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Spring is upon us, and it is the perfect time to travel as we are in the “shoulder season” for many destinations. In the Northern Hemisphere, the weather is finally warming up and things are turning green, while in the Southern Hemisphere, the sweltering heat of the summer has finally subsided, and the leaves are starting to turn spectacular new colors.
So where should you go? I have come up with a curated list of the 10 top destinations to visit this Spring. While there are many more cities that I could have added to the list (Lisbon, Rome, Chiang Mai, and more), I’ve tried to choose less well-known options that might not already be on your travel radar.
Read on to find your next Spring travel destination.
Belize City, Belize
Belize is one of the Central American countries with Caribbean coastlines that are perfect in Spring when the winter sun chasers have left. Belize City is a thriving coastal haven that makes the perfect base for exploring the small, green nation.
Across Belize, you can explore jungles with hiking, waterfalls, cave spelunking, animal spotting, and exploring Mayan ruins. Meanwhile, along the coast you can swim in the deep blue Caribbean, enjoying white sand beaches, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
In the city, you will find a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual society that is a mix of Creole, Mayan, Mestizo, Garifuna, East Indian, and Euro-American heritage. This results in an eclectic culture with a vibrant art scene, traditional Mayan crafts, festivals dedicated to seafood, and much more.
As well as visiting as a tourist, Belize offers a digital nomad visa for six months, though the minimum qualifying income is US$75,000 per year.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen finally begins to thaw in the spring and turn an unimaginably vibrant green. One of the most sustainable countries in the world, Copenhagen is known for its culture, cooking, and coastlines.
Explore atmospheric lakes and fjords, learn about Hygge, discover Viking history and the home of ancient fairytales, and the modern mecca for Lego. Enjoy the ancient buildings and the modern architecture, royal history, and a mouthwatering restaurant scene. Not to mention an unusual cutting-edge music scene.
Denmark is in the Schengen area, and you can visit the area for 90/180 days as a tourist, visa-free for most nationalities.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
While Dubai is hot year-round, the city is still manageable in the spring. This makes it ideal for exploring the sweltering hot streets. It is a mix of ridiculously modern hotels and shopping malls and traditional neighborhoods and shopping sooks. Safari experience and dune driving adventures are essential!
There are beautiful beaches to enjoy, and incredible theme parks and waterparks that are an unexpected family fun zone. You can also expect innovative art installations, top-end restaurants, and vibrant nightlife in some of the world’s most famous hotels. While the emirate is not that big, you could spend three months and never do the same things twice.
Most nationalities can stay in Dubai for up to 30 days on a tourist visa, or for up to four days if you are transiting. Dubai also offers a one-year digital nomad visa with a minimum income requirement of US$3,500 per month.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Located just above the equator, Kuala Lumpur is hot most of the year, but you can avoid the worst of the rainy season by visiting in the Spring. An excellent base for exploring Malaysia and the surrounding countries, the capital is a melting pot of Southeast Asia, with many different cultures mixing to create something unique.
Kuala Lumpur is a heavily populated city but also works to create a greener and sustainable future and preserve its history. There are many museums dedicated to the arts and the lives of the Malaysian people and monumental modern monoliths like the Petronas Twin Towers.
Kuala Lumpur also has some of the most illustrious shopping malls in Southeast Asia with luxury brands and flagship stores, and budget markets in areas like Petaling Street. The night is ideal for exotic food and affordable booze. Stop at an Indian Mamak, open 24 hours, for roti chanai.
Most people can visit Malaysia for up to 90 days on a tourist visa. The country also has an excellent digital nomad visa program that is for one year in the first instance with a minimum income requirement of US$24,000 per year.
Lake Como, Italy
Italy also emerges from the cold in the Spring, and you can get in before the sweltering summer when tourists invade the cities and countryside. Lake Como is one of the most beautiful spots in the country, ideal for swimming and sailing in the north of Italy in the mountainous Lombardy region. Hiking the surrounding mountains is perfection in the Spring.
The region is also filled with charming towns and villages with family-run restaurants serving farm-to-table meals and local wines. There are also fascinating sites to see like the 14th-century Duomo and Piazza San Fedele and the Silk Museum in Como.
