Put some spring in your travel step by planning a trip. The season offers a chance for a bonus jaunt, an extra treat before the true vacation season hits: Consider a few places whose peak appeal comes in that Goldilocks moment between winter and summer—especially because you can avoid peak season crowds.
Here are 10 smart options for a springtime fling, all with a compelling reason or two to travel there.
1. Cartagena, Colombia
Less than a five-hour flight from New York City, Cartagena’s UNESCO-designated historic district charms with its colonial mansions repurposed into cafés and boutiques and squares where colorfully dressed palenqueras sell tropical fruits. Pleasant spring temps (think low to mid-80s), with a bit of a breeze from the Caribbean coast, allow for plenty of exploring on foot, including the nearby mural-covered Getsemaní neighborhood.
If you only have time for one tour, let it be a food tour inspired by Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez, featuring a guide who plays audio passages mentioning food from García Márquez’s novels, such as Love in the Time of Cholera, and then takes visitors to taste that very same dish. Extend your trip with AmaWaterways, which recently launched cruise sailings between Cartagena and Barranquilla.
Where to stay: Casa San Agustín and Casa Pestagua
- Book now: Casa San Agustín | Casa Pestagua
Set within 17th-century mansions, sister properties Casa San Agustín and Casa Pestagua are the premier addresses, with sprawling rooms, four-poster beds, and period furnishings, plus impeccable service (ask the team to book a table at award-winning Celele restaurant). A much-anticipated Four Seasons opens in Cartagena in mid-2025.
The Paso Robles American Viticultural Area is home to more than 200 wineries.
Photo by randy andy/Shutterstock
2. Paso Robles, California
Although winemaking in the Paso Robles area dates to Franciscan friars planting grapes at the nearby Spanish missions in the 1790s, the region remains a bit unsung compared to Napa and Sonoma. All the better for those in the know: Along with mild temps, spring brings the arrival of wildflowers and poppies along the many oak-studded country roads. Sip the fruit-forward Estate Pét Nat (a blend of grenache, cinsault, and viognier) at family-owned, solar-powered Thacher winery, and take in the panoramic views of the surrounding hills from Booker’s indoor-outdoor tasting room.
Afterward, hop around the downtown park, which is lined with wine bars and tasting rooms like Hope on the Park. Check out Paso Robles General Store and Brown Butter Cookie Company, and yummy eats like Finca, a fun Mexican spot within the Paso Market Walk complex.
Where to stay: Piccolo and Farmhouse
Choose from the upscale Piccolo, a mere half block from the downtown park, with 24 loft-like rooms and a rooftop bar, and Farmhouse, a motel made over into chic, sunny cottages with vaulted ceilings and Zellige tile bathrooms.
Wat Rong Khun, also known as the White Temple, is full of intricate details.
Photo by fokke baarssen/Shutterstock
3. Chiang Rai, Thailand
While many will consider heading to the likes of Bangkok and Phuket in the spring after season three ofThe White Lotus premieres in February, consider traveling to less-crowded Chiang Rai. In the mountains in northern Thailand, Chiang Rai is a province at the borders of Myanmar and Laos, where the Ruak and Mekong rivers meet. This geography has informed the region’s culture, with influences from native hill tribes, Lanna heritage (the reigning kingdom in the north prior to Thailand’s integration into one country), and centuries of Burmese rule.
The eerily beautiful and intricately carved Wat Rong Khun, or White Temple, is a must-visit, along with the blue-hued Wat Rong Suea Ten. Once you’ve had your fill of temples, step into the jungle interior for a waterfall hike within Lam Nam Kok National Park. Like other Thai cities, Chiang Rai boasts its fair share of markets and night bazaars, where visitors can browse Thai handicrafts and sample khao soi (a curry noodle soup that’s a northern specialty) and mango sticky rice at their own pace.
Where to stay: Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort
- Book now: Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort
The 159-room Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort sits by the Kok River and close to landmarks like the Blue Temple, Wat Rong Suea Ten, and the Chiang Rai Clock tower. Take advantage of this low-key spot with a dip in its riverside swimming pool.
Enjoy Kaua‘i’s dramatic landscapes in the springtime.
