10 reasons why spring is the best time to visit Europe

Spring’s 55-70 F days are made for wandering, with cobblestone streets, craft markets, and castle courtyards staying comfortable from morning to night. Book a spring departure of our Highlights of England, Scotland & Ireland tour to experience the grandeur of Big Ben, Edinburgh Castle, and the Cliffs of Moher without a glistening brow.

Check out three packing tips for spring travel that will help keep you comfy.

In spring, Europe blooms. Tulip fields take over the Netherlands and wildflowers blanket Alpine foothills (that’s just one reason why Switzerland is an excellent choice if you’re wondering where to travel in April). Gardens, valleys, and hillside villages take on a saturated, just-painted look, which you’ll see firsthand on a springtime departure of our Germany, Switzerland & Austria tour.

Spring falls in that sweet spot before Europe’s busiest months arrive. Landmarks that see hour-long lines in July welcome you with a shorter wait (though, with us, you can often skip the line) and a little more elbow room. Restaurants have open tables. Museums have breathing space. You get to savor a place instead of just surviving it. Take our A Week in Italy: Venice, Florence & Rome tour in the spring to see what we mean.

Interested in the Eternal City? Discover an additional four reasons to visit Rome in the spring.

Spring calendars across Europe fill with festivals that spotlight local food, music, and culture. They’re the real rhythm of the place, and spring travelers get a front-row seat to it. Book our A Week in Ireland: Dublin, Cork & Galway tour in the spring and you might spend free time experiencing St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Dublin, the Galway Theater Festival, and Cork’s International Choral Festival.

As the days stretch later into evening, spring hands you extra hours of shade-shifting light for every stop on the itinerary. On a springtime departure of our Iceland: Reykjavik & the Northern Lights tour, the season’s longer daylight means you rarely feel rushed to fit in evening strolls, lingering dinners, or one more photo before dark. (Once darkness does fall, the northern lights might just dance into view.)

Spring sits in Europe’s shoulder season, which often means better rates and more availability than the summer rush. That flexibility can translate to a nicer hotel room, a sold-out excursion that’s suddenly open, or simply more choices as you plan. Opt for our Barcelona, Southern France & the Italian Riviera tour in the spring to experience a trio of perennial summer favorites at more wallet-friendly prices.

Across Europe, spring menus arrive with the season’s first asparagus, artichokes, and strawberries. Vineyards wake up from winter dormancy, with bright green color and tiny fruit buds washing over the hillsides. Outdoor markets and seasonal stalls re-emerge, but summer crowds have yet to descend, so you’ll still have plenty of room to wander from one to the next. It’s a delicious moment to eat and drink your way through Italy on our Food & Wine of Italy: Tuscany & Umbria tour.

New to Europe? Spring is a gentle place to start. Comfortable weather, manageable crowds, and easier logistics of going guided take the edge off a first trip, so you can focus on soaking in the cities and culture instead of managing and planning. The perfect pairing for spring: our London, Paris & Rome tour.

Take yourself on our The Greek Islands: Mykonos, Santorini & Crete tour in spring and you’ll feel these islands and their coastal towns waking up. The season is warm enough to enjoy, yet still quiet enough to feel like your own discovery. Plus, you get whitewashed lanes and turquoise water without August’s crowds or prices.

Check our season-by-season guide to Greece for even more tips about visiting the country.

Soft, low-angled light and blooming color make spring a photographer’s dream season. Fewer crowds mean cleaner shots of landmarks, and blossoms add a burst of color and texture to every frame you take home. Capture candy-colored homes, cobblestone streets, and charming waterfronts on our Scandinavia: The Capitals & Fjords tour.

Get ready to be dazzled! Save your favorite spring tours to your wish list in your online account or on our app, and book early. Shoulder-season spots fill up fast once travelers catch on.