Which easy spring getaway is perfect for you?

Perfect for you if you love… history and culture

Sightseeing: In spring, fewer crowds mean easier access to historic sites such as the old walls and the Gothic Rector’s Palace in Dubrovnik or the imposing Diocletian’s Palace in Split.

Culture: Easter processions and local festivals abound around the country, revealing Croatia’s deep cultural spirit. In Hvar, the centuries old ‘Following the Cross’ ceremony on Maundy Thursday fills the night with hymns, while in the capital Zagreb, the Festival of Lights marks the beginning of spring with artistic light installations, projections and interactive displays across the city.

Saint Lawrence Monastery garden in Sibenik, Croatia

Food and drink: Around Easter, Croatian bakeries stock sweet pinca bread flavoured with citrus peel and with a cross-shaped incision on top, while markets overflow with wild asparagus, artichokes, and tender lamb, often paired with crisp local wines from Istria or Dalmatia. In seaside tavernas, you’ll find the first anchovies of the season, grilled simply with olive oil and lemon.

Glorious nature: Beaches in the port city of Makarska and on the island of Korčula are perfect for sunbathing as temperatures rise, while beautiful green spaces like Mljet National Park and Plitvice Lakes offer tranquil escapes ideal for picnics and spring strolls.

Weather – average temp

Jan: coastal: 5-11C; inland: 0-7C

Feb: coastal: 5-11C; inland: 0-7C

March: coastal: 12-15C; inland: 4-10C

April: coastal: 12-18C; inland: 12-18C

Flight time – London to Dubrovnik: 2h 45m

Hotel Park Makarska

Jewels of Croatia

Croatian Island Explorer

Perfect for you if you love… gastronomy

Food and drink: This is the best time to browse Spanish markets, brimming with seasonal ingredients from tender artichokes to cherries, broad beans and fresh sardines. Around Easter, traditional dishes appear, such as torrijas (similar to French toast, drizzled with honey) and potaje de vigilia, a hearty cod and chickpea stew. Enjoy local rosé and young red wines with tapas on sunlit plazas – try a food and wine special interest holiday for a truly in depth experience.

Culture: Spring heralds Spain’s most spectacular festivals: Semana Santa (Holy Week) fills Andalusian cities with solemn processions, incense and candlelight, while Seville’s exuberant Feria de Abril follows with flamenco, horses, and endless dancing. Don’t miss Las Fallas in Valencia, a festival of fire and art, where giant, satirical ‘fallas’ sculptures are paraded through the streets before being set alight.

Calella de Palafrugell, Costa Brava

Sightseeing: The milder weather makes exploring the big cities more bearable, from Barcelona’s beautiful architecture – don’t miss the Sagrada Familia Cathedral or Park Güell – to the blooming gardens of the Alhambra in Granada, and Seville’s stunning Royal Palace.

Glorious nature: Check out the Costa Brava, a wild and rugged stretch of coastline in Catalonia. Alternatively, the Costa del Sol is a classic sunny spot, which is more pleasant before the summer crowds arrive. Madrid’s beautiful El Retiro Park is a lovely place to soak up the spring sunshine. Special interest walking and birdwatching holidays are perfect if you want to take your hobby further.

Weather – average temp: Jan: 6-14C

Feb: 6-14C

March: 11-19C

April: 11-19C

Flight time – London to Barcelona: 2h 10m

Hotel Port Denia

DWO Sirius

Jewels of Spain

Perfect for you if you love… colourful festivals

Culture: Easter celebrations take centre stage, with candlelit processions in Braga during Holy Week, and rustic festivities in rural villages. Funchal (the capital of Madeira) hosts its famous Festa de Flor, or Flower Festival, every spring, with explosions of colour and floral art across the island. Cherry blossoms spring up throughout the Douro valley, and there’s also a festival devoted to cherries in Resende in May.

Sightseeing: Take advantage of fewer crowds to visit the Disney-like, primary-coloured palaces of Sintra, stroll through the historic streets of Porto and tour the port wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, or visit the beautiful Douro valley.

Santana, Madeira

Glorious nature: The unspoiled beaches of Comporta on the Alentejo coast or the buzzier stretches of sand in the Algarve offer perfect opportunities for topping up your vitamin D.

Food and drink: Spring ushers in Portugal’s most comforting flavours. Put aside (temporarily) the pastel de nata for folar, a sweet bread often baked with eggs. Families will gather for roast lamb, goat or salted cod – bacalhau – at Easter, best enjoyed with local wines such as Vinho Verde or a crisp Douro white. Pão de Ló is a delicious light sponge cake which signals spring’s arrival.

