Best time to visit Europe

• “For classic sightseeing and fair prices, May–June and September are the sweet spots.” komfytrip.com
• “September is one of our favorite months to travel at TravelLocal” travellocal.com
• “the best time to visit Europe to avoid crowds is during the shoulder seasons of April through May and September through October” scottdunn.com

6 of the 8 travel guides we read name these months.

1. January46°F / 38°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Cold; the Alps and other mountains are snow-covered. Prices among the lowest of the year.January 1 is a public holiday across Europe and many attractions close.Quieter and cheaper for skiing after New Year; Nordic destinations are covered in snow.Venice Carnival · Cabalgata de Reyes Magos
2. February48°F / 38°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Cities stay quiet but Carnival places such as Venice see spikes.Ski resorts get much busier during European school holidays.Basel Fasnacht carnival · Carnival of Binche
3. March55°F / 42°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Transitional: spring emerges in the south, snow lingers in the north.Late March is early shoulder season, with the first smells of spring.Blue whale migration · Las Fallas
4. April62°F / 46°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Conditions improve; tulip season in the Netherlands, though April showers are likely.Easter brings price and crowd spikes, especially Semana Santa in Spain.Sechseläuten and the burning of the Böögg · Valborg in Uppsala
5. Best timeMay68°F / 52°F · 9 rainy daysChecking fares…Widely seen as one of the best months: warm across most of the continent, with the Mediterranean warm enough to swim.May and June suit sightseeing in big capitals: not too hot, schools still in session.Hamburg Harbour Birthday · Bergen International Festival
6. Best timeJune74°F / 58°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Long, warm days; crowds swell in late June as school holidays start.Midsummer (Midsommar) is celebrated in Sweden on June 23rd.Ommegang Brussels · Midsummer in Dalarna
7. July78°F / 61°F · 7 rainy daysChecking fares…School holidays begin and it gets busy; Nordics have the midnight sun.Southern Europe has strong sun most days; queues and prices are higher.San Fermin (running of the bulls) · Puffin nesting season
8. August78°F / 61°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Hottest and busiest month; inland southern Europe can reach 34 to 42°C.The most expensive month to travel.Many French residents leave Paris for holidays, so August there is not high season.Sziget Festival · St Stephen's Day fireworks over the Danube
9. Best timeSeptember71°F / 55°F · 8 rainy daysChecking fares…Warm but not hot, fresh breezes, lower prices and attractions still open.Southern Europe is still warm and often cheaper as fewer people go abroad.Red deer rut · Wachau grape harvest
10. Best timeOctober62°F / 50°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Autumn harvests and vineyard tours, e.g. Bordeaux and Tuscany.Late fall remains pleasant with fewer crowds, though nights may need a hat and gloves.Bremen Freimarkt · Signal Festival Prague
11. November52°F / 43°F · 10 rainy daysChecking fares…Autumn harvest festivals across Germany and Austria; fewer crowds and lower prices.Northern Lights viewing without freezing cold in Iceland.St Martin's lantern processions in the Rhineland · St Martin's croissant day in Poznań
12. December46°F / 39°F · 11 rainy daysChecking fares…Christmas markets, especially in Scandinavia.Festive atmosphere with busy weekends and higher prices.Epiphany in Rome and the Befana markets · Lucia in Stockholm

Weather: Paris averages from Meteo France (1981 to 2010 averages), as listed in its climate table on Wikipedia.

