12 Most Stunning European Cities for Cherry Blossoms To Visit in Your Lifetime
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Yes, Japan is one of the best countries to visit, as it offers so much diversity. However, if you plan to visit primarily because of cherry blossoms and the Sakura Festivals surrounding them, you should think twice before booking that trip. You can have the best cherry blossoms in European cities; you just have to choose the right destination.
In fact, some of these European cities have cherry trees that were originally obtained from Japan, and they also hold Sakura festivals. There is no better way to experience the Japanese charm without flying hours and hours into Japan.
As sunny spring weather arrives, so do the vibrant cherry blossoms in these beautiful European cities. The stunning scenery, the beautiful interplay of dusty pink and soft whites, the calming ambiance, and the scented air—these European cities will give you the best.
But knowing the city with the most stunning cherry blossoms is not enough. You need to know the exact spots in the city for the best photo experiences, which we reveal in this list. Don’t travel far; see the cherry blossoms closer to home in these European cities.
Paris, France
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Beautiful cherry blossoms with the Eiffel Tower in the background? You have probably already seen that on your Instagram. This view is captured at Champ de Mars, the greenspace around the Eiffel Tower, which typically offers the city’s earliest cherry blossom view, usually in late February.
Other places to stop by include the charming Tuileries Garden (for late-season blooming), Jardin des Plantes, Trocadero Gardens (which has views of the Eiffel Tower, too), Bois de Vincennes, Jardin Tino Ross, Jardin de Ranelagh, and Jardins des Champs Elysées.
If you want to picnic amidst the blooming cherry trees, your best experience would likely be in Trocadero or Tuileries. If you have time to tour spots just outside Paris, the cherry blossoms and the beauty of Parc de Sceaux will take your breath away.
Read also: European Cities to Travel to in the Spring
Brussels, Belgium
If you love long strolls, your experience hunting for cherry trees in Brussels will pay off well. The city’s tree-lined streets transform into a pink paradise, ushering in the Spring season in style. Start at Avenue Emile Max in Schaerbeek to enjoy the scenery of fully blooming cherry trees against a backdrop of elegant buildings. Come prepared to snap some stunning shots because the scenery here is breathtaking.
Then head to Avenue Jules Malou in Etterbeek, where the cherry blossoms and the St. Anthony of Padua Church created a magnificent frame. Place des Bienfaiteurs, Avenue du Diamant, and Josaphat Park, all in Schaerbeek, are other streets offering amazing cherry blossom scenery. If you want to picnic or relax in the beauty of cherry trees, a good spot would be Parc du Viaduc in Ixelles.
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London, United Kingdom
While many cherry blossom viewing points exist in London, Greenwich Park is undoubtedly the best spot. The spring scenery of the park has been described as one that would depict Lawrence Alma-Tadema’s The Roses of Heliogabalus painting if it came to real life.
From Greenwich Park, head to Kew Garden, the largest botanical garden in London. While here, start at the rose garden behind the Palm House. This garden has a wide variety of cherry trees, all labeled scientifically for anyone who would love to take note of such information.
Other notable spots include Regent’s Park, St James’ Park, and Kensington Gardens.
A special mention for London cherry blossoms viewing is St. Paul’s Cathedral. It is known for having the city’s earliest blossoms and offering stunning scenery for Instagrammable shots.
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Bonn, Germany
Bonn has a street nicknamed Cherry Blossom Avenue, which tells you everything you need to know about it. The street, officially called Heerstrasse, is lined with rows of cherry trees that create a thick canopy of pink petals at their peak. The blossoms make a thick tunnel that, at their fullest, you can barely see the sky; your Instagram will definitely like this shot.
Luckily, there is rarely vehicle traffic on this street, apart from those of the residents. This makes it even easier to explore and capture some stunning shots. And yes, the views are equally stunning at night when the canopy is illuminated.
Be careful, though. The blossoms come and go very quickly, and timing can be tricky. Arrive a few days late, and you may find a thick carpet of flowers on the ground, which is still a mesmerizing sight for a flower lover. You may also want to explore Breite Strasse, another Bonn street with amazing cherry blossom views.
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Berlin, Germany
A little fun fact: The cherry blossom trees in Berlin are actually from Japan. The people of Japan gifted them to the Germans as a symbol of unity and renewal after the wall came down. For this, the cherry blossom season in Germany is truly a mini version of the season in Japan.
