We Asked Travel Experts Where to Go to the Beach This Spring—Here’s What They Said

Traveling to a beach destination during the spring shoulder season is never a bad idea (the period in question being April to May). That’s when you’re getting a sweet spot: pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and lower prices. In Europe, it’s the best time to head south to the marvelous Greek and Spanish islands, as it’s hot and dry in Southeast Asia.

In the Caribbean, the shoulder spring season offers ideal weather conditions before the summer hurricanes begin. Giving this time of year a try means planning smartly and beating the crowds. Spring months are great for full immersion in the destinations you’re traveling to. The beaches are also there for your uncrowded enjoyment. To help guide your planning, we gathered insights from travel experts and locals who know these destinations best. This is where you should go this spring in the shoulder season.

Best for long white-sand stretches and coastal hiking

Spring sees the gorgeous Northern coast of Mallorca in bloom. While the water temperatures may still be on the cooler side, the shoulder months are fantastic for hiking the stunning Mediterranean landscapes. “The temperature is usually in the upper 70s, which is a nice break if you’re coming from somewhere with four seasons,” says Sarah Pardi, travel expert and spokesperson for Insurte Travel Insurance. “If you want to avoid crowds, the shoulder season is your best bet.”

Platja de Formentor is the showstopping beach flanked by the pine forest. It’s the gateway to Cap Formentor, a natural park with end-of-the-world cliffs piercing into blue waters. Reach the Es Colomer viewpoint to enjoy the expansive panoramas.

Port d’Alcúdia is a go-to beach town with miles of white sand. The calm bay is ideal for kayaking and paddling. Visit the historic Alcúdia, known for its picturesque old quarter encircled by medieval walls. Lovely Pollença is a charming town to explore at the foot of the UNESCO-protected Tramuntana Mountains. Cala Barques is a trademark Mallorcan turquoise cove to admire. 

Best for dunes and surfing

Most lunar-looking of all the Canaries, Fuerteventura is a year-round beach escape for Europeans. That being said, in winter and summer, it gets extremely crowded with vacationers. The weather is perfect in spring (dry and warm), allowing you to take full advantage of the island’s extensive sandy coastline.

“If you visit Fuerteventura during the spring, it is one of the only times during the year where you will actually get some real greenery and see flowers in bloom,” says Bryana Madison, program advisor at RVF International. “Things start to really dry out in the summer.”

El Cotillo, on the north-western coast, is a top surfing and windsurfing spot, while the 7-mile Cofete Beach is among Spain’s most enchanting wild stretches. Bordered by the dunes, the family-friendly Great Beaches of Corralejo are perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and playing in the sand. Costa Calma is the quintessential Canarian resort town, where you find all the amenities and watersports rentals. One thing to know about this island is that its beaches are usually windy. 

Best for the all-inclusive holiday

Turkey’s Turquoise Coast can be many things at once. Antalya is one of the Mediterranean’s most vibrant beach cities, offering a never-ending supply of restaurants and cafes serving mouthwatering Turkish fare. Apart from the atmospheric Old Town area, the spellbinding Duden Waterfalls and the long coastal promenade, it’s also home to Turkey’s best urban beaches, Lara and Konyaaltı. Staying by the beach lets you enjoy all the perks of an all-inclusive holiday—the stretches are lined with resorts and hotels for all budgets—while being only a short ride away from a vibrant city of over 1 million people.

In April and May, the weather is warm, and the sea is comfortable for swimming. Antalya is the base for exploring the Turkish Riviera. You can visit Alanya for the dramatic hilltop castle and sprawling Kleopatra Beach, play golf in luxurious Belek, see the Roman ruins in Side, and explore the spectacular Ancient City of Olympos. 

Best for a low-key tropical escape

Starting in March, the dry season is officially over in Phu Quoc, and it’s at its hottest throughout April and May, before the summer torrential rains kick in. Still overshadowed by Southeast Asian island hits like Phuket and Bali, Phu Quoc offers a slightly different kind of escape. Paradoxically, there are entire ghost cities bizarrely built to emulate European towns like Venice and Positano, but no tourists around. If you’re looking for an alternative tropical break, Phu Quoc is an interesting choice.

Skip the artificial SunWorld and VinWonders tourist villages and stay in Dương Đông, the island’s authentic capital. Indulge in a variety of local foods at the excellent night market, try pho and banh mi, Vietnamese food staples, and greet sunsets at the gorgeous beach bars like OCSEN. For white-sand stretches, visit Sao Beach and Khem Beach. Phu Quoc is also home to Hòn Thơm cable car, aka the world’s longest cable car over the sea, connecting the main island to Hòn Thơm and its amusement park. It’s a must-visit for the magnificent turquoise panoramas of the Gulf of Thailand and smaller islands. 

Best for historic exploration and boat trips

It’s guaranteed to be sunny in April and May in Malta. This tiny country situated on three islands serves as a geographical bridge between the European and African continents. Its menu of attractions is long and impressive. “April and May are one of the best times to experience Malta because the island feels more relaxed before the peak summer crowds arrive,” says Johan Siggesson, a fine art wildlife photographer who has lived on the island for many years. “Spring also brings a surprising burst of greenery and wildflowers across the countryside, something many visitors never see during the hotter months.”