• Venice CarnivalVeniceEvery January to March
• Cabalgata de Reyes MagosMadridEvery January
• Up Helly AaLerwick, ShetlandEvery January
• Kemi sea ice on the Bothnian GulfKemiEvery January to February
• Basel Fasnacht carnivalBaselEvery February to March
• Carnival of BincheBincheEvery February to March
• Six Nations rugby at Aviva StadiumDublinEvery February to March
• Fete du CitronMentonEvery February to March
• Blue whale migrationPico Island, AzoresEvery March to May
• Las FallasValenciaEvery March
• Cheltenham festivalCheltenham racecourseEvery March
• St Patrick's festivalDublinEvery March
• Sechseläuten and the burning of the BööggZurichEvery April
• Valborg in UppsalaUppsalaEvery April to May
• Puffins return to the Westman IslandsHeimaey, VestmannaeyjarEvery April to August
• Corfu Orthodox Easter and the pot throwingCorfu TownEvery April to May
• Hamburg Harbour BirthdayHamburgEvery May
• Bergen International FestivalBergenEvery May to June
• Anastenaria fire walkingLangadas and Agia Eleni, MacedoniaEvery May
• Wiener FestwochenViennaEvery May to June
• Ommegang BrusselsBrusselsEvery June to July
• Midsummer in DalarnaLeksand, DalarnaEvery June
• Sankt Hans bonfires at SkagenSkagen, North JutlandEvery June
• Midnight sun on the Arctic Circle at GrímseyGrímsey, off AkureyriEvery June to July
• San Fermin (running of the bulls)PamplonaEvery July
• Puffin nesting seasonSkellig Michael and the Skellig coastEvery July
• Nijmegen Four Days MarchesNijmegenEvery July
• Salzburg FestivalSalzburgEvery July to August
• Sziget FestivalÓbuda Island, BudapestEvery August
• St Stephen's Day fireworks over the DanubeBudapestEvery August
• Perseid meteors over Poloniny Dark Sky ParkPoloniny National ParkEvery August
• Dormition of the Virgin pilgrimage on TinosTinos, CycladesEvery August
• Red deer rutRichmond and Bushy ParkEvery September
• Wachau grape harvestWachau valleyEvery September
• Common crane migrationHortobagy national parkEvery September to October
• Almabtrieb cattle descent in TyrolReith im Alpbachtal and the Zillertal, TyrolEvery September to October
• Bremen FreimarktBremenEvery October to November
• Signal Festival PraguePragueEvery October
• Ohi Day in ThessalonikiThessalonikiEvery October
• Culture Night in CopenhagenCopenhagenEvery October
• St Martin's lantern processions in the RhinelandDüsseldorf and the Lower RhineEvery November
• St Martin's croissant day in PoznańPoznańEvery November
• Tallinn Black Nights Film FestivalTallinnEvery November
• Polar night on SvalbardLongyearbyen, SvalbardEvery November to January
• Epiphany in Rome and the Befana marketsPiazza Navona, RomeEvery December to January
• Lucia in StockholmStockholmEvery December
• Christmas and polar night in RovaniemiRovaniemi, LaplandEvery December
• Kraków szopki nativity scene competitionKrakówEvery December

• Best Beach Towns in Europe17 places
• Best Beaches in Europe20 places
• Best Places to Visit in Europe19 places

• JapanApril and October to November
• IrelandApril to May and September
• IcelandJune to August
• ItalyApril to May and September to October
• Costa RicaDecember to April
• Puerto RicoDecember to April
• AlaskaJune to August
• PortugalMay to June and September to October
• CancúnDecember to April
• GreeceMay to June and September to October
• ThailandNovember to February
• The Grand CanyonApril to May and September to October
• DisneylandJanuary to February and September to October
• MiamiDecember to April
• Myrtle BeachApril to May and September to October
• PragueApril to May and September to October
• EcuadorJune to September
• BaliApril to June and September to October
• TokyoMarch to May and October to November
• MoroccoMarch to May and September to November
• MauiApril to May and September to October
• MontrealMonth by month
• VeniceApril to June and September to October
• The NetherlandsApril to May and September to October
• ArubaApril to May
• New OrleansApril and October to November
• ChinaApril to May and September to October
• NashvilleApril to May and September to October
• Disney WorldJanuary to February and September
• BangkokNovember to February
• PolandMay to June and September
• New YorkApril to May and September to October
• CroatiaMay to June and September
• RomeApril to May and September to October
• San DiegoSeptember to October
• FranceMay to June and September to October
• PhuketNovember to April
• FinlandJune to August
• VietnamMarch to April
• BrazilMonth by month
• BostonSeptember to October
