5 Best Easter Travel Destinations for 2025
Spring is the perfect time to explore new cities, chase sunshine, and experience cultural traditions—and Easter 2025 is one of the top travel moments of the year. From Europe’s most iconic cities to breathtaking nature escapes, these top 5 Easter travel destinations blend celebration, history, and unforgettable scenery. Whether you’re craving cherry blossoms in Kyoto, religious processions in Seville, or ancient Easter traditions in Athens and Rome, these spring travel hotspots are trending for good reason. If you’re looking for the best places to travel for Easter 2025, want a cultural getaway, or are planning a spring holiday with a mix of sunshine, history, and local experiences, keep reading.
Here are 5 of the best Easter vacation destinations for 2025
1. Seville, Spain – Best for Iconic Holy Week Traditions
Why go:
If you’re searching for an authentic, soul-stirring Easter experience in Europe, Seville tops the list. Famous for Semana Santa, its Holy Week celebrations date back centuries and are unlike anywhere else. From Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, over 50 processions wind through the city, featuring Nazarenos in hooded robes, somber music, and richly decorated floats carrying religious sculptures.
What to do in Seville during Easter:
• Watch a procession: Head to Calle Sierpes or the Cathedral for the most moving views of the Semana Santa parades.
• Try Easter specialties: Don’t miss torrijas (Spanish-style French toast), a seasonal favorite served in cafés all over the city.
• Explore the Real Alcázar: A UNESCO-listed palace with lush gardens—perfect for a spring stroll after the solemn processions.
• Take a flamenco tour: Easter in Andalusia isn’t just spiritual—it’s passionate. Book a flamenco performance for an unforgettable night.
• Cruise the Guadalquivir River: Enjoy a peaceful boat ride to take in Seville’s skyline as the sun sets over Holy Week festivities.
Why it’s perfect for Easter 2025:
With pleasant temperatures (around 22°C), blooming orange trees, and world-famous traditions, Seville is one of the most visited Easter destinations in Europe.
2. Kyoto, Japan – Best for Cherry Blossoms & Spring Serenity
Why go:
If you’re seeking nature, peace, and beauty, Easter 2025 falls right during peak cherry blossom season in Kyoto. This historic Japanese city transforms into a pink-hued wonderland, with sakura trees blooming across temples, gardens, and riverbanks. While Japan doesn’t celebrate Easter as a public holiday, it’s a magical time to experience spring travel in Asia.
What to do in Kyoto during Easter:
• Walk the Philosopher’s Path: This tranquil canal-lined path is lined with hundreds of cherry trees. The petals create a pink carpet underfoot during Easter week.
• Visit temples & shrines: Explore Kiyomizu-dera, Fushimi Inari, and Ryoan-ji—all even more stunning surrounded by cherry blossoms.
• Join a traditional tea ceremony: Learn the art of Japanese hospitality and mindfulness in a serene teahouse.
• Take a day trip to Arashiyama: Visit the bamboo grove, ride a boat along the Hozugawa River, and spot monkeys in Iwatayama Park.
• Enjoy sakura-themed food & drinks: Many restaurants offer seasonal menus featuring cherry blossom mochi, sakura lattes, and pink noodles.
Why it’s perfect for Easter 2025:
Kyoto in spring is peaceful, picturesque, and bucket-list worthy. It’s the ideal Easter holiday for couples or solo travelers wanting calm over crowds.
3. Cape Town, South Africa – Best for Scenic Escapes & Mild Weather
Why go:
Cape Town offers a completely different Easter experience—sunshine, adventure, and unbeatable natural beauty. April marks the start of fall in the Southern Hemisphere, with dry weather, golden light, and warm temperatures that are perfect for hiking, wine tasting, and seaside fun.
What to do in Cape Town during Easter:
• Hike or take the cable car up Table Mountain: Enjoy epic views of the city and ocean from the summit. Easter sunrise hikes are especially popular.
• Visit Boulders Beach: Meet the colony of African penguins in their natural coastal habitat—one of Cape Town’s most unique attractions.
• Explore the Cape Winelands: Spend a day in Stellenbosch or Franschhoek sipping local wines and enjoying long Easter lunches outdoors.
• Drive Chapman’s Peak: One of the world’s most scenic coastal drives, it’s breathtaking in the soft light of April.
• Go on a day safari: Experience wildlife just outside the city—lions, zebras, and rhinos await.
Why it’s perfect for Easter 2025:
Cape Town blends culture, nature, and warm-weather vibes, making it ideal for a spring break vacation or an Easter getaway that’s far from traditional.
4. Rome, Italy – Best for Spiritual Easter Celebrations & History
Why go:
Few places capture the religious significance of Easter better than Rome. The Eternal City is not only home to the Vatican but also bursts into life with spiritual events, open-air Masses, and blooming piazzas during spring. For Christians, attending Easter Mass in St. Peter’s Square is a bucket-list experience.
What to do in Rome during Easter:
• Attend Holy Week services: From the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum to the Easter Sunday Mass led by the Pope, these events draw pilgrims from all over the world.
• Explore ancient landmarks: Visit the Colosseum, Roman Forum, and Pantheon—less crowded and beautiful in April light.
• Wander Trastevere & eat local: Enjoy Roman Easter dishes like abbacchio (roast lamb) and colomba cake in traditional trattorias.
• Stroll through the Vatican Gardens: Spring is the best time to explore these usually private gardens, opened to special visitors during Easter week.
• Take a day trip to Tivoli: Just outside Rome, you’ll find Villa d’Este and Villa Adriana—perfect for a quiet Easter day escape.
Why it’s perfect for Easter 2025:
Rome blends spiritual tradition, historical depth, and delicious Italian food, making it one of the best places to visit in Europe during Easter.
5. Athens, Greece – Best for Greek Orthodox Easter Traditions & Ancient Charm
Why go:
Orthodox Easter in Greece is the most important holiday of the year, and nowhere combines tradition with charm better than Athens. Expect candlelight, fireworks, feasting, and a strong sense of community. If you want a more local and authentic Easter experience, this is your spot.
What to do in Athens during Easter:
• Attend the Anastasi (Resurrection) ceremony: At midnight on Holy Saturday, the city lights up with candles and fireworks as locals proclaim “Christos Anesti!”
• Climb the Acropolis: The Parthenon is particularly striking during spring, framed by wildflowers and warm skies.
• Eat Easter delicacies: Try magiritsa soup, red-dyed eggs, and tsoureki (braided Easter bread with mastic and orange zest).
• Visit Mount Lycabettus: Hike or take the funicular for the best panoramic views of Easter lights over the city.
• Wander Plaka & Anafiotika: These old neighborhoods feel like a Greek island in the middle of the capital—especially magical during Easter.
Why it’s perfect for Easter 2025:
Athens gives you ancient ruins, rich religious tradition, and the warmth of Greek hospitality—a hidden gem for Easter that’s gaining popularity.
Easter travel in 2025 is all about meaningful experiences, springtime beauty, and cultural depth. Whether you’re heading to Seville for Holy Week processions, Kyoto for cherry blossoms, Rome for spiritual grandeur, Cape Town for sunshine, or Athens for Orthodox Easter traditions, these destinations offer something unforgettable.