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- Written by: Sophie Nicholson
If you’ve read our Best Places to Travel in August, Best Places to Travel in Autumn and Winter Sun Adventure guides, you’ll know we’re big fans of chasing the right adventure at the right time of year.
This one’s for that magical moment when winter finally loosens its grip and the world starts waking up again. When the trails begin to dry, the daylight stretches a little longer each evening, and suddenly getting outside feels less like an act of stubbornness and more of a genuine grin-inducing pleasure.
"Think coastal hikes above turquoise seas, vineyard cycling through blossoming valleys, wild swimming spots without a soul in sight"
Because spring is the season when everything changes. Snow retreats from the hills, wildflowers begin appearing on mountainsides, wee baby lambs appear in the fields and the first warmth of the sun arrives to bring colour to those paler than pale limbs.
For active travellers, it’s one of the best times of year to explore. Across southern Europe and beyond, conditions are often perfect: cool enough for big days on foot or two wheels, warm enough to linger over long lunches on sunny terraces, and - crucially - still quiet before the peak-season holiday crowds descend. The trick is knowing where spring arrives first.
From Mediterranean islands waking up after winter to mountain regions reopening their trails, these are the destinations where the new season really comes alive. Think coastal hikes above turquoise seas, vineyard cycling through blossoming valleys, wild swimming spots without a soul in sight – and the simple pleasure of exploring somewhere just before everyone else arrives.
So pack the trail shoes, grab your GPS adventure watch and get ready to follow the sun folks - here's where to go when spring is just getting started.
Andalucía, Spain
Temperature: Avg 20°C (Mar–May)
Flight time: 2 hrs 45 mins from London to Málaga (BA, easyJet, Ryanair)
Time difference: +1 hour ahead of UK
Why now: Southern Spain is one of the first parts of mainland Europe to properly shake off winter. By March the hills are green, wildflowers are out across the sierras and temperatures are perfect for long days outdoors before the fierce summer heat arrives.
Spring is prime time for exploring the region’s diverse landscapes - from the limestone peaks of the Sierra de Grazalema to the high trails of the Alpujarras below the Sierra Nevada.
Active highlight: The Caminito del Rey, a spectacular walkway pinned high to the walls of a limestone gorge north of Málaga. Widely considered to be one of "the scariest walks in the world”, it delivers serious drama - with vertiginous walkways, soaring cliffs and turquoise river views far below.
Where to stay: Base yourself in Ronda for dramatic scenery and easy access to the Grazalema Natural Park, or head into the Alpujarras villages for quieter mountain hiking beneath the Sierra Nevada.
Madeira, Portugal
Temperature: Avg 19°C (Mar–May)
Flight time: 4 hrs from London to Funchal (BA, easyJet)
Time difference: Same as UK
Why now: Spring is when Madeira is arguably at its best. The island’s subtropical climate keeps temperatures comfortable for long days outdoors, while the famous levadas – irrigation channels that double as hiking routes – thread through forests, waterfalls and high mountain valleys that feel a world away from mainland Europe.
The trails are quiet before summer arrives and the Atlantic is usually calm enough for sea-based adventures too.
Active highlight: The PR1 trail from Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo, a spectacular ridge traverse linking Madeira’s two highest peaks. Expect dramatic staircases, tunnels carved through volcanic rock and cloud inversions that make it feel like you’re hiking above the sky. Check out our in-depth Madeira Adventure Guide for more inspiration on where to go, when, and what to do when you're there.
Where to stay: Funchal is the most convenient base with easy access to the island’s trailheads, while the quieter north coast around São Vicente or Santana puts you closer to Madeira’s wildest landscapes.
Mallorca, Spain
Temperature: Avg 20°C (Mar–May)
Flight time: 2 hrs 30 mins from London to Palma (BA, easyJet, Ryanair)
Time difference: +1 hour ahead of UK
Why now: Spring is Mallorca’s golden season. Before the heat of summer arrives, the island’s mountains are green, the almond blossom lingers in the valleys and the roads are still blissfully quiet.
