Where to Go When
Five unmissable things to do this spring and summer
For many of the world’s biggest travel destinations the grey of winter is evaporating in the first glimmers of spring sunshine – which means it’s time to start dusting off those trip plans! Where to go, though? And what to do? Decisions, decisions… Here are a few highlights for the coming months that should help you make up your mind…
Easter in Athens - When: April
Those lucky enough to be in Greece at Easter (Pascha) are in for a special treat. And obviously it goes without saying that Athens is no exception. On Good Friday, church bells toll eerily all day long; at around 8pm candlelit processions begin behind each church’s epitaphios (decorated funeral bier), winding slowly through the streets.
The following day, at midnight, people gather outside churches with lambades (candles) that are lit by priests against a backdrop of fireworks set off by local children. The celebrations culminate on Easter Sunday with Greek music resounding through the streets and parks, and the smell of lamb permeating the air…
Read more about Easter in Athens
Spring sightseeing in Boston - When: May
May is a great month to explore New England’s largest city. The weather is great and there’s lots to see and do, from the townhouses and cobbled streets of Beacon Hill and the elegant boulevards of the Back Bay Area, to the food stalls of Faneuil Hall Marketplace and shopping in Filene’s Basement.
While you can’t see it all in a few days, Boston is a compact, easily walkable city that allows you to sample many of its pleasures on a short visit – although it would be a shame to rush through all this at a Paul Revere-style gallop!
Plan a spring trip to Boston
The International Jazz Festival, Montréal - When: June
Montréal tries to be most things to most people – and with Gallic flair, it usually succeeds. Although the Canadian summer is sweet and desperately short, Montrealers are expert at making the most of it, with the city erupting into a riot of festivals, street parties and celebrations.
The mother of all shindigs is the Festival International de Jazz, held from late June to early July. It’s accessible to anyone, and just about everyone comes, with crowds of around two million people gathering together to enjoy the music of legendary jazz players from all over the world.
Find out more about Montréal
A child-friendly stay in Copenhagen - When: July
July is peak season for a family trip to Copenhagen. Beach life opens up around the harbor and teenagers can revel in a guided kayak trip. Should it rain, the Experimentarium makes science huge fun (for adults, too), there are entertaining street acts (and shopping) along Strøget and the National Museum even has a dressing-up box!
But the city’s main draw for families is Tivoli. With more rides than you can fit into a day, a lake, a marooned pirate ship, concert stages, restaurants, a stunning new aquarium and, at night, 100,000 soft-glow lights, Tivoli brings out the child in everyone - and it’s right in the center of town.
Check out our guide to Copenhagen
Beaches and white villages, Costa de la Luz - When: August
Much less well-known than Spain’s Mediterranean coasts, the Costa de la Luz nevertheless offers one of the most distinctive mixes of character and landscape anywhere in Andalucía. Its two main towns offer a complete contrast – Jerez de la Frontera, long the capital of sherry, and Cádiz, a salty seaport with streets full of the echoes of voyages of discovery.
Beyond its main towns, the Costa de la Luz itself – a line of great, broad beaches facing the windy Atlantic and washed by crashing surf – is also an ideal place to relax. Beach towns like Zahara de los Atunes are still fishing villages, and as you sample the local delicacies you can find an easygoing friendliness that often seems lost elsewhere.
Start thinking about August in Andalucía
This content was taken from the bestselling Where to Go When. (UK) (US)
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