• DubaiNovember to March
• CanadaJuly to September
• SeoulApril to May and September to October
• New ZealandFebruary to April
• GuatemalaNovember to April
• The PhilippinesDecember to March
• FloridaNovember to April
• LisbonApril to May and September to October
• AustriaMay to June and September to October
• Los AngelesMarch to May and September to November
• ChicagoApril to May and September to October
• ParisApril to May and September to October
• Las VegasMarch to May and October to November
• San FranciscoSeptember to October
• EdinburghMay to June and September
• NapaSeptember to October
• SydneyMarch and October to November
• HawaiiApril to May and September to October
• ScotlandApril to May and September to October
• Punta CanaDecember to April
• MexicoDecember to April
• SavannahMarch to April and October to November
• Washington, DCApril to May and September to October
• ChileMarch to April and October to November
• SwitzerlandJune to September
• Mexico CityNovember to April
• Zion National ParkApril to May and September to October
• The Dominican RepublicDecember to April
• Turks and CaicosDecember to April
• Puerto VallartaNovember to April
• HonoluluApril to May and September to October
• BanffMonth by month
• SpainApril to June and September to October
• YosemiteMay to June and September
• FijiMay to October
• ColombiaDecember to March and July to August
• IndiaOctober to March
• TulumDecember to April
• The BahamasDecember to April
• NorwayMay to September
• SedonaMarch to May and September to November
• SeattleJune to September
• GermanyMay to June and September
• SantoriniMay to June and September to October
• Buenos AiresMarch to April and September to November
• The MaldivesNovember to April
• EgyptMarch to April and October to November
• LondonMay to June and September
• CharlestonMarch to May and October to November
• TaiwanMarch to April and October to November
• Rio de JaneiroApril to May and September to October
• Palm SpringsOctober to April
• YellowstoneMay and September
• South KoreaApril to May and October
• AmsterdamApril to May and September
• TurkeyApril to May and September to October
• ArgentinaMarch to April and October to November
• TorontoMonth by month
• IndonesiaMay to September
• PeruMay to October
• BelizeDecember to April
• Key WestMarch to May
• South AfricaMay to October
• KenyaJune to October
• OrlandoMarch to May and October to November
• AustraliaMarch to May and September to October
• JamaicaDecember to April
• St LuciaDecember to April
• TahitiMay to October
• TanzaniaJune to October
• AustinMarch to April and October to November
• Machu PicchuApril to May and September to October
• Cabo San LucasMarch to May
• Niagara FallsJune to August
• ColoradoJune to September
• OregonMonth by month
• SingaporeFebruary to April
• ArizonaMarch to April and October to November
• Acadia National ParkSeptember to October
• GalapagosDecember to May
• Lake TahoeJune and September
• MontanaJuly to September
• KauaiApril to June and September
• AzoresApril to June and September
• OkinawaMarch to April and October to November
• PanamaDecember to April
• US Virgin IslandsDecember to April
• Amalfi CoastApril to June and September to October
• Santa FeMonth by month
• DestinApril to May and September to October
• BarbadosDecember to April
• CuracaoDecember to April
• UtahApril to May and September to October
• Joshua TreeMarch to April and October to November
• PatagoniaNovember to February
• SicilyApril to June and September to October
• St. ThomasDecember to April
• Florida KeysDecember to April
• Smoky MountainsApril to May and September to October
• Hong KongNovember
• CopenhagenMay to June and September
• Sri LankaDecember to March
• Death ValleyNovember to March
• MallorcaMay to June and September
• MadeiraApril to May and October
• AntiguaDecember to April
• Cape TownMarch to May and September to November
• El SalvadorNovember to April
• IbizaJune to August
• ZanzibarJune to October
• Lake ComoMay to June and September to October
• MadridApril to May and September to October
• OaxacaNovember to April
• MalaysiaMarch to September
• SeychellesApril to May and October to November
• New MexicoSeptember to October
• TennesseeApril to May and September to October
• VermontSeptember to October
• WyomingJune to September
• Bryce CanyonOctober
• OahuApril to May and September to October
• St. MartinDecember to May
• Hilton HeadApril to May and September to October
• TuscanyApril to June and September to October