Useful information:

Weather – average temp: Jan: 7-15C

Feb: 8-16C

March: 9-18C

April: 11-20C

Flight time - London to Lisbon: 2h 50m

Hotel Vila Gale Atlantico

Patio Suites Hotel

Taste of the Douro Valley

Grand Designs of Portugal

Perfect for you if you love… the sea, culture and history

Glorious nature: The warm spring temperatures make beaches beckon. Fig Tree Bay, in Protaras, and Konnos, part of the Cape Greco National Forest Park, feature stunning scenery and crystal clear waters, while Coral Bay, north of Paphos, offers golden sands and family-friendly activities, and Lara Beach, on the Akamas Peninsula, is the perfect place for a more secluded experience. Check out Governor’s Beach, near Limassol, for its unique rock formations.

Food and drink: Easter brings Cyprus’s most beloved flavours: tender roast lamb, flaounes (cheese-filled pastries, sometimes filled with raisins), and sweet tsoureki bread flavoured with mastic and orange zest.

Aphrodite's rock, Cyprus

Culture: The best spring festivals in Cyprus include the Anthestiria (flower) festival with its colorful parades – celebrated in towns from Limassol to Larnaca – the Rose Festival in Agros, and the Strawberry Festival in Deryneia. 

Sightseeing: Enjoy hiking amid the almond blossoms in the Troodos Mountains, wandering Paphos’s archaeological sites – you could even try a special interest archaeology holiday - or exploring the divided capital of Nicosia.

Useful information:

Weather – average temp: Jan: 8-15C

Feb: 8-16C

March: 9-19C

April: 13-22C

Flight time - London to Larnaca: 4h 35m

Northern Cyprus: History in the Present

Coral Beach Hotel Resort

Alexander the Great Beach Hotel

Special interest holidays

Perfect for you if you love… a variety of sights from history to nature

Sightseeing: There is so much to see in the island’s capital, Valletta, from the ornate, gilded St John’s Co-Cathedral to the manicured Upper Barrakka Gardens. Take a boat trip around the sea caverns of the Blue Grotto or have lunch in the charming fishing village of Marsaxlokk.

Food and drink: Around Easter, locals prepare figolli, almond-filled pastries shaped like hearts or stars, or zeppoli, fried dough balls covered in powdered sugar. Markets brim with fresh artichokes – served grilled, braised or roasted – broad beans, and sweet, juicy strawberries, plus traditional dishes like Stuffat tal-Fenek (rabbit stew) and Lampuki (fish) pie showcase rustic island cooking, best enjoyed with a glass of local Girgentina white wine or a crisp Cisk beer overlooking the sea. A special interest food and drink holiday can really give you the inside track on Maltese cuisine.

Lower Barrakka public garden and the monument to Alexander Ball, Valletta, Malta

Culture: For music lovers, the Malta Spring Festival is held in late April, featuring classical and contemporary concerts in historic venues, while the International Fireworks Festival lights up the Grand Harbour and showcases the country’s tradition of firework-making.

Glorious nature: The spring sunshine makes being outdoors a joy, from wandering Mdina’s quiet lanes to basking on Golden Bay, exploring Gozo’s dramatic coastlines, or simply soaking up the warmth from a seaside café terrace.

Weather – average temp: Jan: 10-15C

Feb: 9-15C

March: 10-17C

April: 12-19C

Flight time - London to Malta: 3h 10m

AX ODYCY

Historic Gems of Malta

Food and Wine in Malta

Perfect for you if you love… stepping back in time

Sightseeing: Historic sights are plentiful throughout Turkey, from the ancient city of Ephesus, which features remnants of mosaics, temples and public baths, to Istanbul’s striking Hagia Sophia, a former Christian church turned mosque. Topkapi Palace was the main residence of the Ottoman sultans, while the eerie underground cities of Cappadocia showcase how people used to live.

Glorious nature: Southern, coastal regions are warmer in spring; from Bodrum to Oludeniz, Patara to Antalya, you’ll find numerous stretches of golden sand to enjoy.

Hadrian's Gate, Antalya, Turkey

Food and drink: Turkey’s spring cuisine celebrates freshness and abundance. Coastal restaurants serve the first anchovies and sea bass of the season, while traditional dishes like enginar dolması (stuffed artichokes) and lamb with spring vegetables pair perfectly with glasses of crisp rakı or fragrant Turkish tea. Around Ramadan, festive evening meals – iftar – bring families together over honey-drenched pastries and spiced meats.

Culture: Hıdırellez is the spring festival celebrated across Turkey, marking the end of winter with rituals such as bonfires, dancing and singing. In April, check out the Istanbul Tulip Festival, when millions of blooms transform parks into vibrant spaces. The city capitalises on culture too, with the International Film Festival. Adana holds a fragrant Orange Blossom Carnival, and you’ll also find the International Flower Festival in Bayındır.

Weather – average temp:

Jan: Istanbul: 3-9C; Antalya: 5-15C

Feb: Istanbul: 3-9C; Antalya: 5-15C

March: Istanbul: 6-12C; Antalya: 7-18C

April: Istanbul: 9-16C; Antalya: 13-21C

Flight times - London to Istanbul: 3h 50m; to Antalya: 4h15m

Ultimate Turkey: Istanbul to Cappadocia

Discover our range of spring holidays in Europe and beyond.