After the gloomy days of winter, it’s great to plan a trip and enjoy the longer daylight hours, Easter festivities, and fresh blooms of spring. Europe has an abundance of fabulous cities, parks, historical sites, and cultural festivals to enjoy before the heat of summer takes hold. Treat all your senses to a feast of color, fragrance, and beauty in one of these outstanding spring destinations!

Barcelona, Spain

Temperatures are just about perfect for visiting Barcelona in March and April, ahead of the summer crowds and cruise passengers. Plan a themed trip, ticking off the seven UNESCO-listed projects of modernist architecture by Antonio Gaudi.

With a keen eye for color, the avant-garde architecture of this 20^th century Catalan artist can be seen at Casa Battlo on Passeig de Gracia. This iconic mosaic-clad home has a “dragon’s back” roof and tortoiseshell skylights. Neighboring Casa Mila (aka La Pedrera) shows that even an apartment block can be a show-stopper! More Gaudi commissions feature in Parc Güell, but his crowning glory is the magnificent Sagrada Familia Church. The exterior is a breathtaking apparition of sculptures and symbolism while 18 bauble-topped spires are covered in Venetian mosaics. Ride to the top for panoramic city views.

Paris, France

Paris is a very special city to visit at any time of year, but in spring it is decked with pale pink cherry blossom (cerisier in French) throughout the streets and parks. Wander through this city of romance admiring the white and pink blossom trees that shed their petals to lie like confetti on the grass and sidewalks. You’ll find fairytale blossoms near Notre Dame and Montmartre, and around the Sorbonne in the Latin Quarter.

Head to Parc Georges Brassens or Parc Monceau and stroll around photographing the laden boughs of blossom. Best of all, the Champ de Mars is packed with cherry blossom trees providing the perfect setting for admiring the iconic Eiffel Tower in the background.

Rome, Italy

For many tourists, a trip to the Eternal City of Rome is a pilgrimage of faith, and when better to visit than during the Holy Week of Easter? Gather with around 70,000 worshippers in St Peter’s Square for the Holy Mass and Urbi et Orbi blessing by Pope Francis on Easter Sunday. It’s a very moving experience.

Tickets are free, but you need to apply well ahead. Spend the rest of your time exploring the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and peaceful Villa Borghese Gardens. Don’t forget to toss coins over your shoulder and make a wish at the Trevi Fountain! Feasting on outstanding pizza, pasta and gelato go without saying.

Seville, Spain

Spain again, this time in the southern city of Seville where temperatures are balmy and skies are bright. The historic city streets are alive with orange blossom in this season. The white flowers may be inconspicuous, but the heady fragrance is unforgettable! Santa Semana (Holy Week or Easter) is celebrated with huge parades featuring religious statues, banners, golden monstrances, and priceless solid silver objects carried through the streets as part of the Passion of Christ.

The sombre mood gives way to merriment as part of the Feria de Abril (April Festival). Locals dress in colorful Andalusian costumes and there is dancing, live music, traditional flamenco performances, eating, and celebrating on the streets. The tasty seafood and aroma of giant paellas sold on the markets are well worth making the trip.

Keukenhof Tulip Fields, Netherlands

The famous Keukenhof Flower Gardens in the Netherlands open from 24 March to mid-May, 2022. Where better to celebrate the tulip season than in one of the largest and showiest flower gardens in the world? Located in Lisse, the landscaped gardens offer a sensational display of over 7 million flowering bulbs, providing a rainbow of color.

Tulips, narcissus, daffodils, hyacinths, iris, and lilies deliver an unforgettable display of nature’s beauty along with a pervading scent of sweet blooms. Once the hunting grounds of Castle Keukenhof, the gardens are now one of the most visited attractions in the Netherlands – and you only have eight weeks to visit and enjoy them.

