Spring is the best time for travelling. Homeland or abroad, packing some stuff up and going for a trip or hike is always a good idea. Here is my list of top ten destinations I would LOVE to visit in spring. Maybe not this year, because now I have some other travels scheduled, but hopefully in the next couple of years…
Enough talking, let’s go to my top 10 European spring destinations. Enjoy!
- Gdansk, Malbork & Gdynia
Two of ten nicest towns in Poland, coastal towns Gdansk and Gdynia and also the most beautiful and picturesque castle Malbork in the Poland in one trip. These three spots are located next to the sea in northern part of the country. All of them have rich history, narrow streets and such a nice atmosphere. Promenades over the sea have really beautiful views to each side: either on the sea or on the colourful bricked houses on the other side. Did you know that Malbork is the biggest castle in the world? It’s constructed of red bricks and surrounded by water jump.
Although it’s not that warm to swim in the sea yet, you should visit port towns Elblag or Wladyslawowo anyways. You’ll find there nice piers and long sandy beaches great for walking, running or simply chilling.
Gdansk
Gdynia
Malbork
Elblag
Wladyslawowo
2. Catalonia
Starting this trip in the well-known historic town of Barcelona and it’s popular cathedral Sagrada Familia, continuing to amazing colourful medieval town of Girona and Sitges with lovely churches and sandy beaches where you can bath even in spring if ur bold enough. And what’s the best thing about these two spots? You’ll find them just 40 kilometres away from Barcelona! Another few kilometres from Girona is located Banyoles lakeside with idyllic nature and crystal clear lake or the stone town Besalú near which is a nature reservoir with nice forests where you can walk or bike for hours.
Barcelona
Girona
Sitges
Banyoles
Besalú
3. Castles in Scotland
One of the prettiest castle over there is certainly the Balmoral castle near Crathie with huge flowerful gardens or fairytale-like Craigievar castle. Crathes castle with finest gardens and labyrinths located in the forest will also blow your mind. Spectacular Dunnottar Castle situated on a high lonely hill with wide view over the sea is amazing, too. While wandering around Scotland you can’t forget the historic town of Edinburgh with its giant famous Edinburgh castle.
Balmoral castle
Craigievar castle
Crathes castle
Dunnottar castle
Edinburgh
Edinburgh castle
4. Tuscany
Italian Tuscany with its most famous town Florence is a really good idea for Easter holidays. Except Florence should in your list be encounted Siena with magical cathedral, Leaning tower in Pisa, San Gimignano and its medieval towers or Pienza and Valdorcia with typical Tuscanian landscapes and atmosphere. You may also like Le Mura di Lucca, which is also known as ,,the pathway to heaven” – basically a long pathway around the historic city of Lucca surrounded by trees and stones.
Florence
Siena
Pisa
San Gimignano
Pienza
Valdorcia
Le Mura di Lucca
5. Lisboa, Sintra & Porto
Beginning in the largest city in Portugal, the historic Lisboa with narrow streets and yellow trams. Nearby is located Sintra with gorgeous castle on the hill above the town. Another great idea is a trip to the second biggest city Porto where you’ll find many churches and castles. Nice scenery offers river Douro along which you can bike or walk. Town Coimbra in the central Portugal is worthy of your attention, too.
Lisboa
Sintra
Porto
Douro
Coimbra
6. South – East Slovenia
This magical little part of the world offers you more than just historic towns: hill vineyards, hilltop churches, castles and monasteries, broad forests, groves of birch trees and much more. In the nice town Ribnica is situated Ribnica castle with small museum inside. But Kostel castle on the river Kolpa…just wow. Near Kočevje are located many caves, Željne Caves for example. Few centres of winemaking, Semič, Metlika and Črnomelj offer really tasty wine, and also, near the town of Metlika is another lovely spot – Tri fare – three Gothic churches huddled together and surrounded by a wall.
Ribnice castle
Kostel castle
Kočevje
Vineyards
Tri fare
7. Peloponnese
Greece is country of culture and history. Great example is Peloponesse peninsula with ancient Messene from 10th century or old Trikotsova Castle with sweeping view to Taygetos mountains and the valley. Southernmost peak of peninsula, Cape Tainaron is really worth of visiting, too. Polymnia, hole under a waterfall surrounded by the rocks is a great place for bathing. Town Kalamata with famous port offers you many routes for walking and sightseeeing, too. Walking along a kalderimi (stone path) is the best way to start a day, because you’ll feel fresh and healthy afterwards. But my must-have would definitely be watching sunset at Kitries Harbour, fishing village near Kalamata.
Messene
Trikotsova castle
Cape Tainaron
Kalamata
Kitries
8. Southern Moravia
There are only few regions in the world that offer travelers combination of architectural gems, lovely countryside and traditions that are hundreds years old. Six UNESCO monuments, vineyards soaked in sunshine and the hospitality of the locals make South Moravia a true paradise for each and every wanderer. The largest city over there Brno is nothing in comparision to the town Lednice. In Lednice is quite interesting and uncommon architecture: churches, castles, even houses look good! Mikulov is small village on a hill near water reservoir Pálava, around which are nice paths for walking, biking etc. Another great idea is visiting town of Kromeríž. All towns in Moravia have basically the same (but unique ofc!!) architectonal style, so it’s very similar to Lednice or Brno. Also, Moravia is also well known for the wines, so evening walks inthe vineyards have to be encounted in your to do lists, too.
Brno
Lednice
Mikulov
Vineyards
Kromeříž
Pálava
9. Mecklenburg
Schwerin, the capital of Mecklenburg, is a thousand years old city, best known for Schwerin palace situated on an island in the middle of Lĺake Schwerin. Charming Alter Storm is perfect place for romantic evening in the restaurant and watching the sunset over the river. Warnemunde is a coastal town where you can either bath in the summer, walk along the sea or just walk through the sights and enjoy the lovely smell of the air. Rostock, the biggest town out there, offers much to see and do, too. Insel Hiddensee, where any vehicles aren’t allowed to entry and the only way to get there is with bike, is place of silence. Try to forget about your everyday problems, just relax and stay positive there. Nice view over the sea offers Kap Arkona near Putgarten.
Schwerin
Schwerin palace
Alter Strom
Warnemunde
Rostock
Insel Hiddensee
Kap Arkona
10. Copenhagen, Stockholm & Sodermanland
While driving the highway from Copenhagen to Stockholm you’ll probably be passing through beautiful Sodermanland area. Magnificient Gripsholm castle or Nykoping castle are great options for whole day trip. In the town of Nykoping is also a nice harbour, Nykoping Hamm, geyser, huge park, and lovely old architecture, seen in Nykopingshus and Nynas Slott for example. In Nynas Slott you can even buy plants! In Eskilstuna you’ll find Munktellmuseet (museum), Parken ZOO (with dinopark!), 1000 years old rock Sigurdsristningen, Klosterskyrka (beautiful church), Rothoffsparken (amazing flowerful garden) and last but not least, pretty city centre with restaurants and old narrow streets. Another interesting landmarks are also town Oxelosund or Tureholms Slott castle.
Copenhagen
Stockholm
Sodermanland
Gripsholm castle
Nykoping castle
Nykoping
Eskilstuna
Oxelosund
Tureholms Slott
photos are not mine, I came to these ideas thanks to travel magazines, put some of them together to create this article and added some of the most beautiful photos of the mentioned places I found on internet 🙂
Asequibles 