By Maya, Wingman Tour Creator and Travel Photographer

Spring in Europe is pure magic – cherry blossoms bursting into life, golden light dancing across ancient stones, and vibrant flowers creating natural confetti against historic backdrops. But let’s face it: nobody wants their perfect Instagram moment photobombed by hundreds of tourists.

As someone who’s created audio tours across multiple European cities, I’ve discovered those hidden gems where you can capture spectacular spring moments in relative solitude. Here are my top five recommendations for breathtaking spring photography locations that haven’t yet been overrun by the crowds.

1. Eze, France: Medieval Gardens with Mediterranean Views

While tourists flock to Nice and Cannes, the hilltop village of Eze remains one of the French Riviera‘s best-kept secrets. The Exotic Garden of Eze (Jardin Exotique) transforms in spring with vibrant succulents and Mediterranean plants set against the backdrop of the sparkling sea below. (It is under renovation until 2025 summer!)

Photographer’s Tip: Visit in early morning (before 9 AM) when the garden first opens. The soft light cascades across the medieval stone walls, and you’ll likely have this extraordinary vantage point almost entirely to yourself. The contrasting textures of delicate spring flowers against the ancient stonework make for compelling composition opportunities.

2. Tallinn, Estonia: Kadriorg Park’s Japanese Garden

While everyone else is fighting for space in Amsterdam’s Keukenhof or Paris’s Luxembourg Gardens, head to Tallinn’s Kadriorg Park. The Japanese Garden here erupts with cherry blossoms and spring blooms, yet remains blissfully under-visited by international tourists.

Photographer’s Tip: Visit in late April when the cherry blossoms reach their peak. The carefully designed landscape provides perfect framing opportunities with traditional Japanese elements like stone lanterns and a bamboo fence. The morning light filtering through the pink blossoms creates an ethereal atmosphere that’s impossible to capture in more crowded locations.

3. Lucca, Italy: Spring Blooms on Ancient Walls

While spring visitors crowd Florence and Pisa, the charming walled city of Lucca offers equally stunning renaissance architecture with a fraction of the tourists. The city’s massive Renaissance-era walls have been transformed into a 4km park promenade that bursts with wildflowers and flowering trees in spring.

Photographer’s Tip: Climb to the top of the walls in the golden hour before sunset. The combination of ancient brick, bright spring flowers, and the warm glow of an Italian sunset creates a photographer’s dream. Look for stretches between the bastions where you can capture the contrast between the historic fortifications and the fresh life of spring.

4. Vilnius, Lithuania: Bernardine Gardens

This meticulously restored 18th-century garden in Lithuania’s capital transforms into a romantic wonderland each spring. While crowds swarm to better-known European capitals, Vilnius remains a hidden gem, and these gardens are particularly magical.

Photographer’s Tip: The various garden “rooms” offer different photography opportunities, from formal renaissance parterres to more naturalistic areas bursting with spring perennials. Visit on weekday mornings when locals are at work, and you can often have entire sections completely to yourself. The freshly bloomed tulips against the backdrop of the Gothic St. Anne’s Church create a quintessential European spring scene.

5. San Gimignano, Italy: Countryside Vineyards

While this medieval Italian town is deservedly popular, most visitors stick to the historic center. Venture just outside the walls in spring to discover vineyards and olive groves transformed by emerald green shoots, wildflowers, and spectacular light.

Photographer’s Tip: Take the walking path from Porta San Giovanni that leads into the surrounding countryside. Within 15 minutes, you’ll find yourself alone among rolling hills, with the town’s famous medieval towers creating a dramatic backdrop. Golden hour lighting makes the young vine leaves glow almost neon green against the rich Tuscan soil – a truly magical spring moment.

Final Thoughts

Spring in Europe offers incredible photography opportunities if you know where to look. These five locations deliver all the seasonal beauty without the crowds that plague better-known destinations. The joy of photography is often found in these quieter moments – where you have the time and space to truly see your subject without the pressure of crowds.

Want to explore these spots more deeply? Download the Wingman app and check out my audio tours of these locations. I’ll guide you to even more hidden photo opportunities while sharing the fascinating stories behind these special places.

Maya is a travel photographer and Wingman tour creator specializing in seasonal European destinations. Her audio tours focus on photogenic locations with cultural and historical significance.