Oh, that beautiful time of the year is here once again: Spring! The time when the whole world comes back to life and together with it the urge for travel becomes even more urgent and we start looking for the best Europe spring break destinations.
Flowers are in bloom, the sun is up on the sky and we can’t help but mumble around like busy little bees, gathering all the new information we could get in order to make our lives more beautiful and full.
Spring is my favorite time of the year, I love it because the weather is just perfect, not too cold but not too hot either; you can hear the birds singing in trees and wake up to admire the green buds coming to life, forests waking up after the long cold winter (in most of the places at least).
Here is some food for thought for when you get that deep vivid travel rush and you want to choose the perfect Europe Spring break destinations to explore.
Vienna
Discover the city on foot, strolling around the gorgeous streets and gardens you will find at every step of the way or better yet have a romantic horse-drawn carriage trip.
Get lost in the labyrinth at Schönbrunn and take a ton of pictures at the Gloriette building, have a crazy fun night at Prater, fall in love with the Belvedere Palace, go on top of St. Stephen’s Cathedral and admire the city from above. These are just a few things not to miss when you visit Vienna.
Or choose the Danube Tower for that where you can sit back and sip a glass of wine while the tower spins round and round offering you a 360-degree view of the surroundings.
And yes, get stuffed up with apfelstrudel with vanilla syrup and a good and tasty winner cappuccino.
Read all about the perfect 2 days in Vienna itinerary!
Trips you could take to Vienna
Explore Central Europe: Berlin, Vienna, Prague, and Budapest – 9 days of European history and bliss
The Best of Eastern Europe – 14 days through fairy tale towns: Berlin, Kraków, Prague, Český Krumlov, Vienna, Budapest
From Venice to Budapest – 10 days itinerary through Venice, Bled, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest
Valencia
Ay Ay Ay! Sangria y sol! And not only.
Valencia is such a vibrant and incredibly warm city, in not just one way. The narrow streets smelling indulgingly like all sorts of tapas encouraging you to stop by and try them together with a cold fruity sangria, the lovely sea with the wide sandy beach, the colorful buildings and the Sunday market where you can find a whole lot of bargains.
And don’t forget about the Flamenco shows where you will feel your blood boiling in your veins with passion, love, sadness and all other feelings a human can feel blending together in one hour of perfection.
Paris
I have visited Paris some years ago and even though I was lucky enough to go and see it in Spring (April to be more precise) I don’t know why but I wasn’t blown away.
The city still makes my list because well, I will give it another go (I must) since there is a whole lot of buzz around it and I have changed and grown since that time.
All the pretty pictures filling the internet with the cherries in bloom, perfect architecture, little terraces overlooking the streets make me want to reconnect with the French city.
Trips you could take to Paris
Highlights of France – 8 days from Paris to Nice.
Take a France & Italy adventure – 15 romantic days that will take you from Paris to Rome.
Bucharest
My hometown!
For such a long time I wasn’t such a big fan of this city because I felt it dark, sad, heavy.
But a lot of things have changed and the city has grown to be more beautiful and lively than it once was. Herastrau Park, Cismigiu Park, the Old City center, Primaverii area, and Dorobanti are only a few of the places that are worth for a Sunday stroll.
Read next: where to stay in Bucharest, what and where to eat, and how to spend the perfect day in Bucharest
You can also stop by and savor a great strong hipster coffee at one of the many coffee shops that are now available around town. The city makes for a perfect destination for a city break. Why don’t you give it a try?
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Trips you could take to Romania
Discover Central and Eastern Europe – 16 days that will get you from Berlin through Prague, Vienna, Český Krumlov, Budapest, Cluj, Sighisoara, Brasov, and Bucharest.
Halloween in Transilvania – spend 7 days and explore incredible underrated Romania.
Barcelona
If you have read this you already know I love this city.
It’s craziness, freshness, and a combination of different cultures and people from all over the world living freely and easily in one hot city on the Mediterranean Sea.
I haven’t come across one single person who did not like Barcelona and I still think it’s a universal destination no matter what you are in the search for relaxation, art, fun, history.
Trips you could take to Barcelona
Best of Southern Spain – see the picturesque South of Spain (Granada, Codoba, Seville) and have a glimpse of Barcelona in 8 days from Madrid to Barcelona
The rose and lavender fields of Bulgaria
Ok, this is not a city but it is something every person that is in love with beautiful landscapes and flowers should visit at least once in a lifetime.
If you might not know, Bulgaria has overtaken France in the past years as the world’s biggest producer of lavender oil, thus making the country filled with lavender plantations. I still haven’t been there but it is on my bucket list and I am planning to schedule the trip for next spring or early summer. I’ve managed to get there on 2 occasions and the fields are so beautiful and without the crowds, and a cheap travel option to Provence.
