As the days start to lengthen, the promise of spring lingers in the air. From spectacular blossoms and wildflower-strewn mountain meadows to mass migrations and newborn animals taking their first shaky steps, it really is the season when the world comes alive. With that in mind, our well-travelled editorial team have got their heads together and (subjectively) ranked the springtime experiences that should be on your bucket list.  

Scroll on through the gallery to see the gorgeous places that are even better in spring...

Every spring (from February to April), hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes congregate on a small stretch of the Platte River in Nebraska on their way north to breed in Canada, Alaska and Siberia. As the birds descend, flying all the way from their winter homes in Texas and Mexico, the noise is deafening but the sight extraordinary. You'll see millions of ducks and geese in this epic spring migration too.

Consider joining a tour to find the best spot to witness this incredible spring spectacle.

In early spring, snow begins to melt on the peaks of the Carpathian mountain range and the valleys burst into life. Beautiful alpine flowers appear and birds, bees and butterflies fly around its meadows and forests.

It's a stunning time of year to discover this little-visited and wild part of central and eastern Europe, where wolves, lynx, bison and brown bears still roam. In May, join a bear spotting trip into the wilderness. 

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There might be spring showers but it's a beautiful time of year when Portland's many public gardens and parks burst into bloom. They're a riot of colour as rhododendrons, azaleas, cherry trees and roses flower in April.

Don't miss the Portland Rose Festival from late May until early June. There's fireworks, a floral parade and plenty of local beer.

To appreciate a distinctive sound of spring, join one of the RSPB's brilliant dawn chorus guided walks at its reserves. You might hear the increasingly rare call of the cuckoo and the melodious sound of the nightingale.

Or, head along to the Fingringhoe Wick nature reserve in Essex which hosts special evening nightingale walks in May where you’ll hear the shy birds in full song.

The lush valleys of Jordan are a magnificent sight in spring when they're cloaked with abundant wildflowers. The country's deserts and remote roads are also dotted with various species, including Jordan's striking purple national flower, the Jordanian black iris.

The warm and pleasant weather makes it an excellent time to explore the Middle Eastern country before the unbearable summer heat.

It's a rare phenomenon but given the right conditions, eastern California's arid national park can be carpeted in a spectacular display of spring flowers. The last so-called 'superbloom' occurred in 2016 after exceptionally heavy rains the previous autumn.

If you miss one and still want to catch the stunning spring blooms, try getting hold of a plant guide book, visiting at different times of the day (when different flowers unfurl their petals) or joining a guided springtime hike.

The sight of newborn lambs skipping in the fields is a sure sign of spring. There are many open farms where you can see these cute creatures, such as Wimpole Home Farm in Cambridgeshire, which has a variety of rare breeds.

The Brecon Beacons is another wonderful location for lamb spotting – go for a springtime stroll to watch them prance about.

Snowfall on the highest peaks, flowers blooming on the lower slopes and lakes sparkling in the sunshine, the Austrian alps are stunning in spring. A visit to the high-altitude Kitzbüheler Horn Flower Garden is a must – here 400 varieties of alpine flowers from around the world bloom against the spectacular backdrop of the Grossglockner (Austria's largest mountain), the Zillertal Alps and the Wilder Kaiser mountain.

Born in the middle of winter, Alaska's bear cubs are often spotted in spring as they emerge from dens with their mothers to search for food. Spring and summer are the best times to see both brown and black bears in the state, especially during dawn and dusk when they can be seen feeding on vegetation in grasslands or foraging for shellfish along the shorelines.

Spring is also a brilliant time for bird spotting and to see walrus, seals and bowhead whales as the ice pack recedes along western Alaska.

Go on a woodland walk anywhere in the UK in late April and early May and you're bound to see one of the quintessential sights of spring: swathes of bluebells carpeting the forest floor. One of the best places to see Britain's beloved spring flowers is Blickling Estate in Norfolk – follow the winding paths through its ancient Great Wood to see dazzling displays of the delicate little flowers.

The arrival of the Yoshino cherry tree blossom around the Potomac Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park always puts spring in the step of Washington DC. Running from late March to the middle of April, the National Cherry Blossom Festival here needs to be seen to be believed.

The best place to see the amazing sea of pink and white blossom that frame the US capital's landmarks is the Tidal Basin. 

The intoxicating scent of roses fills the air in the extraordinary Rose Valley, a group of rose gardens near Kazanlak in the Thracian Valley where the gorgeous flowers are cultivated for their perfumed oil. Mid-May is the best time to see the flowers in full bloom before they're harvested.

There are festivals held in honour of the pretty flower in nearby towns.

Tramp through the woodlands and lanes anywhere in Cornwall from mid-February to June and you'll smell the distinctive scent of wild garlic. The broad green leaves with white flowers, which are part of the chive family, flourish in this temperate part of the country and are keenly anticipated by chefs and foragers.

You'll often spot them growing in abundance near bluebells. Cornish earlies (potatoes) and asparagus are more spring foodie highlights.

The sight of the red squirrel is sadly rare in British woodlands these days – the native animal is extinct in southern England bar an isolated population on the Isle of Wight and two small islands in Poole Harbour. Aside from this, Anglesey, Cumbria and Scotland are your best bets to see the beautiful animals.

You'll need to be eagle-eyed to spy them in spring but if you do, you may well see a kitten, the name for the cute juvenile red squirrel.

The Piano Grande, a vast upland plain surrounded by the snow-capped Sibillini Mountains in Umbria, is an extraordinary place for hiking. All the more so from spring to early summer, when it's carpeted with flowering crops and delicate wildflowers: crocus, cornflowers, white narcissi, wild yellow tulips, pink pansies, snakes' head fritillaries and later poppies to name just a few.

