5 reasons to travel this spring

‍1. V&A East Museum, London

Opening 18 April

London’s cultural scene is always thrumming: the latest hot exhibition (Tracey Emin: A Second Life at the Tate Modern), starry turns on stage (Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink in Romeo and Juliet, Cynthia Erivo in Dracula) and music festivals for all genres (Cross The Tracks, Mighty Hoopla and Field Day all take over Brockwell Park through May). This spring, a fresh name joins the line-up: the V&A East opening as part of the growing creative quarter at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The new museum is an outpost of the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington and sits near the V&A East Storehouse – home to the V&A’s vast archive – which opened last year. The inaugural exhibition, The Music is Black: A British Story, will move between lovers rock and grime, 2 tone and funk.

‍Book it: Aethos London Shoreditch

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2. Design Week, Milan

20-26 April

The most-talked-about date in the design calendar, Design Week turns Milan into a see-and-be-seen whirl of big name installations, experimental launches and palazzo parties. The flagship event is Salone del Mobile, which takes over the Rho fairground about 15km outside the city centre, its halls packed with the next big things in interiors. The Fuorisalone, meanwhile, brings together hundreds of exhibitions and presentations across Milan’s central neighbourhoods. Anyone can register for both events – not just trade and press. Must-sees this year include architect Lina Ghotmeh’s pink labyrinth in the courtyard of Palazzo Litta, the Nilufar Depot being transformed into a conceptual hotel with bedrooms by top designers including Allegra Hicks, and Louis Vuitton’s Objet Nomades showcase at the frescoed Palazzo Serbelloni.

Book it: Aethos Milan

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‍3. Mallorca 312, Mallorca

25 April

Europe’s biggest and toughest amateur cycling sportive sells out almost instantly as thousands of lycra-clad riders from around the world descend on the Balearic island to test their mettle on the 312km course. The Mallorca 312 starts and finishes at Playa de Muro (where there’s a festival atmosphere with live music and food stalls), with over 4,500m of thigh-burning ascents through the Tramuntana mountains – which provide some of the most dramatic spectating spots. Mallorca is a cyclists’ paradise, and spring is an especially lovely time of year for a ride. From Aethos Mallorca join a local guide to pedal through winding inland roads and rolling hills, Sóller’s orange groves or the heart-pumping climb of Sa Calobra.

‍Book it: Aethos Mallorca

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4. Cavalcata Sarda, Sardinia

17 May

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The roots of this colourful folk festival, which takes place every May in Sassari, date back over 300 years. People from all over the island come to the city in the north-west of the island – just over a 90-minute-drive from Aethos Sardinia – to celebrate local traditions. The action kicks off with a parade that weaves through the streets, each group dressed in their village’s costumes: masked figures in heavy sheepskins with bronze bells on their backs from Mamoiada, women in richly embroidered dresses and gold filigree jewellery from Quartu Sant'Elena. Afterwards come acrobatic horse performances in the Ippodromo Pinna, before everyone gathers in Piazza d’Italia and Piazza Castello in the evening to feast and dance to the music of launeddas (Sardinian pipes) and accordions.

Book it: Aethos Sardinia

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5. Wild asparagus season, Umbria

Late March-May

Umbrian cooking is ruled by the seasons, its hills, fields and forests a bounty of ingredients. Right now it’s wild asparagus that’s sprouting in oak woods and in sunny spots near olive groves – slender, dark green shoots with an intense flavour. Aethos Saragano is all about its zero kilometre menu – no bananas or avocados here – making the most of the exceptional local produce, a taste of the landscape. Every Saturday (from after Easter) guests can set off with chef Delfina and general manager Paul into the surrounding countryside to forage for whatever is in season – wild asparagus, chicory, fennel, dandelion leaves – before coming back to cook and eat their harvest around a communal table. Perhaps asparagus whipped up with homemade pasta or served with eggs laid just 200m from the hotel.

Book it: Aethos Saragano