• DolomitesJune and September
• Cape CodSeptember to October
• United KingdomMay to September
• SwedenMay to September
• ShanghaiMarch to May and September to November
• San AntonioMonth by month
• Rocky Mountain National ParkJuly to September
• MaltaApril to June and September to October
• GreenlandJune to August
• DublinSeptember to October
• Cayman IslandsDecember to April
• Catalina IslandMonth by month
• CartagenaDecember to April
• CambodiaNovember to February
• AthensApril to May and September to October
• AshevilleOctober
• TexasMarch to May and October
• South AmericaNovember to February
• SloveniaJune to September
• Shenandoah National ParkMay to June and September to October
• SardiniaMay to June and September to October
• RoatánMarch to May
• PhoenixMonth by month
• North CarolinaMonth by month
• NepalMarch to April and October to November
• NamibiaMay to October
• MontenegroMay to June and September
• MedellínDecember to March and July to August
• MauritiusMay to June and September to November
• MadagascarMay to October
• JordanMarch to May and September to November
• IsraelMarch to May and October to November
• French PolynesiaMay and September to October
• CairoOctober to April
• BudapestMay to June and September to October
• Arches National ParkApril to May and September to October
• ViennaApril to May and September to October
• UzbekistanApril to May and September to October
• TaipeiSeptember to November
• St. JohnDecember to April
• South CarolinaMarch to May and September to November
• ReykjavikJune to August
• NicaraguaNovember to April
• MykonosMay to June and September to October
• MilanMarch to May and September to October
• HoustonFebruary to April and October to November
• HanoiMarch to April and September to November
• GrenadaJanuary to April
• GhanaDecember to February
• Faroe IslandsJune to August
• Cook IslandsApril and September to November
• Canary IslandsMonth by month
• BoliviaMay to October
• Big Island of HawaiiSeptember to October
• BerlinMay to June and September
• BeijingApril to May and September to October
• AtlantaSeptember to November
• AlbaniaMay to June and September
• The CaribbeanDecember to April
• St. BartsMonth by month
• South DakotaSeptember
• SerengetiJune to October
• Rhode IslandMay and September to October
• New EnglandSeptember to October
• NassauDecember to April
• LimaDecember to March
• KyotoApril and September to November
• Koh SamuiJanuary to April
• DenmarkMay to June and September
• CreteApril to June and September to October
• Colorado SpringsMonth by month
• Chiang MaiNovember to February
• BelgiumMay to June and September
• UruguayNovember to March
• StockholmJune to August
• PortoMay to June and September
• PalawanNovember to May
• Montego BayDecember to April
• MichiganJune to August
• MelbourneMarch to May
• LouisianaMarch to May
• LaosNovember to February
• Kuala LumpurJune to August
• Kruger National ParkMay to September
• JejuMarch to May and September to November
• HondurasJanuary to April
• FlorenceMay and September to October
• DallasMarch to May and September to October
• Cape VerdeNovember to June
• BotswanaMay to October
• ZurichMay to September
• TunisiaApril to June and September to October
• TampaMonth by month
• St. KittsJanuary to April
• OsakaMarch to May and October to November
• OmanOctober to April
• MunichMonth by month
• MooreaMay to October
• KyrgyzstanJune to September
• KazakhstanMay to June and September
• Kailua-KonaApril to May and September to October
• GoaNovember to February
• EvergladesDecember to March
• Door CountySeptember to October
• DominicaJanuary to April
• CuscoApril to May and September to October
• CalgaryJune to August
• BoracayNovember to April
• BonaireMonth by month
• Swiss AlpsJune and September
• St. CroixMonth by month
• SevilleMarch to May
• San Juan IslandsMonth by month
• RomaniaApril to May and September to October
• PalauNovember to April
• New HampshireSeptember to October
• MinnesotaSeptember
• MazatlánMonth by month
• ManilaDecember to May
• KentuckyApril to May and September to October
• Isla MujeresDecember to March
• GuamJanuary to May
• French RivieraMay to June and September
• Fort LauderdaleMonth by month
• CubaNovember to April
• Cinque TerreMay to June and September
• AsiaNovember to March
• AlgarveMay to June and September to October
• VirginiaMonth by month
• Trinidad and TobagoMonth by month
• TenerifeMarch to May and September to October
• TasmaniaDecember to March
• SapporoMonth by month
