Spring is one of the best seasons to travel, with the end of winter and not yet the beginning of the high season, it allows you to enjoy cheaper destinations, with fewer tourists and good weather. If we also take into account that the landscapes also change colour at this time of year, filling up with flowers, and the terraces of the locals start to fill up with people, we can confirm that spring travel is a great idea.
Although there are many perfect destinations to travel to during these months of the year, we have made a list of what we consider to be the 10 best spring trips where you can enjoy postcard landscapes and cities with good weather.
1. Japan
Any time of year is a good time to travel to Japan, but we think spring is the most special season. Between March and April, it's at its peak with the cherry blossoms in full bloom.
The pleasant climate throughout the country allows you to enjoy the temples and the natural beauty of the country in peace and quiet. These months also see the start of festivals such as the Mifune Matsuri in the Arashiyama area (Kyoto) or the Takayama festival.
A three-week route starting in Kyoto and departing from Tokyo will allow you to see many of the most famous places in the Land of the Rising Sun, thanks to its high-speed trains. In addition to Tokyo and Kyoto, other must-sees include the village of Shirakawa-go, the island of Miyajima and the recently restored Himeji Castle.
Another great attraction for travelling to Japan is of course its excellent and varied gastronomy. If you are going to travel to Japan, one of the best tips we can give you is to do it at this time of the year.
2. New York
One of the best trips for spring is New York, without a doubt. From May onwards the temperature rises to 15-20 degrees and the festivals and open-air concerts begin, which we're sure will make this trip unforgettable.
The beautiful colours of this season are reflected in the many parks, including Central Park, one of the symbols of the Big Apple.
The terraces of restaurants, clubs and bars start to fill with people and the atmosphere in the streets seems to revive after the coldest period in the city.
If you have 5 to 10 days to explore the city, you can do many of these 100 things to see and do in New York, including a picnic in Central Park, visiting the Museum of Natural History, climbing to the Top of the Rock at sunset, crossing the Brooklyn Bridge to enjoy the views of Manhattan and getting up close to the Statue of Liberty on the free Staten Island Ferry.
Manhattan Bridge in New York
3. Jordan
The best time to travel to Jordan is between March and May, when temperatures are pleasant in the morning and cool at night.
As it's high season, book well in advance, especially for the more touristy sites such as Petra and Aqaba. Despite its location on the map, Jordan is a very safe country, and you won't have any problems even if you want to explore it on your own, which is highly recommended.
You can rent a car or hire a chauffeur-driven car or even a taxi, which isn't too expensive and can be a good alternative if you don't feel like driving.
Just the thought of one of the country's highlights, crossing the Siq and seeing the Treasury of Petra, one of the wonders of the world, is worth the trip.
You can't miss the Roman ruins of Jerash, the desert castles, Madaba, the Dead Sea or a night's sleep in the desert of Wadi Rum. And if you like diving or snorkelling, Aqaba is the perfect place to end your trip.
Petra in Jordan
4. Iceland
Although the best time to travel in Iceland has always been said to be in summer, lately it is becoming one of the best trips for spring. At this time of year the weather is not as extreme as in winter, the snowy landscapes are even more beautiful, there is a chance to see the Northern Lights and visit ice caves. Interesting, isn't it?
Being a country with more and more tourism and little hotel infrastructure, in these months you can also get more affordable prices as with the rental car, saving a few good euros that in a country like Iceland is something that is appreciated.
Iceland is one of the easiest countries that you can do on your own and in our experience, it is the best way to approach this destination. Being able to stop at any time, in front of any landscape and for as long as you want is one of the best things about the land of fire and ice.
On our self-drive tour of Iceland, we travelled along Highway 1, which circles the island, stopping at each of its wonders.
Viti Crater in Iceland
5. Indonesia, one of the best trips for spring
The archipelago of Indonesia is immense with 17000 islands and a tropical climate all year round. Although its temperatures are almost always similar, it is advisable to avoid the rainy months between November and April. The dry season begins in May and is the best time to visit the country.
You should also bear in mind that the high season runs from mid-June to September and prices soar, so spring is a good time to see the green landscapes, especially the terraced rice fields in the mountains of Bali.
