Europe will steal your heart and leave you wanting more. No matter how many times you visit, you never feel that you’ve seen or experienced enough, maybe that’s what makes it so addictive. So with the European Summer season in full swing, and having just returned home from all of its glory, we wanted to share our advice for the best times to travel in Europe. And what better way to compare seasons than to create a handy pros and cons list to handle your time more efficiently. Safe travels xx
SUMMER
Pros
Longer days
This means that you will be able to enjoy longer opening hours of popular attractions and restaurants plus you will be able to pack more into your day. That’s being efficient!
Warm weather
Who doesn’t love sunshine filled days and balmy nights? Plus, packing light clothes for summer makes it so much easier to stay under the baggage weight limits. Shopping, anyone?
The atmosphere is amazing
Al fresco dining, lounging outside, and people watching in Europe really come into full swing in summer. This means that the atmosphere is electric everywhere you go, making everything seem more alive and exciting.
Islands are open and in full swing
All the Mediterranean islands that shut up shop during winter, due to harsh winds and low tourist numbers, reopen their doors in Summer, making it the perfect time for an island-hopping holiday.
CONS
Queues everywhere
Expect crowds of tourists everywhere and long queues to get into popular tourist attractions and museums.
Expensive accommodation and travel prices
As it is high season, accommodation and transport costs will be at their peak.
TIPS
Book ahead
Book tickets for museums and attractions online, sometimes requiring you to pay extra for a skip the line ticket, to skip long queues. Book accommodation and transport as early as possible to take advantage of advance purchase discount rates.
Start early
Get all your sightseeing done as early as possible in the day to beat the crowds. Research the busiest attractions you want to see and visit them before all the other activities you have planned in a day.
WC’s favourite European Summer destinations
Santorini || Stay at the Katikies Hotel | Eat at Pelikanos | See the Oia Sunset
Budapest || Stay at the Buddha Bar Hotel | Eat at Fakanal Restaurant | See Fisherman’s Bastion
Berlin || Stay at the 25 Hours Hotel Bikini Berlin | Eat at Monsieur Vuong | See the East Side Gallery
Winter
PROS
Snow!
Need we say more.
Cheaper accommodation
Make your Euro stretch further with great hotels at affordable prices. Luxury on a budget!
Less crowds
This means you might actually get within selfie distance of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. It would be a miracle.
Christmas markets and winter festivals
These markets and special events bring Europe to life during winter so try to schedule your travels with their dates in mind.
Buy a good quality winter jacket to keep you warm.
CONS
Most islands are closed
So if you have those Greek Islands in sight, you better think again.
Less outside atmosphere during the coldest months of the year
Many people celebrate indoors where the temperature is controlled thanks to the miracle that is artificial heating.
Very cold
This means you will have more clothes to pack and less room for shopping. Plus all those hot chocolate stops really break the budget!
TIPS
Budget for popular winter activities, like skiing, which are usually quite expensive.
Make bookings for accommodation, during the popular Christmas season, and skiing in advance to ensure you don’t miss out.
WC’s favourite European winter destinations
Zermatt || Stay at Hotel Garni Testa Grigia | Eat at Stephanie’s Crepes | See the Matterhorn
London || Stay at The Nadler Hotel Soho | Eat High Tea at The Ritz | See the Tate Modern
Vienna || Stay at The Hotel Topazz | Eat at Figlmuller | See the Stephansdom
I love this post!! 🙂
I am in the process of collecting guest posts for my blog and this would fit so well! Let me know if you are interested and we can talk more! It would fit in really well with other content I have secured thus far!
jennifer@domesticblissabroad.com
Hi Jennifer. Thanks so much for the feedback. We will be in touch soon xx