Spring destinations in Europe
Singapore may be blessed with summer all year long, but that also means we miss out on the other 3 seasons. Aside from a wintery escape to Canada or Switzerland, there’s always the option to go on a spring retreat in Europe too.
Frolic in colourful flower fields, stroll along orange-scented streets, or join a city-wide tulip festival – the options are endless. For all you spring-lovers out there, we’ve gathered a list of spring destinations in Europe you can check out for your next holiday.
1. Castelluccio, Italy – Giant field of colourful wildflowers
Image adapted from: @un_pugliese_a_spasso via Instagram
Just a 3-hour train ride from Rome is Castelluccio, a wildflower haven. This picturesque location is part of the famed Piano Grande, a huge plain that’s found beneath the Sibillini Mountains.
Blooming season typically happens between May and July. Most of the flowers here are planted by local farmers, and you can expect to see poppies, daisies, violets, and cornflowers of various colours. Trust me, there’s no need to bump up the saturation for the pictures taken here as there are bursts of colours everywhere.
Getting there: Take a flight to Rome Fiumicino Airport, then take a 3-hour train ride to Castelluccio.
2. Amsterdam, Netherlands – Annual city-wide tulip festival
The Keukenhof Garden.
Image adapted from: @be_liv_in & @0xtheh via Instagram
Think of the Netherlands and tulips probably come to mind. And that’s exactly what you can expect at Amsterdam during late March to early May. For one, you can attend the Amsterdam Tulip Festival taking place from 21st March to 12th May 2024. There’ll be over 880,000 tulips planted around 85 locations, and you can download the online map to OTOT tour the festival.
We recommend dropping by Bloemenmarkt too, a floating flower market where you can get gorgeous blooms. Or, visit the Keukenhof Garden, one of the world’s largest flower gardens with around 7 million flower bulbs planted annually. The place will be open from 21st March to 12th May 2024, and tickets go from €20/adult (~S$29.30) and €9/child (~S$13.19).
Getting there: Take a direct flight to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Keukenhof Garden on Google Maps
3. Paris, France – Cherry blossom park with free admission
Image credit: @paris_shuffle via Instagram
Japan isn’t the only destination where you can catch cherry blossoms. Considered one of the largest parks in Paris, the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont has rows and rows of cherry blossoms that bloom in March and April.
Visitors have also seen wild parrots chilling in the trees too, so don’t forget to look between the branches for these birbs. Then, walk up to the Temple de la Sybille for a mesmerising view of the city. By the way, entry to the park is free!
Getting there: Take a flight to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Take the metro to the Botzaris station, and walk 5 minutes to the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont.
Parc des Buttes-Chaumont on Google Maps
4. Solcava Panoramic Road, Slovenia – 21-km nature road trip
Image adapted from: @mare_loves_to_explore & @miladacul via Instagram
The Solcava Panoramic Road needs no introduction. It’s a 21-km long path with over 20 scenic points, including one where you can peer out at the shining lake Zgornje Jezersko. The entirety of the road can be covered in 1 day if you’re driving, and you’ll get to see rare flowers like the Zois’ violets and short-haired sandworts that are endemic to Slovenia.
If you don’t have a driving licence, you can stay in the city too. The Volčji Potok Arboretum garden is a brilliant place to swing by as it is home to over 3,500 different species of plants. But hey, you can also jio a friend who has a drivers licence so you get to experience the scenic road trip as well.
Getting there: Take an indirect flight to Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport – layovers are available in countries such as Istanbul, Paris, and Amsterdam.
Solcava Panoramic Road on Google Maps
5. Istanbul, Türkiye – Free flower festival with hyacinths & pansies
Image adapted from: @mehri_gutlyeva & @cigdem.yildirim.144 via Instagram
Istanbul is known for its beautiful infrastructure, but its nature scene shouldn’t be discounted either. Plan your trip during April and May as that’s when flowers are in full bloom. It’s also when the beautiful spring flowers are out at the Taksim Square.
While you’re there, consider joining the Istanbul Tulip Festival at Emirgan Tulip Gardens – it’s slated to happen from 1st-30th April 2024 and will feature flowers including tulips, grape hyacinths, pansies, and roses. But if your travels don’t fall in April, you can always plan a trip to places such as Gülhane Park and Sultanahmet Square that have a tonne of radiant blooms.
Getting there: Take a direct flight to Istanbul Airport.
Emirgan Tulip Gardens on Google Maps
6. Valencia, Spain – Festival with whimsical caricature-style statues
The festival comes alive with firecrackers and bonfires.