On our trip to Indonesia we toured the magical island of Bali, the temples of Prambanan, Borobudur and the Bromo volcano on the island of Java, flew to see orangutans in the wild in Borneo and took a few days of beach and diving in the beautiful Gili Islands. Honestly: we can't wait to go back!!!
Bali Island in Indonesia
6. Cinque Terre and Tuscany
Two of our favourite areas, two of the best places to see in Italy that can be perfectly combined in one trip are Cinque Terre and Tuscany. Spring is a fantastic season to visit them as the temperature is pleasant, the landscapes are beautifully coloured and the prices are considerably lower than in summer.
The best way to get to Pisa is with a low cost flight to Pisa. You can spend a morning in Pisa, then visit the Cinque Terre by train and finally you can't miss spending 2 or 3 days in an incredible open-air museum: Florence.
If you want to visit Tuscany, the best thing to do is to rent a car and make a circular route or start visiting from the heart of the area, Siena. If we also take into account that this is one of the places with the best gastronomy in the world, Italy is undoubtedly one of the best trips for spring.
Riomaggiore in Cinque Terre
7. China
Another of the best trips for spring is China, especially in April. From May onwards the high season starts and in China this means queues, high prices and huge crowds. We travelled through China for 25 days in April , enjoying good weather and few people considering that there is a lot of local tourism and it is inevitable to find them in the most touristic places.
We recommend a route from Beijing to Hong Kong by public transport, as transport such as the high-speed train is very good.
Among the places we think you shouldn't miss are the Great Wall of China, the Yungang Caves, the ancient cities of Pingyao and Fenghuang, the Warriors of Xi'an, the Great Buddha of Leshan, Zhanjiajie National Park and the landscapes of the Guilin area.
Fenghuang in China
50 things to see and do in Hong Kong
8. Ireland
Considering that the weather in Ireland is unpredictable - it can be sunny and rainy on the same day, and that can happen at any time of year - it's safe to say that any time of year is a good or bad time (depending on how you look at it) to travel.
Although it should be considered that a significant increase in the number of tourists in the summer months has made April one of the best months to travel and above all to enjoy the landscapes with the peace and quiet they require.
If you go in March you can coincide your stay with one of the world's most famous national holidays, St Patrick's Day.
Driving around Ireland is the best way to visit places like the Cliffs of Moher, the Giant's Causeway, Kylemore Abbey, the ruins of Clonmacnoise, the Ring of Kerry and its many castles, all of which are must-sees in Ireland. And don't miss the great atmosphere in cities such as Belfast, Galway and Dublin, always with a good pint of beer in front of you.
Cliffs of Moher in Ireland
9. Israel and Palestinian Territories
Autumn and spring are the best times to travel to Israel and Palestine. The weather is mild without being too hot in summer, and the landscapes are not too dry.
We know that mentioning that you are going to travel to Israel or Palestine and many people will accuse you of being less than crazy. From our experience travelling around Israel and Palestine on our own, in a rental car, we have to say that it is one of the safest places we have ever been.
Just to visit the incredible Jerusalem, the holy city where 3 religions coexist and one of the most beautiful cities we have seen, is worth the trip.
Esplanade of the Mosques in Jerusalem
10. Sri Lanka and Maldives
A good time to travel to Sri Lanka is in April, the weather is good all over the country and it's on the list of the best trips for spring. You'll also avoid the monsoon (which starts in mid-May) and the high season, so you won't even need to book in advance in Sri Lanka.
In the Maldives, although any time is a good time to travel, one of the best months is also in April, making Sri Lanka, along with the Maldives, one of the most popular destinations.
The combination of culture and nature of Sri Lanka with the relaxation offered by the Maldives is perfect, making both an impressive destination, which we are sure, will not disappoint you.
In Sri Lanka we recommend visiting the tea fields of the Highlands, looking for the leopard in Yala or the elephants in Minneriya, touring the Cultural Triangle and relaxing on the beaches in the south of the island.
Maldives
If you have less time you can follow this list of the best getaways for Easter.