Courtesy of Braden Jarvis/Unsplash
4. Kauaʻi, Hawai‘i
With towering, razor-sharp ridges along the coast and a rainforest interior, Kauaʻi may be the most dramatic of the Hawaiian Islands. It’s also typically less congested than Maui or O‘ahu. Take advantage of the off-season period from April to May by hiking along emerald cliffs in Waimea Canyon, spotting sea turtles as you snorkel, or taking to the sky in a helicopter to see sites featured in Jurassic Park. (You may even catch a double rainbow as the mist lifts.)
Add a visit to Lydgate Farms, a fifth-generation family-owned cacao farm, and join a three-hour tour that covers the chocolate making from bean to bar. The best part, of course, is sampling cacao nibs, loads of fresh fruit and nuts, as well as honey, along the way.
Where to stay: 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay and Timbers Kauaʻi
- Book now: 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay | Timbers Kauaʻi
Along the island’s notoriously wetter North Shore, the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, a revamp of the St. Regis Princeville, made waves when it opened two years ago. Further south, Timbers Kauaʻi, an oceanfront complex of contemporary residences, has an on-site farm that guests can tour. (A freshly picked basket of papaya and pineapple also awaits in rooms.)
Mughal emperor Shah Jahan commissioned the Taj Mahal in Agra in 1631 to honor his late wife.
Photo by Niti Kantarote/Shutterstock
5. Agra, India
Along the banks of the Yamuna River, the city of Agra is world famous as the site of the Taj Mahal, commissioned by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 to house the tomb of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Unfortunately, the peak season months of November and December have been seeing increasing smog throughout northern India due to crop burnings then and stagnant air trapping pollutants. This smog often obscures views of the white marble symbol of love, which makes spring a better time to visit (with fewer crowds, too).
Also noteworthy is Agra Fort, the main residence of the Mughals until the capital was moved to Delhi. Inside, wander through palaces and halls, as well as Musamman Burj, an octagonal tower where Shah Jahan is believed to have been imprisoned by his son. A 45-minute drive from Agra is the often overlooked Fatehpur Sikri, emperor Akbar’s short-lived first capital city with an impressive complex of red sandstone monuments.
Where to stay: Oberoi Amarvilas
- Book now: Oberoi Amarvilas
Oberoi Amarvilas offers views of the Taj from all of its 102 rooms. The arched windows and columns throughout the rooms give the feel of a royal stay. (Bonus: The property is only a 10-minute walk from the Taj Mahal.) A Fairmont is also set to open in Agra this year.
Freiburg im Breisgau is on Afar’s Where to Go 2025 list.
Courtesy of Olena Buyskykh/Alamy Stock Photos
6. Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
Billed as the gateway to the Black Forest (the setting for many a Brothers Grimm fairy tale) and bordering France and Switzerland, Freiburg is Germany’s southernmost city. As such, it enjoys comfortable temps and plenty of sunshine during spring. Seemingly plucked out of a storybook, this Where to Go 2025 pick is a medieval city with labyrinthine lanes, turreted facades, and a Gothic brick cathedral (Münster). Amble about and soak up the atmosphere, stopping at churches and markets. One of the oldest beer gardens in the region, Kastaniengarten, has terrific views of the city from a hilltop (as well as pretzels and bratwurst).
Another reason to visit: Due to open this March, the Dokumentationszentrum Nationalsozialismus Museum will explore the history of national socialism in the area (a movement that would eventually lead to the rise of Nazi power preceding World War II).
Where to stay: Colombi Hotel
- Book now: Colombi Hotel
Just beyond the historic Old Town, the 112-room Colombi Hotel is by far the city’s fanciest digs. Snag a table at the on-site Michelin-starred restaurant, Zirbelstube, and work off the meal the next morning along forest trails that can be accessed right from the property.
In celebration of Pella’s Dutch heritage, thousands of tulips are planted and then bloom each year for the “Tulip Time” celebration.
Photo by Bella Bender/Shutterstock
7. Pella, Iowa
While many people think of the Netherlands or Japan for spring flowers, Pella is a lesser-known place for flora within U.S. borders. Forty miles southeast of Des Moines, Pella was first settled in 1847 by immigrants from the Netherlands looking for religious freedom. Today, the Midwest town’s Dutch heritage is on full display from a working grain mill (anointed the Vermeer Windmill) to an annual three-day tulip festival with some 300,000 flowers in early May.
