Where to Travel Spring 2026: 7 Destinations from Riga

Las Fallas is unlike any festival you've seen — massive handcrafted sculptures (some over 20 metres tall) are displayed across the city for days, then spectacularly burned on the final night, March 19. The festival features fireworks, parades, traditional music, and the iconic mascletà (daytime firecracker shows in Plaza del Ayuntamiento).

Beyond the festival, Valencia is a year-round draw. The City of Arts and Sciences — a futuristic complex designed by Santiago Calatrava — includes Europe's largest aquarium (Oceanogràfic) and a stunning science museum. The old town (Ciutat Vella) is walkable and photogenic, with the Silk Exchange (La Lonja, a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Valencia Cathedral as highlights.

Budget tip: Valencia is significantly cheaper than Barcelona. A restaurant lunch for two runs €25–35, beer is €2–3, and public transport (single metro/bus ticket) is €1.50. Paella at a beachside restaurant in La Malvarrosa starts around €12–15 per person — and this is the dish's birthplace, so it's the real thing.

April in Budapest is magical. The city's famous cherry blossoms peak in mid-April along the Danube promenade, Gellért Hill, and Margaret Island. Easter falls on April 5, 2026, bringing traditional markets and folk festivals across the city.

Thermal baths are Budapest's signature experience. The Széchenyi Baths (the largest medicinal bath complex in Europe) have outdoor pools heated to 34–38°C — perfect on a crisp spring morning. Entry costs around €25–30 on weekdays. The more ornate Gellért Baths offer an Art Nouveau setting at similar prices.

The ruin bars of the Jewish Quarter (District VII) are legendary — bars built into abandoned buildings with eclectic, art-filled interiors. Szimpla Kert is the most famous, but there are dozens to explore. Street food at the Great Market Hall (Központi Vásárcsarnok) is exceptional and cheap — try lángos (fried dough with sour cream and cheese, ~€2.50) and chimney cake (kürtőskalács, ~€3).

Budget tip: Budapest is one of Europe's cheapest capital cities for tourists. Expect to spend around €50–70/day including accommodation in a mid-range hotel, meals, and sightseeing.

Keukenhof is the headline event. Located about 30 minutes by bus from Amsterdam, this 32-hectare garden showcases 7 million flower bulbs — tulips, hyacinths, daffodils — in astonishing arrangements. The 2026 season runs March 19 – May 10. Book tickets online in advance (around €19.50 per adult) as they sell out on peak days. The Bloemencorso flower parade (April 18, 2026) runs 42 km from Noordwijk to Haarlem with giant floats made entirely of flowers.

King's Day (April 27) turns Amsterdam into an enormous orange-themed street party. Canals fill with boats, the entire city becomes a flea market (vrijmarkt), and live music erupts on every corner. It's free, it's chaotic, and it's unforgettable.

Keukenhof Gardens — 32 hectares of tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils, open March 19 – May 10, 2026

Beyond the big events, spring is the best time to enjoy Amsterdam's canals on foot or by bike. Museum lines are shorter than in summer — the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Anne Frank House are all more manageable in April.

Budget tip: Amsterdam is pricier than Southern/Eastern European options, but spring shoulder season means lower hotel rates than summer peak. Look for deals on Booking.com or Hostelworld — expect €80–120/night for a decent hotel, or €30–40 for a hostel bed. The I amsterdam City Card (from €65/24hrs) covers most museums and public transport.

Porto's Ribeira district (UNESCO World Heritage) is one of Europe's most photographed waterfronts — colourful houses stacked along the Douro River, connected by the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge. Spring is the best time to walk it: mild temperatures, fewer tourists than summer, and jacaranda trees beginning to bloom in late May.

The city is famous for its port wine. Cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia (just across the river) offer tastings from €5–15 — Taylor's, Graham's, and Sandeman are the most popular. Pair your wine with a francesinha — Porto's legendary meat sandwich drenched in beer-based sauce (€8–12 at most restaurants).

Don't miss the São Bento Railway Station (20,000 hand-painted azulejo tiles covering the entrance hall), the Livraria Lello bookshop (one of the world's most beautiful — the staircase inspired J.K. Rowling), and the Clérigos Tower for panoramic city views.

Budget tip: Porto is one of Western Europe's best-value cities. A full lunch with wine at a traditional tasca costs €10–15. A Douro River cruise starts from €15. Accommodation in the centre averages €60–90/night for a good hotel.

Sicily in spring is about culture and food, not beach lounging. Catania's baroque old town (UNESCO World Heritage) is built from black volcanic stone — it's striking and unlike anywhere else in Europe. The fish market (La Pescheria) near the Duomo is a sensory explosion of fresh seafood, shouting vendors, and street food stalls selling arancini (fried rice balls, €1.50–2) and panelle (chickpea fritters).

Mount Etna, Europe's most active volcano, is a 45-minute drive from Catania. In March–April, you can hike the lower slopes through wildflowers while the summit is still dusted with snow — a surreal combination. Guided summit excursions cost €50–80 and are worth every cent.

Rent a car for 2–3 days and explore the Val di Noto — a string of baroque towns (Noto, Modica, Ragusa) that feel like open-air museums. Modica is also famous for its chocolate, made using a centuries-old Aztec method.

Budget tip: Sicily is dramatically cheaper than northern Italy. Expect €8–12 for a full restaurant meal, €1 for espresso, and €50–70/night for a comfortable B&B. Car rental from Catania airport starts at €20/day in spring.

Kotor's medieval Old Town sits wedged between mountains and the bay — a walled maze of churches, piazzas, and cat-filled alleys. The Kotor Fortress hike (1,350 steps to the top) rewards you with one of Europe's most jaw-dropping panoramic views. Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat.

Day trips from Kotor are exceptional: Sveti Stefan (the famous island-hotel, photographable from the beach), Budva Riviera (beaches and nightlife), Lovćen National Park (mountain views and the Njegos Mausoleum), and the Perast waterfront with its two island churches.

Montenegro's food scene is hearty and affordable — grilled meats, fresh Adriatic seafood, and local wines. Try ćevapi (grilled minced meat rolls, ~€5) and njeguški steak (stuffed with ham and cheese, ~€8–10).

Budget tip: Montenegro is significantly cheaper than Croatia next door. A meal in Kotor's Old Town costs €8–15, a good apartment runs €40–60/night, and many of the best experiences (hiking, swimming, exploring old towns) are free.

Oulu was recommended by six out of ten major travel publications for 2026 — more than any other European destination. The Capital of Culture programme includes concerts, Northern Lights viewing events (still possible in early spring), ice-swimming championships, and exhibitions exploring Arctic creativity and innovation.

The city sits on the Gulf of Bothnia and is known for its cycling culture (one of the world's most bike-friendly cities — even in winter), creative tech scene, and nearby nature. The Nallikari Beach and surrounding coastal trails make for excellent spring walks when the snow melts.

For Latvians, Oulu offers a Nordic cultural experience that's less crowded and cheaper than Helsinki or Stockholm. Plus, the journey via Helsinki is easy — fly Riga–Helsinki (1 hour), then Helsinki–Oulu (1 hour domestic).

Budget tip: Oulu is cheaper than Helsinki — hotel rooms average €80–110/night, and many Cultural Capital events are free or low-cost. Finnish food is hearty: try reindeer at a local restaurant (€15–20 for a main course) and Finnish cinnamon rolls (korvapuusti) at any bakery.