Spring holidays for solo travellers: five hosted departures, early to late spring

The best spring holidays for solo travellers are short, mild and sociable: a city break in Seville or Athens at the start of the season, Lisbon or a week by the sea in Croatia in the middle of it, and a few days in Kraków as it turns into summer. Spice Escapes runs all five as small hosted group holidays for people in their 40s, 50s and 60s who travel on their own, with a host who goes with you and a group of around fifteen people, and some reach twenty.

Spring is when a lot of people on their own finally book. The winter has been long, the evenings are lighter, and the friend who said "we should go somewhere" has gone quiet again. This guide covers which departures fall in the spring, what each is like for someone arriving alone, and what to sort before you go.

Why spring works when you are going on your own

The places on this page are warm enough to sit outside but not yet crowded or hot, which matters more when you are on your own. You can walk a city all day without wilting and find a table for the group without queuing. Most people on our holidays book on their own, so you arrive into a group that is in the same position as you, and the host makes the introductions. If this would be your first time, our page for first-time solo travellers walks through it from the airport onwards.

Early spring: Seville before the heat

Surprising Seville is 4 nights, departing 4 Mar 2027 – 8 Mar 2027, from £549, hosted by Jackie Whyte. Places: 23 places left.

Seville is one of the hottest cities in Spain, so the start of spring is the time to see it. Days typically run from 17°C to 22°C, with chillier nights, so pack a warm layer for evenings out. A 48-hour hop-on hop-off bus ticket is included, which is a gentle way to get your bearings on the first full day. The Hotel América is minutes from the cathedral and the Barrio de Santa Cruz. The guided Cathedral and Alcázar tour and the flamenco evening are optional and can be limited, so book them with the holiday. More of the country at Spain.

Early spring: Athens, with dinner on the first night

Ancient Athens is 4 nights, departing 10 Mar 2027 – 14 Mar 2027, from £579, hosted by Jackie Whyte. Places: 16 places left.

The worry about the first evening is answered on day one: the group walks to a local restaurant together to get to know each other. After that there is an optional guided tour of the Acropolis and Ancient Agora, an optional food tour with more than eighteen tastings and an optional afternoon out to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon. The kit list asks for a sweater or light jacket for cool mornings and evenings, and rain gear just in case. Browse every city break we run.

Mid spring: three easy nights in Lisbon

A Taste of Lisbon is 3 nights, departing 15 Apr 2027 – 18 Apr 2027, from £639, hosted by Pam Harte. Places: 7 places left.

This is the shortest trip here. Expect daytime highs of around 20°C and about eight hours of sunshine. One practical point: airport transfers are not included, because the metro is the quickest way in and there is a stop very close to the hotel, and you are sent instructions before you travel. My Story Hotel Tejo sits next to Figueira Square, where you can catch Tram 28 through the old neighbourhoods. The suggested days take in Alfama, then Belém. Our guide to European city breaks for solo travellers compares more cities.

Late spring: a slow week on a Croatian island

Croatian Chillout is 7 nights, departing 1 May 2027 – 8 May 2027, from £869, hosted by Jackie Whyte. Places: 13 places left.

This is the one for a week of early sunshine rather than sightseeing. The group stays at Hotel Punta on the island of Lošinj, half board, so breakfast and dinner are taken care of and you are never hunting for a table for one. Plan for the journey in: the transfer from Pula takes about three hours, broken by a ferry crossing of around forty minutes. There is a boat day round the archipelago with a chance of dolphins. Bring water shoes, as many beaches are rocky or pebbled. See more in Croatia.

The end of spring: Kraków at your own pace

Kraków Discovery is 4 nights, departing 26 May 2027 – 30 May 2027, from £589, hosted by Jackie Whyte. Places: 9 places left.

The days are left open on purpose, with a host for all four nights so there is company at dinner. The Best Western Plus Kraków Old Town is a few steps from the Main Market Square and around 500 metres from Wawel Castle. Expect days of about 18°C to 20°C and cooler evenings, so bring a light jacket. There are optional trips to the Wieliczka Salt Mine and to Auschwitz-Birkenau, which is a full day and a heavy one emotionally. These are limited and booked with your name against them, so choose them when you book. More culture and discovery holidays.

Three things to sort before a spring trip

• Book the optional extras early. In Seville and Kraków the excursions are limited and tickets are bought in advance, so decide when you book.
• Pack for two seasons. Spring days in all five places are mild to warm, but mornings and evenings can be cool and a shower is possible. See packing light for group travel.
• Know the cost of a room to yourself. Every one of these holidays carries a single supplement or a cost for a room of your own. Our single supplement page explains how it works, and over 50s solo holidays sets out how we look after people travelling alone.

Questions people ask

Is spring a good time to travel on your own?

It is one of the easiest. Southern Europe is mild rather than hot, the big summer crowds have not arrived, and you can walk a city all day in comfort.

Should my first spring trip be a short break or a full week?

If you are nervous, three or four nights in Lisbon, Seville, Athens or Kraków is a gentle start. If you already know you want to unwind, a week in Croatia gives the group more time to become friends.

Will I be the only person there on my own?

Very unlikely, as most people on our holidays book on their own. The host introduces everyone early and makes sure you know where the group is eating.

Where is warm enough for a spring break in Europe?

Seville and Athens are mild from the start of spring, and Lisbon, Croatia and Kraków warm up as the season goes on. None of them is reliably beach weather early in the season, so pack a layer for the evenings.

Do I have to join in with everything?

No. The excursions are optional and many days are left free, so you can join the group or take a quiet afternoon with a book.

Planning your spring away

The places count on each holiday above is live. If one appeals, tell us which, and ask anything that is holding you back, from the room to the first evening. Jackie Whyte hosts Seville, Athens, Croatia and Kraków, and the team can tell you how she runs them. Get in touch with the team and ask what is coming up this spring. For other seasons, see our autumn destinations.