Spring is a great time to visit Europe. The weather in some places can be lovely. There are numerous deals to be had (around the Easter and Whit week school holidays of course). And many destinations are less busy than in the summer months. Over the years we have taken a number of city breaks during the spring months. Especially because Vicky’s birthday is in May and we always take a break to celebrate. Therefore, if you are looking for the perfect place to head in Europe in Spring, we’ve put together this list of our favourite five cities.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona was one of the first European city breaks Mr ESLT and I took back in the spring of 2008 and has been somewhere we have longed to return to since. There is so much to see and do in Barcelona. From the hustle and bustle of the city centre and La Rambla to the chilled out beaches which are perfect to head to if the weather is good. Barcelona is perfect for culture vultures as it is bursting with wonderful art and architecture including Casa Batlló, Park Güell and the world famous La Sagrada Familia, all designed by Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí. If football is your thing a visit to Camp Nou the home ground of FC Barcelona is a must. And it would be remiss of us to not mention the amazing food (and wine, of course) available in Barcelona including paella, tapas and esqueixada (authentic Catalan salad).
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Ljubljana, the largest city and capital of Slovenia was a complete shock for us. We absolutely loved our European city break in this wonderful place. Therefore we haven’t stopped recommending people visit too since we returned. There are so many things to do in Ljubljana including grabbing a beer at one of the numerous cafes or bars along the side of the Ljubljanica River, checking out Dragon (the emblem of the city) Bridge, heading up to Ljubljana Castle to admire the views of the city below, visiting some of the numerous museums and not forgetting taking a foodwalk to visit some of the local eateries and trying some of the regional delicacies. It is also a great place to base yourself if you fancy exploring the local area. We took a day trip to beautiful Lake Bled. Other day trip options include Vintgar Gorge and Postojna.
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Having visited Amsterdam at least a dozen times, we think it’s safe to say that we love this city. Because we have visited so many times, we’ve visited in every season. It’s safe to say that spring is our favourite. The number one reason is – fewer people. Amsterdam is one of the cities always mentioned in the same sentence as overtourism and in summer, it’s easy to see why. Amsterdam is a cool, cosmopolitan city, why wouldn’t people want to visit? Yes, there’s the cafes and the red light district, but there’s so much more to Amsterdam than that. Spring days in Amsterdam can be lovely. Therefore a cruise on the numerous canals is a must, you get to see the city from a very unique viewpoint. Amsterdam is also home to some of the world’s most famous museums including the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum.
Rome, Italy
An Italian city had to make our list, seeing as though Italy is our favourite country. Therefore Rome is the one we would recommend. We visited Rome back in spring 2008 and loved every second. Another city now a ‘victim’ of overtourism, spring offers the opportunity to explore without hordes of people doing the same. Spring in Rome also offers nice weather – not too hot, not too cold, meaning you can walk to your heart’s content. Failing that the hop on, hop off bus in Rome is a great and informative way to get around. Especially as Vatican City is a stop. Therefore, if you want to visit the Vatican, see the Sistine Chapel ceiling and tick another country off your list, a visit is a must. In Rome city centre your spoilt for choice with the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and Roman Forum just waiting to be visited.
Bratislava, Slovakia
An up and coming tourist destination and a city we really enjoyed visiting, Bratislava is a great place to head in Spring. For a long time, Slovakia has been overshadowed by its neighbours. However, now it is certainly coming into its own with people from all over the world visiting. Bratislava is small. Therefore all of the city’s attractions are within walking distance. We took a guided walking tour which was included with the Bratislava City Cards that we were gifted. We found this was a great way of finding out more about the city, its buildings and its history. A visit to Michael’s Gate, Primate’s Palace, Slovak National Theatre and the beautiful Blue Church of St. Elizabeth are all recommended, together with a walk to Bratislava Castle which overlooks the River Danube. Bratislava is still a relatively ‘cheap city to visit, meaning you get more bang for your buck.
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