Winter is on the way out, so why not celebrate by planning your spring holiday? Lower prices, no crowds and plenty of sunshine make spring the perfect time to get away for a break! Whether you want to go hiking in Crete, soak up the sun in Dubai, or chill out in Majorca, we’ve got the lowdown on all the best spring and Easter holiday destinations. Check out our list of the top 10 places for a spring holiday!
Majorca
The biggest of the Balearic Islands, Majorca is a wonderful destination for a spring holiday. There’s plenty of sunshine and temperatures range from the high teens in February to the mid-20s in May – perfect for enjoying long, lazy lunches by the sea. In February, almond blossom coats the orchards with a pink haze and, from March onwards, the countryside is green and full of wild flowers. It’s the perfect time to come if you enjoy hiking, cycling or golf – some of the most popular activities on the island. Popular resorts like Magaluf are quiet and blissfully uncrowded (they start gearing up for summer from Easter onwards), but you’ll still find plenty of shopping and nightlife in Palma, Majorca’s gorgeous capital city.
Crete
Crete is an outstanding hiking destination, and spring is a fantastic time to visit if you want to enjoy the beautiful trails in peace. Temperatures vary from the mid-teens in February to the mid-20s in May, and there’s plenty of glorious sunshine. The main resorts, such as Hersonissos, begin to get lively from Easter, but you could base yourself in enchanting Chania or Rethymnon if you want some nightlife. There won’t be any queuing for the main tourist sights, including the Minoan ruins at Knossos, which you can explore without the crowds.
Morocco
If you’re looking for some guaranteed sunshine on your spring holiday, then head to beautiful Morocco! Temperatures in February hover at a very pleasant 20°C, soaring to the high 20s in May. For complete relaxation, you could book yourself into a hotel with a pool and spa or wellness centre, and sit back and relax. If you’re into active holidays, you could go trekking in the Atlas Mountains, and if you want to soak up some local culture, head for sultry Marrakech, with its souks and dazzling street theatre.
Corfu
Lush and green, Corfu is a delight to explore in springtime. This beautiful Greek Island is awash with almond blossom in February, and its gardens blaze with colour by May. The main resorts are quiet and virtually empty (the season begins in Easter, but things don’t really get going until May), but Corfu Town is buzzy all year round. Its enchanting cobbled streets lined with pastel-hued houses are a delight to explore, and you’ll find scores of inviting cafés and boutiques. Inland, traditional villages, panoramic walking trails and picture-postcard castles await – all blissfully free of the summer crowds.
Costa Brava
The gorgeous Costa Brava dazzles with its ochre cliffs and miniature coves with turquoise waters. In springtime, you can expect temperatures ranging from the mid-teens in February to the mid-20s by the end of May. There’s lots of heavenly sunshine to soak up, and you can stroll along the beaches or follow the fabulous coastal paths without having to deal with the summer crowds. The main resorts, such as Lloret de Mar, are quiet, but things begin to pick up from Easter weekend, and the vibrant city of Barcelona is just down the coast – perfect for a day trip!
Costa Blanca
The glorious beaches of the Costa Blanca might still be a little chilly in February, but by May, they are approaching perfection. Inland, the hills are carpeted with blossom and wild flowers, and spring time is perhaps the best time to enjoy the area’s superb hiking trails. Vibrant Benidorm begins to gear up for the summer season from Easter, but there are still plenty of bars and clubs to enjoy even if you choose to visit earlier.
Seville
Seductive Seville is perhaps at its best in spring, when orange blossom and jasmine perfume the air. Temperatures are in the high teens in February, rising to the high 20s in May, and there is oodles of wonderful sunshine. The perfect city break, its narrow streets are full of enticing tapas bars and pretty boutiques, and you can climb to the top of the famous Giralda belltower or explore the ravishing Alcazar palace. There are few crowds except during Easter week, when thousands pour into the city to see the fascinating Easter processions, and during the April Feria, an exuberant celebration with lots of flamenco and horse-riding.
Malta
The gorgeous Mediterranean island of Malta is a wonderful destination for a spring holiday. Expect average temperatures of 15°C in February, rising to around 24°C in May, when the beach resorts kick off the summer season. The golden city of Valletta, the enchanting island capital, is bathed in sunshine, and the main sights, including the Megalithic temples, are blessedly empty of crowds. The fields and hills inland are full of wild flowers and birdsong, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy some of the excellent hikes on Malta and Gozo. There are spectacular Easter processions across the island, and you can take part in a host of entertaining village festivals.
Dubai
Avoid the stifling heat of the summer months and hit the glittering city of Dubai in springtime! It’s plenty hot enough to get a great tan even in February, when temperatures average a perfect 26°C: by May, they’ve risen to a steamy 38°C. The city’s world-famous skyscrapers and shopping malls are among the highlights, but don’t miss out on the fascinating historic quarter or a thrilling escape into the desert.
The Algarve
Springtime is heavenly on the Algarve, with the sun shining brightly on green shoots and wild flowers. February is a little early for the beach, unless you want a bracing walk along the stunningly empty sands, but by May the temperatures are in the mid-20s and it’s easily warm enough to sit out by the pool and get a tan. It’s a great time to hit the golf course, go for a hike, or explore the pretty inland villages glowing in the spring sunshine. The resorts, even larger towns like Albufeira, are quiet until Easter, when they begin to liven up in preparation for summer.