Conditions on this page are recalculated from the latest forecast every time it is opened, for the current date in the location's own time zone.
Meteorological spring covers March, April, and May 2026 in the Northern Hemisphere. Astronomical spring runs from the vernal equinox on 20 March to the summer solstice on 21 June 2026. For travel planning, the practical "spring window" is mid-March to late May, when daylight lengthens and most spring festivals and bloom events take place. Late April to mid-May is the sweet spot — long daylight, mild temperatures (15–22°C across most of Europe), settled weather, and lower prices than summer. Late March to early April catches cherry blossoms and Easter; mid-May aligns with Eurovision, May half term, and peak tulip season. 7-day forecasts are reliable within ±2°C and ±20% rain probability. 14-day forecasts give pattern signals (warmer/cooler trends) but not specific day predictions. For trip planning more than 2 weeks out, climatological averages are more useful than forecasts. We update destination-specific forecasts daily on our city pages. Top spring 2026 events: Cherry blossom peak in Tokyo (late March), Easter (3–6 April), Songkran in Thailand (13–15 April), Coachella (April weekends), Boston Marathon (20 April), Tulip peak at Keukenhof (mid-April to early May), Mother's Day US (10 May), Eurovision in Vienna (12–16 May), May half term UK (25–29 May), and Cinco de Mayo (5 May). Athens leads with just 3 rainy days across May and 8+ hours of daily sunshine. Lisbon, Barcelona, and Rome all average fewer than 6 wet days in May with consistent warm afternoons. Northern and central Europe (London, Amsterdam, Berlin) average 9–11 rainy days but with longer daylight hours. Layers are non-negotiable. Pack: t-shirts plus one warm layer (jumper or light jacket), packable waterproof shell, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, SPF 30+ (UV is stronger than expected in April-May), and a light scarf or pashmina for evenings. For Mediterranean trips, add lighter clothing; for UK and northern Europe, add a heavier jacket. Yes, for most travelers. Spring offers 30–50% cheaper flights and hotels than peak summer, smaller queues at major attractions, more comfortable sightseeing temperatures (no extreme heat), and active local life as cafés and parks come alive. The trade-off is slightly higher rain risk and cooler swimming sea temperatures. In April: Athens, Seville, and Malta all average 21–22°C highs. In May: Athens (26°C), Rome (24°C), and Barcelona (23°C) lead, with Lisbon at 22°C balanced by Atlantic breeze. The Canary Islands and southern Cyprus are warmer still year-round but less seasonally distinctive. The complete spring 2026 weather guide: cherry blossoms, tulips, Eurovision, May half term, Easter, and the best European destinations from March to May. Climate, packing, and trip-planning tips. Spring is the most underrated travel window of the year — three months of lengthening daylight, blooming landscapes, and major festivals, all priced 30–50% cheaper than summer. This is the complete weather-driven guide to spring 2026: when to go where, what's blooming, what's happening, and how to plan around the forecast. . The Azores High strengthens through April, locking warm dry weather across the Mediterranean while keeping northern Europe pleasantly mild rather than cold. For travelers, this means you can plan a Rome city break with 90% confidence in dry warm afternoons, a London weekend with low odds of all-day rain, or an Athens beach trip with virtually guaranteed sunshine — all at half the cost of doing the same in July or August. Spring is the most underrated travel arbitrage in Europe. March is spring's transition month. Northern Europe still feels like winter (5–10°C highs, frequent rain), while southern Europe is reliably mild (16–18°C). It's the cheapest spring month, the quietest at major attractions, and increasingly the start of cherry blossom season. April is when spring fully arrives across Europe. Average temperatures climb 5°C compared to March, daylight crosses 13 hours in mid-latitudes, and the cherry blossom and tulip seasons hit their peaks. Easter falls early in 2026 (Sunday 5 April), so school holidays and bookings are concentrated in the first week. May is the most reliable, warmest, and most event-packed month of European spring. The Azores High locks in dry stable weather across the Mediterranean (Athens averages just 3 rainy days the entire month), while northern Europe enjoys 16-hour daylight and 17–20°C afternoons. This is the month to plan ambitiously.
Scores are capped by dealbreakers — heavy rain, dangerous wind, thick fog or hazardous UV pull a day down no matter how pleasant the rest of the numbers look. Forecast data is Open-Meteo; solar and lunar values are computed for Spring Weather Guide's own coordinates and time zone. Full details on the methodology page.