When you hear the words “cherry blossoms”, your mind probably travels straight to the streets of Tokyo or Kyoto in Japan, but you don’t actually need to jet set that far to see these gorgeous flowers up close. Over the past few decades, Europe has become a mecca for cherry blossom sightings, and when you pair them up with medieval buildings and quaint cobblestone streets, you’re in for a real treat!
Cities like Paris, Berlin, and London are all great destinations to go in search of a wonderland of cherry blossoms, but if you’re on the lookout for a few hidden gems sans the crowds, here are a few of the best spots to see cherry blossoms in Europe that you won’t be able to stop gushing about!
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Secret Spots to See Cherry Blossoms in Europe
Zug, Switzerland
Dubbed ‘Switzerland’s cherry country’, Zug is a quaint little lakeside town located just a 30-minute drive away from Zurich. As far as cherry blossoms go, Zug is probably the best place to go for a day spent exploring a gorgeous, floral-filled nature hub in the Swiss countryside.
Zug’s tourism board offers a myriad of walking tours of the area, including both easy strolls to learn about the town and tougher hikes in nature around the surrounding area, where you’ll be able to spot cherry blossoms galore!
Bonn, Germany
Bonn is one of the most important cities in Germany, and while it’s not exactly known as a tourism hub, you’ll want to make sure you pay the city a visit if you’re visiting Germany in the spring. Back in the 80s, Bonn’s cherry blossoms were planted as part of a redevelopment program, and they've continued to bring color to the city ever since.
For the ultimate cherry blossom experience, head over to the Nordstads neighborhood, where the street of Heerstraße comes to life with flowers every spring. Moreover, you’ll also be able to find more of them all over the city (Maxstraße, Michaelstraße, and Dorotheenstraße are all great streets to start the search), so make sure to linger a while and make it a mission to walk all over Bonn to find your favorite tree!
Valle del Jerte, Spain
Think of a valley filled with 1.5 million cherry trees and you’ll get a pretty good picture of what a real-life wonderland of cherry blossoms would look like.
Valle del Jerte is a valley in Cáceres in western Spain that has become the sakura mecca of Spain. Aside from the blossoms in question, this is probably the best place to visit in Europe if you also want to take part in events and festivals that celebrate the beauty of cherry trees, as the area becomes host to Fiesta del Cerezo de Flor (Cherry Blossom Party), which is an event that celebrates the blossoming of cherry trees as well as the culinary and cultural offerings of the valley.
Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of cherry blossoms, but if you visit during the springtime, you’ll be amazed by the sights of them spread all over the city!
By far, the best place to see them is Kungsträdgården behind the Royal Palace, which is one of the oldest parks in Stockholm and gets blanketed by cherry blossoms every spring. Moreover, if you happen to be visiting during late April, make sure to visit Kungsträdgården to celebrate Körsbärsblommans Dag (Cherry Blossom Day). If you’re visiting in early May, you can also attend the Cherry Blossom Festival held by the Japanese embassy, which offers an insight into cherry blossoms as well as Japanese culture.
In Conclusion
I hope this list of destination ideas in Europe inspired you to visit the continent to go in search of cherry blossoms! What are some other amazing spots in Europe to catch a glimpse of spring? Let me know a few of your favorite places in the comments section down below!
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