‘Avignon warmed our bones and fed our souls’: readers’ favorite early spring journeys to southern Europe | Europe holidays

Winning tip: cycle the greenways of Annecy

Saint-Jorioz in Haute-Savoie will present a springtime carry on your spirits. On the shore of Lake Annecy, it’s a brief bus experience from town of Annecy, however much less busy and with superior lake and mountain views. Hike to the encompassing peaks, in the direction of the lesser-known Col de l’Arpettaz, or cycle on the wonderful greenways. Relax by the cool blue alpine water. Behind you lies the underrated Les Bauges Unesco Geopark. The division solely joined France in 1860, and has its personal Italian-influenced regional delicacies.
Brian Lowry

Naples is greatest in early spring

Although not essentially the most historically stunning metropolis in Italy, Naples affords a glimpse of heat in early spring. A world other than Florence or Turin, Naples is a captivating, lived-in metropolis with an extended historical past and a wealthy culinary custom. The Spaccanapoli, which runs proper via the core of town, is a bustling place to stroll alongside and expertise Neapolitan life. The world-class websites of Pompeii and Herculaneum are close by, as are Mount Vesuvius, Sorrento and the fantastic islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida. You can get to Naples by practice from London by way of Paris and Turin or Milan in about 15 hours.
Michael Kuipers

Take the ferry to Corsica

Eurostar from London by way of a simple connection at Lille or a change in Paris takes between six and eight hours to reach in Marseille. After a bathe on the station, refresh in Vieux Port earlier than arriving for breakfast in Bastia, Corsica, by way of a cushty night-ferry. From Bastia, catch the scenic mountain railway into this remarkably unspoiled island to discover its wild inside and coastal areas. Mid to late spring is greatest for southern Europe, when snow-melt replenishes streams and waterfalls that dry up in summer season. The climate is sunny but exceedingly nice, hillsides blanketed with wildflowers, wild animals nurturing their younger and locals refreshed in temper.
Jake

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Guardian Travel readers’ suggestions

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Germany’s greenest, sunniest metropolis

Take the Eurostar to Paris and proceed east by way of Strasbourg by high-speed practice via the rolling hills and vineyards of Alsace to Freiburg – Germany’s warmest, sunniest and greenest metropolis. (Some routes go by way of Brussels and Cologne.) Feast on Swabian classics corresponding to käsespätzle (tacky egg noodles with caramelised onion), take pleasure in tacos at YepaYepa or drop into Hausbrauerei Feierling’s full of life beer backyard for a drink. From Freiburg, discover the Black Forest’s highlights, from Triberg’s cuckoo clocks and waterfalls to the treetop walk in Bad Wildbad. Opt to remain at a taking part city and also you’ll obtain a Konus guest card, providing you with free transport across the area on your whole keep.
George

Tiny seashores close to Nice

I’ve spent many completely satisfied spring breaks in Villefranche-sur-Mer, just some miles east of Nice. The appeal of its historic coronary heart, the fantastic thing about its deepwater bay, the proximity to spectacular coast and mountains, plus glorious cafes and eating places make it laborious to beat. Take the TGV to Nice, then it’s just some minutes on the native practice (simple for day journeys to Cannes and Menton, too). It ought to be heat sufficient for a dip on the tiny, secluded Plage de la Darse, or Plage de la Fosse on swanky Cap Ferrat …
Gill R

Lemons and lightweight on the Côte d’Azur

My sister and I spent a wonderful sunny few days in Menton on the Côte d’Azur in early April. We spent our time meandering the cobbled streets with their pastel-coloured buildings, consuming a mixture of French and Italian meals (it’s the final French city earlier than the Italian border) and paddling within the calm blue bay. We trekked within the hills north of the city, previous gorgeous homes, pine timber and spring flowers to discover Maison Gannac, a citrus farm that grows the Menton lemon, which is famend for its flavour and aroma.
Katie

A ship journey alongside the Moselle in Germany

The Moselle valley in April was gorgeous. Starting within the outdated Roman metropolis of Trier, with its wonderful Porta Nigra gate, we adopted the river 30 miles north-west to benefit from the panoramic views from Burg Landshut. We took boat journeys, together with to Cochem, to take the chairlift reverse the citadel as much as the Pinnerkreuz viewpoint. Early April means wildflower-strewn meadows and fewer guests. Castles, boats and cable automobiles saved the kids entertained; the contemporary Moselle valley rieslings saved the adults completely satisfied. We completed our journey in Koblenz, with its choice of conventional breweries the place spätzle and schnitzel pair properly with any beer.
Kirsten Lowery

Coastal paths close to Perpignan

Go south by practice and resist the push. Take the Eurostar to Paris, then a quick TGV to Perpignan in six hours, earlier than a last 25-minute native practice to Port-Vendres – about 9 hours from London, finish to finish. Early spring fits this working harbour: many locations are shut, the fish market will not be. Lunch at its no-nonsense restaurant, then stroll the coastal paths to Collioure, brighter and busier by comparability. The Pyréneés-Orientales coast is one in all France’s sunniest areas, and even out of season the sunshine does a lot of the work.
Becky

The hazily golden metropolis of Avignon

En path to Sicily by way of ferry from Genoa, we stopped in Avignon. We obtained off the practice within the early night to discover a hazily golden metropolis with winding medieval streets filled with small impartial outlets, the wonderful Palais des Papes (Popes’ Palace), a wonderful shining Rhône river – and we explored the remaining 4 arches and gatehouse of the Twelfth-century Pont Saint-Bénézet. Everywhere was walkable, from the very comfy and reasonably- priced Bristol Hotel. Warm within the night, loads of conventional eating places, no crowds. In the low season, Avignon relaxed us, warmed our bones and fed our souls.
Hilary