Easter 2027 comes early. Easter Sunday falls on 28 March 2027, so Holy Week runs from Palm Sunday on 21 March, Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Monday is 29 March. That early date means spring rather than summer weather in most of Europe, but it also gives you processions, Easter markets and seasonal baking. These eleven destinations make the most of the long weekend.
The destinations
1. Seville, Spain
Seville’s Semana Santa is Europe’s most powerful Holy Week. Over a hundred pasos, the huge floats carrying sculpted figures of Christ and the Virgin, are borne on the shoulders of costaleros through the streets to the cathedral. They follow the Carrera Oficial from Plaza de la Campana along Calle Sierpes. The high point is La Madrugá, the night between Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. In 2027 the processions run from Palm Sunday, 21 March, to Easter Sunday, 28 March.
Best for: Travellers who want Holy Week at its most intense and theatrical.
Tip: Hotels in central Seville fill early for Semana Santa. Book as soon as you’ve decided, and expect some streets to be blocked by processions.
2. Florence, Italy
On Easter Sunday morning, Florence holds the Scoppio del Carro, the "explosion of the cart". An ornate wagon is drawn by white oxen to the Duomo, where a dove-shaped rocket ignites a burst of fireworks to bring luck for the year. Arrive early to find a spot in the piazza. Our Florence weekend guide covers the rest of the city.
Best for: A spectacular, one-morning tradition in a great art city.
3. Valletta, Malta
Malta marks Holy Week with deep devotion. Good Friday processions with life-size statues wind through towns across the islands, and on Easter Sunday some parishes carry the Risen Christ statue at a run. Try figolli, almond-filled Easter biscuits shaped like lambs or hearts. The weather is often warm enough for a spring swim.
Best for: Mediterranean sunshine with living traditions.
4. Prague, Czech Republic
Prague usually holds Easter markets on Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, with hand-painted eggs, wooden toys and plenty of spit-roasted ham. On Easter Monday, Czech tradition involves the pomlázka, a braided willow switch, and decorated eggs. Use our Prague weekend guide for the route between markets.
Best for: Easter markets and fairy-tale architecture.
5. Vienna, Austria
Vienna’s Easter markets, traditionally at Schönbrunn Palace, the Freyung and Am Hof, sell painted eggs, crafts and spring food in the weeks before Easter. Easter Sunday Mass with music at St Stephen’s Cathedral or the Augustinian Church is a highlight. Our Vienna guide has the 48-hour plan.
Best for: Easter markets, classical music and coffee-house breaks.
6. Colmar, France
Alsace goes big on Easter decoration. Colmar’s half-timbered old town fills with flowers, egg trees and pastel garlands. Bakeries sell lamala, the lamb-shaped sponge cake dusted with sugar. Take a boat through the Little Venice quarter, then drive or cycle to wine villages such as Riquewihr and Eguisheim along the Alsace Wine Route.
Best for: A pretty, small-town Easter with good food.
7. Zagreb, Croatia
Croatia’s pisanice, intricately decorated Easter eggs, are a national symbol, and Zagreb celebrates spring with egg displays and Easter events in the Upper and Lower Towns. Expect cafés spilling into the squares on sunny days, and take the short funicular up to the Upper Town for the views. Check the city tourist board for 2027 events.
Best for: A relaxed spring break in a café city.
8. Milan, Italy
Milan’s bakeries are famous for the colomba, the dove-shaped Easter cake studded with candied peel and topped with almonds. Pair a slice with the Duomo’s rooftop terraces and Brera’s galleries. Our Milan weekend guide helps you plan.
Best for: Food, fashion and design with a seasonal twist.
9. Nice, France
The Riviera in late March is fresh, sunny and far calmer than in summer. Walk the Promenade des Anglais, explore the flower and produce market in the Cours Saleya and take the coastal train to Villefranche or Menton. Climb Castle Hill for the view over the Baie des Anges, then eat socca, the chickpea pancake, in the old town.
Best for: An early taste of the Mediterranean spring.
10. Madeira, Portugal
Madeira is mild all year, so an early Easter is no problem here. Levada walks through laurel forest, flowers already in bloom and Funchal’s churches and festive services make it a gentle break. It suits walkers and families alike, and direct flights from many UK and European airports make it an easy long weekend.
Best for: Spring walking and guaranteed mild weather.
11. Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh makes a good UK option, with spring daffodils in Princes Street Gardens, the castle on its rock and pubs for rainy afternoons. Note that Easter Monday is not a bank holiday in Scotland, so some local services run as normal. See the best places to visit in Scotland to extend the trip.
Best for: A short-hop UK Easter break.
How to choose
- Processions and Holy Week: Seville and Malta.
- One unforgettable spectacle: Florence’s Scoppio del Carro on Easter Sunday morning.
- Easter markets: Prague and Vienna.
- Spring warmth: Malta, Madeira and Nice.
- Easter food: Colmar for lamala, Milan for colomba, Malta for figolli.
FAQ
When is Easter 2027?
Easter Sunday is 28 March 2027. Good Friday is 26 March and Easter Monday is 29 March. Orthodox Easter falls later, on 2 May 2027.
Where is the best place in Europe to spend Easter?
Seville is the most dramatic choice for Holy Week processions. Florence is best for a single, spectacular Easter Sunday event.
Is Easter a busy time to travel in Europe?
Yes. Easter is a peak holiday across much of Europe, so book flights and hotels early, especially for Seville, Florence and Prague.
Do the clocks change at Easter 2027?
Yes. In the UK and the EU the clocks go forward one hour on the last Sunday of March, which in 2027 is Easter Sunday, 28 March.
