5 Affordable Spring Bank Holiday Destinations

With the promise of milder temperatures, fresh air and sprouting blooms ahead of us, we’ve compiled five budget-friendly spring holiday destinations to add to your search now. 

The Hague

It wasn't until too long ago that The Hague was just a little-visited stop on the Netherlands' tourist trail, more a destination for locals rather than globe-trotting tourists. In recent years, however, the city has blossomed into a top travel destination for the country.

Best known as the judicial capital of the world and home to more than 150 international organizations, it has a unique, cosmopolitan atmosphere. Don't let that fool you into thinking it's a place where you can't let your hair down. This political capital has a buzzing culinary scene, with great options for everything from breakfast to cocktails and its nightlife has moved far past embassy cocktail parties, with the party precinct of Grote Markt which is often packed out with locals.

The perfect city to explore on foot, it’s also a feast for the eyes, featuring both 18th century baroque and classical buildings and is home to some the best architecture in Holland. Make sure at the top of your sight-seeing list is the Mauritshuis museum, a 17th-century palace where Vermeer’s Girl with the Pearl Earring hangs alongside masterpieces by Rembrandt, Rubens and Jan Steen.

While nobody thinks to go to the Netherlands for a beach, just a short 15-minute tram ride from the city centre and you'll arrive to Scheveningen on The Hague’s North Sea coast. Here you'll find food trucks, a Ferris wheel and a zip line to let your inner child run free and on a sunny spring day it's the perfect place to enjoy a dip (if you're brave) and embark on one of the many coastal walks. Its pier, one of the most notable icons in Scheveningen at nearly 400 metres long and 45 metres high, runs straight into the north sea offering standout views of the city and wider coastline.

Stay in the middle of it all, at our easyHotel Hague City Centre location or opt for a calmer stay, right next to the beach at our easyHotel Scheveningen Beach hotel.

Lisbon

It’s hard not to be charmed by Lisbon. Sprinkled over seven hills on the bank of the River Tagus, the city is one of Europe’s oldest and most beautiful. Having bounced back from Eurozone crisis, Lisbon is now a changed city, having become the ‘it’ destination for digital nomads, artisanal fashion houses and foreign investors. But don’t worry, a weekend there won’t break the bank, with plenty of free sightseeing to add to your list and a lot of €2 pastéis de nata’s to make your way through.

Hills, trams and mosaic-lined streets, Lisbon is especially the perfect city to visit in spring, with blue skies and the weather already reaching T-shirt temperatures. Make sure to take a ride on the canary-yellow Tram 28 for a whistle-top tour of the city’s architectural highlights and if you make the trip to only one museum, make sure to visit the Museu do Azulejo, which is a feast for the eyes, housing over 500 year’s worth of the cities tiles. Lastly, don’t leave without making a day trip to Sintra, the former playground of the royals and only a 40-minute drive or bus ride from the city. There you’ll find castles, fairy-tale turrets and candy-coloured casas, all which can be explored on a leisurely afternoon, just make sure to pre-book tickets in advance and pack some comfy trainers. Book a room at easyHotel Lisbon for a weekend away that doesn’t break the bank.

Glasgow

Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow has earned itself as the uglier, but whole lot cooler younger brother to Edinburgh. Home to the famous Glasgow School of Art, it’s hailed as the country’s artistic capital and also has itself a reputation as a bit of a party town, where you’re sure to meet some very friendly locals – assuming you can understand what they’re saying.

More than just museums and bric-a-brac streets, it’s also the gateway to Britain’s most captivating scenery, with plenty of hikes, castles and lochs to explore, all within an hour’s drive, making it the perfect spring destination for those who want get out in nature.

Once, unfairly known for Iron Bru and deep fried Mars bars, today the city has also has a booming culinary scene, and of course, there’s plenty of whiskey to explore. What’s not to love? easyHotel Glasgow City Centre offers a comfortable and affordable base for your Spring city break.

Nice

As the unofficial capital of the Côte d'Azur, Nice isn’t known for being the most affordable location to spend a long weekend in, but in spring, just before its peak season begins, you’ll get to enjoy the city at more affordable price and at a slower pace of life, without the crowds of sun-chasing tourists.

With temperatures reaching an average of 17°C, it might not be sunbathing weather just yet, but there’s still plenty to see and do in France’s rosé capital. A city that is meant for exploring on foot, catch a free walking tour to learn more about its rich history - it spent 500 years under the Kingdom of Sardinia, and the influence is still evident in much of its cuisine today.

After a leisurely breakfast indulging in pastries from one of the city’s many boulangeries, make sure to meander in and out of the daily markets in the old town and finish of the afternoon grazing on street snacks like Nice’s famous chickpea pancake - socca. Discover the city from easyHotel Nice, one of the best-placed hotels for exploring the city.

Budapest

With the promise of cheap food, nightlife and rich history to explore, Budapest is a city where there is lots to see and do and all without spending a fortune. Filled with Eastern bloc charm, in recent years the city’s art and food scenes have undergone a creative boom, making it an exciting destination to visit – or re-visit – this year. But there’s more to the Hungarian capital than just Roman baths and ruin bars. Castle Hill, the cities medieval old town with landmarks like the Buda Castle and the Matthias Church is well worth an afternoon exploring, as is the old Jewish, where you’ll find hip cafés, designer stores and many restaurants.

Make sure to round off your weekend with a trip to the Palace Quarter, which is dotted with impressive pre-war buildings and new restaurants. With all that walking, eating and drinking, a weekend wouldn’t be complete without a trip to one of the city’s many lavish thermal spas. Check-in at easyHotel Budapest to make your money go further.

There are so many unique cities to explore in the UK and Europe, and you don’t need to break the bank to experience them. Book a stay at one of our hotels today and start planning your next adventure.