Travel Seasons: The Best Time to Visit Europe
For a destination that offers everything you could wish for – the sea and mountains, cultural treasures, the countryside and urban life – few destinations beat the Old Continent: Europe.
When to Visit European Countries
With so many different countries and climates, it’s not always easy to know the best times to visit a particular destination. Here is some advice on how to get the most of your European vacation.
Updated: Feb 2021. Originally published: Dec 2016.
When to Visit Italy
The time of your perfect Italian holiday depends on what you plan to do there. In any case, it’s wise to avoid August – this is the month of Ferragosto. What does that mean? It’s a summer holiday that marks the beginning of vacation season for many business owners, so a lot of businesses are closed.
If you are expecting to take a dip in the sea, September is a good bet to escape the hordes of tourists on popular beaches.
When it comes to sightseeing, there is absolutely no time of the year when Italian cities aren’t crowded. The summer months get so crazy that you can’t even come near the main attractions because of all the tourists gathered there.
Late autumn and early spring still have the acceptable weather, but see a little dip in the number of visitors.
Image by Babelphotography used under Creative Commons license CC0 Public Domain
You might also like these Italy posts:
– A Guide to Unconventional Accommodations in Italy
– A Guide to Tuscany’s Etruscan Coast
– A Walking Tour of Florence
– Bitemojo Walking Food Tour in Rome
– How to see the Coliseum and Roman Forum for free
– 10 of the Most Beautiful Villages in Italy
When to Visit Norway
Norway, with its remote northern position and its climate extremes can be a tricky country to visit. As it is a large and sparsely populated place, distances in Norway can be greater than you imagine.
Getting from one place to the next is easiest by car, however, driving is not recommended to visitors from November to March due to extreme winter conditions.
While summers are mild, they tend to be rainy. September and May are the prettiest months in most of Norway, apart from the frozen North. May is particularly beautiful in the fjords, when everything is melting.
The winter and summer both have an ace up their sleeve, though: winter is the time of Aurora Borealis, and with summer comes the midnight sun.
Image by adriankirby used under Creative Commons license CC0 Public Domain
When to Visit Cyprus
This gorgeous island in the Mediterranean is the perfect spot for a summer trip – but in May!
Summers in Cyprus tend to get insanely hot inland, while the heat is mixed with high humidity on the coast. With mild winters, it never gets truly cold there.
May is the perfect time to grab a flight to one of the resorts because the sea is already pleasantly warm for swimming. Every day passes without a cloud in the sky, and the temperatures hover in the pleasant range of 25 to 30 degrees. Miles and miles of deserted beaches seem to stretch on forever, with barely a person in sight.
In the summer, Cyprus is strictly a place where you drive from the beach to the comfort of A/C, but May has the perfect weather for walking and sightseeing.
Image by dimitrisvetsikas1969 used under Creative Commons license CC0 Public Domain
When to Visit The Netherlands
With a temperate climate, the weather in the Netherlands can be a bit unpredictable. It is cool and rainy most of the time, so no matter the season, make sure you bring an umbrella and a coat.
The famous tulips are in bloom in the spring – the end of March through mid-May is the period to go if you are aiming to visit the tulip gardens.
Pleasantly warm summers are the most crowded time of the year, and every landmark and museum is swarmed with visitors. The tourist craze dies down a little in the autumn, and the weather is still not too cold, which makes October a great time to visit.
Image by PublicDomainPictures used under Creative Commons license CC0 Public Domain
You might also like:
– A Self-Guided Bike Tour from Bruges to Amsterdam
When to Visit Germany
While Germany is a fantastic year-round destination, both the summer months and December are two favorite times to travel.
The benefit of traveling in Germany during the summer is that you’re likely to enjoy beautiful sunny weather, as well as nice long days. During the summer the sun rises early (5am) and sets late (around 10pm), so you have plenty of time for enjoying all that Germany has to offer.
But be warned: air conditioning isn’t as ubiquitous in Germany as it is in the US, and popular cities and tourist sites are likely to be crowded. Still, summer is a great time to enjoy Germany’s beaches, lakes, forests, mountains, castles, and many outdoor restaurants, cafes, and bars.
December is another favorite time to travel to Germany. Sure, it’s cold and days are short with the sun rising at 8am and setting by 5pm. But twinkling holiday lights, outdoor Christmas markets, and a festive atmosphere make this time of year absolutely magical.
When to Visit Switzerland
Switzerland is a very popular and expensive destination to visit in Europe. In order to make the most of your trip, consider visiting Switzerland in the Spring or Fall. These are the shoulder seasons in Switzerland.
Between April and June, and September to October, the weather in various places in Switzerland is mild and pleasant for sightseeing. There are not a lot of crowds during this time, so you can score a good deal on accommodation, rail passes, and guided tours. In order to explore major attractions and festivals, set aside at least 5 days in Switzerland.