In the heart of Pella, a multi-building historical village showcases what life would have been like in the pioneer days, from a replica of a sod house to a blacksmith and a wooden shoe shop. Afterward, seek out Dutch pastries and almond-filled letter cookies at Vander Ploeg Bakery, or pop by Frisian Farms Cheese House to sample small-batch Gouda.
Where to stay: Amsterdam Hotel
- Book now: royalamsterdam.com
Well-located and contemporary, the 38-room Amsterdam Hotel is an easy walk to coffee shops, eateries, and the historic opera house. Ask for a room facing the windmill.
8. Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Don’t assume that ski-centric destinations lose their luster the moment snow starts to melt on the slopes. In fact, they’re often some of the most appealing out-of-season spots, as their other assets aren’t overshadowed by the superb skiing.
Jackson Hole is a prime example. It’s known for skiing in winter, and its summertime features a vibrant whitewater-rafting scene—but spring, always overlooked, is also trip-ready. Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks may be a little muddy, but their rugged isolation is much more evident in spring than in high-traffic peak times. The wildlife, of course, is less skittish with fewer people around; plus, animals are raring to go after emerging from their winter slowdowns. Expect particularly frisky bison and elk, which begin to migrate north for summer around this time.
Old West Days is a staple of the springtime here, too. The late-May bash is a tribute to the western culture of the area, whether via the High Noon Chili Cook-Off between local restaurants or Teton Powwow, showcasing Indigenous dances and traditions.
Where to stay: Amangani
- Book now: Amangani
The ultra-luxe Asia-originated chain opened its first stateside property here, a 40-room resort with a heated outdoor infinity pool overlooking the rugged landscape.
9. The Hamptons, New York
Think the best time to visit the Hamptons is summertime? Think again. If you’d prefer to enjoy its bucolic calm, squeeze in a trip in springtime, when the locals far outnumber visitors and you’re likelier to spot a line outside a farm stand rather than a nightclub.
The standout spot right now is the most isolated Hampton enclave of all: Shelter Island, the almost 30-square-mile spot wedged between the north and south forks at the farthest east end. The spot has seen a flurry of new energy in recent years, with several of its hotels undergoing major renovations or owner changes, including the Chequit—owned by NYC real estate tycoon Stefan Soloviev—and the Rams Head Inn.
Still, it retains much of the countrified charm that drew weekenders in the first place: Take a 10-mile bike ride around the entire island, about a third of which is a protected nature preserve, or hang out on one of the beaches at sundown. If you want to take the plunge into the brisk Atlantic waters, try Shell Beach, where the kayaking and paddleboarding are easier thanks to the protected inlet of West Neck Harbor.
Where to stay: The Pridwin
- Book now: The Pridwin
The Pridwin is another hotel that’s undergone a radical reboot, after the longtime owning family partnered with developer Cape Resorts: The 10-acre property has 16 new cottages dotting its grounds.
Malta is home to several UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Photo by kavalenkava/Shutterstock
10. Malta
The tiny island 60 nautical miles or so off Sicily’s south coast is a place where the weather’s usually balmy in spring—much nicer than the often-oppressive heat of midsummer—and there are countless, little-known cultural sites that more than match better-known spots in Rome or Athens.
Take the Hypogeum. Tucked under a side street in the town of Paola, it’s one of Europe’s most underrated but important Neolithic sites: a warren of tunnels carved out of limestone more than 5,000 years ago. The burial ground and temple were unearthed when someone tried to build a drainage channel for a modern house; to prevent the dampness of visitors’ breath from damaging the extraordinary artworks daubed on the walls, entry is limited to 80 people per day. Later this year, keep an eye open for MICAS, the contemporary art museum arriving in Valletta that’s a glass box bolted onto the centuries-old fortified walls of the city.
Where to stay: The Phoenicia
- Book now: The Phoenicia
The handiest place to sleep is this hotel, right outside the main city walls of Valletta: The large rooms are comfy, and there’s a lovely, chintzy lobby that’s more like an English country house than a Mediterranean manor.
