The best ‘blossoming’ European city breaks in spring 2025
The best ‘blossoming’ European city breaks in spring 2025
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With the worst of winter behind us, there’s never been a better time to plan a weekend getaway to thaw the Great British chill. And luckily, you needn’t go far; Europe is brimming with a diverse range of cities, from the blooming cherry blossoms of Stockholm to Easter celebrations in rural Sicily.
![[Istanbul Tulip Festival]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_237149653-e4c2.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Europe’s littlest known capital goes crazy for doughnuts, and Berlin even has a dedicated asparagus festival (but more on that later). Whether you fancy a street party in Seville or flower-gazing in a city that spans two continents, Metro has got you covered with our pick of the most refreshing city breaks to blow the cobwebs away in 2025.
![[The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey, against a bright blue sky]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PRI_202479594-0f72.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Amsterdam has long been regarded as the best place in the world to see tulips, which blossom in a kaleidoscope of blooms across the Netherlands capital each spring. But as the ‘Venice of the North’ pushes back against an influx of tourists (cruise ships were banned from the city centre in 2023), Istanbul is attracting flower enthusiasts as an unlikely alternative.
![[People walk underneath cherry blossom trees at Kungstradgarden park on May 1, 2024, in Stockholm, Sweden. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP) (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236938590-9dd4.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Each year in April, the sprawling Turkish metropolis hosts the International Tulip Festival, a celebration of spring’s arrival and the city’s love affair with tulips. More than 20 million tulips are showcased in gardens and public spaces, with a stunning tulip ‘carpet’ blanketing Emirgan Park.
![[Mandatory Credit: Photo by RAUL CARO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock (14434243b) A Sevillana woman tends to a little girl during the Spring Fair or Feria de Abril in Seville, Spain, 14 April 2024. The Seville Fair, recognized worldwide for its colorfulness and tradition, arouses the interest of thousands of visitors every year who immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of the Andalusian capital. The fair runs from 14 to 20 April. Seville April Fair, Spain - 14 Apr 2024]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_236938447-bca0.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
Spring is a good time to visit Istanbul, even if flowers aren’t your thing. Temperatures are pleasant, hovering around 12 to 15C in March, perfect for exploring the vast expanse of one of the most fascinating cities on Earth. The Bosphorus Bridge spans two continents; essentially, standing on the bridge allows you to be in both Europe and Asia at once.
![[A crowd in one of Helsinki's main squares for May Day, Finnish celebration of Vappu]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/SEI_237158375-9350.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
