7 Fabulous Floral-tastic Stays
The arrival of spring is a blissful feeling and there’s no better way to savour the season than spending time outdoors and enjoying nature bloom.
Whether you’d prefer to be immersed in a sea of colour in the famous Dutch tulip fields, learn about plant species in beautiful botanical gardens, or attend an obscure Italian flower festival, we've got you covered.
According to our global travellers, the following destinations are some of the very best when it comes to admiring spring flowers.*
Lisse, the Netherlands
Over seven million tulips and other flora fill the beautifully-sculpted flowerbeds at the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse. Winding around the trees, immaculate, lime green lawns, and water, these resplendent flowers will stop you in your tracks and nearby you’ll find the Dutch tulip fields; row upon row of vivid colours stretching right into the horizon. The Keukenhof gardens are open from 23rd March until the 21st May 2017 and the tulip fields are best viewed mid-April (depending on the weather) when they’re usually in full bloom.
Where to Stay: Bed & Breakfast De Vier Seizoenen in Lisse is located only 1.5 km away from the world famous tulip gardens of Keukenhof. Other top flower endorsed destinations within the Netherlands include Noordwijk, Hoofddorp, Aalsmeer and Amsterdam.
Furano, Japan
Though the lavender fields in Furano may not be too different from those in Provence, it’s the setting that makes them special. Mount Tokachi forms an impressive backdrop and the atmosphere when they’re blooming in July is wonderfully celebratory. Visit a local farm to enjoy a seemingly endless expanse of lavender, as well as poppies, lilies, and sunflowers, and taste some of the freshly-made lavender ice cream.
Where to Stay: Furano La Terre Hotel offers rooms in the heart of the lavender fields with mountain views in the heart of Hokkaido. It also features Japanese-style rooms with tatami flooring and traditional futon beds. It’s also only a 30-minute drive from the Biei area, another top flower endorsed destination in Japan.
Boquete, Panama
Boquete and its exuberant tropical surroundings are worth visiting year-round but the town’s annual flower festival, from 11 to 21 January each year, is the best time for fans of flora. On the banks of the Boquete River, expert gardeners put on an incredible display of thousands of assorted flowers. A highlight is the showcase by the local orchid society; a colourful collection of one of the world’s most treasured exotic plants.
Where to Stay: Boquete Garden Inn offers a unique experience in a peaceful and natural setting. Nestled within beautiful gardens, the property offers a limited number of cabanas, so privacy is a priority. A complementary, 3-course sit-down breakfast is included, which guests can enjoy alongside beautiful wild birds.
Spello, Italy
The ancient Italian town of Spello is a garden in itself. Flower pots and vines cover almost all of the buildings’ rose-coloured stone walls and weathered wood shutters and doors. But Spello’s 'Inforiate', an ancient ceremony still taking place on 18th June every year, is the real attraction. On this day, the streets of the town are covered with floral mosaics, created as part of a competition and following all kinds of themes. The petals of daisies, chrysanthemums, roses, and all other types of flower are laid out masterfully, intricately, and to spectacular effect.
Where to Stay: La Corte del Conte offers comfortable, modern rooms in the centre of Spello. It also features a beautiful garden, where guests can relax while enjoying a meal or glass of vino.
Giverny, France
Giverny was home to Claude Monet for much of his life and his former home and garden, instantly recognisable from his water lily series, are now open to the public. It’s not hard to see how it inspired some of his most lauded work, since the garden feels like a surreal art installation. Almost every inch of ground is covered with a dizzying array of flora – nasturtiums, tulips, irises, peonies – separated by water-lily ponds, the wisteria-lad bridge, and huge weeping willows. Open from 24th March until 1st November 2017.
Where to Stay: Relais du Silence Le Jardin des Plumes is a charming hotel located only 500 metres from Monet’s beautiful house and gardens. It features art-deco furniture, a garden and terrace as well as continental and English breakfast each morning.
Holambra, Brazil
Named from the words Holland America Brazil, Holambra is a former Dutch colony in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Staying true to its Dutch heritage, today Halambra is best known as the largest producer of flowers and ornamental plants in Latin American and hosts the largest spring event in South American, the Expoflora, which is considered one of the greatest showcases of the national floriculture novelties.
Where to Stay: Located in Holambra city centre, just 800 metres from the Expoflora trade show, Top Centrum Hotel offers guests spacious rooms, including some apartments with a kitchenette, complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi.
Dalat, Vietnam
The city of thousands of flowers, Dalat is home to various flower parks, farms and festivals, each decorating the city with colourful blooms and rich green landscaping. Spend your days exploring this former French colony and wandering the grounds, taking in fragrant lilies, chrysanthemums and diverse orchids that this city is famous for.
Where to Stay: Experience world-class service at Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort & Spa, a 5-star resort that features seven original French colonial villas nestled on the slopes of Dalat city’s rural highlands. The resort also offers guests extensive spa facilities and a variety of dining options.
*Our analysts looked at endorsements for ‘flowers’ by Booking.com customers. They then found the destinations that were most highly-rated for this endorsement.