Other than museums and cruises, ski resorts in various high altitude destinations (like Zermatt) are open for Spring skiing.
You might also like these Switzerland posts:
– Exploring Nendaz: Hiking and Day Trips in the Swiss Alps
– Tips for Visiting Geneva Switzerland
When to Visit Spain
While many people only think of Spain as a summer destination, it is a wonderful country that can be visited all year round.
Spain does have amazing beaches and resort towns, but summer can be unbearably hot, humid, and crowded, so typical Spanish summer destinations like Costa Brava or Mallorca are much more pleasant to visit in late Spring or early Fall.
For a summer vacation without the crowds and excessive heat, northern Spain is the perfect place to enjoy quiet beaches, coastal cities and villages, and natural landscapes. Alternatively, one can also spend summer in Spain exploring its non-touristy regions like Extremadura and Aragon.
Spring and Fall offer the ideal weather for taking a road trip through Andalucia (usually the hottest region), which also hosts spring festivals like Feria de Abril and Patios de Cordoba. They’re also great seasons for city breaks across the country, including Madrid, Valencia (that hosts the spring festival of Las Fallas), Salamanca, Zaragoza, and others.
Winter in Spain can be wonderful for winter sports enthusiasts, as it is home to about 30 ski resorts. Alternatively, those who look for warm winter destinations should head to the Canary Islands, which are great to visit all year round.
Contributed by Or, My Path in the World
Image by David Mark from Pixabay
When to Visit Greece
If you’d rather avoid overwhelming hordes of tourists in popular spots like Santorini, high prices, and scorching heat, the best time to visit will be in spring and early summer in mid-April to mid-June and in autumn in September. These seasons are considered the sweet spots if you’d rather have a more peaceful and mindful vacation away from the buzzing crowds.
Meanwhile, if you don’t mind the crowds and would rather have vibrant night parties, July and August are considered the busiest and might be your target months. The islands, especially Mykonos, come alive as daytime comes to a close. DJs play loud music as people enjoy their drinks while dancing the night away.
One thing to note about Greece is that Easter, which runs from late April to early May, is a major festival and this might be a great time to witness beautiful religious ceremonies and experience local celebrations. Since it will be busy for locals and tourists, it’s a good idea to book your visit ahead.
Contributed by Lucile, LucileHR.com
Image by analogicus from Pixabay
When to Visit France
The Cannes Film Festival is in May so think twice about booking a stay in the town, which will be taken over by the film crowd. But if you’re in the South, then do pop over for a day and mix with everyone.
After Spring and Autumn, the best season is Winter because, again, there are fewer crowds. In December, you can enjoy some of Europe’s best Christmas markets and if you like winter sports, know that France’s slopes are world-class (not to mention all that snow-friendly food, like cheese fondue!).
Or, you can visit southern France where you won’t have heat, but you’ll have a lot more sunshine than you’ll find in the rest of the country.
There are two periods to be avoided when possible. The first is the month of November, when the weather tends to be grey and rainy and, in northern France, often cold.
You might also like these France posts:
– How to Plan a Budget Trip to France + Self-Guided Paris Walking Tour
– Where to Stay in Paris
When to Visit Czech Republic
The perfect time to visit the Czech Republic is during the Spring season, as the days tend to warm quickly. This is equally the blossom period when the fruit trees lined up in most Czech roads are in full flower – and the colors are usually a beauty to behold.
The winter weather in Czechia can get really chilly, and during this time, most smaller places of accommodation in the country will close for the season; however, the Christmas markets in Czech Republic are a sight to see during these months.
Image by Julius Silver from Pixabay
When to Visit Scotland
Scotland’s weather is generally moderate but can be changeable. The landscape varies greatly and you’ll notice differences between highland and lowland weather if you road trip Scotland.
July and August are the worst months for the infamous biting midges, especially if you’re planning on visiting the west coast, where they are generally at their worst.
Autumn is a fantastic time for a holiday in Scotland. The autumn colours are some of the most dramatic in the world and most of the summer visitors will be long gone.
Contributed by Izzy, The Gap Decaders
Image by Andreas Senftleben from Pixabay
No matter the time of year, Europe is gorgeous; but a little bit of planning can make your trip even more enjoyable. So, take your time and do your research. Still, leave some space for getting lost in the streets of the new cities you visit.
✈️ Protect your Europe trip with Travel Insurance – We’ve started using Nomad Insurance by Safety Wing for affordable evacuation, international medical, and trip coverage.
You might also like:
European Travel Destinations
Inn to Inn Hiking Trips Around the World
Like this post? Pin for later or share with friends!
About the original Author: Callum Maclane is a travel writer, foodie and adrenaline junkie whose ambition is to visit every single country in the world. His favourite country so far has been Argentina. He loves those grills!
Enjoyed the review of the countries I’m interested in visiting. Especially appreciate the seasonal information.