You can also take a range of day trips from the lakeside destination to nearby Milan, Verona, and Venice, or over the border to Lugano in Switzerland. You can visit on a Schengen tourist visa or Itay will soon be launching a digital nomad visa.
Lenk, Switzerland
Spring is one of the best times of year to visit the Alps. It is less crowded and more affordable. You might be able to catch the tail end of the skiing season or hike the mountains just as they are turning green. You can expect temperatures between 8-15 degrees Celsius (46-59 degrees Fahrenheit) in the mountains, and warmer temperatures up to 21 degrees Celsius (71 degrees Fahrenheit) in the cities.
Lenk is a great place to call in the Swiss Alps, a village in the middle that is vibrant year-round. You can also book at Swiss workation at Hubs Travel for discounted rates in Spring between 17 March and 16 June. The longer you stay, the more affordable.
Madrid, Spain
Madrid is at its perfect temperature in the spring, after the frosty dry winter and before the sweltering summer. It is also one of the most sustainable cities in the world, taking significant steps to create a greener, cleaner city.
It is a culturally rich city with many museums and cultural destinations including the Golden Triangle of the Museo del Prado, which has an amazing collection of Spanish and European art, Thyssen, for 20th-century art, and Reina Sofia.
Explore the Palacio Real and the El Retiro Park for greenery and the Gran Via for shopping during the day, and then discover the city’s exciting food scene with everything from classic tapas to Michelin-starred fine dining, and the city’s enviable nightlife. Read our guide to living in Madrid as a digital nomad here.
Spain is in the Schengen area and offers a one-year digital nomad visa with a minimum income requirement of EUR2,300 per month.
Malta
Malta feels fresh and green in the Spring and is a low tourist season so you can make the most of your time in this amazing island nation. The island’s architecture is elegant and captures the history of the Mediterranean island. The cities and towns, including the UNESCO-listed capital of Valletta, are surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty. Think beautiful beaches with dramatic cliffs and secluded coves.
Malta’s culinary scene is an eclectic fusion of Mediterranean flavors and lots of fresh seafood served with local wines. You can discover some of the world’s oldest freestanding structures and prehistoric temples or visit a few Game of Thrones filming sets.
Malta is in the Schengen area and also has a digital nomad visa valid for one year in the first instance with a minimum income requirement of ERI2,700 per month.
Montreal, Canada
While chilly Montreal is not for the faint of heart in the winter, the city is already opening and becoming welcoming in the Spring. In April and May, you can expect temperatures to climb to between 10-20 degrees Celsius during the day (50-70 degrees Fahrenheit).
In the city, you will find yourself surrounded by mountain scenery and turquoise lakes, and you aren’t far from the iconic Niagara Falls. The second largest city in Canada and the only major French-speaking city, you can expect a vibrant arts and culture scene, not to mention amazing food and fantastic nightlife.
Eat French pastries and wander the streets of Old Montreal with its colonial architecture in the morning and eat everything soaked in Canadian “liquid gold” Maple syrup and get panoramic views from Mount Royal in the afternoon.
Most visitors can stay in Canada for up to six months as a tourist. They have also announced a digital nomad visa which is designed to offer a pathway to a working visa if you can find local employment.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is beautiful any time of year, but the Spring is a great time to visit if you want to avoid the melting hot summer months. It is also after Carnaval and before Sao Joao, so you can expect fewer tourists and a chance to explore the vibrant city at a more relaxed pace.
But even when it is not festival season, you will find music and dancing on the corner of almost every Brazilian street. Local Samba bands will play for locals to dance away, and bars showcasing up-and-coming bands are open most nights of the week. Spend the day on the beautiful beaches or indulge yourself in one of the city’s many luxury hotels, which are affordable by international standards.
There are also many amazing things to take in just a short drive from the city. There is the historic town of Petropolis, the fishing village of Buzios, the Brazilian Caribbean of the Arraial do Cabo, stung Paqueta Island, and the greenery of the Serra dos Orgaos National Park.
Most nationalities can visit Brazil for up to three months as a tourist visa-free. Brazil also has a one-year digital nomad visa with a minimum income requirement of around US$1,500 per month.
