The low season is most European destinations starts in November and ends in late March. While the coldest months are also the slowest, December is an exception during the cold months. The month of December is the highest season for retail shopping in the continent.
The influx of tourists is also high close to Christmas all the way to the New Year. There are many advantages for travelers coming to Europe in low season. The biggest advantage of traveling in Europe in low season are low prices and no crowds.
Flights and buses tickets are often at bargain prices during winter. The same applies for hotels, which often cost a fraction of what they do in summer. The main disadvantage of traveling in Europe during the low season is the weather.
Expect short days and cold snaps all across the continent. If you are coming to Europe in the low season, specially in the months of January and February, choosing the right destination is crucial. While the weather conditions are remarkably bad in Eastern and Northern Europe, some areas of Western Europe can still offer rather pleasant temperatures. Check our guides on where to stay in Lisbon and the best places to stay in Valencia.
The shoulder season in Europe is during early Spring and mid to late Autumn. This falls in the months of March and April, as well as late September until early November in most cases. The shoulder season in Europe is one of the best times to visit most cities in the continent. The weather is generally ideal for sightseeing and the number of sunlight hours is plenty during the most of the shoulder season. Another key advantage of traveling during the shoulder season is the lower tourist influx.
Weather plays a huge role. Summer is the main tourist season throughout most of Europe, but quiet mountain villages in the summer burst with activity during the winter ski season. Except for beach resorts along the Mediterranean, few travel destinations in Europe close down entirely during the off-season. Local weather conditions make some destinations attractive much deeper into fall than you might expect. This is certainly true in northern Italy, where mild weather persists throughout October, attracting many travelers to activities such as hiking, culinary tours including truffle hunting, wine tasting, and just plain relaxing.
On the other hand, tourist facilities in some destinations remain closed until the beginning of summer. If you are considering a trip to Europe during the winter months, research whether key attractions are open and make sure the local weather patterns will ensure you a pleasant experience. During these holidays prices are likely to go up at hotels. Trains, buses, and airplanes will fill up quickly, and many cities and regions are once again crowded with tourists.
A few years back I spent Holy Week in Paris and found myself surrounded by tourists nearly everywhere I went. To get away from the crowds, I took a train to nearby Chartres to visit the famous Gothic cathedral—which turned out to be practically deserted.
Similarly, popular destinations in Tuscany and elsewhere in Italy are crowded over Easter for religious worship or simply to enjoy a pleasant sunny week. Regional holidays may surprise unsuspecting visitors expecting low prices and plenty of hotel vacancies. December is certainly off-season in Portugal, but over the weekend of December 8, Lisbon suddenly fills up with vacationers from neighboring Spain. I only found out later that the holiday of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 is a 3-day weekend for Spaniards, and many decide to spend it in Lisbon.
To ensure that you are not bumping into a major local festival, holiday, or event held during the off-season, do some research before you go.
Check your guidebook for festivals and holidays, visit festival and holiday websites listing them, or visit the website of the local tourist office to find out if any major celebration is taking place during your planned visit.
The season for big European summer festivals ends around mid-September. Starting in late September things become a bit quiet, but if you travel to the countryside or small towns, you can still find many small festivals worth attending. There are many local wine and harvest festivals, small cultural and historical festivals dedicated to local history, music, art, handicrafts, food, and traditions—secular, pagan, monotheistic, and often an interesting and unique combination.
Since locals largely attend these events, it is a great opportunity to interact with them in a bit of their own language if you are able, and learn more about their culture and way of life. You often find yourself transported back into their sacred time through fascinating and colorful ritual re-enactments.
The weeks leading up to and following Christmas can sometimes feel like high season with holiday markets and shopping revelers filling the streets in many parts of Europe. Heather Hill Cernoch is a Dallas-based writer and editor who has worked in the editorial field since She holds bachelor's degrees in journalism and English from Southern Methodist University. The Best Time to Visit Europe. Travel Tips. Rick Steves' Europe. Moritz, Switzerland.
German Xmas markets are the best! Plus in Iceland all the budget accommodation is booked up in summer- I ended up staying in a tent- but like you say in Winter a flight and place to stay would be easy. Haha I know what you mean about most of the year being winter, I had the same in the UK! Love this post! Make the most of the opportunity! Have fun! I have yet to travel off season more. Thanks for reminding me of the benefits especially the cost part and less crowd.
But cities.. Enjoyed the post. Keep it going. Mountains for the summer and cities for the winter then? Sounds like a plan to me haha. Thank you! As much as I love summer if I only travelled in summer that would leave out the majority of the year here! I totally agree! Lovely post! Spring and Autumn are much better! I totally agree Caroline! And prices seem to go through the roof too.
I love the off season, everywhere in the world, but spring and autumn are the best for European exploration. I do favour Spring over Autumn because the weather seems less unpredictable and there usually all kinds of festivities and exciting things that happen only once a year. We were those people, going once a year on vacation in summer, but our trip around the world changed that! We agreed to go somewhere every month, rain or shine.
People tend to forget that all seasons have their own beauty and everything looks different when covered in snow. Magical is indeed the right word for them!
Great post, Sonja! Love your post! I totally agree with all the good reasons to travel off season in Europe, because every season brings out different things to see and do. Heading to Europe in a week. So excited for the Christmas markets!!!!
Preparing myself for the cold weather but I hate crowds so it suits me great!! Where in nz are you from? Me, Chch. Always so many kiwis and Aussies to meet on the road though. It really is a great time to go. At least they have really cool coats, boots and scarves and stuff here so I kind of like getting all wrapped up to go out.
Not like at home! There are a lot of us travelling haha. Totally agree with everything here! I loved Santorini in September! The weather was still amazing but I think there were a lot less people. Such an amazing place! The crowds in some places during the summer are insane! Shoulder season is such a great time! Off season travel is my favourite time to travel anywhere including Asia.. Things are definitely so much cheaper and more affordable which is a BIG bonus — and my friends wonder how I always manage to have money to travel hahah.
Me too! Cool post. I agree, we love travelling in shoulder season and your little tip about Greece and Spain in Oct is a really good one.
Sooooo much cheaper than August and still so pleasant.
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