As if it were written in the stars, Easter coincides in the calendar with the first full moon of spring, when the night sky lights up to leave winter behind. In some parts of Spain, such as Andalusia, and also in other Spanish-speaking countries, this time of year is strongly linked to the religious imaginary, although, increasingly, these festive days around the full moon are filled with a wide variety of plans and trips. As types of getaways vary more and more for each type of traveller, we are bringing the best destinations for an Easter vacation, no matter what you are looking for.
Just as, according to the Bible, Christ died and rose again after seven days, metaphorically bringing humanity out of darkness to reveal the power of its own divine nature, in Celtic cultures, Ostara, the goddess of rebirth and harvests, is honoured during the equinox. After a period of hibernation, the planted seeds germinate to bear fruit. This cycle repeats itself year after year. And, year after year, you too have a renewed opportunity to spend your vacation in the best way possible. We'll share some ideas with you below. Where to travel at Easter as a couple? What are the best spring destinations to go with children? With the irresistible Easter deals offered at Iberostar, you can choose from hotels all over the world, starting with the heart of the party in Cadiz, Seville or Malaga.
Easter in Andalusia: where to go to enjoy the essence of the most festive place to be
Chiclana de la Frontera, Cádiz
One of the best destinations for Easter in Spain is Cadiz. Without giving up the beach, you will have the chance to witness the traditional processions, which take place between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Over the course of a week, the religious processions parade around the centre of the capital as well as its neighbourhoods and municipalities, filling them with fervour and emotion. Can you imagine attending this spectacle with the sea as a backdrop? To experience firsthand is an experience that will help you to understand a very deep-rooted and profound part of Andalusian folklore.
Among the most eagerly awaited moments is the departure of the Cristo de Medinaceli, in Chiclana de la Frontera. This coastal town is home to the Iberostar Selection Andalucía Playa hotel, an adult-oriented accommodation where you can relax in the spa and enjoy Cádiz’s haute cuisine, and Iberostar Waves Royal Andalus, a hotel with a water park specially designed for the fun and well-being of the whole family. Together with Iberostar Novo Sancti Petri, which ranks among the most prestigious golf clubs on the planet, they make up an All-Inclusive resort on the front line of La Barrosa Beach. This coastline has been awarded the Ecoplaya title (awarded to the most eco-friendly beaches), and the Q for tourist quality, as well as the Blue Flag. In the Cataria restaurant, run by chefs Pablo Vicari and Aitor Arregi, your palate will be delighted with dishes straight from the orchard, the sea and the land, cooked with the ancestral technique of the seafood grill. What more could you ask for?
Seville
About an hour's drive away is the city of Seville, another of the most renowned destinations for Easter in Europe and Spain. So much so that, in 1980, this festival was declared to be of International Tourist Interest. For the people of Seville, it is an event with not only religious, but also artistic and social value. The brotherhoods, including their music bands, devotedly prepare to take their images out onto the streets for months, because for the brotherhoods, a procession is also a ritual, sacred in both content and form. There are currently 71 brotherhoods in Seville, many of them several centuries old. To make the most of the good weather during this time of year, you can combine your trip with a day trip to one of Andalusia's nearby nature parks, such as Doñana, with its impressive wetlands, where migratory birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals coexist in harmony.
Marbella, Malaga
In Malaga, tradition and exclusivity merge thanks to excellently located hotels that will make it easy for you to combine sun and sea with religious processions during your stay. From Iberostar Selection Marbella Coral Beach you will have access to the best beaches in Andalusia, including those of Marbella. In this accommodation, everything has been designed with your comfort in mind. Just one kilometre from Puerto Banús and with panoramic ocean views, it has themed rooms for you to choose the one that best suits you, as well as its own beach club, The Origin Beach Club Marbella. If you like gastronomic trips, its culinary spaces will make you fall in love. And the religious events? Those who have been there say that the procession of the Soledad de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, scheduled on Good Friday in the historic centre of the city and the oldest of them all, is the most impressive thanks to its intense emotionality.
