Where to Go in Europe for Spring Break 2027 (and Where to Skip Over Easter)

Oct 9

Spring break 2027 lands in late March or early April for most families. And almost everyone books the same trip: a beach in the Caribbean or Mexico, at peak spring break rates, alongside every other family who had the same idea.

Here's the plan I'd make instead. Take the European trip you were going to squeeze into July, and move it to spring break.

You solve two problems at once. You skip Europe in July and August, when the crowds and the heat are at their worst. And you skip the spring break crush at the beach. It's not the cheaper trip. It's the better one.

But it only works if you pick the right place, because 2027 has a catch.

Why Easter 2027 changes where you should go

Easter Sunday 2027 is March 28, which puts Holy Week (March 21 to 28) right on top of most spring breaks.

In some parts of Europe, Holy Week is the whole reason to go. In others, it means packed streets, changed opening hours, and hotels at their highest rates of the spring. Good Friday and Easter Monday are also public holidays in much of Europe, and plenty of European families travel the same week you do.

So pick a place where late March is lovely and Easter isn't the main event.

Our pick for spring break 2027: Portugal

Portugal is where I'd send most families for spring break 2027. Easter there is meaningful but far quieter than Spain's Semana Santa, the weather is mild, and a week splits easily between two very different places.

Option 1: Lisbon and the Alentejo

Three or four nights in Lisbon, then the rest of the week in the Alentejo, about two to two and a half hours east by car. Late March is when the Alentejo turns green and the wildflowers come out. Spring and fall are actually its high season, because summer there can top 110°F.

Where I'd stay: São Lourenço do Barrocal, a family estate near the medieval hilltop village of Monsaraz that's been in the same family since 1822. Horseback rides, wine and olive oil tastings, a kids' pool next to the adults' pool, and some of the darkest night skies in Europe. It's open year-round.

Option 2: Madeira

Madeira is a Portuguese island in the Atlantic, a short flight from Lisbon. Locals call it the island of eternal spring: it's mild all year, the gardens bloom early, and spring is prime time for levada walks, the old irrigation paths that trace the cliffs and laurel forests.

This is the active family option. Think hiking, whale watching and boat days, not lounging by the pool.

Where I'd stay: Reid's Palace, A Belmond Hotel, on the cliffs above Funchal since 1891. Book afternoon tea on the terrace over the Atlantic at least once.

Belmond has flagged phased room renovations at Reid's starting in 2027. We confirm exactly what's happening during your dates before anything is booked.

Option 3: Both in one week

Lisbon for three nights, Madeira for four. One short flight, and two completely different halves of the same trip.

Other spring break destinations in Europe that work in 2027

Paris and the Loire Valley

Spring in Paris, then a few nights in château country, where the gardens are waking up. French school spring holidays are staggered by region and mostly fall in April, so late March tends to be calmer than you'd expect.

The French Riviera

Nice, Èze and Monaco are mild in late March, and the towns are open year-round. The catch is the hotels: several of the Riviera's best-known seasonal properties don't open until April. This is one where the specific hotel decides whether the trip works.

Athens and the Peloponnese

Greek Orthodox Easter 2027 is May 2, five weeks after Western Easter, so late March in Greece sits completely outside the Easter rush. The ancient sites are green and quiet. Stay on the mainland, though. Most of the islands haven't opened for the season yet.

Where I'd skip over Easter 2027

Seville and Málaga. Semana Santa in Andalusia is one of the biggest Holy Week celebrations in the world. Unforgettable if it's why you're going. Exhausting if it isn't, and hotels price it accordingly.
Rome. The Vatican is the center of Easter, and the crowds follow.
The Amalfi Coast and Capri. The season is barely starting, and many of the best hotels open around Easter or after.
The Greek islands. Most are still closed or just waking up.

If any of these are on your list, save them for late April, May, or the fall.

What spring break in Europe actually feels like

Expect jacket weather, not swim weather. Lisbon in late March usually runs in the mid-60s°F during the day and cooler at night. Madeira is a touch warmer. The Atlantic is too cold for most people to swim.

That's the point. You're trading pool days for long lunches outside, walks you'd never take in July heat, and towns that still feel like they belong to the people who live there.

Pack layers, plan for one rainy day, and expect to spend more time outdoors than you think.

Spring break in Europe: FAQ

Is Europe a good spring break destination? Yes, if you choose a place where Easter isn't the main event. Portugal, Paris and the Loire, and mainland Greece all work well in late March 2027.

When is Easter 2027? Western Easter is Sunday, March 28, 2027, so Holy Week runs March 21 to 28. Greek Orthodox Easter is May 2, 2027.

What's the weather in Lisbon in late March? Mild. Usually mid-60s°F during the day with cool evenings. Bring a jacket.

Is Madeira good for families? For active families, yes. Levada walks, whale watching and boat days make it a great pick for kids who like to move. It's not a beach-lounging trip.

Should I avoid Europe over Easter? Not all of it. Skip places where Easter is the headline, like Seville, Málaga and Rome, and anywhere still closed for the season, like Capri and the Greek islands.

When should I book spring break 2027 in Europe? Now. You're sharing those dates with Easter travelers across Europe, and smaller properties with only a few dozen rooms, like Barrocal, fill first.

Ready to plan spring break 2027?

If this is the year you skip the Caribbean, now is the time to plan, while the best rooms are still open.

Ready to plan? Start here → Trip Design Form

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Ellen Marrero