Big on botany? Spring has sprung and Europe’s landscapes are flower-freckled and cloaked in colour. We’ve dug up some of the best destinations for spotting your birth flower in bloom, to give you some inspiration for your next break. We think it’s time you stopped and smelled the roses, the carnations, the violets, (you get the gist)...

January

Carnation, Andalucia, Spain

Fly into: Malaga Airport

Carnations are the national flower of Spain, so you can spot them in their show-off shades across most of the country. In Andalucia, they’re used to decorate the hair of flamenco dancers. If you’re visiting the area in May, don’t miss the Battle of the Flowers in Cordoba. A parade of floats makes its way down the city’s main street, throwing carnations to the crowds (over 100,000 of them!).

February

Violets, Sicily, Italy

Fly into: Catania Airport

Sicily’s a wildflower wonderland, so you can bank on it as a great place to find violets. Make tracks for the Madonie Mountains and you’ll see them in their bold hues, alongside poppies, marigolds and irises. You’ll want to add the Infiorata di Noto to your diary too. On the third Sunday in May, local artists decorate the streets of Noto with millions of flower petals.

March

Daffodil, Versailles, France

Fly into: Paris Airport

As the continent shrugs off its winter coat, the Gardens of Versailles are carpeted in gold. Around March, daffodils sprout up among the manicured lawns, ponds and fountains. These gardens are only around a 45-minute train ride from the capital, so it couldn’t be easier to tick them off during your stay.

April

Daisy, Swiss Alps, Switzerland

Fly into: Geneva Airport

Switzerland’s wildflower meadows sing to all the senses come spring. Why not head here on a hiking trip and soak up the area’s natural beauty? In the vast valleys, you’ll see daisies, buttercups, bellflowers and so much more.

May

Lily of the Valley, Nice, France

Fly into: Nice Airport

1 May in France is a public holiday called La Fête du Muguet. On this day, it’s tradition to gift lily of the valley to your loved ones for good luck. You’ll find them everywhere at this time of year in Nice’s shops, so bag a bunch and get involved. You can get your foliage fix at Parc Phoenix too, the city’s botanical garden.

June

Rose, Prague, Czech Republic

Fly into: Prague Airport

Visiting Prague and looking to press the pause button on sightseeing for a few hours? Make a beeline for the Rose Garden. Located on Petrin Hill, it’s home to more than 2,000 different varieties. And the views across the city? Breathtaking. To see them at their blooming best, head here between April and June.

July

Water lily, Bratislava, Slovakia

Fly into: Vienna Airport

The Botanical Garden of the Comenius University, bordering the Danube River, is the only one of its kind in Slovakia. It’s just a short tram ride from the centre of Bratislava and is a real hidden gem. Step inside the greenhouses and you’ll be wowed by the enormous water lilies. There’s plenty of wildlife to watch too, like red squirrels, lizards and frogs.

August

Poppy, Val d’Orcia, Italy

Fly into: Pisa Airport

Close your eyes and picture Tuscany and Val d’Orcia’s rolling hills are sure to come to mind. Poppies burst onto the scene here around May, covering the countryside in every shade of red. In some restaurants, you’ll even see dishes prepared with poppy leaves and seeds.

September

Aster, Athens, Greece

Fly into: Athens Airport

The name aster comes from the Greek word ‘asteri’ meaning ‘star’, which seems fitting once you clock their shape. To see these flowers sparkle in their own way, head to the National Garden in Athens. This sprawling space in the centre of the city is a green oasis, and the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle.

October

Marigold, Marrakech, Morocco

Fly into: Marrakech Airport

Follow the flora to the Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech and you won’t be disappointed. Among the 300 plant species from five continents, you’ll spy marigolds with their vibrant ruffles. As they thrive in dry climates, they’re perfectly at home in Morocco’s balmy temperatures.

November

Chrysanthemum, Madeira, Portugal

Fly into: Madeira Airport

It won’t take you long to realise why Madeira’s often labelled the ‘island of flowers’. Earmark a day or two to explore the Botanical Gardens and the Presidential Palace Garden. With their pom-pom petals, chrysanthemums are certainly no wallflower, so you’ll easily clock them. Here in May? Time your stay to coincide with the Flower Festival and get ready for fanciful floats.

December

Holly, Copenhagen, Denmark

Fly into: Copenhagen Airport

Few things say Christmas quite like holly. Jet off to Copenhagen for the festive season and you’ll see it used as a decoration in garlands and wreaths everywhere. At this time of year, the Tivoli Gardens are dotted with glistening baubles, sparkling tinsel and glowing stalls. Sounds pretty magical to us...