The best couples destinations for Easter
Santa Eulària des Riu, Ibiza
Beyond its spiritual dimension, this festivity is expanding into other forms of celebration. If you still don't know where to travel for Easter as a couple, but you're sure you want to spend your holidays in a special place, full of romantic spots, paradisiacal coves and (why not) places to party, Santa Eulària des Riu, in Ibiza, is your destination. With the arrival of spring, the white island is dressed in vibrant tones: the green of its pine trees, the turquoise of its waters and the gold of its sunsets sublimate its magic. You are the only ones missing to complete the picture.
In Ibiza, you will collect postcards to remember taking your first dip of the season in the sea, strolling through the always evocative Dalt Vila, dining by candlelight in its agro-ecological restaurants, dancing until dawn in its famous clubs and discotheques, hiking or going to markets such as Las Dalias and the Hippy Market in Es Canar. Close to the latter, in S'Argamassa, is the Iberostar Selection Santa Eulalia Ibiza hotel, an oasis of peace for adults, surrounded by Mediterranean forest, where wellness and a good atmosphere are guaranteed. Also the good atmosphere. Its Star Prestige areas will give you even more intimacy.
Yaiza, Lanzarote
There are romantic getaway to perfectly suit every season of the year. In Lanzarote, the most northerly of the Canary Islands, you'll find yourself in one of those destinations for an Easter vacation in Spain frequented by groups of friends as well as active couples who want to keep on the move during their getaway, whether it's water sports like surfing or exploring volcanic landscapes on long walks and bike rides. The Timanfaya National Park preserves the charm of fire from another era. Lanzarote's natural pools, many of them located in protected areas, are ideal for swimming and diving.
As well as exercising in the middle of nature and sunbathing, in the vicinity of the town of Yaiza you can also ethically spot some of Spain’s endangered animals, such as the blind crab or Jameos crayfish, which is endemic to the island. Iberostar Selection Lanzarote Park is located in this spot, a five-star accommodation whose design open to the ocean, designed by the famous artist César Manrique, is inspired by the traditional Canary Island souks. In 2022, it was voted the best All-Inclusive hotel in Spain by Tripadvisor users. If you visit it, you'll understand why.
Monastir, Tunisia
As you read this article, you may be wondering if we are going to mention destinations for Easter outside Spain. One amazing destination that will offer your vacation for two a twist is Monastir, Tunisia. From the lush palm gardens of Iberostar Selection Kuriat Palace (the #1 accommodation in 2024 in the area according to Tripadvisor), you'll have access to places like the historic cities of Sousse and Monastir, as well as beaches like Skanes, on whose seafront this five-star hotel with modern, sumptuous rooms is located. A romantic plan with a twist? A walk through the Tozeur palm grove, one of the largest groves of its kind in the world - you'll feel like a character from One Thousand and One Nights! Before embarking on your adventure in North Africa, you can consult this guide to Tunisia, which contains all the information you need to make the most of your stay.
Montego Bay, Jamaica
Looking for a the best couples destination for an Easter romantic vacation? Montego Bay, a location around which some of Jamaica's most idyllic beaches are concentrated, awaits you with its leisurely luxury and connection to the environment: because practising sustainable tourism is not incompatible with being pampered on your travels. On this luminous island, time passes slowly and to the strains of reggae music. But that's not all, because Jamaica's landscapes are also full of plants, with fascinating sea creatures, imposing waterfalls, magical fairytale mountains and, of course, the sea as you've never seen it before, with its coral reefs, its submerged kingdoms and its beautiful presence.
At Iberostar Gran Rose Hall, a superior hotel that offers butler service in selected rooms, your vibe will be raised in a leisurely fashion. Just pick a hammock overlooking the sunset, order your favourite cocktail and get ready to toast with that special someone. This accommodation offers private suites overlooking the beach, as well as a carefully curated gastronomic repertoire of local and international delicacies and pampering with exclusive beauty treatments. The Aliveness programme will guide you to reconnect with yourself and your surroundings. With this amount of pampering, you will finally get to treat yourselves to those days of bliss for two that you so richly deserve.
