best european towns

Sip sunset negronis and ogle the views in Lombardy, Italy. (Photo: Getty Images)

Tips + Trends

Buh-Bye, Winter: 7 European Towns Best Seen in Spring

From perennial favorites to emerging destinations, here are our picks for the best places to travel in Europe this spring.

SEE ALSO: Level-Up Your Train Travel: How to Spend Two Weeks Touring Western Europe

Lombardy, Italy

The release of Luca Guadagnino’s latest film “Call Me By Your Name” has brought renewed interest to the northern Italian region of Lombardy, and spring is a great time of year to visit before the season kicks into high gear.

The area has a wealth of things to do, from sipping Negronis in Milan’s chic watering holes like Bar Basso (where the Negroni Sbagliato was invented) to boating around Lake Como. Start your visit in Milan, where you can tour the Villa Necchi Campiglio, which was featured in Guadagnino’s 2009 film “I Am Love.”

From there, head to Lake Como for some pampering. Oenophiles will surely want to visit Franciacorta, the under-the-radar region that produces the namesake bubbly.

Windsor, United Kingdom

best european towns
Take time to smell the flowers at Hampton Court Palace. (Photo: Getty Images)

Okay, so your invitation to the Royal Wedding got lost in the mail, but you can still plan a trip to scenic Windsor and the surrounding countryside. Here, you can learn to play polo like Prince Harry who’s been known to play in nearby Windsor Great Park.

Spring is the perfect time of year to stroll the lovely Savill Gardens. According to Virtuoso Travel Advisor Maddy Moffitt, “Another must-see site in the area is Hampton Court Palace, the residence of King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, built in 1514. Enjoy its beautiful gardens and get lost in its hedge maze.”

Valletta, Malta

Built in the 16th century by the Order of the Knights of Malta and ruled from the Middle Ages until the 19th century by the Order of Saint John, this small Mediterranean island nation is a mix of European, Middle Eastern, and North African influences, which can be seen in everything from the architecture to the food.

Though its capital, Valletta, suffered major damage during WWII, it’s now experiencing a renaissance and has been recognized as the European Capital of Culture for 2018. Immerse yourself in the city’s emerging contemporary art scene at places like Blitz, an artist-run space in a 400-year-old townhouse, or dive into the city’s bohemian nightlife scene at Café Society.

Oh, and don’t forget to check out its legendary beaches.

Glasgow, Scotland

best european towns
Don’t miss a whisky tasting in Scotland. (Photo: Getty Images)

Scotland’s scruffy second city has been undergoing a revival lately, with lots of cool independent designers like Instrmnt, Bluebellgray, and Trakke setting up shop. The city has always had a strong arts bent, with many graduates of the prestigious Glasgow School of Art receiving the coveted Turner Prize.

April always welcomes the Glasgow International, a bi-annual festival of contemporary art. Don’t miss a whiskey tasting at the Clydeside Distillery, which opened last fall on the banks of the River Clyde near Zaha Hadid’s Riverside Museum. Sláinte!

Ibiza, Spain

best european towns
Rock out in Ibiza. (Photo: Getty Images)

Could Spain’s party island finally be growing up? All signs point to yes, as the island famous for wild electro-pop bacchanals has been earning a new reputation as one of Europe’s leading wellness destinations.

Belgrade, Serbia

This former Soviet city is getting its groove back and being hailed as the new Berlin. A renovated promenade along the Sava River is in the works, which will bringhip cafés and food trucks to this formerly neglected area.

Nightlife is a way of life in this city, with craft beer bars, hipster hangouts, and dance clubs on houseboats called splavovi. And, like in Berlin, you’ll find alternative galleries and performance spaces like KC Grad and Galerija Stab in converted industrial buildings.

Berlin, Germany

Germany’s capital of cool has long lured artsy types, but there’s a new reason for culture vultures to visit this season. The historic Staatsoper opera house on Bebelplatz near the Brandenburg Gate has finally reopened after a €400-million, seven-year renovation.

This article was published through a partnership with Jetsetter magazine. Read the original story: 10 Stunning European Destinations to Visit This Spring by Laura Itzkowitz, a regular contributor to Jetsetter.

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