Saalfield, Germany

In Germany, spring is synonymous with new birth and “Ostereierbaum”, which means “Easter Egg Tree”. Wherever you visit in Germany in spring, you will see trees hung with colorful painted eggs. This is a long-standing German tradition, bringing a branch indoors and decorating it with hand-painted eggs. However, this charming celebration has taken on new significance in the town of Saalfield, Thuringia. In 1965, the Kraft family began decorating an apple tree that stood in their garden.

More eggs were blown, hand-painted, and added to the tree until it was laden with over 10,000 pretty eggs! It became a national attraction in its own right after being featured on TV. In 2016, the giant project was taken over by the city of Saalfield and moved to a tree on Blankenburger Strasse outside the Alte Poste Restaurant. You can see more Ostereierbaum trees all over the town and in the castle park. However, the holder of the Guinness Book of Records entry is the Ostereierbaum at Rostock Zoo, with over 76,000 eggs covering a red oak!

Dubrovnik, Croatia

The historic coastal city of Dubrovnik is a summer haven for swimming and sightseeing, but for foodies the best time to visit is March. This is the peak season for oyster harvesting and the city has many street fairs and festivals to celebrate in gastronomic style.

Head to the Old Town and nearby Ston and Mali Ston for the best places to find fresh seafood. Not a fan of oysters? Then visit this red-roofed city for the clear blue skies, wildflower meadows, Old Town architecture, and the chance to explore film locations featured in Game of Thrones without the usual crowds!

Make plans for a spring break and you’ll be surprised at how beautiful Europe can be in March and April.

Gathering momentum as a worthy European travel destination, Croatia is definitely worth adding to your travel list. Bordering the beautiful sapphire waters of the Adriatic Sea, Croatia boasts pristine national parks with unrivaled wildlife, beautiful beaches, historic walled cities with jaw-dropping architecture, and mouthwatering cuisine around every corner.  

So, without further ado, here are our recommended places to visit to see the best of Croatia.

Beautiful beaches

Croatia’s fragmented shoreline and many islands have over 3,900 miles of beaches, cliffs, and reefs. White pebble beaches line the clearest blue waters that sparkle in the Mediterranean sunshine. It’s an irresistible combination that will lure you into the water for swimming and watersports. Snorkeling and scuba diving are a delight, along with kayaking, sailing, water-skiing, and windsurfing. Of course, there are long sandy beaches for walking and sunbathing and some shingle beaches for fishing and watersports.  

 Croatia’s most photographed beach is Zlatni Rat Beach, and when you visit this remarkable sea spit of white sand and pebbles, you’ll understand why. Jutting out into the waters of Brac, it changes shape with the winds and currents. Rent a paddleboat or book a private catamaran for the day and enjoy seeing one of Europe’s top beach resorts against the Vidova Gora Mountain backdrop. Brac is also a good place to find some of the best luxury hotels and restaurants in Croatia if you want to extend your visit.  

Historic towns and hybrid architecture 

Croatia is just around the corner from Venice. Consequently, the Italian influence is very apparent in Venetian-style harbors and waterfront mansions. However, this former Balkan state also has a rich cultural legacy with early Slavic churches and red-roofed architecture. The Romans left their mark everywhere: in city walls, colonnades, temples, sculptures, and the magnificent amphitheater in Pula which rivals the better-known Colosseum in Rome.  

Dubrovnik 

Dubrovnik is Croatia’s best-known destination for tourists. Why not take a guided tour so you don’t miss some fascinating buildings, legendary stories, and highlights lining the hilly streets.  

A walk along the sturdy 2km defensive walls with turquoise waters on one side and the old town on the other is unforgettable. Peer into gardens and courtyards and admire the series of well-preserved forts and cannons around the perimeter. It’s like looking down on a fairy-tale set with its maze of steeples, look-out towers, and terracotta roofs.  

Don’t miss the elaborate Pile Gate (1537) and the statue of the city’s protective patron, Saint Blase, nestled in a niche above the fine Renaissance doorway. You can almost hear the rattle of heavy chains that once raised the wooden drawbridge each evening at sunset.    