That’s not all; Berlin hosts a cherry blossom festival in The Garden of The World every mid-April to usher in the season, letting you have the best of the Sakura season closer to home
Some of the best places to see the cherry trees in Berlin include the Asian gardens in the Garden of The World, Maybachufer, Mauerpark, Tiergarten, and Volkspark Friedrichshain.
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Madrid, Spain
Cherry blossoms in Madrid typically happen in March, but sometimes in April, depending on the weather. While there are many lone cherry trees throughout Madrid, you want to go to an area with a good number of them for better scenery. Some of your best bets at viewing the pink petals flourish in the fine weather would be at Parque del Retiro, which has hundreds of cherry trees; Campo del Moro, Calle Miguel Servet (Lavapies), and Esta es Una Plaza (Lavapies).
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Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden has an official holiday for cherry blossoms, celebrated on April 28th of every year. To mark the holiday, a festival held at Kungsträdgården features Japanese celebration traditions such as traditional music, dance, Martial arts displays, and food.
But this does not mean you should wait until late April to visit; some trees bloom by March and may reach their peak before the holiday. For more views of the pink blossoms in Sweden, head to Luma Park and Bysistorget.
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Amsterdam, The Netherlands
We all know the rich flower culture associated with Amsterdam. However, from mid-March to Late April, locals and tourists can go beyond Tulips and marvel at the beauty of the hundreds of Sakura trees that color the city.
For the best views, cycle 40 minutes outside the city center to Amstelveen Park, locally called Kersenbloesempark. The park is home to 400 Sakura trees donated by the Japanese Women’s Club. Even more interesting, each tree has a Japanese or Dutch female name. This is a perfect spot for weekend picnics.
If you want a cherry blossom spot in the city center, check out Westerpark, Museumplein, and Hortus Botanicus.
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Prague, Czech Republic
The Prague Castle offers fantastic photo opportunities for cherry blossom viewers. The view of the blossoming Sakura trees against the medieval castle is stunning. From the Prague Castle, head to Petřín Hill, which offers stunning views of Prague’s cherry blossoms against the backdrop of the city. At the peak of the blossoming season, the scenery looks like it was pulled from a fairytale.
If you have more time in Prague, consider passing by Karlovy Vary. While it is known for its beautiful pastel-colored buildings, visiting in spring is a chance to experience it in its most magical state; the cherry trees make the already beautiful spot even more magnificent.
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Vienna, Austria
Forget the lone cherry trees you can spot throughout Vienna and head straight to Hofmühlgasse, a cherry tree lane known for its earliest blooms. You should also stop by Schonbrunn Palace, Setagaya Japanese Garden, or Stadtpark, where you can see the blossoming trees reflected in the park’s water.
For late bloomers, Hainburger Weg would be a great bet. This cherry tree lane is by far the most loved in Vienna, as the genuine Sakura trees have the fullest blossoms in the city.
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Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is another destination that brings the charm of the Japanese Sakura Festival closer to home. They, too, have a two-day annual festival to celebrate the Sakura Festival. The festival is held at the Waterfront Langelinie Park, graced by over 200 cherry blossom trees donated by the Japanese Honorary Consul of Denmark.
The festival features Japanese traditions, tea ceremonies, and workshops on haiku and origami. It is also a festival where you can enjoy authentic Japanese sushi in Copenhagen.
For more views of the blossoms in Copenhagen, head to Kirsebærtræer Bispebjerg, the University of Copenhagen Botanical Garden, and Amaliehaven.
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Cáceres, Valle del Jerte, Spain
If you would like to experience the best off-the-beaten paths of the European cherry blossom season, the perfect destination would be Valle del Jerte. While it is not exactly unpopular, it is an opportunity to have the best cherry blossoms view outside major cities.
The region has over 2 million Picota cherries cultivated down a mountain slope. In late March or April, the slopes are transformed into a picturesque white canopy that attracts visitors from far and wide. The valley has many viewpoints, but Mirador de la Memorial and Sierra de Tomantos.
This region also hosts a Fiesta del Cerezo en Flor (Cherry Blossom Festival) to celebrate the arrival of warm weather.
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