5 Travel Destinations for a Late Spring Holiday

More and more people are beginning to discover the appeal of travelling outside of the peak season. In many cases, this means booking a holiday during the spring or autumn and avoiding the busyness and often sweltering temperatures that many popular holiday destinations experience between June and August.

Late spring is the perfect time for European holidays in particular, as sunny weather is on the rise but tourist activity is still relatively low. But there are also other parts of the world that are perfect for a holiday in April or May, allowing you to dodge particularly rainy or humid parts of the year and enjoy a quieter experience.

In this article, we share our top five suggestions for the best travel destinations for a late spring holiday.

Paris

Paris has always been a classic European holiday destination. But instead of visiting France’s capital city in the height of summer, you can enjoy a much more relaxing and romantic trip by booking a holiday at the end of spring.

You can avoid the peak heat of the summer if you visit Paris in April or May, which offers the ideal conditions for exploring the city on foot. It will be warm enough to sit out on the pavements at cafes and bistros, but not so overrun with tourists that you lose the sense of an authentic Parisian experience.

Spring in Paris is the perfect idea for a couples holiday, as the atmosphere is incredibly romantic. Spend your mornings walking along the Seine and your afternoons exploring art galleries, taking your pick from the city’s exceptional culinary offerings for dinner every evening.

Lake Maggiore

The Italian Lakes present a small collection of different destinations to choose from, and Lake Maggiore is the second largest of the group. If you’re looking for somewhere to immerse yourself in beautiful scenery in the springtime, it’s a brilliant choice for a holiday.

Enjoy mild weather, plentiful hiking trails and an eruption of blossoms across the bushes and trees. It’s a wonderful time to wander between the towns and villages on the lakeside or catch one of the local ferries to explore further afield from where you’re staying.

There are plenty of luxury villas in Lake Maggiore that make this a prime destination for a family holiday in the spring. Explore the Borromean Islands with your children to feel like a group of adventures, sample ice cream in the sunshine by the lakeside, and walk or cycle up into the hills to admire incredible views of the water.

Vienna

If you’re seeking culture on your late spring holiday, then Vienna is the ideal destination for a city break in April or May. As with many European destinations, you should arrive in the sweet spot where the chances of rain are dwindling and the temperatures are climbing without getting overly warm, creating the perfect climate for exploring the city’s offering.

Indoor and outdoor exploration are both appealing prospects in Vienna in May. Trot down the quiet cobbled streets and wander across sunlit squares, or take your time enjoying the variety of museum and art gallery exhibitions that are available throughout the city.

Of course, you can’t go to Vienna without enjoying live music whilst you’re in the city, no matter what time of year you visit. Make the most of it only being the start of the high season for tourism and ensure that you attend a concert, recital or even just stop and listen to someone busking on the street.

Bali

One of the most popular Indonesian islands for a vacation at any time of year, Bali is a destination that you’ll likely have heard of. Known for its yoga community, beautiful scenery and reputation as a place of spiritual restoration, it’s often incredibly busy over the summer months which makes late spring a really good time to visit.

You might catch the tail end of the rainy season in Bali by visiting in the spring, but the trade-off is that the island will feel so much quieter and allow you to properly enjoy the beaches, mountains and cultural offerings that have made it such a popular place to stay. Make the most of this lull and book a holiday villa in Seminyak on the coast, or enjoy staying at a resort in Ubud and spend your holiday living in a tropical forest.

Japan

There’s a good reason why April and May are the most popular times of year to visit Japan. It’s often referred to as the ‘Goldilocks’ zone for the country because it’s not too hot or too cold, and the rainy season hasn’t started just yet.

You might want to steer clear of the biggest tourist areas like Kyoto, Tokyo and Osaka, but it’s the perfect time to experience a growing travel trend in Japan and spend your time in the more rural parts of the country. We recommend exploring the Kii Peninsula, hiking the Nakasendo Trail in Nagano, or catching the end of the cherry blossoms at Hirosaki Castle in Aomori. 

If you’re on the hunt for culture, the city of Kurashiki is sometimes referred to as the “Venice of Japan” and has a great contemporary art gallery as well as charming canals. The Izu Peninsula is home to plenty of attractions that encapsulate Japan and makes a great base for a spring trip, or if you’re on the hunt for history then Gujo Hachiman or ‘The Water City’ is home to a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Make the most of the arrival of spring and book yourself a holiday somewhere that is warm, dry and bursting with life. There’s no better feeling than exploring a travel destination and feeling like you’re one of the lucky ones who has found it first, and this list is the perfect place to start if you want to discover that experience.