Image credit: Freepik
We’re all about the gorgeous flowers blooming in spring. But for something more unique, and some might even say odd, check out the Las Fallas Festival in Valencia.
The festival takes place every 15th-19th March, where larger-than-life wooden statues parade down the streets. These statues usually adopt a caricature-style, and are meticulously crafted by local artists. But lo and behold, once the parade is over, these statues are set on fire and burnt to ashes – signifying the start of spring.
Getting there: Take an indirect flight to Valencia Airport – layovers are available in countries such as Istanbul, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam.
7. Lake Constance, Germany – Unblocked lake views
Visit between May and July to see the sea of flowers.
Image credit: @micha_vom_see_ via Instagram
Lake Constance is the place for charming lake views. It borders between Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and you can get here from Munich via a 2.5-hour car ride.
The lake is connected to the famed Rhine river and considered one of the largest freshwater lakes in Central Europe. The crystal blue water isn’t the only attraction here; there are countless wildflowers blooming by the lake too.
Getting there: Take a flight to Munich International Airport, then take the train to Konstanz station.
8. Athens, Greece – Lined with fragrant orange trees
Image adapted from: @aldanahdougherty & @jeszenszkyekutaznak via Instagram
Wander around Athens and you’ll notice a pleasant smell – it’s actually the tangy scent from the orange trees that line the streets of Athens. These fruit trees can be found everywhere; at residential buildings, in the middle of pavements, and along the roads.
April to May is when you’ll see the round orange fruit hanging from the trees. While the rules of fruit-picking aren’t strictly enforced, locals will advise against eating these oranges as they’re actually pretty bitter. Nonetheless, they give off a sweet citrusy fragrance and the trees make for beautiful backdrops for your Instagram photos.
Getting there: Take a direct flight to Athens International Airport.
Safeguard your Euro travels against unforeseen hiccups
For the uninitiated, spring season in Europe typically falls between March to June. And while the weather during this period is lovely – not too cold, and not too warm – most tourists tend to travel to Europe during summer or winter instead since there are longer holidays then.
Image credit: Felix Young via Pexels
Considering that trips to Europe can be pretty pricey, taking advantage of the lower flight and accommodation prices and travelling during springtime is a great way to save costs. And if you’re already starting to bookmark these places, be sure to pair your flight tickets with Singlife Travel Insurance.
I know, it’s absolutely tragic when our holidays get cancelled – either by choice or because of unforeseen circumstances. You’re unable to recover the costs of your plane tickets, you lose your accommodation deposits, and your break from life is taken away.
While most insurers cover for trip cancellation based only on a list of insured events, Singlife Travel Insurance goes the extra mile covering trip cancellation costs for any reason*. For instance, when your leave is not approved or if your pet is sick.
*Applicable only for Travel Plus and Prestige plans. T&Cs apply.
The dreadful coco virus is still spreading, and the last thing we want on our vacation is to fall sick. Thankfully, all Singlife Travel Insurance plans have default Covid-19 coverage. For greater peace of mind, check out their Prestige plan which comes with unlimited medical coverage.
Another unique option that the Singlife Travel Insurance offers is the Rainfall Protection^. It allows you to get a payout of up to S$150. And while springtime isn’t the monsoon season, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. Your mom will definitely agree with us.
^Applicable only for single trip plans.
If you’ve already planned out your 2024 holidays, good news. You can get 25% off Singlife Travel Insurance from now till 31st December 2023 using the promo code <TRAVEL25> for single trip plans, and <ANNUAL25> for annual plans. And if you’re a MINDEF or MHA member, you’ll also score an additional 30% off. That adds up to a whopping 48% in savings!
Go ahead and start planning for your springtime vacay in Europe; but don’t fail to plan for unfortunate circumstances whereby your holiday is called off. Do yourself a favour and purchase the Singlife Travel Insurance so you can plan with confidence.
Learn more about the Singlife Travel Insurance
This post was brought to you by Singlife.
Photography by Liu Xing Ying.
Cover image adapted from: @paris_shuffle, @be_liv_in & @miladacul via Instagram
This policy is underwritten by Singapore Life Ltd (“Singlife”). TheSmartLocal is not an insurance agent/intermediary and cannot solicit any insurance business, give advice, recommend any product or arrange any insurance contract. Please direct all enquiries to Singlife.
This material is published for general information only. This material is not an insurance contract. Full details of the standard terms and conditions of these policies can be found in the relevant policy contracts. Protected up to specified limits by SDIC.
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