Timing is very important and you might have to schedule 2 trips if you want to see both roses and lavender in bloom since the harvesting time do not coincide: the rose festival and harvest is scheduled to take place from mid – May until mid- June, while lavender is in flower in June and July.
You can find fields in the Smyadovo County and also in the KAZANLAK area (some 1h30 from Veliko Tarnovo by car) you can also check this place out if you are interested in scheduling a trip.
Keukenhof Gardens
Even though the garden is open only for 8 weeks per year starting in the second part of March of every year, this is the Tulip Paradise and you should definitely need to schedule it ahead of time just to be sure not to miss it.
Imagine one full day of getting lost through the millions and millions of colorful tulips (most precisely 7 million bulbs) in the Dutch countryside. You can, of course, do that on your own and skip the crowds at Keukenhof, and explore the tulip fields near Amsterdam in a different way.
Usually, you can acquire a full day trip with everything included or you can make your own trip and pay only the entrance fee (16 Eur for adults). For more information about the park, fees, and scheduling a trip, enter here.
Budapest
I found this city to be even more romantic than Vienna or Paris, also maybe because I have visited it during a rainy Spring day some years ago and it has left a deep mark on my soul. I found the town just as lovely years later when I spent 3 days in Budapest on a colorful vibrant Autumn.
Watching the Parliament from the Fishermen’s Bastion while the rain was pouring, having a night boat trip on the Danube river in order to admire the beautifully lit buildings aligned alongside the river’s banks, tasting incredible hearty Hungarian food are only a few of the city’s attractions.
Also, don’t waste the occasion of getting lost on the streets and admire the stunning architecture and pay a visit to the marzipan museum.
Trips you could take to Budapest
Explore Central Europe: Berlin, Vienna, Prague, and Budapest – 9 days of European history and bliss
The Best of Eastern Europe – 14 days through fairy tale towns: Berlin, Kraków, Prague, Český Krumlov, Vienna, Budapest
From Venice to Budapest – 10 days itinerary through Venice, Bled, Salzburg, Vienna, Budapest
Prague
Oh, Prague! I have wanted to visit this city ever since I was a little girl and have seen a documentary on TV about it and have fallen in love with the picturesque brown buildings, the castle on the hill overlooking the city, the astronomical clock in the Old Town central square, the river slowly drifting below the Charles Bridge, the dancing building, and the toy museum.
And not to forget the hundreds of roses in bloom you will find if you have the curiosity of taking the funicular up the hill.
Later on, when I have actually reached this destination, I have found out that the city is the place to be if you are looking for cheap beer, absinthe, or a good night of fun.
Don’t be a stranger!
Trips you could take to Prague
Explore Central Europe: Berlin, Vienna, Prague, and Budapest – 9 days of European history and bliss
The Best of Eastern Europe – 14 days through fairy tale towns: Berlin, Kraków, Prague, Český Krumlov, Vienna, Budapest
Munich
Munich might not be the city you would think about in Spring because I know, everyone is linking it to Oktoberfest, but give it a try and trust me, you won’t regret it.
I have written about things to do in this lovely Bavarian city here and a great deal of these places can be visited also in other periods of the year.
Read next: where to stay in Munich
Enjoy Spring on the banks of the Isar river, relax in English Garden with a cold beer in hand and some salty pretzel, visit the Nymphenburg Palace and its gardens, climb St. Peter’s Church and admire the city from above or just take the train up to one of the many lakes around Munich.
Or simply stroll around and take some beautiful pictures, exploring both Munich’s most Instagrammable places and the most important tourist attractions in town.
PIN FOR LATER!
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So pleased you included some natural wonders in the list as well as city destinations. They all look wonderful though and you Europeans are really spoiled for choice! Happy travels. Mel
I sure feel lucky to be from Europe! There are so many choices only a 1-2 hour plane flight away. But it is worth it taking also a longer trip and seeing some of these amazing places.
This a great article, I love it. Not only because my hometown Vienna is on your list but also because you introduced me to new places. Bucharest has been on my list for some time now, your pictures look amazing!
Bucharest is such an underrated Europen destination! And these days it has really become a perfect town for a weekend getaway in Europe.
I love Europe in Spring when everything is coming alive and in full bloom. We went to Paris with our kids this year and had a wonderful time. Sicily and the Amalfi Coast are great too as not too crowded. Putting all your suggestions in the bank for next year!
Of course, Italy is always a great idea! I love going back especially during spring or fall, because as you said it, there are less crowds, the weather is perfect, and prices are not crazy 🙂