It’s widely considered to among the best places for a cycling holiday in Spain (if not the world!), and the Serra de Tramuntana also offers superb hiking, coastal scrambling and trail running across limestone ridges that plunge dramatically towards the Mediterranean.
Active highlight: The GR221 Dry Stone Route, a long-distance trail that crosses the length of the Tramuntana range. Even tackling a short section delivers classic Mallorca scenery – terraced hillsides, ancient olive groves and big sea views.
Where to stay: Sóller or Port de Sóller make perfect bases for hiking and cycling in the Tramuntana, while Deià offers one of the island’s most beautiful village settings.
Crete, Greece
Temperature: Avg 22°C (Mar–May)
Flight time: 4 hrs from London to Heraklion or Chania (BA, easyJet, Jet2)
Time difference: +2 hours ahead of UK
Why now: Spring is widely considered the best season to explore Crete on foot. The island’s mountains are still green from winter rains, wildflowers blanket the hillsides and temperatures remain comfortable for long hikes before the intense heat of summer arrives.
It’s also the season when the famous gorges of western Crete begin to open again, offering dramatic routes through limestone canyons that plunge towards the Libyan Sea.
Active highlight: Hiking the legendary Samaria Gorge, one of Europe’s longest and most spectacular canyon walks. The trail descends through pine forest, narrow rock corridors and the famous ‘Iron Gates’ before emerging at the remote coastal village of Agia Roumeli.
For more inspiration, check out our guides to the best active things to do in Crete and the top family adventures on the island.
Where to stay: Base yourself in Chania for easy access to the White Mountains and western Crete’s best hiking routes, or stay in Loutro, a tiny car-free village on the south coast reachable only by boat or on foot.
Sicily, Italy
Temperature: Avg 21°C (Mar–May)
Flight time: 3 hrs from London to Catania or Palermo (BA, easyJet, Ryanair)
Time difference: +1 hour ahead of UK
Why now: Spring is one of the best times to explore Sicily before the island heats up for summer. The countryside is green, citrus groves are in bloom and temperatures are ideal for hiking, cycling and exploring Sicily’s dramatic volcanic terrain.
It’s also when the trails on Mount Etna, Europe’s most active volcano and one of the highest mountains in Italy, are at their most accessible – with snow still clinging to the upper slopes while the lower lava fields warm in the Mediterranean sun.
Active highlight: A guided trek on the upper slopes of Mount Etna, crossing vast lava flows and steaming volcanic craters with sweeping views across the island and out towards the Ionian Sea.
Where to stay: Taormina offers a spectacular base overlooking Etna and the coast, while Catania puts you closer to the volcano itself and Sicily’s liveliest urban food scene.
The Azores, Portugal
Temperature: Avg 18°C (Mar–May)
Flight time: 4 hrs from London to Ponta Delgada (Azores Airlines, BA via Lisbon)
Time difference: –1 hour behind UK
Why now: Spring is when the Azores begin to burst back into life. Atlantic storms ease and the islands’ famous crater lakes glow a luminous green after the winter rains.
It’s also the start of whale-watching season, with migrating blue and fin whales passing through the deep waters surrounding the archipelago.
Our Azores travel hub contains everything you need to know about this epic adventure destination - from getting around the Azores to the best cycling, hiking and activities to get stuck into when you're there.
Active highlight: One of the best hiking routes in the Azores is the Sete Cidades crater rim trail on São Miguel. The route follows the edge of a vast volcanic caldera overlooking twin lakes – one emerald green, the other deep blue – with sweeping views across the Atlantic.
Where to stay: Ponta Delgada is the main base on São Miguel with easy access to trailheads, while smaller villages such as Furnas offer a quieter setting surrounded by geothermal landscapes and lush forest.
Provence & the Luberon, France
Temperature: Avg 20°C (Apr–May)
Flight time: 2 hrs from London to Marseille (BA, easyJet, Ryanair)
Time difference: +1 hour ahead of UK
Why now: Spring is one of the most beautiful times to explore Provence. Before the lavender crowds and the heat of summer arrives, the countryside is calm and welcoming, vineyards are beginning to green and the temperatures are perfect for long days outdoors. Quiet country lanes wind between honey-coloured villages, limestone ridges rise above orchards and the whole region feels wonderfully unhurried.
