The best European port cities to visit this spring – with sandy beaches, mountain hikes and stunning floral displays
MAY and June were the most popular months to travel to Europe last year, according to trade association Abta.
And what’s the best way to visit all the hotspots?
On a cruise, of course.
Sophie Swietochowski picks top spring voyages, with tips from Ambassador Cruise Line’s spring guide.
OLBIA, SARDINIA
YOU may not have heard much about the Sardinian treasure that is Olbia — but you will certainly be the envy of your friends when you share snaps of its golden, sandy shore and turquoise sea.
The water is warming up now, so you will be able to take a paddle before wandering around the Parco Fausto Noce to admire its beautiful trees and fountains.
If you have no plans and can whizz off straight away, this deal from Iglu Cruise is a steal — seven nights on Marella Cruises’ Marella Explorer 2 is £848pp, including return flights from Bristol.
Departing Majorca on April 9, the voyage will take you to Olbia before heading on to Naples and Rome, Corsica in France, and Palamos and Palma de Mallorca in Spain.
If that is too soon, the same cruise departs on April 23, costing from £900 with flights from Bristol (+£152 to fly from Exeter, or +£133 flying from Cardiff).
See iglucruise.com.
LISBON
HILLY, cobbled streets of the Portuguese capital are colourful even on a dull day but during spring they come to life even more thanks to the jacaranda trees displaying their delicate purple flowers.
Pick up a pastel de nata — a Portuguese custard tart — from one of the bakeries and head to the famous Fantastic World Of Portuguese Sardines shop which has row upon row of colourful fish tins.
The Hidden Gems of France, Spain & Portugal cruise on board Ambassador’s Ambition will take you from Bristol to Falmouth in Cornwall then Lisbon, before Oporto in Portugal, Santiago de Compostela and Bilbao in northern Spain, and Bordeaux and Lorient in France.
The 11-night sailing costs from £709pp, based on two people sharing and departing on May 3.
DUBLIN
IT’S so much more than the perfect place to drink Guinness.
But if that’s what you fancy, make sure you do it at a proper Irish pub with live folk music and locals spilling out on to the streets.
The weather is starting to improve which means the craggy cliffs that border the coast will soon be carpeted in primroses and wild garlic.
You can tick off Dublin, as well as more Irish and Scottish must-visits, on a 12-night voyage with Princess Cruises’ Regal Princess.
Departing Southampton on May 15, you call at Dublin and Belfast then Glasgow and Edinburgh before Paris.
The Round Britain itinerary costs from £1,186pp, based on two sharing a balcony cabin.
See cruise.co.uk or call 0870 990 8824.
BARCELONA
EXPECT a splendid 23C in Barcelona in May and soak up the Catalan sun from either the city’s sandy beach or, if you are up for a hike, in The Botanical Garden, on the slopes of Montjuic Mountain.
The garden is home to 1,300 plant species, which thrive in the Mediterranean spring sunshine.
Barcelona’s streets will be less crowded than in summer, so go to popular spots such as tapas restaurant Denassus while not too overrun.
Gaudi’s La Sagrada Familia church is also a must-see.
A nine-night Spain and Portugal itinerary with NCL Cruises takes in beautiful Barcelona as well as La Coruna in northern Spain, Porto and Lisbon in Portugal, and Cadiz, Malaga, Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca, also in Spain.
The cruise, with Norwegian Pearl, costs from £864pp, departing Southampton on May 9.
See cruise.co.uk.
AMSTERDAM
IF spring blooms are what you are after, Amsterdam should top your list.
You will be hard pushed to find a more beautiful display of flowers than the tulips at the Keukenhof garden, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.
There are many coach day-trip packages that run from the city centre.
Or stick to the vibrant canals of Amsterdam, which are alive with flower-basket displays at this time.
A four-night cruise with Celebrity Apex will take you straight from Southampton to the Netherlands, with a brief stop in the Belgian city of Bruges before returning to Southampton.
The cruise costs from £724pp, departing on May 23 and based on two sharing a balcony cabin.
See iglucruise.com for details.