The 10 Best Destinations to Visit in Spring

Spring is a time of renewal, a season when the cold expanse of winter is left behind for something brighter, something a little more vibrant as nature begins to kickstart back into life.

Europe sees a fresh lick of paint brushed across its diverse landscapes, replacing the pure white blanket of snow and freezing conditions with lush green flora and pleasant temperatures. Additionally, fewer travellers visit, and plenty of festivals celebrate the beauty of the planet.

So, where are the best places to visit in the spring for a holiday in Europe?

Here are our Regent specialists’ recommendations.

1. Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

Best for: a short, cultured spring break

Puffins

The world almost seems to stop in Tórshavn during its spring season. The tiny capital based in the Faroe Islands receives fewer tourists at this time, leaving the old-town streets, colourful harbour and historic areas like Tinganes more explorable. Your eyes will light up at the sight of early-blooming wildflowers like crocuses, progressing to the vibrant yellows of the national flower, the buttercup (Sólja), across these sun-tinged lands.

Tórshavn harbour

To get the most out of Tórshavn in spring, our four-day short break gives you everything you need. Discover the vibrant Faroese culture through its museums, art galleries, cafés and restaurants, taking the time to feel what it’s truly like to be a local.

Plus, there are plenty of dramatic settings to soak in, including Fossá Waterfall, the tallest in the Faroe Islands, and most striking with its dark basalt walls contrasting the pure white of the water.

• Discover why the Faroe Islands are one of the best places to travel to with friends.

Plan this holiday

2. Copenhagen, Denmark

Best for: design-led city living and outdoor urban exploration

For us, Copenhagen is one of the best places to visit in the spring; partly, this is because locals re-emerge from their winter hibernation and partly thanks to the Danish capital’s mix of glittering, sun-filled canals and green, urban spaces – which are explorable in many ways!

You’ll likely see a multitude of people kayaking, paddleboarding and boating throughout the waterways. Similarly, biking is another exciting way to take in the sights and sounds of the city, with it being built for you to do so.

The modern architecture and culture on display mix perfectly with sustainable living, royal history and a mouthwatering restaurant scene, too. By taking our four-day summer break (which you can do in the spring), you have Copenhagen at your fingertips.

Explore the historic Nyhavn harbour lined with colourful buildings and lively cafés; go on a culinary journey from traditional Danish food to contemporary hotspots; and admire the Royal Palace and modern design of the Opera House. If you have time, we also recommend heading to Bispebjerg Cemetery to capture a picture-perfect shot of the cherry blossoms in full bloom hanging overhead.

3. Iceland

Best for: natural wonders, wildlife and dramatic spring landscapes

Early spring in Iceland offers a sweet spot between winter snows and summer crowds. Waterfalls are at full flow, daylight hours are rising and you still have a chance of spotting the bewitching Northern Lights! As you take to the purple lupin-blanketed coast, you’ll see everything from a circus of puffins huddled atop a cliff to seal colonies flopping on the shore.

An excellent way to experience spring in Iceland is through Reykjavík. We offer three-, four- and five-star city breaks, which explore the chilly capital’s host of highlights. In particular, walk around Tjornin Lake, enjoying the chirp of terns and the sight of ducks during breeding season.

You can also use this as a starting point to see the rest of the country.

Take a coach to the Golden Circle and South Iceland, dip in a hot springs spa or lagoon and go on a private Superjeep tour. A Superjeep tour is perfect for spring, allowing you to discover thundering waterfalls, powerful spouting geysers and vast, dramatic glaciers.

4. Rovaniemi, Lapland

Best for: late-season snow adventures and Arctic wildlife

Sledding through the Finnish Lapland snowy wilderness

When thinking of Rovaniemi, you picture pristine snow and nights lit up by bright lights. But spring in Lapland means crisp sunshine, excellent late-season snow conditions and quiet resorts. It’s a great period for snow-based activities, even without deep winter temperatures.

This is a time for nature’s rebirth. Hardy conifer trees pop with an explosion of soft greens from the sheet of white below and ice on the Ounasjoki and Kemijoki rivers gently melts away. If you’re lucky, you may see baby reindeer running about, even just a half hour after being born!

Reindeer in the spring

Spring starts here towards the late March-beginning of April period. So, you can enjoy the snow-based excursions on our four-day winter weekend break until 10^th April, including a husky sledging experience. As the happy-go-lucky hounds mush through the tundra, their tongues flailing and tails wagging, you get a marvellous moving view of the surrounding forest trails rushing past, with rays of light seeping through the trees as you go.

5. Bohinj, Slovenia 

Best for: peaceful alpine scenery and springtime hiking

Our five-day short break provides enough time to immerse yourself in these spellbinding sights. Sail across the lake on a panoramic boat ride, hear tales of the local area on a guided hiking tour to Mostnica canyon and Voje Valley and ride the Mt Vogel cable car 1500m into the Triglav National Park for the best views around.

View over Lake Bohinj from a cable car

And, while you’re in Bohinj, enjoy the International Wildflower Festival. Helleborus and other spring bloomers are on full display across botanical tours, events and culinary experiences.

More Wildflower Festivals

Belgrade, in Serbia, also hosts a wildflower festival in spring. Spring Flower Fair, which is held annually in Park Manjež, invites you to view and purchase everything from Lily of the Valley (the national flower) to perennial plants, bulbs, cactus and pottery of all shapes and vibrant colours.