The main crop here is lentils, for which the little mountain village of Castelluccio is renowned.

Watch a rare Clouded Apollo flutter by or catch a fleeting glimpse of the Large Blue in the flowery meadows, forests and bogs of Estonia. It's one of the best places in Europe for butterfly spotting. 

When these beauties start to appear depends on the previous winter but generally the best time to see them is May or June, when dragonflies also come out to play. For expert insight, join a Greenwing tour led by a top Estonian lepidopterist.

When blossom starts to decorate trees and the sun (hopefully) makes a reappearance, London springs into life. One of the best places to appreciate the splendour of the spring blossom is Kew Gardens. 

Stroll along the Cherry Walk to see the pretty pink trees and explore the wonderful garden's array of spring bulbs.

In April, catch a boat from Martin's Haven to see spring transform this incredible wildlife sanctuary off the Pembrokeshire coast. From March onwards, puffins return to nest here until mid-August.

April is breeding season for gannets and other migratory birds like swallows and sedge warblers use Skomer as a stop-over. The island bursts into life elsewhere too as bluebells, thrift and pink campion add a splash of colour to the previously barren isle.

Watch female brown hares stand on their hind legs and box away wannabe mates. In March, the sight is fairly common in open fields in parts of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

According to the Wildlife Trusts, the best places to see these lolloping long-eared creatures in action include Derbyshire's Woodside Farm, Devon's Meeth Quarry, Lancashire's Brockholes and Sussex's Malling Down.

One of Japan's unmissable springtime events for flower fanatics sees 350 magnificent wisteria in full blossom at the Ashikaga Flower Park, from mid-April to mid-May. You can also walk through incredible wisteria tunnels in the Kawachi Fuji Gardens in Kitakyushu, which has 22 different species of the fragrant deciduous climber.

The national flower of Wales announces the start of spring – these cheery yellow flowers appear in gardens, parks and along verges all over the UK and add a much-needed splash of colour. There are some woodlands where wild daffodils bloom too, such as the Llandefaelog Wood nature reserve, near Brecon while the dramatic backdrop of Penrhyn Castle really makes the yellow flowers pop.

The wild flowers usually appear a bit later, generally in late March.

Nepal's national flower – the rhododendron arboreum – is at its most exuberant in March and April, especially around the Annapurna range where the brilliant red flowers are in abundance. Many species of rhododendron thrive here – some of the best high-level treks to see the forests are around the Milke Danda Region, Langtang Valley and Poon Hill.

The postcard-perfect lakes and mountains of Switzerland are one of the best places in Europe to witness the start of the new season. Visit in March and April as the last of the snow melts and spring flowers blanket the ground.

To see a spectacular array of plants native to the Swiss Alps, visit the fascinating Schynige Platte Botanical Alpine Garden in Interlaken which opens in late May.

Take a look at the most wonderful views on Earth

From March, spring flowers bloom, ferns unfurl and this lush Portuguese archipelago shakes off its wintry coat. Hike around inland trails and spy azaleas and hydrangeas, or look for blooms around the dramatic coastlines of these extraordinary isles.

Spring is also a fantastic time to join a whale or dolphin watching cruise.

There might be snow, and lots of it, high up in Canada's Rocky Mountains, but meander around the lower valleys during spring and you'll see lush grass, rushing rivers and spring flowers shooting forth. Typical species to look out for include the prairie crocus, common harebell, yellow lady's slipper, common butterwort and early blue violet.

There are prime wildlife watching opportunities too – brown bear, elk, bighorn sheep and pikas (or rock rabbits) are a few to spot.

Seville is a beautiful city all year round but in spring, the fiesta-loving Andalucían city is in its element. The famous orange trees are in blossom and fill the streets with a heady scent.

The Alcázar Palace Gardens and gorgeous parks are verdant with spring flowers. The sun isn't scorching yet and there's an array of religious and springtime festivals – Semana Santa (Holy Week) and the colourful Feria de Abril de Sevilla. 

See how we've ranked Spain's bucket-list attractions

Summer brings Provence's famous lavender fields but in spring, the chilly northwesterly winds die down and beautiful wildflowers cloak the hills. Almond trees blossom, grapevines bud and delicious spring produce (asparagus, artichokes and strawberries) hits the market stalls.

Stick around until May to see the poppy fields hit peak prettiness.

Rolling flower-strewn hills, olive groves, vineyards, swaying cypress trees and medieval hilltop towns – it's hard to imagine a more photogenic landscape than Tuscany in spring. There's nowhere we'd rather take a springtime saunter, from walking among the hills and wineries of the hilly Chianti region to wandering around historic cities with their parks and gardens ablaze with spring blooms.

To see a shock of red poppies, head to Val d'Orcia in southern Tuscany in April and May.

Mid-April is the best time of year to see the Netherlands' famous tulips and Keukenhof Gardens, located between Amsterdam and The Hague, is the best place to see them blazing in all their technicolour glory. There will be 800 varieties of tulips and seven million bulbs this year, including other spring flowers like crocuses, daffodils and hyacinths.

In 2025, the gardens are open from 20 March until 11 May.

For us, there's no better springtime experience in the world than watching this spectacular show of nature for yourself. The annual hanami festival in Japan celebrates the re-emergence of the country's sakura (cherry blossom) from late March to early May. Its arrival is eagerly anticipated and hugely revered throughout the country (and across the globe).

The pink blooms sweep up the country, from Okinawa in the south around January, in Kyoto and Tokyo in late March and early April, before reaching Hokkaido in early May. At this time of year, local weather reports include a blossom forecast.

Now discover the beautiful power of Mother Nature