7 Places in Europe to Enjoy Spring Flowers

The brightly colored tulips covering entire landscapes in Holland every spring are legendary, but family travelers will find displays of spring blooms elsewhere throughout Europe. Here are some places where your family can find displays of flowers and blossoming trees:

Keukenhof, Netherlands
The world’s largest flower garden is at its height in April through mid-May, when tulips and other flowering bulbs are in bloom. Keukenhof is easy to reach by express buses from Amsterdam.

Dublin, Ireland
April and early May are also the height of the cherry blossom spectacular in the Irish capital city. The huge Phoenix Park, not far from Heuston Station, is abloom with native Irish cherry trees. St. Stephen’s Green, a short walk from Grafton Street, is another favorite spot for cherry blossom viewing.

Stockholm, Sweden
The cherry trees that fill Kungsträdgården (The King’s Garden) in Stockholm are not natives, but a gift from Japan. The setting alongside the gardens’ sunken pool with fountains is especially photo-worthy.

Copenhagen, Denmark
Like Stockholm, Copenhagen received its cherry trees as a gift from Japan, and they celebrate Japanese culture late in April with the two-day Sakura Festival, this year on April 26 and 27. The free festival features Japanese crafts and culture, with stalls selling Japanese foods.

Paris, France
As cherry blossoms along Parisian streets begin to fade, they are replaced by even more trees covered in bright pink chestnut blossoms. Chestnut trees form a pink sky above the parks and line the boulevards. For the most romantic images, view them surrounded by 17^th-century architecture in Place Dauphine. These blossoms remain bright through mid-May.

Bremen, Germany
From late April through early June, Bremen’s Rhododendron Park is abloom with the world’s largest collection of rhododendrons. More than 500 species and thousands of cultivated varieties fill Bremen Rhododendron Park with giant clusters of pink and red blossoms.

Funchal, Madeira
From late April and well into May, the streets of this Portuguese island capital are shaded by masses of purple jacaranda blossoms. More falling blooms cover the pavement and parks. From May 1 to 25, Madeira Flower Festival brings parades of flower-covered floats, costumes and entire streets paved in mosaics of fresh flowers.