6. Vilnius, Lithuania

Best for: green city escapes and relaxed cultural discovery

Spring evening in Vilnius

Nature is king in Vilnius, making it one of our favourite spring destinations in Europe. As the temperatures rise beautifully, a fresh coat of colours paints the parks shades of white, pink and green. You can enjoy a wonderful picnic or pleasant walk here before heading out for a cup of coffee, with Neris Embankment Café providing a splendid view of Gediminas Castle. Overall, the vibrant Lithuanian capital is an easy short break with a medieval old town at its heart.

Vilnius Old Town

All you need to experience these outdoor splendours is a five-day short break. This luxury itinerary mixes heritage and gastronomy with time to explore at your own pace.

Included is a sightseeing tour with a local, giving you a first-hand guide to the history of the University of Vilnius and Cathedral Square before ending at Halės Market. You’ll also have time to see Trakai (Lithuania's famous island castle) and get out on the water with a gentle boat ride.

7. Romania

Best for: castles, folklore and blossoming countryside

Bran Castle

The deciduous forests awaken from their winter dormancy in Transylvania while the boulevards of Bucharest blossom with pink magnolias. Romania is a joy to explore during the spring, offering mild weather, lower prices and a rich mix of culture, castles and countryside.

Mărțișor is also celebrated at the start of the season. This folk tradition involves gift-giving, in which men present women with small trinkets adorned with white and red thread – colours associated with the love and warmth of summer and the purity and energy of winter.

Bear spotted in the Zărnești Bear Sanctuary

Your exploration can take you to all different corners of the country. With our four-day short break, for example, this could be Zărnești Bear Sanctuary to see the rescued beasts in their natural habitat. A trip to Brașov’s medieval streets and lively squares is also an excellent addition. Every spring, the castles stand like sentinels against a backdrop of the bright mountains and radiant trees, looking like it was ripped straight out of a watercolour painting.

8. Albania

Best for: culture-rich journeys and crowd-free coastal exploration

Coastal landscape over Albania

Spring is one of the best seasons to visit Albania: it’s sunny but comfortably so on the coast, scenic without the crowds and pleasant after the cold winter in the mountains. This gives you ideal conditions for exploring the Riviera, Berat, Gjirokastër or the Accursed Mountains. Everywhere you go, there’s a joyous atmosphere in the air, with dance and festivities abound.

Albanian culture

There are plenty of ways to experience Albania in the spring. Our five-day short break firstly takes you to the bustling Tirana, once a bustling Ottoman settlement and now, after having undergone a renaissance, a hotspot of chic boutiques, restored mosques and Turkish bazaars.

From here, venture down to Berat and admire the spectacular views of Mount Tomorri.

Lastly, you’ll stop in Kruja. The cultural heart of the country, this historic town is where you go to learn more about the country. Visit the Museum of Skanderbeg, dedicated to the national hero, and the fascinating Ethnographic Museum for insights into local traditions.

9. The Azores, Portugal

Best for: whale watching, volcanic landscapes and island adventure

Sete Cidades

Hydrangeas begin to bloom and you have excellent conditions for whale and dolphin watching in the Azores, making it one of the best places to visit in the spring. The water visibility is better, so you may capture that picture-perfect shot of a gentle giant as it breaches the surface.

Mild temperatures make São Miguel’s hot springs and crater lakes especially inviting during this time of year. The landscape of the ‘green island’ is packed with these natural features, which also include spectacularly high cliffs, miles of woodlands and flower-covered fields.

Blossoming spring flowers in the Azores

Just like São Miguel, there are eight other Portuguese islands here with their own distinct character. Our ten-day Explore the Azores Group Tour introduces you to four: São Miguel, Terceira, Faial and Pico, with plenty of time to see impressive fumaroles, tuck into traditional Azorean food and take a dip in black volcanic rock swimming pools. Visit the scenic Furnas lagoon and taste traditional cozido, an Azorean meal of meat and vegetables, before exploring the valley of Sete Cidades and enjoying a whale watching tour in Lajes do Pico. We can also tailor your trip to all nine islands, including Corvo, Flores, Graciosa, São Jorge and Santa Maria.

10. Tallinn, Estonia

Best for: medieval charm paired with nature escapes

Ariel view over Tallinn 

Strolling along the time-weathered cobbles of Tallinn is especially endearing in the spring, as you’re joined by blooming flowers, full trees and moss-covered, pastel-coloured buildings. The Estonian capital enjoys mild enough weather for staying out during the day, making the most of the far-reaching rooftop views, coastal walks and exploring its creative neighbourhoods. By the time you leave, you’ll be eager to return to do it all again.

Flowers growing in Tallinn during spring

For an in-depth route to the hidden gems of Estonia, our five-day city break and nature escape invites you to explore its medieval history before unwinding with a stay in the wilderness.

One highlight of Tallinn is Telliskivi, a bohemian district home to several creative spaces, boutiques and street art. Whereas with the second half of your adventure, you’ll disconnect from your busy life and discover the birdwatching paradise that is Matsalu National Park.

• See some more of the best places to visit in Tallinn.

Ready for a Spring Escape?

Ready to see Europe at its most beautiful? Let our Regent specialists craft your perfect escape with the best places to visit in the spring, from culture-rich capitals to wild, flower-filled landscapes. Get in touch today and start planning a journey shaped entirely around you.