Why spring is a great time to holiday in the Med

However much you love sunshine, peak summer months in the Mediterranean can sometimes be too hot for comfort. Visiting in spring, however, means that temperatures will usually be cooler but still wonderfully warm. Less intense heat allows for more adventurous activities too, such as climbing a volcano off the coast of Santorini or ascending the 80 steps to arrive at the mighty Acropolis in Athens.

With spring being off-season, you’re sure to have a bit more room to yourself in some of the region’s most popular destinations, which could also mean shorter queues at bucket-list attractions, like Gaudí’s iconic La Sagrada Família in Barcelona or the Trevi Fountain in Rome. You’ll also likely find it a little easier to get into popular restaurants, which is a big plus if you’re on a foodie-focused trip.

Another key benefit of holidaying off-season is cheaper airfares, which is a huge benefit when boarding or disembarking your ship abroad. A little hunting around online can uncover very reasonably priced flights to your chosen port, setting you up with some extra cash to spend onboard (hello, Lotus Spa!) or while on a shore excursion.

As we’ve mentioned above, there’s no need to wait until summer to head off on an overseas adventure. If winter’s still dragging its feet or the spring rain showers have arrived, then you’ve already got plenty of reason to escape to sunnier climes. Home will seem like a distant memory as you relax on Grecian sands, such as those found on Corfu’s Glyfada Beach, visitable on an ultimately relaxing shore excursion.

Spring can more than hold its own against summer when it comes to festivals and great events, especially around the Med. One of Naples’ most important cultural events, Maggio dei Monumenti, begins in April and offers visitors the chance to see one-off art exhibitions and explore architecturally significant buildings that are normally closed to the public. For something a little sweeter, April sees French strawberry festivals take place in both Salon-de-Provence or Carpentras (both reachable from Marseille), while Florence’s Taste Festival in February is packed with superlative Italian fare.