Spring escapes less than three hours from the UK

Words: Elizabeth Winding

If you’re low on time, be strategic when it comes to destinations – a couple of hours in the air from the UK can take you a long way. Catch a morning flight and you could be in another world by lunchtime, pondering a chalkboard-scrawled menu in Nice, strolling by Copenhagen’s waterways or admiring Amsterdam’s technicolour swathes of tulips. Further south, destinations such as Palma and Seville bask in the spring sunshine, while still clocking in at less than three hours’ flight time… 

Seville

Flight time: 2hrs 45 mins
Best for: Spring sunshine and celebrations
If the summer sun can be scorching in Seville, spring is a gentler time to visit, with daytime highs hitting 21-24°C. The scent of orange blossom fills its cobbled streets and the courtyards of its Moorish-style palace, the Real Alcázar. Come at the start of the month to catch the Easter celebrations, when swaying processions wind through town and bakery windows are filled with cinnamon-spiked torrijas. This year’s Feria de Abril, meanwhile, falls in the third week of April, welcoming the spring with carriage parades, feasting and swirling flamenco. Do as the locals do and sip a rebujito of sherry, ice and lemonade, finished with a sprig of mint.

Jet off to Seville

Nice

Flight time: 2hrs 10mins
Best for: Sunny days on the Riviera
By April, spring has sprung in the South of France, with terrace tables firmly back in place along the narrow streets of Vieux Nice. Should there be a shower, simply head to the Musée Matisse or stroll among the Musée National Marc Chagall’s floating fiddlers and lovers. When the sun shines, browse Cours Saleya’s market, snacking on early season strawberries, or drop by hip newcomer Frisson for a scoop of blood-orange ice-cream. Lavomatique is another must-try, for tapas and curated wines, while a recent wave of chic new stays includes the Hôtel du Couvent, with its hillside pool, cloistered gardens and resident herbalist. 

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Verona

Flight time: 1hr 55mins
Best for: Scenic surrounds
Verona is particularly charming in spring, when the sun warms its elegant piazzas and frescoed Renaissance façades. Shakespeare set Romeo and Juliet here, hence the Casa de Giulietta’s crowds (its balcony may not be remotely authentic, but lovers still pay to strike a pose). Elsewhere, this is a city of romantic nooks and vistas, with its bridges, hills and tangle of mediaeval streets. Catch the funicular to Castel San Pietro, wander the Giardini Giusti, or take a twilight stroll along the Adige river. Further afield, there are vineyards to tour in the hills of Valpolicella, while Lake Garda – 20 minutes by train – is bliss without the high-season hordes. 

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Amsterdam

Flight time: 1hr 20mins
Best for: Tulip fever and cosy cafés
The short flight time means you could be in Amsterdam in time for brunch, something this city does in style. (Drop by Little Collins for ricotta French toast or Aleppo butter-drizzled Turkish eggs). With tulip season at its peak, blooms are everywhere, from the gardens at the Rijksmuseum to the Vondelpark, where newcomer Café Vertigo has the coolest terrace in town. On cooler days, retreat to a gezellig bar or café, or take your pick of the museums (NEMO is unbeatable for anyone with kids in tow). For an epic, street-wide party, meanwhile, time your visit to coincide with King’s Day, when the whole city celebrates His Majesty’s birthday.   

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Palma

Flight time: 2hrs 30mins
Best for: A sneak preview of summer
Swap out grey skies for the blue of the Mallorcan sea and sky. In April, temperatures can reach the low 20°Cs and the island is dappled with flowers. Fifteen minutes’ cab ride from the airport, Palma charms all-comers, with its royal palace, walled old town and modern art museums. Don’t miss Miró’s charcoal-scrawled studios at the Fundació Miró Mallorca. The city’s resurgent food scene is another draw. Table-hop in Santa Catalina, locals’ favourite barrio for lunch, or feast on smoky octopus at tapas hotspot El Caminito. Beyond the city, hike the Tramuntana mountains’ cobbled paths or relish Deià’s out-of-season calm, braving a swim – if you dare – in its tiny, cliff-backed cove.

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Copenhagen

Flight time: 1hr 50mins
Best for: Exhibitions, coffee culture and street eats
After the long, dark winter, spring feels sweet in Copenhagen – though there can be chilly, windy days, so pack accordingly. It brings a wave of big-ticket exhibitions at museums such as the SMK, while Tivoli Gardens is open again, with shorter queues for rides. Warm up at a La Cabra coffee counter, then stroll the crocus-sprinkled King’s Garden, or catch the brief but beautiful cherry-blossom season at waterfront Langelinie Park. Street-food market Reffen, meanwhile, is also back open for business: try the creamy peanut stew at Baobab or join the queue at Nordic Hotdog for a remoulade-topped sausage in a roll.    

Jet off to Copenhagen