Springtime in Europe

In April and May, the continent is in bloom, and the tourists haven’t yet flooded back. Spring into action and see Europe at its most charming.

Spring is a magical time of year in continental Europe. The weather begins to warm, the flowers bloom, and the locals are excited for a new season of festivals and events.

Global Air Charters makes European travel a cinch, with ultra-long-range airframes easily capable of service across the Atlantic. We have years of experience chartering airframes into continental Europe’s seaside countries, river valleys, and mountain villages.

Our dispatchers have expert knowledge of the smaller regional airports on the continent and can pinpoint your arrival and departure to suit your travel plans perfectly. Contact our flight brokers today about flights to Europe. They’ll provide you with the best options.

Late spring is also an excellent time to watch our Empty Legs list. We routinely charter one-way flights to Europe when the weather turns nice. That often leaves an airframe’s return leg to the United States without passengers and available at a discount.

Whether you’re a fan of flowers, festivals, or history, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Here are some of our favorite sights during the spring season in Europe:

The Netherlands

The Netherlands is known for its tulips and windmills; spring is the time to see them. The countryside around Rotterdam is replete with colorful fields and many guided and self-guided tours to help you tiptoe through them all. From mid-March to mid-May, visitors can visit the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse. Over seven million tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths bloom in various colors.

Another famous festival in the Netherlands is King’s Day, held on April 27th. The entire country celebrates with street parties, parades, and music. Joining the festivities in Amsterdam would be the perfect capstone to a week in the countryside.

Belgium

There are also plenty of picturesque fields just over the Dutch border into Belgium, where Dutch farmers have long been expanding their tulip empire. The north and west parts of the country are perfect for extended biking tours.

The drive between Ghent and Ypres will bring you through WWI battle sites in Flanders. While in the country, you can also visit one of Belgium’s ancient Trappist breweries and get a case of beer brewed by monks. In May, don’t miss the bloom of rhododendrons around Borrekens Castle.

The cities offer plenty of spring entertainment as well. The Brussels Film Festival and Jazz Marathon are held every spring. Brussels is also home to the stunning Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, open to the public for only three weeks in the spring. In May, Antwerp hosts the Antwerp Spring Festival, one of Europe’s preeminent celebrations for classical music.

Germany

Germany is famous for its traditional folk festivals, but they don’t all happen at harvest time. Their spring festivals are less crowded, with the same joyous atmosphere and many of the same activities.

Frühlingsfest is the highlight of spring in Bavaria. Held on the same grounds as the legendary Oktoberfest celebrations in Munich, it features parades, fairground rides, flowing beer kegs, contests, and a legendary flea market. The 2023 festival runs from April 21 to May 7.

There’s a similar Frühlingsfest in Stuttgart from April 22 to May 14 and a family-friendly Spring Festival in Nuremberg from April 8 through 23.