Looking for spring travel inspo? You’ve come to the right place! From the Netherlands to Japan, Morocco to Spain, blossoms are popping, perfuming the air, and providing an insta-worthy feast for the eyes! And after a long Canadian winter, what better way to celebrate the season than with flowers?
To help inspire your next spring trip, I’ve rounded up 7 must-see spring travel destinations with gorgeous blossoms. From city breaks to island escapes, there’s something for everyone. So what are you waiting for? Dive in and start planning!
Related: Top 5 Destinations for Viewing Fall Foliage in Canada
1. Andalusia, Spain – Orange Blossoms
Best time to visit: May
Spain may be known for its tasty tapas, awesome architecture and unique art scene. But there’s so much more to this popular destination. In May, Spain bursts with fragrant spring blooms from cherry and almond trees to orange blossoms and more.
Best place to spot flowers: Seville, Andalusia
Check out the south of Spain to experience the orange blossoms (or azahar) in all their glory. To complement the fragrant blossoming orange trees, you’ll get perfect weather and fewer visitors.
Specifically, Seville, Andalusia, is a go-to destination for orange blossoms in spring— with an estimated 40,000 trees lining the historical streets, parks and squares. The bitter Seville oranges have long been used for making wine, perfume, sweets, and of course, the famous Seville marmalade.
While you’re there, visit the historic Alameda de Hercules. This recently restored meeting spot is considered the oldest public garden in Europe. Shaded by hundreds of orange trees and perfumed by their blossoms, it’s the perfect place to take in the blooms and do some people watching, too.
Also, don’t miss Cordoba’s Fiesta de los Patios—a two-week-long celebration, where visitors can peruse the legendary courtyards and patio houses and admire the plethora of carefully cultivated flowers and plants. There’s traditional singing, flamenco guitar, dancing and an array of food and drink! Need I say more?
2. Antelope Valley, California – California Poppies
Best time to visit: April – May
Need nature or prefer to stay closer to home this spring? California’s Antelope Valley offers an unparalleled experience. Between April and May, the valley pops with gorgeous crops of California poppies.
In the past couple of years, they’ve flourished due to increased rainfall and cooler weather, resulting in “superblooms” that even had a moment on Instagram.
Best place to spot flowers: Antelope Valley, California Poppy Reserve
The Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve is for more than just flower enthusiasts. Boasting eight miles of trails through gently rolling hills and a paved section for wheelchair access, it’s accessible to nature lovers of varying abilities.
Visitors can wander the trails, admire the gorgeous blooms and check out the resident creatures, too. Benches along the trails offer the perfect spot to sit back and observe.
Watch out for some of the park’s inhabitants, including meadowlarks, lizards, and gopher snakes. And visitors may even spot a coyote or bobcat from time to time, so wildlife watchers take note!
Whether the super bloom happens or not this year, Antelope Valley is the most consistent poppy spot in California.
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3. Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Tulips
Best time to visit: Late March – early May
Tulips are synonymous with spring, and the Netherlands is a classic spring travel destination. Here, tulip season is iconic with its bright, colourful blooms. Visit in April to hit peak tulip season and catch all the colourful glory you’ve seen all over social media.
Tulips have been a hit in the Netherlands since the 1930s when they were most popular. Beloved by the wealthy, who wore them as corsages while at balls or used them to decorate their lavish homes, they now adorn public parks and backyards for all to enjoy.
Best places to spot flowers: Vondelpark, Dam Square, Museum Quarter, Keukenhof Tulip Gardens
Amsterdam’s annual Tulip Festival brings tulips to all corners of the city, from parks to backyards. From the Vondelpark and central Dam Square to the Museum Quarter’s colourful streets, more than 880,000 tulips adorn 75 public locations throughout the city.
Of note is the Keukenhof Tulip Gardens a 40-minute drive outside of Amsterdam. Featuring 79 acres and more than 7 million bulbs, it’s the largest flower garden in the world.
Looking for something a little different? Check out the annual Dutch Flower parade in the Bulb District. You’ll witness colourful, flower-bedecked floats travelling 26 miles through villages and towns along the way.
4. Dochula Pass and Pelela Pass, Bhutan – Orchids and Rhododendrons
Best time to visit: Late March – May
Rich in culture and history, Bhutan is open to visitors! From breathtaking mountain treks to delicious homemade dishes to restorative hot-stone baths, the nation has much to offer. Whether you come to enhance your well-being or experience an epic adventure, you’ll want to stop and smell the flowers along the way.
Although Bhutan may not be your typical spring travel destination, it’s known for its gorgeous blooms! In late March to early May, the Kingdom comes alive with flowering plants, orchids and rhododendrons. Lucky travellers may also spot the elusive Himalayan blue poppy (Bhutan’s national flower) in June and July.
