Spring is a great time to travel, as it often means warmer weather without the peak tourist crowds that summer brings. Even though it is considered ‘shoulder season’ for many destinations, it is one of the best times of year to travel.

Here are some top global destinations for Spring (March 20-June 20). Catch iconic spring blooms en masse, local festivals celebrating key holidays, nature at its finest, ancient history, and much more.

Iceland - Golden Circle and Ring Road

*Gullfoss is one of Iceland’s iconic waterfalls and about a two-hour drive from Reykjavik. (Photo: Erik Kramer)*

In May and June, the weather in Iceland is starting to warm up, and you’ll get long days (almost 24 hours of daylight!) to explore this otherworldly destination. You’ll see geysers, volcanoes, hot springs, and waterfalls. I liken the island to a combination of several U.S. National Parks heavy on incredible landscapes but minus wildlife.

Now that Iceland has embraced tourism and established places to stay along the entire Icelandic coast, you can see the whole island instead of restricting your visit to Reykjavik, Blue Lagoon, and the country's southeast corner. The Golden Circle, including Thingvellir National Park, Gullfoss, and Geysir, is worth seeing. Still, there’s so much more to embrace on Iceland’s Ring Road that encompasses Iceland’s entire coastal route.

Cuisine: The lamb is fresh and organic, and the fish is fresh off the boat. Although most produce is shipped from other countries, meals always include tasty vegetables. And then there’s the famous Baejarins Beztu Pylsur hot dog stand in Reykjavik, which is made from local, fresh Icelandic lamb with some pork and beef. It’s got cult status, so expect a line.

Spain – Seville

*Festivals in Valencia, Spain are particularly popular during Semana Santa (Holy Week). (Photo: Antonio Lorenzana Bermejo, Pexels)*

The weather is warm but not scorching yet, making it perfect for exploring. Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Seville is one of Spain’s most famous Easter celebrations, with majestic processions, music, and religious floats. Holy Week follows the lunar calendar, so it changes annually but is typically in April, with some years starting in late March. This year, Holy Week begins on April 13th. Although you should expect some crowds, the celebrations are like no other.

Cuisine: Enjoy tapas, paella tastings, sangria, and La Rioja wine throughout the year.

Italy – Rome

*The Roman Forum is chockful of historic treasures, and ongoing excavations continue to uncover discoveries. (Photo: Erik Kramer)*

The brutal heat and the massive crowds are the two most significant deterrents to visiting Rome during the popular summer months (and some shoulder season months). Both are intense, so visiting off-season is a must.

In April, you can enjoy mild weather and long, sunny days. Who wants to sweat profusely as you rub shoulders with the large masses of tourists from May to October? Yuck!

Embrace history at the Colosseum and Rome Forum, and see the priceless artwork at the Vatican. When you’ve seen all of Rome’s highlights, ideally rent a car and spend time in Umbria or Tuscany. These regions are great places (with quaint hill towns and excellent wines) to decompress. Traveling by train from Rome is an option for some cities like Orvieto, as it is simple and requires one train. Other towns or cities require changing trains, so they aren’t ideal for a day trip unless you are on a tour (Assisi, Sienna). Tuscany can be a bit further as key towns are closer to Florence than Rome (Lucca, Montepulciano, and San Gimiango)—all great places to visit by car. Stay a few nights in either Umbria or Tuscany if you can. Your mind and stomach will thank you.

Cuisine: When it comes to Italy, what foods and wines aren’t great?! When in Rome, try the Pasta alla Carbonara and fried Artichoke in the Jewish Ghetto. In Umbria, try the porchetta, and in Tuscany, the Ribollita (peasant soup). Yum!

Japan – Hirosaki, Fuji-Yoshida, Kyoto

*Pink cherry blossoms are seen across much of Japan during Hanami Season. (Photo: Shreya Arora, Pexels)*

Cherry blossom season (Hanami Season) in Japan, typically from late March to mid-April (or even early May in northern regions), transforms the country into a dreamy landscape of pink and white blooms.

Japan comes alive with cherry blossom viewing parties and festivals and many Sakura-themed (cherry blossom-themed) foods and drinks, such as sakura mochi (pink rice cakes wrapped in cherry leaves), sakura-flavored soft serve, and cherry blossom sake.

When the petals begin to fall at the tail end of the season, the Sakura becomes a pink “snow” covering the ground like a carpet.

Cuisine: Sushi, ramen, tempura, and sashimi?

Portugal - Lisbon or Porto and Surrounding Areas

*Obidos, Portugal, is a magical medieval-walled town about an hour from Lisbon. (Photo: Edie Kramer)*

Portugal is still unspoiled, uncrowded, affordable, and has an old-world charm, but it is becoming a popular destination. I recommend getting it on your bucket list as a place to visit soon because things could change quickly, given how many people are now traveling globally.

Taking in most of the key regions and country highlights won't be easy if you don't have at least two weeks. It’s best to pick one of two cities, Porto or Lisbon, as your starting point and let that decision determine whether you see the northern or southern half of the country respectively.

If you choose Porto (known for its port wine), plan to visit the nearby Duoro Valley (Portugal’s famous wine region, one of the world’s oldest) in a few days. Plenty of steep, terraced vineyards with several small towns, including Pinhao and Lamego, are worth a day visit.

If you choose Lisbon as your starting point, plan to visit the castles and gardens in Sintra (unforgettable) and take a day trip to Obidos, a small, medieval-walled town about an hour from Lisbon. Obidos is small but very picturesque, with many bookshops and stores with bookshop-like decor on a few cobblestoned streets. It is very touristy, with tour buses stopping for a few hours mid-day, but the town is magical before and after the onslaught. Plan accordingly. We stayed there one night, and it was well worth it. Here are the top 10 places to consider on your Portugal itinerary.

What is the food like? Pastel de nata, a sweet custard pastry, is habit-forming. Salted cod dishes are on every menu (I’m not a fan, but locals still prepare it weekly as it has been the tradition for generations), and there are lots of seafood, including octopus.

Netherlands (Tulip Fields in Full Bloom)

*Keukenhof tulip fields are about 30 minutes southwest of Amsterdam. (Photo: Erik Kramer)*

Nothing quite matches the brilliance of Netherlands tulip fields at their peak in April. You’ll see blocks of vibrant red, yellow, white, orange, and pink along many primary and secondary roads.

Keukenhof Gardens near Amsterdam plants over 7 million bulbs annually by hand. Once the park closes in May, the crew removes the bulbs from the ground. The gardeners prepare the soil in August and September and plant bulbs in layers from October to December. Details about how to plan your visit to The Netherlands during the tulip season can be found here.

Cuisine: Bitterbalen with a beer, stroopwafels, herring (an acquired taste), and Dutch pancakes.

What do you have planned? How will you celebrate the season?

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