Of course, Game of Thrones fans will have their own list of must-see places, perhaps best enjoyed on a guided tour. Other gems include the Treasury within the beautiful cathedral and the Square of the Loggia, a traditional gathering place lined with beautiful architecture and monuments.  

Split 

Stroll the Riva promenade and get your bearings on arrival in this fine UNESCO-listed city. The Diocletian’s Palace stands at the epi-centre of Split’s historic quarter. Built around 305AD, this colossal palace complex was home to the Roman Emperor who gave it his name. The magnificent arcaded peristyle and cathedral bell tower are illuminated after dark, creating a magical tableau. Diocletian left his mark on the city in many ways and his mausoleum is worth a visit too. 

Zagreb 

Don’t miss Croatia’s colorful capital city, Zagreb, where culture blends with modern shopping and dining. The red and blue tile roof adorning the modest Church of St Mark is like an elaborate board game with its shields and heraldic coats of arms. Visit the Cathedral Treasury and admire the priceless collection of religious silverware and artifacts within the Gornji Grad (Upper Town). The best views of the city are from the 13th century Tower of Lotrscak; it’s well worth the climb. 

 Hvar 

Home to some of Croatia’s most luxurious hotels and top seafood restaurants, Hvar is well worth a stop-over. This delightful Dalmatian Island attracts a host of celebrities and wealthy yacht-owners to the traffic-free Old Town and pretty harbor.  

Tasty Croatian cuisine – and where to find it! 

Croatian hospitality is legendary and with a good cause. Their enthusiastic cry of “Jedi! Jedi! means Eat! Eat!

While talented chefs preside over elegant restaurants, it’s worth venturing into a rustic family-run tavern and sampling local fare. Leave wine particulars at the door and sample some of the delicious local wines – you’re in for a big surprise! No meal is considered complete without a glass of wine, whatever the time of day! 

Hearty home-style cooking maximizes the flavor and availability of fresh local produce and meat in a casserole known as peka. It is slow-cooked over the fire and spiced with honey, cognac, and Mediterranean herbs. 

Typical Zagreb cuisine has an emphasis on meat, especially pork, with side dishes of potatoes, root vegetables, and cabbage. On the Istrian peninsula, a bean soup called manestra provides a filling lunch while the hand-rolled pasta (fuzi) accompanies mushroom or tomato-based sauces. 

Along the coast, don’t be surprised to find Black Risotto (crni rizot). It’s a typical seafood rice dish colored with squid ink. It tastes better than it looks! Be warned, the ink will also temporarily color your tongue, lips and teeth too! 

Typical Croatian snacks include air-dried smoked meat, soft sheep’s cheese, and locally produced olives and anchovies. Leave room for the delicious pastry desserts known as pita or burek.  

Natural wonders to behold 

Much of Croatia’s coast is limestone karst, a natural source of underground caverns, waterfalls, canyons, and lakes. It offers an unrivaled opportunity to go rock climbing, hiking beside waterfalls, caving, rafting, and ziplining.  

Inland, Croatia’s most popular attraction is Plitvice Lakes, one of eight national parks which protect around 9% of the natural landscape in this beautiful country. Steep forested slopes surround dozens of extraordinary emerald green lakes and cascading waterfalls, best viewed from a series of boardwalks and bridges. Take a boat ride and keep your eyes open for evidence of wolves, bears, eagles, and owls. 

Croatia has so many different aspects so why not plan a tour and experience it for yourself?

Get in touch with us at reservations@finestjourneys.com and we’ll be sure to plan your dream trip to Croatia.

Travel is all about new and different experiences, and nothing does it better than food. One of the best places in the world to find tasty local street food is Europe. It’s a great way to sample seasonal food and local delicacies, often unique to that region or town.

Join us on a smorgasbord of delights as we tour 10 hidden corners of well-known cities to add flavor and spice to your amazing European trip.

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