Best places to spot flowers: Dochula Pass and Pelela Pass
Mountain passes such as Dochula Pass and Pelela Pass are prime wildflower spots. Lined with blue poppies, orchids, and rhododendrons, the Chele La Nature Trek offers a panoramic view of the Himalayas.Visitors can see buttercups, larkspurs, lilies, and geraniums at higher elevations. The more temperate regions are covered in orchids, violets, and white, pink, and red rhododendrons.
5. Kyrenia Mountains, Cyprus – Wildflowers
Best time to visit: March and April
White sand beaches, salty sea air and sparkling blue water. That’s how I picture Cyprus. But the Republic of Cyprus, which is culturally Greek and is partially owned by Turkey, is also rich in Mediterranean culture dating back 1,1000 years. This makes it one of the oldest civilizations in the Mediterranean.
Cyprus is more than just sun, sand…and culture. Did you know that come spring, this island nation boasts a dazzling array of 30 kinds of orchids? Across the fields, along the roadsides, and dotting the mountainous terrain, visitors can experience a riot of colourful blooms, from bright oranges and reds to soft whites and lavender.
Best place to spot flowers: Kyrenia Mountains
Running parallel to the North Cyprus coastlines, the Kyrenia mountains are an essential flower-viewing destination for nature lovers. In addition to checking out the many roadside wildflowers or booking a guided orchid and wildflower walk, visitors can stop by the North Cyprus Herbarium in the Alevkaya Forest Station on the mountain ridge near the town of Esentepe to check out pressed wildflowers native to the region.
The Herbarium now houses around 800 species, which are all found in various locations across North Cyprus. It also features a collection of pressed flowers. Flower connoisseurs can check out the Spirit Collection— where rare orchids are stored in bottles with chemicals added to preserve them.
6. M’Goun Valley, Morocco – Damask Roses
Best time to visit: April and May
A short ferry ride from Spain, Morocco enchants. Evoking visions of mosques, souks and sand dunes, this North African country is home to well-known cities like Fez, Marrakech, and Casablanca. It boasts mountains, deserts, beach resorts, plus all the insta-worthy photo ops any traveller could wish for. And here’s another reason to Morrocco. In April and May, parts of the country burst into fragrant bloom with Damask roses.
The French brought the Damask rose to El Kelaa Des Mgouna in 1938 when the first rose water distillery was opened. Shortly after, the inaugural rose festival launched—and it’s been a tradition ever since. The harvested roses are prized for their beauty benefits and made into shampoos, facial products, hand creams and more.
Best place to spot flowers: Kelaat M’gouna
Kelaat M’gouna, a city in the Dades Valley (or Valley of Roses), is famous for its sea of pink rose landscapes. Every spring, 3-4,000 tons of roses are collected from the M’Goun Valley in Morroco.
Arrive before the harvest in April to see endless rows of Damask roses across the beautiful valley. In early May, check out the 3-day Rose Valley Morocco Festival, which features brightly coloured floats covered in paper roses, food, music and dancing.
7. Tokyo, Japan – Cherry Blossoms
Best time to visit: March – May
No post about spring blossom travel would be complete without cherry blossoms! And is there a more iconic spot to view cherry blossoms than Japan? In fact, in Japan, travelling to see cherry blossoms is a thing.
While you can likely see them closer to home, where’s the fun in that? Why not make it a full travel experience and head to Japan, where cherry trees (sakura) mark the end of winter? The Japanese even have a word for it: hanami, or flower viewing, which captures the simple pleasure of looking at a single cherry tree or group of trees in bloom. This year, Tokyo predicts the first bloom on March 21 and peak viewing on March 29. What are you waiting for?
Best places to spot flowers: Ueno Park and Shinjuku Gyoen
The cherry blossoms famously bloom earlier in Ueno Park, one of the most popular cherry blossom spots. With an estimated 800 cherry trees lining the park, this one’s not to be missed. It’s busy, though, so be prepared to get there early to snag a picnic spot.
If you’re looking for something a little more peaceful, check out Shinjuku Gyoen. This spacious garden boasts 1,300 cherry trees that bloom at different times and plenty of walking paths. There are also English, French and Japanese gardens to enjoy.
Whether it’s wandering the orange blossom scented streets of Seville, enjoying breathtaking wildflower views in the mountains of Bhutan, or stopping to smell the roses in Morocco, I hope you’re inspired for your next spring travel adventure!
Need more spring travel tips? Check out these budget spring break travel tips. Want to explore your own backyard this spring? Visit spring festivals across Canada!
Happy travels,
Sarah
