Our Top Destinations for a Spring Break

When winter starts to wind down and the promise of warmer temperatures is just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about traveling in the spring. Many of Europe’s best destinations, including France and Italy, are beautiful this time of year and offer perks like pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds at popular attractions. And places like Costa Rica and Egypt are absolutely gorgeous in the spring. Let’s look at our favorite destinations for a little ‘spring break.’

Italy Spring Travel

Italy can become quite crowded in the summer tourism season. With so many incredible must-see destinations, you could spend an entire week just in Rome across the country; traveling in spring saves you precious time waiting in lines. The weather is pretty much perfect in Italy in the spring. Not too hot, but warm enough to enjoy the sun.

Tours of the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy

Venice in the Spring

You’ll also enjoy Venice more due to the moderate temperatures (the city’s canals, while undeniably beautiful, can acquire an unpleasant odor when summer temperatures soar). You’ll also find that the country is simply filled with life. From the blooming wildflowers to the return of spring fashions, there is a lively buzz in Italy in spring.

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Croatia Spring Travel

Maybe it’s not one of the first destinations that come to mind when you daydream about Europe, but we think it should be. The weather in Croatia is at its best between April and September, and the spring rains have all but dried up by early May. While the waters are still too cold for swimming, the sun is warm enough to be without a coat most days, making for empty beaches just as beautiful in the spring as in the crowded summer.

Walkway in Plitvice National Park, Croatia

Plitvice Lakes in the Spring

This is also a prime time to visit Plitvice Lakes, one of Europe’s oldest and most unforgettable national parks. A can’t-miss highlight is the park’s winding boardwalk trail – offering travelers a chance to “walk on water” in one of Croatia’s most beautiful settings.

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Costa Rica Spring Travel

Spring may just be the ideal time to visit Costa Rica. Not yet hot and humid and coming off of the drier, cooler winter season- this lush landscape may be at its finest in spring. Framed by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east, Costa Rica presents a thick, green jungle environment in the shadow of the iconic Arenal Volcano.

Costa Rica Eco Trips in Spring

The smoky volcanic summits around the country aren’t the only thing competing for your attention. In addition to the white sand beaches and emerald-colored waters of Guanacaste Beach, Costa Rica also plays home to one of the world's most diverse flora, fauna, and wildlife populations. Plan a visit to the Monteverde Cloud Forest or Tortuguero National Park to seek out things you may never have the opportunity to see again.

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France Spring Travel

Paris in the Spring

The city of lights comes alive with the changing seasons. As florals bloom and lovers emerge from their Parisian flats, it’s the ideal time to explore this paradise. Wildflower blooms peak from March through May, leaving much of the country covered in color. Local markets open for the season, offering fresh produce and a taste of France’s regional cuisines.

So what areas are best to visit? When it comes to France in spring, you can’t go wrong. Our favorite places include Paris, Normandy, the Loire Valley, Provence, and the popular French Riviera. It’s warm enough to enjoy the sun on the beaches of Marseille or a delicious meal al fresco.

Provence, France in Spring

You’ll get to see the sweeping lavender fields, lush vineyards, pine forests, and olive groves of Provence.

Discover hilltop villages like Gordes and Ménerbes in the Luberon mountains, explore the medieval Palais des Papes in Avignon, and lounge in the glamorous coastal towns of Cannes and Saint-Tropez along the Côte d’Azur. From late June, take a drive to the Dordogne region, where you’ll see rolling hillsides of blooming sunflowers – a stunning ode to spring.

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Aix-en-Provence in Spring

It might be a student town, but this place has a certain je ne sais quoi. It’s a chic, classy area with cobbled streets and boulevards to make you swoon.

Arles in Spring

Step into the sun in Arles, a sun-soaked village known for inspiring master painter Vincent VanGough. He so loved Arles that its vistas appear across more than 200 unique paintings by the artist. There is also a stellar Saturday market here worthy of getting lost inside!

Carcassone in Spring

This hilltop fortress town is the stuff of medieval fantasy. With watchtowers and double-walled facades, this UNESCO World Heritage Centre is off the beach trail and worth every step.

