Why the Mediterranean Isn't Just for Summer

Holly Candlin - Celebrity Cruises writer

30 June 2019

Dreaming of summer days spent lounging on the beaches of Greece, feasting in the streets of Italy or hiking in the rural landscapes of Spain? Visit the Mediterranean during the Spring and you’ll enjoy cooler temperatures, fewer crowds and more affordable prices. Here are our top destinations, experiences and festivals to check out during springtime in the Mediterranean.

Cannes Film Festival, France

Cannes, a glittering town on the French Riviera, simply drips with luxurious allure – especially in the spring months. May is when the world-renowned Cannes Film Festival sweeps through the town, filling the sophisticated wine bars and beaches with film talent.

Make the most of your time at the festival by checking out the Palais – with 18 auditoriums, it hosts most of the major festival screenings. Look out for celebrities on their way in and out of premieres, and keep an eye out for tickets going spare. Just opposite the Palais, you can catch a screening on Mace Beach. Pack a picnic and enjoy as the sun goes down.

Playa de Muro’s S’Albufera Natural Park, Mallorca

Mallorca explodes with colour in the springtime. The countryside becomes scattered with pale pink blossom from the almond trees, and the orchards turn a vibrant emerald green. It’s best experienced at the Playa de Muro’s S’Albufera Natural Park, which sprawls over a massive 1,687 hectares. Hike along dramatic valleys, stroll into serene pine groves and look out for rare species of birds along the way.

The towns and cities of Mallorca are also quieter during the spring months. Head to Palma, where you can explore a 15th-century medieval castle or check out the sharks at the aquarium.

Festival of Fire (Las Fallas), Valencia

The Las Fallas festival takes place over five days in March every year in Valencia. It’s a festival to herald the arrival of spring, and features bonfires, fireworks, and a general carnival atmosphere. On every street corner, you’ll find enormous papier-mache figures parading through the streets, satirising politicians or figures from popular culture, which are then burned. The festival is part of UNESCO’s Intangible cultural history of humanity list, and dates back to the late 18th-century.

Valencia itself is a spectacular city to visit in the springtime. Temperatures sit at a comfortable 20 degrees, making it the perfect time to experience the city’s 15th century gothic architecture and bustling markets or in contrast the City of Arts and Sciences with it’s impressive modern architecture. Discover the city by bike or electric scooter.

Teatro Greco, Sicily

Immerse yourself in Sicilian culture by visiting the island in the spring. The fierce temperatures of summer are still months away, and the rains of winter are far behind. The orange and lemon trees begin to bloom, filling the valleys with sweet citrus fragrance, and you’ll skip the queues for the archaeological sites in towns like Palermo, Catania and Messina.

Spring is also when many events and celebrations take place at the Teatro Greco in Taormina. Expect music concerts, film screenings and more. The theatre itself dates back to the 3rd century BC. Visit at dusk, when you can explore the theatre in a mysterious atmosphere thanks to newly added mood lighting.

Spring Flowers in Corfu

Known as the “Jewel of the Ionian,” the Greek island of Corfu is vivid and colourful at any time of year, but spring is perhaps when it’s at its most impressive. Take advantage of cool, peaceful mornings by taking a stroll in Mon Repos – a 19th-century grand villa. Within its 26 hectares, you’ll find magnificent spring flowers and rare vegetation.

Corfu is a fascinating destination to visit around Easter time, when it celebrates a whole host of unique local traditions. You’ll likely hear of Botides during your time on the island – which means making as much noise as possible on Easter Sunday. Make sure to look up when you stroll through the streets – locals are known to send stone pots and jugs smashing on the streets below to make a racket. Don’t worry, it’s not all tuneless: the Philharmonic orchestras of Corfu also fill the streets with music.

Escape drizzle and grey skies back home by escaping to the Mediterranean this spring. Browse our Mediterranean cruises for more inspiration including our revolutionary new ship Celebrity Edge.

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