The Best European Cities to Visit in Spring

Rome’s busiest tourist season is the summer, but savvy travellers would do well to arrive earlier in the year to make the most of their visit. Temperatures in Italy can soar to uncomfortable heights between June and August, while the masses of tourists leave hotspots and popular sights overcrowded, making it difficult to really enjoy them. Spring is a much better time to go to Rome, with flowers blooming throughout the city, temperatures nowhere near as oppressive and fewer people clogging up the Colosseum, Spanish Steps and pizza restaurants. What’s more, the lesser demands for hotels and flights make travelling a bit cheaper too, so grabbing that slice of la dolce vita is more affordable.

Similarly, Istanbul’s temperatures are much more pleasant during the Spring months, before the sweltering heat of the summer arrives, while culturally, Spring is a great time to visit the city too, with the Istanbul Film Festival held in April. Along with tourists, the stray cats that are almost a tourist attraction themselves begin to emerge in greater numbers, and make wandering through the streets a charming experience. Cafes begin to put their tables and chairs outdoors during the Spring months, so you’re free to sit back and watch the world go by, with a cup of Turkish coffee and a lahmacun, without the throngs of tourists adding to the bustle.

The difference between Dubrovnik in the shoulder seasons and the summer months is stark. It’s a small city with massive appeal, meaning that during the busy period, it’s completely packed out. However, arriving just a few weeks earlier will see prices drop, as well as the number of people clogging up its narrow labyrinthine streets. There’ll still be nice weather, great cevapi and stunning views across the city, but you’ll have a much less stressful visit.

While Spring is typically the beginning of the tourist season for most places in Europe, for Lapland, it’s the end of the busy period. Nevertheless, it’s still well worth a visit, with the Northern Lights still visible in the short evenings and plenty of fun to still be had in the snow. Husky sledding, reindeer experiences and ice fishing are all among the options still available to tourists during the Spring months, when people aren’t bringing their kids over to meet Santa in the run up to Christmas.

The Georgian capital is now more accessible than ever, with new direct flight routes linking the city to places like London and Zurich this year. What’s more, it’s one of the most underrated cities for food in the world, as well as being widely-regarded as the birthplace of wine. Once more, Spring visits will offer cheaper stays and fewer tourists, allowing visitors to really get to grips with Georgian culture and see why this place is fast becoming a hugely popular destination.

Nowhere celebrates the arrival of the sun more than the UK, with Brits bursting free from their homes and flooding the parks and beer gardens at any mere hint of a warm day. There’s good reason for that too, with London home to some fantastic parks, pubs and outdoor pools. Pack your swim suit, walk through Hampstead Heath and take a cooling dip in the ponds before heading around the corner to the Southampton Arms or the Pineapple in Kentish Town for a refreshing pint afterwards. The perfect way to welcome the Spring.

One of Amsterdam’s most famous sights is a natural Spring time wonder, with the tulip fields and displays in and around the city at their most vibrant from mid-April until mid-May. There’s also the cherry blossom in Bloesempark to enjoy, along with the rest of the city, which truly begins to get to its best in the warmer months, before the heat of the summer takes things a little too far.

The temperature in Vienna can almost double between the end of March and the beginning of May, rising sharply ahead of summer and creating the perfect weather to enjoy the many Easter markets and celebrations held throughout the city, with Austrian food on sale and Easter-themed activities on offer for youngsters. It’s not just tourists who begin to emerge during the Spring either, with the wild European hamsters, found most commonly in Vienna’s cemeteries, coming out to forage in the warmer months.

As one of Europe’s most affordable holiday destinations, Porto is hugely popular during the summer months. However, Spring is no less perfect for a visit, with the weather still warm and the accommodation, food and wine even more wallet-friendly. River cruises and walks along the Douro Valley are once again an option for visitors, while the Easter Procession (Procissões do Senhor Morto) is a popular celebration in the city, and throughout Portugal, involving big meals and the ringing of church bells, providing visitors with a unique insight into the local customs and culture.