Boats docked at Cannes, French Riviera, France

The French Riviera in Spring

The French Riviera is simply stunning in Spring. Flowers bloom, the sun is warm, and the packed tourist season hasn’t yet begun. Experts say that locals are at their friendliest this time of year, fresh off a several-month break from the large, sun-seeking crowds. Spend your days on the water, in the water, or, if you’re feeling adventurous, plan your trip around one of the French Riviera’s many springtime festivals.

Nice in Spring

Known for an enchanting promenade along the Mediterranean, you can’t beat the sunbathing and beaches of Nice.

Monaco in Spring

Monaco offers famed gambling to put even Las Vegas to shame, just a short jaunt from the traditionally thought of French Riviera towns. Dress to impress here, as you’ll likely stick out if you don’t!

Portugal Spring Travel

Spring in Portugal means clear skies, pleasant temperatures, and fragrant wildflowers blanketing the countryside. Nature comes to life in Portugal in the spring and in the seaside capital of Porto, where locals happily venture out after the rainy winter season.

River cruise ship in Douro River Valley, Portugal

This is a great time to plan your trip; fewer crowds of tourists mean easier access to museums and top attractions and more opportunities to engage with the locals. There are also many options when it comes to exploring; whether you’re interested in sampling regional wines on a luxury river cruise of the Douro or admiring the lovely floral-covered homes of Obidos on a guided tour, you’re sure to find a trip that meets your interests.

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Egypt Spring Travel

Cruising the Nile

Take on one of the world's great rivers in spring and set sail down the mighty Nile. Opting for a Nile river cruise is a simple way to get a big bang for your buck since it’s one of the only truly all-inclusive vacation options. One price covers your room, board, drinks, and experiences.

Tour director with two guests at pillars, Egypt

Uniworld River Cruises along the Nile are the way to go. Many of these routes get you up close and personal to leading world destinations along the Nile including Egypt’s Giza Pyramids, the Sphynx, and the Luxor. With a river cruise, you get many destinations, without having to pack, unpack, and repack multiple times.

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Spain Spring Travel

Like the other countries we’ve mentioned, Spain enjoys comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds from March to June. In the north, you can enjoy a delightful Mediterranean breeze while exploring the cosmopolitan capital of Barcelona, as well is easier access to popular highlights such as the Sagrada Familia Church, Park Guell, and Las Ramblas Boulevard.

A few hours south, Valencia bustles with flamenco dancers and live music. And Andalucía’s Costa Del Sol lives up to its name as the “Sunny Coast.” If you’re thinking of visiting Spain on a guided tour, we think you’ll find that spring is a great time to travel.

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Netherlands Spring Travel

Keukenhof Gardens, Tulips, and Holland in Spring

For us, Holland in spring conjures up images of tulips and windmills. Rural landscapes overflow with vibrant colors, rivaling anything else you’ll see across Europe. One of the best ways to experience tulip season in the Netherlands is on a river cruise of Holland and Belgium, which showcases the awe-inspiring fields that inspired the paintings of Van Gogh and other artists (just be sure to plan ahead. These trips sell out far in advance).

Amsterdam Tulip Festival in Keukenhof Gardens, the Netherlands

Visiting Holland at Tulip Time

Be sure not to miss the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens. Of course, there is more to do than enjoy tulips. In Amsterdam, you can enjoy a bike ride, a favorite pastime in the Netherlands, sample Dutch cuisine, and explore the city’s waterways, art museums, and quintessential architecture.

Netherlands Vacations

Apart from being in full bloom, spring makes Holland a great destination due to the weather. With cool, brisk temperatures in the upper 50s to lower 60s and sunny days, getting outside is a real treat. You’ll also enjoy the annual King’s Day festival if you travel in April. Complete with music, street food, and traditional dance, there is nothing better to complete your immersive spring experience in The Netherlands.

Springtime in Holland has the fields looking like they’ve been touched by an artist’s brush. Quite literally striped in color, it feels impossible to look upon these fields and not feel small in their vastness. Taking time to navigate the fields can sometimes be cumbersome on your own. Why not take a guided vacation then?

Spring in The Netherlands