Best Places to Visit in Spring: 12 Destinations With Perfect Weather

The best places to visit in spring are the ones that warm up early but haven't hit summer crowds or summer heat yet. Based on 20 years of weather data, our top picks are Seville in April (73°F, 11 hours of sun a day), Lisbon and Athens in May (71°F and 78°F, with only 4 to 5 rainy days), Kyoto in early April for cherry blossoms, and San Diego, which barely sees rain after March.

Spring is a funny season to plan for. March in one city feels like late winter, while March in another already feels like June. So instead of a generic list, we went through the monthly averages for every city on WeatherApex and picked the places where March, April or May is genuinely the sweet spot. Every number below is a 20-year average (2006 to 2025), not a forecast.

Best places to visit in spring: the quick answer

If you only read one section, read this one. The table is sorted roughly by how reliable the weather is in that place's best spring month.

A quick note on that last row. Amsterdam is the coolest place on the list by a long way, and it's still here because of one thing: tulips. You don't go to Amsterdam in April for the weather. You go despite it.

The best places to visit in spring in Europe

Europe does spring better than almost anywhere. The days get long fast, the big summer tour groups haven't arrived, and southern Europe in particular is already warm enough to eat outside at night. The trick is matching the city to the month.

Seville, Spain: go in April

Seville is one of the hottest big cities in Europe in summer, which is exactly why spring is the time to go. In April the average high is 73°F (22.8°C), the low is a comfortable 53°F (11.8°C), and you get about 11 hours of sunshine a day. That's sundress weather in the afternoon and a light jacket after dinner.

By May it's already 82°F (27.7°C) on average, and by June you'll understand why the whole city disappears indoors at 3 pm. If you can, go in April. The city's big spring fair, the Feria de Abril, usually falls in April too, so the streets are at their liveliest. Book early if your dates overlap with Easter week, because hotels fill up and prices jump.

See the full numbers on our Seville weather in April page.

Lisbon, Portugal: May is the winner

Lisbon is mild all year, but May is the month that ticks every box. Highs average 71°F (21.9°C), rain drops to just 4 days, and the sun is out for 12.5 hours a day. April is nice too (66°F, 9 rainy days), but you're more likely to get a grey, drizzly afternoon.

Here's the thing nobody tells you about Lisbon: it's built on steep hills, and you'll be walking a lot. 71°F is perfect for that. In July you'll be sweating halfway up every street. Bring comfortable shoes with good grip, because those shiny stone sidewalks get slippery after rain. Details on our Lisbon weather in May page.

Athens, Greece: late April to May

If you want a spring trip that already feels like summer, Athens in May is it. The average high is 77.7°F (25.4°C), there are only 5 rainy days, and humidity drops to 57%, so it feels dry and bright rather than sticky. April is a little cooler at 68.5°F (20.3°C) with 6 rainy days.

The bigger reason to go in spring is the heat later in the year. Walking up to the Acropolis in July is a genuinely unpleasant experience. In May it's just a nice climb. If you're adding islands, keep in mind the sea is still cool in May and some ferry routes run fewer sailings before June. Check the Athens weather in May page for the full breakdown.

Rome, Italy: April, if you can handle the crowds

Rome in April averages 66.4°F (19.1°C) with lows around 48°F (9.1°C). It's ideal walking weather for a city where you'll easily cover 10 miles a day. The catch is rain: about 10 rainy days in April. Most of it comes as short showers rather than all-day downpours, so pack a small umbrella and keep going.

The honest downside is people. Easter brings huge crowds to Rome, and some years Easter lands in April. If your dates are flexible, aim for the weeks either side of it. May is a little warmer (73°F) with the same number of rainy days and more sunshine, and it's a solid backup. Numbers on our Rome weather in April page.

Istanbul, Turkey: April for tulips, May for warmth

Istanbul is underrated as a spring trip. In April it averages 61°F (16.1°C), and the city plants millions of tulips in its parks for the yearly tulip festival. It's cool enough that you'll want a sweater by the water in the evening.

May is the better month purely for weather: 69.8°F (21°C), 7 rainy days and 12 hours of sunshine. The Bosphorus ferries are a lot more fun when you're not freezing on the open deck. See Istanbul weather in April for daily ranges.

Amsterdam, Netherlands: April, for the flowers

We'll be straight with you. Amsterdam in April is not warm. The average high is 55.9°F (13.3°C), the low is 42.6°F (5.9°C), and there are about 10 rainy days. You'll want a real jacket, not a light one.

So why is it on a list of the best places to visit in spring? Because the tulip fields outside the city are only in bloom for a few weeks, usually from late March to mid-May, and they're worth it. The famous Keukenhof gardens are only open in spring. Go for the flowers, dress for 55°F, and treat any sunny afternoon as a bonus. More on our Amsterdam weather in April page.

Best places to visit in spring in Asia

Kyoto, Japan: late March to early April

Cherry blossom season in Kyoto is one of those trips people plan for years. The blossoms usually peak somewhere between the last week of March and the first week of April, and the weather lines up nicely: April averages 64.6°F (18.1°C) during the day and 45.9°F (7.7°C) at night.

