Traveling to the World's Iconic Flowers

The saying goes: “April showers bring May flowers.” However, May is not the only month with flowers in bloom! There are some amazing and iconic flowers that bloom all over the world in April! Today we will cover the three most famous and how you can best visit them. 

First off is the Dutch Tulip Season. Holland is well known for their windmills, canals, and, of course, tulips! Tulip season officially begins March 23rd and ends May 14th, with peak-season landing in mid-April. Although there are many areas in the Netherlands to catch tulips, the best region is appropriately named the Bollenstreek, literally translating to “bulb region.” This area includes cities such as Lisse, Hillegom, and Katwijk, all of which have a very lively tulip industry. Lisse in particular is home to the Keukenhof; this is one of the world’s largest flower gardens, housing nearly 7 million tulip bulbs. The Netherlands not only has lots of tulips, but also bikes! In fact, there are reported to be more bikes than people in the Netherlands. While visiting, one of the best ways to see the flowers is to rent a bike and take a day trip cycling through the flower fields. If biking is not your speed, you can also opt to take a walking tour through the bulbs. 

Another famous & stunning flower destination is Japan and their cherry blossoms. In Japan, cherry blossoms start blooming as early as March 25, but peak viewing can last through May 2nd or later, so you have all of April to take a trip and catch the blossoms in bloom! Japan offers lots of wonderful opportunities to see these flowers in bloom. Not only can you view the flowers from within the major Japanese cities, such as Tokyo and Osaka, but you can also catch the flowers on a hike or bike ride. Popular hikes to view the flowers include Mount Takao and Yoshino Mountain. Osaka has some cycling paths and guided bike tours that you can take to see the flowers from two wheels. Japan also has two major cherry blossoms festivals you can check out: the Takayama Spring Festival and the Hirosaki Cherry Blossom Festival. 

Looking for something a little closer to home? Hit up Washington DC! Their cherry blossoms are in bloom as well. Washington DC has many local walking, boat, bus, and bike tours where you can see all of the beautiful flowers. Washington DC also has lots of fantastic bike paths, both for the casual and intense cyclist, if you are looking for a self-lead tour. There are even lots of gravel paths where you can view the cherry blossoms in bloom. DC’s official National Cherry Blossom Festival runs from March 20 till April 23, so this will be the best time to visit if you want to see the flowers at their peak. While the flowers are stunning to look at, it is against the law to pick them, so don’t forget to pack your camera so that you have lots of photos to remember them by! 

No matter where you choose to travel this spring, we hope that you stay safe, have fun, and keep the #getoutthere spirit within you!

RESOURCES:

• Dauby, Gabrielle. “The Ultimate Guide to Tulip Season in the Netherlands in 2025.” DutchReview, Dutchreview, 1 Mar. 2024,  dutchreview.com/traveling/daytrips/tulips-season-in-holland/.
• “Explore Cherry Blossom Trails: Hiking in Japan This Spring.” Agoda, Agoda Travel Guides, 18 Feb. 2025, www.agoda.com/travel-guides/japan/explore-cherry-blossom-trails-hiking-in-japan-this-spri ng/. 
• “Guide to the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC: Washington DC.” Official Tourism Site of Washington DC, Washington, washington.org/dc-guide-to/national-cherry-blossom-festival. Accessed 18 Feb. 2025. 
• Hodjat, Arya. “12 Great Ways to See DC’s Cherry Blossoms in 2024.” Washingtonian, 12 Mar. 2024, www.washingtonian.com/2024/03/08/12-great-ways-to-see-dcs-cherry-blossoms-in-2024/. 
• Passport Overused. “Asia Travel: Biking in Osaka, Japan during Cherry Blossom Season.” Engaged Abroad, 25 May 2020, engagedabroad.com/2020/02/01/japan-biking-osaka/. 
• team, LIVE JAPAN’s editorial. “Japan Cherry Blossom 2025 Forecast: When & Where to See Sakura in Japan (Updated Feb 13): Live Japan Travel Guide.” LIVE JAPAN, 13 Feb. 2025, livejapan.com/en/article-a0001033/.