Where to go for Easter with children?
Playa de Muro, Mallorca
In all probability, Playa de Muro, in Mallorca, is the most family-friendly coastline on the whole of the Balearic island. It has been awarded the permanent Blue Flag for its ecological balance, as well as all the services and facilities necessary for the comfort of children. Its crystal clear, calm and shallow waters, outlined by more than six kilometres of fine white sand, create a bathing environment suitable for all ages.
Next to the beach is the protected area of the S'Albufera de Mallorca Natural Park, ideal for organising day trips and admiring its fauna and flora, made up of some endangered native animals and plant species such as the mysterious Prat Orchid, whose pink and purple tones evoke the perfection of a flower painted in a painting. Without neglecting art, Mallorca's galleries and museums are so varied that young and old alike will be ecstatic with cultural visits, compatible with long days at the beach.
Iberostar Selection Albufera Park hotel, on the beachfront, is part of a recently renovated complex with a total of ten restaurants and bars (your children will love the ice cream parlour!), seven swimming pools (including a children's pool with slides and other aquatic stimuli for non-stop play and a splash pool) and rooms laid out in various spaces to suit all types of families. The Star Camp programme will encourage their creativity through play and interaction with other children their age, as well as introducing them to environmental care.
Rethymnon, Crete
Destinations for Easter in Europe such as Rethymnon, Crete, will allow the whole family to have fun and feel united during the trip. In the largest of the Greek Islands you will have the chance to stroll around beautiful white villages, relax on beautiful beaches and visit ancient archaeological sites. Children will be introduced to art and history through dynamic and stimulating plans. They will learn, for example, that the name Crete means "strong and powerful"; or that, according to legend, it was there that King Minos had a great labyrinth built to imprison a fantastic being, half man, half bull, who was to kill all his enemies except one, the hero Theseus.
In this mythical context, Iberostar Selection Creta Marine, located on the seafront of a private beach for your peace of mind, will welcome you with the warmth of a land where literary halo and outdoor life have always gone hand in hand. In this five-star accommodation, everything is touched by the energy of the Mediterranean - even three of its swimming pools are seawater! Its Underwater Music Club will show you a very original way of experiencing music... from the depths. Moreover, in all the resort's restaurants, priority is given to sustainably sourced local Greek products, such as olive oil, fresh seasonal vegetables or fish and seafood from responsible fishing sources. This travel guide of Crete will give you more clues about all the adventures that await you there.
Riviera Maya, Mexico
There are always fun things to do in the Riviera Maya with children. With much to offer travellers of all ages, the beauty of the Caribbean Sea is home to the colour and cultural richness of a Mexico that expresses itself through a thousand and one different languages. Whether you are travelling with babies or teenagers, this is one of the most complete destinations for Easter in the Caribbean. At the Playa Paraíso resort, the soul of Iberostar Selection Paraíso Lindo stands cheerful and determined to welcome adults and children alike, with its own water park inside the hotel, a wave pool suitable for everyone, a lazy river where you can glide on a gentle current and up to five different pool areas. In keeping with its sustainable philosophy, the decoration includes natural and reused materials, such as the more than 6,500 kilos of recycled plastic used to create the Star Camp play area, with figures of fish and other aquatic animals. It will become your favourite spot!
Still haven't made up your mind? Bear in mind that, by going to any of these destinations during Easter, which will keep you in awe and connected to the here and now during your holidays, the really difficult part will come when you have to get back your daily routine. To make it easier for you to think about your next getaway, here you will find more Iberostar hotel deals for other times of the year. Perhaps inspiration is also a cyclical current that moves between dates and never stops. In this case, it's linked to the happiness of travelling the world.