Two things to know. First, Kyoto is not dry in spring. It averages 12 rainy days in April and nearly 6 inches of rain, so a rainy day or two is likely. Second, everyone else wants to be there too. Hotels for peak bloom week can sell out months ahead. If you'd rather skip the crowds, late April and May are still lovely, just greener. We cover the whole year in our best time of year to visit Japan guide, and the monthly data is on the Kyoto weather in April page.

Seoul, South Korea: mid-April onward

Seoul has a short, beautiful spring. March is still cold, with lows right around freezing (31.6°F). By April, highs reach 62.2°F (16.8°C), the cherry trees along the river bloom, and rain is light at about 8 days. May is even better at 72.3°F (22.4°C), before the rainy season arrives in summer.

If you're choosing between Japan and Korea for a spring trip, Seoul can be a little less crowded and a little cheaper during blossom season. See Seoul weather in April.

Best places to visit in spring in the US and Mexico

You don't need a passport for a great spring trip. Some of the best spring weather in the world is a short domestic flight away.

San Diego, California: the most reliable spring weather on this list

San Diego barely changes from month to month, and that's the point. April averages 66.9°F (19.4°C) with just 3 rainy days, and May drops to only 2. If you hate gambling with the forecast, this is your safest bet.

The one thing to know is the marine layer. In late spring, mornings near the coast are often grey and cloudy, and locals call it "May Gray". It usually burns off by early afternoon. Plan beach time for after lunch and you'll be fine. The water is still cold in spring, so it's more of a beach-walk trip than a swimming trip. Numbers on San Diego weather in April.

New Orleans, Louisiana: April, before the humidity

New Orleans in April averages 76.3°F (24.6°C), and it's about as good as the city's weather gets. By May the high is 82.4°F (28°C) and the humidity starts to feel heavy. By July, it's a sauna.

April is also festival season, with music events filling the calendar, so the city has a great buzz. It does rain, about 10 days a month, but it tends to come as short thunderstorms. Don't let it scare you off. See New Orleans weather in April.

Washington DC: early April for cherry blossoms

DC's cherry blossoms usually peak in late March or early April, and the city is at its prettiest then. April highs average 66.4°F (19.1°C), but nights are still cool at 46°F (7.9°C), so bring layers. There are about 11 rainy days in April.

The museums are free, which makes DC a great backup plan for any rainy day. If you miss the blossoms, May is warmer (75°F) and still pleasant before the humid summer kicks in. Monthly data on Washington DC weather in April.

Mexico City: March, in the dry season

Mexico City is a smart spring pick that a lot of people overlook. March is right in the dry season, with highs of 77.4°F (25.2°C), only 6 rainy days and very low humidity (47%). Because the city sits at high altitude, mornings are cool, around 50°F (9.8°C), and afternoons are warm and sunny.

March is also when the jacaranda trees bloom and turn whole streets purple. By May the rain starts to pick up (13 rainy days), so earlier in spring is better. Check Mexico City weather in March.

March, April or May: which spring month is best?

The month you pick changes the trip more than most people expect. Here's how we'd think about it.

• March is best for places that get hot or rainy later: Mexico City and New Orleans. Most of Europe and East Asia is still chilly in March.
• April is the all-rounder: Seville, Rome, Kyoto, Washington DC, Seoul and Amsterdam all peak around April for either weather or flowers.
• May is the warmest and usually the sunniest: Lisbon, Athens and Istanbul are at their best, with 12 or more hours of sunshine a day.

One more thing. Spring weather moves around from year to year more than summer or winter weather does. A late cold snap or an early heat wave can shift things by a week or two. That's why we always suggest checking the 16-day forecast in our trip planner about two weeks before you fly.

How to choose the right spring trip

• Want the warmest weather? Athens or Seville in May, or Mexico City in March.
• Want the least rain? San Diego in April or May (2 to 3 rainy days).
• Want flowers? Kyoto and Washington DC for cherry blossoms, Amsterdam and Istanbul for tulips, Mexico City for jacarandas.
• Want a short flight from the US? San Diego, New Orleans, Washington DC or Mexico City.
• Want fewer crowds? Avoid Easter week in Rome and Seville, and avoid peak blossom week in Kyoto.
• On a budget? Late April and May in Lisbon and Istanbul tend to be cheaper than the big summer months.

What to pack for a spring trip

Spring packing is all about layers. Almost every city on this list has a gap of 15 to 25 degrees between the afternoon high and the overnight low. A T-shirt, a light sweater and a thin rain jacket will cover you in most of these places. Add a warmer coat for Amsterdam and Seoul in early April, and sunglasses and sunscreen for Athens, Seville and Mexico City, where the sun is strong even when the air feels mild.

If you're not sure what a certain temperature actually feels like, our guides on what to wear in 60 degree weather and what to wear in 70 degree weather go through outfits in detail.

How we picked these places

Every number in this article comes from WeatherApex's climate data: 20-year averages from 2006 to 2025 for each city and month. We looked at the average high and low, the number of rainy days, hours of sunshine and humidity, then picked the places where a spring month offers comfortable temperatures (roughly 60°F to 80°F), low to moderate rain, and plenty of daylight. Rainy days count every day with measurable rain, so a rainy day can be anything from a ten-minute shower to a full washout.

Averages are a planning tool, not a promise. Use them to pick your destination and your month, then check the live forecast closer to your trip.