As the weather starts to warm up and nature begins to stir with new life, the spring months are the ideal time for being out in the great outdoors. When it comes to choosing where to go in spring, look for places such as Japan, where the cherry blossoms start to bloom; Tuscany, where the rolling green vineyards start to flower; or Canada, where the vast landscapes full of wildlife are ripe for exploring. Meanwhile, in the Southern Hemisphere, enjoy the cooler months of hot destinations such as South Africa or Australia as the sun-baked summer melts into autumn.
March
Spring is in the air. The daffs are blooming, bright green buds are popping out, and holing up at home with a boxset just seems wrong now the evenings are brightening up. There’s still a way to go before the mercury rises back at home, so this is the time to seek out sunnier spots in far-flung climes. Where to go in March? Mauritius – a serious player on the international beachy scene – is an all-round crowd-pleaser with its blissful beaches, super-luxe hotels and fiery foodie scene. And, if you play your cards right, you can even swim with wild dolphins offshore. Closer to home, the waters off of Tunisia are warm and mellow, and over in Vietnam, it’s not too stifling for an Asian adventure before the monsoon sweeps in with its sticky humidity. Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, a green wave of new life is sweeping across the country's tea terraces while in Cuba, you can still find a good ole party as carnival comes to a riotous end.
Where to go in March
April
As April hits, spring is in full bloom and Europe is heating up. Morning dips in the Med are still on the nippy side, but sun-dappled terraces are starting to fill up and beach bars are pulling up the shutters for spritzes after swims. Where to go in April? Japan flutters with cherry blossom season, drawing travellers from all over the world who dream of standing beneath the boughs and scattering fallen petals like confetti. It’s a fine time to head into Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains whilst the valleys are smothered with swathes of green and temperatures can’t dampen progress and you can tick off bucket-list material with a springtime jaunt to Egypt.
Where to go in April
May
There’s a lot going for May. Spring has perked everything up and the idea of long, hot summer nights is just around the corner. Looking for where to go on a big adventure to kick off the month of May? Head to China – the winter chill has long gone, rural areas are all green and luscious and local life spills onto the streets in its high-tech, high-tempo cities. Closer to home, you can take balmy evening walks in Istanbul, picking up sorbets and squares of Turkish Delight, or mooch around the hot-to-trot pavements of Milan that’ll win you over with its fearless fashion and late-night cocktails. Here are our top picks for where to go in May.
Where to go in May