Active highlight: Cycling through the Luberon villages – Gordes, Roussillon and Bonnieux – following quiet backroads that thread through vineyards, olive groves and ochre cliffs. Luberon is one of our favourite places on the planet - the perfect place for slow adventures, it's where to head if you're looking for Provence without the protence.
Where to stay: Check in to Capelongue above Bonnieux – a truly stunning Relais & Châteaux property with knockout sunset views, Michelin-starred dining, and easy access to the surrounding trails and villages. For something more intimate, the super-friendly Le Mas du Romarins in Gordes offers rustic-chic rooms with terraces overlooking one of Provence’s prettiest villages.
Slovenia - Karst & Adriatic Coast
Temperature: Avg 18°C (Apr–May)
Flight time: 2 hrs 20 mins from London to Ljubljana (BA, easyJet)
Time difference: +1 hour ahead of UK
Why now: While snow still lingers in Slovenia’s high Alps, spring arrives early along the country’s Adriatic coast and limestone Karst plateau. Vineyards transition to green, coastal trails are warm but not yet crowded and the landscapes feel wonderfully fresh after winter. It’s the perfect time to combine seaside hiking with cycling through quiet wine country.
Active highlight: Walking sections of the Parenzana Trail, a former railway line turned cycling and hiking route that links Slovenia’s coast with neighbouring Italy and Croatia. Expect tunnels through limestone hills, sweeping sea views and charming Adriatic towns.
Where to stay: Piran is one of the prettiest coastal bases, with Venetian architecture and easy access to the coast, while Štanjel offers a quieter stay among the vineyards of the Karst region.
Corsica, France
Temperature: Avg 19°C (Apr–May)
Flight time: 2 hrs 30 mins from London to Bastia or Ajaccio (easyJet, BA via Paris)
Time difference: +1 hour ahead of UK
Why now: Spring is one of the most rewarding times to explore Corsica. The island’s mountains are still streaked with snow, but lower trails burst with wildflowers and the Mediterranean is beginning to warm. Before the summer crowds arrive, hiking routes along the coast and through the island’s rugged interior feel wonderfully quiet.
Active highlight: While the legendary GR20 - one of the best walking holidays in France - cuts through Corsica’s mountainous interior, the island’s west coast offers a very different kind of hiking – none more spectacular than the trails through the Calanques de Piana, where rust-red granite cliffs plunge dramatically into the Mediterranean. The trails wind through bizarre rock formations with sweeping coastal views at every turn.
Where to stay: Porto makes a great base for exploring the Calanques and the wild west coast, while Corte, set deep in the mountains, offers access to Corsica’s most dramatic inland landscapes.
Cornwall, England
Temperature: Avg 15°C (Apr–May)
Travel time: 1 hr 15 mins flight London to Newquay (BA) or 4–5 hrs by train to St Ives or Penzance
Time difference: Same as UK
Why now: Spring arrives early on England’s far south-west peninsula. By April the cliffs are carpeted with wildflowers, the Atlantic light has returned and the famous South West Coast Path feels wonderfully quiet before the summer crowds arrive. It’s the perfect season for long coastal hikes, surf sessions and sea swims in hidden coves.
Active highlight: A stretch of the South West Coast Path between St Ives and Zennor, one of the most spectacular sections of the entire route. Expect granite cliffs, crashing surf and sweeping views across the Atlantic.
Where to stay: St Ives - one of the UK's happiest places - offers easy access to the coast path and Cornwall’s creative food scene, while Penzance makes a great base for exploring the far west and the wild landscapes around Land’s End.
Ready for the good stuff?
Spring might just be the adventure traveller’s sweet spot. With comfortable temperatures, quiet trails and landscapes waking up after winter, it’s the perfect time to get moving again and explore places before the summer rush begins.
Whether you’re hiking volcanic ridges in Madeira, cycling coastal roads in Mallorca or wandering cliff paths in Cornwall, these spring escapes prove that some of the best adventures happen just before everyone else remembers how good the outdoors can be.