• RwandaDecember to February and June to September
• NormandyMonth by month
• NairobiJanuary to February and July to October
• MumbaiNovember to February
• The HamptonsMonth by month
• Grand Teton National ParkSeptember
• Finger LakesSeptember to October
• EthiopiaOctober to February
• CyprusApril to May and September to October
• CharlotteMonth by month
• BogotáDecember to February and July to August
• AucklandMarch
• MaineJune to September
• BermudaApril to June and September to October
• Bora BoraMay to October
• Olympic National ParkJune to September
• Redwood National ParkMonth by month
• Sequoia National ParkSeptember
• Big Bend National ParkNovember
• Mackinac IslandMonth by month
• BhutanMarch to May and September to November
• Sint MaartenDecember to May
• NantucketMonth by month
• Outer BanksSeptember to October
• CaliforniaApril to May and September to October
• Big SurMonth by month
• Crater LakeMonth by month
• AnguillaDecember to March
• ScottsdaleJanuary to March
• NiceJuly to September
• Mount RainierJuly to September
• MongoliaJune to September
• CozumelJanuary to April
• Badlands National ParkMonth by month
• Salt Lake CitySeptember to October
• DenaliJune to August
• PhiladelphiaApril to May and September to October
• TucsonMarch to April and October to November
• ProvenceJune
• GuadalajaraMonth by month
• AlbuquerqueMonth by month
• Upper PeninsulaMonth by month
• UgandaDecember to February and June to August
• SonomaMonth by month
• MemphisMonth by month
• IdahoMonth by month
• Da NangFebruary to May
• CotswoldsMonth by month
• ArkansasMonth by month
• St. LouisMonth by month
• CapriMonth by month
• British Virgin IslandsDecember to April
• Glacier National ParkJuly to September
• BarcelonaMay to June
• VancouverJuly to September
• Quebec CityJuly to August
• DenverJune
• IstanbulApril to May and September to October
• Riviera MayaMonth by month
• Carmel-by-the-SeaSeptember to October
• Victoria, British ColumbiaMonth by month
• Mérida, YucatánNovember to March
• Santiago, ChileMarch to April and September to November
• Naples, ItalyApril to May and September to October
• Central AmericaDecember to April
• MinneapolisMonth by month
• SarasotaMarch to May and October to November
• Halifax, Nova ScotiaJune and September to October
• PittsburghMonth by month
• HelsinkiJune to August
• PensacolaApril to May and September to November
• JohannesburgMarch to May and September to November
• BrisbaneMarch to May and September to October
• MálagaApril to May and September to October
• Phu QuocNovember to April
• PerthMarch and October to November
• DubrovnikApril to May and September to October
• Corpus ChristiMonth by month
• American SamoaJune to September
• EstoniaMay to July and September
• SenegalNovember to April
• MassachusettsSeptember to October
• OklahomaMonth by month
• Torres del PaineDecember to March
• Czech RepublicApril to June and September to October
• HungaryMay and September to October
• Ho Chi Minh CityDecember to April
• São PauloApril to May and September to October
• AnchorageJune to August
• BoiseMay to June and September to October
• Abu DhabiNovember to March
• LouisvilleMonth by month
• OsloMonth by month
• JuneauMay to September
• QuitoJune to September
• Bosnia and HerzegovinaMay to June and September
• LatviaJune to August
• QatarNovember to March
• RussiaMay to September
• SamoaMonth by month
• Saudi ArabiaNovember to February
• ZambiaMay to October
• ZimbabweMay to October
• West VirginiaSeptember to October
• WisconsinJune to October
• Canyonlands National ParkApril to May and September to October
• YucatánNovember to March
• Baja CaliforniaDecember to April
• Blue Ridge MountainsApril to May and October
• Fort MyersNovember to April
• DetroitMonth by month
• Kansas City, MissouriMonth by month
• KathmanduMarch to April and September to November
• RenoMonth by month
• CebuJanuary to April
• Durango, ColoradoMonth by month
• BrusselsApril to June and September
• GuangzhouOctober to December
• ChattanoogaApril to May and October
• AntalyaMay to June and September to October
• Daytona BeachMonth by month
• CorfuMay to June and September
• CairnsMay to September
• HiloApril to June and September to October
• ArmeniaMay to June and September to October
• BulgariaMay to June and September
• GuyanaFebruary to March and August to October
• AlabamaMarch to May and September to November
• ConnecticutOctober
• New JerseySeptember
• PennsylvaniaMonth by month
• Capitol Reef National ParkMonth by month
• LangkawiNovember to March