The historic cities of Valetta, Mdina, and Three Cities (Vittoriosa, Senglea, and Cospicua in the Grand Harbor) offer mighty fortification walls, intricate cathedrals, narrow streets, and colorful wooden balconies. Coastal sites like Blue Grotto, Dingli Cliffs, and Sanap Cliffs take your breath away with their wild Mediterranean beauty.

And then there are beaches. You’ve got a variety in Malta. Ramla Beach, on Gozo Island, is known for its striking red sands. Mesmerizing you with their golden sands, Għadira Bay and Golden Bay are the ultimate stretches for families. St. Peter’s Pool is a striking area of white limestone rocks blending with the azure waters. But the most spectacular of all is the Blue Lagoon on the island of Comino, the gorgeous sapphire-blue bay with top snorkeling opportunities. 

Best for the pristine Caribbean bliss

Located off the northern coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, Isla Holbox checks all the boxes for a tropical paradise. Its beaches are divine, think long swathes of powdery white sand and transparent emerald waters. The island only has one small settlement, and most of the streets are just sand. You move around either on foot or on a golf cart. Like in the rest of the region, spring is a comfortable season to visit, offering sunny days and hot weather without heavy rain.

“Most crowded places are far from busy, so you can actually appreciate the natural beauty without the masses,” says Sebastian Garrido, content writer at Vibe Adventures. “It’s an ideal season for lounging on the beach, strolling through the quaint town, or visiting nature parks on the island.”

Playa Holbox and Playa Punta Cocos are the two main beaches, where you can find watersports rentals, cozy restaurant shacks and casual beach bars. In May, you can watch the magical bioluminescence show in Punta Cocos, when the water literally glows. The only way to access Isla Holbox is by boat—there are regular ferries from Chiquilá on the mainland. 

Best for natural adventures and cultural mix

A pearl of the Southern Caribbean, Curaçao is an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The tropical soul and European link make it one of the most thrilling visits in the region. Its capital, Willemstad, is a curious example of Dutch colonial architecture. Gingerbread-like, colorful houses dot the Old Town, giving the vibe of the Caribbean version of Amsterdam.

April and May is an ideal time to visit the beaches in Curaçao because the weather is sunny and warm, while the peak winter crowds have already eased, creating a more relaxed beach atmosphere,” says a Anjali Bakmeijer, Multi-Property Director of Sales & Marketing Curacao Marriott Beach Resort and the Pyrmont Curacao Beach Resort, an Autograph Collection.

The island is also a fantastic destination for nature. Visit the Shete Boka National Park for a striking, rugged coastline and sea turtle nesting bays. Curaçao diving is exceptional—you can explore the underwater Blue Room Cave and Tugboat Wreck off the Director’s Bay. Of course, there are gorgeous beaches. Grote Knip and Kleine Knip are two incredible sandy, blue-water coves on the west coast. Cas Abao is a vast white-sand bay with amazing snorkeling on the offshore reef. Another snorkeling hotspot is the picture-perfect Playa Forti. 

Best for blooming nature and uncrowded beaches

“America’s Finest City” needs no introduction. San Diego is among the country’s favorite coastal destinations, offering a taste of everything good California is known for. Visiting during the spring shoulder season is a great idea: there are fewer crowds, less heat, and many fantastic things to experience. San Diego’s nature is in full bloom starting in April.

Go to the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch, stroll through Balboa Park gardens, and escape to San Diego Botanic Garden to see the colorful spectacle. April to May is a perfect time to enjoy the glorious local beaches. Coronado Beach, La Jolla Shores, and Mission Beach draw sunbathers and picnicking families to the sands. The water is still quite chilly, but you can go kayaking and paddleboarding.

Best for exploring ancient sites and hiking

The Dodecanese island of Rhodes offers some of the Mediterranean’s most spectacular historical sites. Extreme summer heat and overtourism make wandering the ancient streets in summer quite an ordeal. April to May are the best months for the excursions on the island. First comes the magnificent, UNESCO-protected Rhodes Old Town. Encircled by the dramatic medieval walls and moats, it’s a teleport into the times of the Knights of Rhodes. Today, it’s also the island’s most vibrant neighborhood, where restaurants and cafes have taken over the cobbled streets and old palaces.

Another Rhodes highlight is Lindos, a stunning hilltop town with whitewashed streets and the perched Acropolis from the 6th century BC. In May, the sea temperature is comfortable enough for quick dips, allowing you to enjoy stunners such as Elli Beach in Rhodes Town, the sandy Tsambika bay and the turquoise Agios Pavlos cove off Lindos. 

Best for breathtaking landscapes

May is when seasoned travelers go to St. Lucia. Accommodation prices drop, the weather is consistently good and the high-season crowds leave. It’s that comfortable period before the summer rains begin. St. Lucia offers jaw-dropping beauty in a compact setting. The island’s landscape is of high volcanic mountains meeting the blue Caribbean waters. Some of the world’s most gorgeous beaches are also here. Sugar Beach is epically located between the two volcanic plugs, called Pitons.

You will also find many dramatic sandy coves, such as Anse Chastanet, Anse Mamin, and Jalousie Plantation beach. In St. Lucia, the beaches are usually backed by the rainforest and offer fantastic snorkeling. This small island nation is also home to the Caribbean’s most thrilling natural parks. Visit the Pigeon Island National Park, which combines historic sites with scenic coastal trails. The Babonneau region is where you zipline through the dense rainforest. You can also marvel at the lush Piton Falls and take a sulphur plunge at Soufrière Springs.