The 10 best Easter weekend getaways in the US and Europe

The weather in the northern hemisphere is slowly improving, and the Easter weekend is a time when people want to make the most of the sun, wherever they can find it. Here’s a selection of places we think you’ll love this spring.

The best places to visit at Easter in the US

New Orleans

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We begin with an Easter destination that’s both extravagant and traditional. A predominantly Catholic city, New Orleans takes Easter very seriously with grand Masses at St. Louis Cathedral across the morning of Easter Sunday. Easter egg hunts are dotted about the city to entertain the kids, and then, of course, there are the parades. The Historic French Quarter Parade begins at 9:45 am, arrives at the Cathedral for the 11 am Mass, then continues throughout the afternoon. The Chris Owens French Quarter Parade (named after an entertainer that’s run this parade for 35 years) starts at 1 pm and is a slightly wilder affair, more in tune with Mardi Gras, while the Gay Easter Parade celebrates the city’s LGBTQ+ residents, again with colorful floats and carriages parading through the French Quarter.

San Francisco

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San Francisco is a fun city no matter when you visit, but as with New Orleans, there are events citywide during Easter weekend, from egg hunts to block parties, and picnics to festivals. However, if it’s tradition you’re looking for, you probably won’t find it here. The Union Street Parade showcases the unique and diverse community of the Bay area, featuring rollerblading cows, self-propelled mini-floats, art cars and home-made fashion. While at Mission Dolores Park, the charity organization known as the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence use art and street performance based on religious images to bring attention to issues of gender and morality, and to protest against sexual intolerance. Where else but San Francisco could you watch a contest to find this year’s Hunky Jesus and Foxy Mary?

South Padre Island

If you just want to chill out on the coast, South Padre Island might just be the place — Getty Images Let’s calm things down a bit, shall we? South Padre Island is a resort town in the very south of Texas on the Gulf of Mexico. It gets more than 300 days of sunshine a year, so it’s a pretty safe bet for your Easter break, weather-wise. Add to that over 34 miles of beach and it’s safe to say you’re in for a nice time, whatever your tastes. You can take a boat tour, go fishing, horseback riding, shopping, or relax at one of the local spas. Take a dance class, visit one of the local art galleries, or learn about the marine conservation taking place in the coastal waters. Come the evening, there’s music everywhere — the Music Friendly Community Program encourages live music at venues across the town, from bars to beaches. Quite the selection, eh?

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg reckons itself as “America’s Most Historic City” — Getty Images

Having the self-proclaimed title of “America’s Most Historic City” isn’t entirely unfair — the Fredericksburg Historic District is made up of 350 buildings and locations dating to the 18th and 19th centuries, and the local Civil War battle sites and cemeteries do a good job of commemorating that particularly bloody period of US history. But what is there for non-history buffs? Well, the 6 Bears and a Goat Brewing Company runs an adult Easter egg hunt with prizes including free drinks, merchandise, gift cards, beer presentation boxes and more; for fans of the grape, Morais Vineyard & Winery has a similar event. Walk it off through the local parks and farmland outside town, try your hand at pottery at the LibertyTown Arts Workshop , go shopping on Caroline Street, or tour the city on a historic trolleybus.

Big Sur

Big Sur is popular with visitors for its spectacular coastal scenery — Getty Images California’s Big Sur has some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the US, possibly the world. It manages to tread the fine line between tourism (up to seven million visitors arrive each year) and wilderness, its beauty uncluttered by car parks, major roads, services, or any other blights that people apparently need to make their life in any way tolerable. Instead, you get small, local businesses located discreetly along the Carmel-San Simeon Highway, a classic two-lane road that has barely changed since the 1950s. Indeed, over 60% of the whole region bans any development whatsoever, leaving you with stunning views, untouched forests, empty beaches and a generally glorious way to experience a part of the US that’s seemingly trapped in time.

The best destinations for Easter in Europe

Madeira, Portugal

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An archipelago in the Atlantic — and not the first one we’ll be visiting in this piece — Madeira is the birthplace of both the eponymous wine and Cristiano Ronaldo, only one of which ever comes across as bitter. The capital, Funchal, is home to around half of the population, with everyone else spread thinly across the rocky slopes making a living from farming and viticulture. Although part of Portugal , Madeira has a strong cultural identity of its own, reflected in the folk music of the region and the rich, colorful seafood dishes and delicious breads and cakes you’ll find everywhere. It’s a stunning place, a part of Europe that feels alien enough to be interesting yet familiar enough to be a very easy place to enjoy.

Seville, Spain

Plaza de España — Getty Images Southwestern Spain is always a good bet for great weather regardless of the time of year, and for a city break, you can’t get much better than Seville . The Andalusian capital might not have a coastline to boast about, but it’s fabulous in many other ways. Even the more modern parts of the city feel like a trip back in time — the Plaza de España, a mix of massive Baroque and Renaissance structures curving around a huge tiled square backing onto ornamental gardens and moats, only dates from the 1920s. That’s not to say there isn’t history, though. Roman, Islamic, Spanish Imperial, and its 17th-century heyday all contribute to this absolute flower of Spain.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

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With the Adriatic coast being the most widely-discovered of all the “undiscovered” European destinations, we can’t say there won’t be other visitors when you visit Dubrovnik. However, its post-Game of Thrones mania has died down a bit, leaving you with one of the region’s most beautiful towns to get to know. Its wonderful Old Town, protected by sheer cliffs and heavy walls, is home to Gothic and Renaissance palaces and museums, the sea is a wondrous blue, and there are ferries to the peaceful nearby islands of Koločep (around 40 minutes) and Lopud (40 — 85 minutes, depending on the route) that can offer an easy change of pace.

Canary Islands, Spain

The Canary Islands aren’t all about sitting on the beach; plenty also visit for adventures among rugged landscapes — Getty Images A stunning, ragged series of rocks off the African coast, the Canaries are an autonomous region of Spain and, as such, have everything that comes with that: great food, a laid-back lifestyle, and a thriving tourist trade. The subtropical climate means hot summers and balmy winters, and the jagged landscape attracts not only beach bums but hikers and adventure seekers as well. The islands contain both thickly-wooded forests and arid deserts, Spain’s highest mountain (the volcanic Mount Teide), and distinctive black sand beaches. As well as these natural wonders, places such as Las Palmas, La Laguna, Maspalomas, Puerto de la Cruz and Arrecife vary in size and vibe — from party places to seaside towns, cultural hubs to mountain villages.

Crete, Greece

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Crete is the largest of the thousands of Greek islands , the most populated, and one of the most popular for tourists. What this means is that despite the huge hotel complexes that sprang up in the late 1980s, it’s seen a bump in possibilities for people who aren’t necessarily looking for that. Particularly if you stay away from the western part of the island and stick to the center and south, you’ll find tiny, family-run guest houses, campsites, quaint bed and breakfast places and ancient cottages for rent. Public transport is pretty good as well, meaning that once you’ve arrived, you’re not beholden to anyone or anything in pursuit of your ideal Easter break. Did you like this article? For more travel inspiration, visit Kiwi.com Stories .