Best time to visit Europe by month
Every European country has its sweet spot. Here's an overview per month: where to go cheap, when to avoid crowds, and what the weather looks like.
Plan your trip to Vienna: flight, hotel and total price in one go
Quick answer: The best time to travel in Europe varies by destination: May, June and September are the best all-round months for Southern Europe, while January and February are the cheapest months for city breaks in Eastern Europe.
January
Cheapest month for city breaks in Europe. Prague, Krakow, Budapest: -2 to 5°C, hotels from €40. Lapland for northern lights. Skip beach holidays - Mediterranean is cold.
February
Carnival in Venice and Cologne. Ski resorts at peak (book early). Seville and Marrakech for warm sunshine (18-22°C). Best month for the Canaries.
March
Spring kicks in southern Europe. Lisbon, Barcelona, Athens warm up to 18-22°C. The Algarve is uncrowded and cheap. Skiing still possible in March.
April
Best month for tulips in Holland (Keukenhof). Easter holiday makes prices spike - avoid the 2 weeks around Easter. Greek islands open up: April 15 onwards.
May
Best all-round month for Europe. Italy, Spain, Greece warm and not yet crowded. Mountain hikes possible in the Alps. Madrid and Vienna mid-20s.
June
Long days (sun until 22:00 in the north). Norwegian fjords open. France and Italy still affordable. Brussels and Amsterdam beautiful, light evenings.
July
Peak season everywhere. Avoid France, Italy, Spain coasts (overcrowded, +50% prices). Go north: Finland, Estonia, Iceland. Or eastern Europe (Croatia, Albania).
August
Hottest + most crowded. Many local restaurants closed in Paris, Rome, Madrid (fermeture annuelle). Stay home or go to northern Europe.
September
Best month for southern Europe. Sea is still warm (24°C in Greece, 22°C in Croatia). Prices drop 20-30% from August. No crowds. Pure magic.
October
Indian summer in southern Europe. Mediterranean cities still 22-25°C. Last chance for Greek islands (most close end of October). Cheap city breaks everywhere.
November
Wet, dark and very cheap. Stick to city breaks: museums and cozy cafés. Christmas markets start late November. Lapland for northern lights.
December
Christmas markets in Germany and Austria (Nuremberg, Vienna, Munich). Ski resorts open. London + Edinburgh for Christmas atmosphere. Cheap city breaks pre-mid-December.
Month-by-month quick guide
- January to February Prices at yearly lows. Best for city breaks: Rome, Barcelona, Lisbon, Vienna. Ski season peaks in the Alps. Beach destinations cold (8 to 14 degrees Celsius).
- May to June The sweet spot: temperatures 18 to 26 degrees before peak season prices. Best for: Algarve, Greek islands (Crete, Rhodes), Croatia. Low rain risk except northern Europe.
- September to October Second sweet spot. Mediterranean sea still warm (24 to 26 degrees), crowds gone, prices 20 to 35 percent lower than August. Ideal for last-minute beach deals and city breaks.
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Varies by destination and season. European city breaks typically €60-€200, long-haul €400-€900. Check the live price by filling in your dates.