Article: Why Does Everyone Want to Visit Europe in Summer?

[Warks]

I had rose coloured glasses looking at my experiences in Europe in the summer of 89 but honestly, that seems like the off season looking back on how busy Europe has become in the intervening years.
This year we went to Iceland in May to avoid the peak. The weather was cold but it's always cold in Iceland. Probably about 5-10C most days hitting minus 5 one morning in the north. But if you look up Iceland monthly averages you'll see that even peak summer is only about 15C on average, not much warmer and a lot busier and more expensive. Also the days are very long in May, doesn't really get fully dark so you have plenty of time to get around.
We had time in Copenhagen on the way over and back. Early May it was still pretty cold and not that busy. Late May it was beautiful and warm and the crowds were starting to build up.
As others have said, May or September are probably the best months to avoid the worst of the heat and crowds. I've travelled southern Europe in winter and it seemed like half the places were closed so not good memories.
I'm not sure when the UK has decent enough weather to travel, I'd probably go there in summer though because at least the days are long and there's a chance of it being warmer but probably raining. (lived there for a year or so and am familiar with the weather).

 

[Melburnian1]

When I read the title, I thought 'No, who on earth would want to go to Europe in (their) summer? Expensive, horrible crowds and too much competition for attraction tickets.

The I read the article @Mattg and the sense in which you wrote it. I'm always a shoulder season visitor.

Agree with you (and Mattg) as broadly the best times to visit are September-October and second best, perhaps mid March to very early May. With the latter, Easter and school holidays may complicate the fares situation.

In winter, Mattg wrote how it's 'cold' (in northern Europe) but omitted how one can often have wonderful sunny days with snow having previously fallen and extant. With a reasonable, perhaps hooded, parka/zipped jacket and if so inclined, thermal underwear, one can maintain a comfortable temperature. I am not a skier but as long as one avoids icy parts of footpaths (stupidly once fell), it's good.

Mattg doesn't give the impression he had a Eurailpass (also valid in the UK) or BritRail pass, but if one does, even summer travel is achievable with the caveat that in nations like France, compulsory-booked TGVs are 'quota controlled' for passholders (as IIRC is Eurostar across the Channel) so book seats early is the mantra. See the 'seat 61' and 'Eurail' sites for more information: the latter offers reservations once you have your paper or electronic Eurailpass.

Mattg also referred to how 'some' European hotels lack aircon. Perhaps he doesn't stay in 2.5 to 3 and occasionally 3.5 or less frequently 4 star as do I, but a majority of European (and Pommy) hotels lack airconditioning. It can be stifling in many during summer as they're also poorly ventilated: having experienced that once, I'm not keen for a repeat.

And who needs to redeem constantly devaluing FF points (especially with substandard Qantas) when inventively using second tier airlines and changing in Asia, or sometimes travelling striaght through on the one airline can deliver return J fares for under A$6500 even with the state of the A$?

 

[Flashback]

Pretty much Mrs FB + my M.O.

We generally don't travel in the summer months around Europe due to more tourists, more expensive, too hot (and not always handled well) etc.

We very much do hit the other 9 months, though!

 

[Claudia]

I’m in the Switzerland alps now, arrived in May. Reconsider a Swiss trip in May, the pollen was like something I have never seen before. I don’t have any allergies, hayfever or asthma whatsoever, and never have had, but the fine pollen dust could be seen floating in the air and it covered the outdoor furniture, and my car was just covered in it every morning. I needed nasal spray, first time ever. All the chairlifts to take me up to the top of the alps for a hike were closed due to being off season, not reopening until 22 June, so a full 6 week wait! My local village was dead! Oh, and it was cold, not good for a Queensland girl. I found that late June and July perfect in the Alps, spring flowers were out, better weather, cows out in the pasture with their bells, more local events happening, no pollen, chairlifts working, and the Swiss school holidays didn’t affect me with crowds at all.

 

[ramboflyer]

I agree Matt. Last trip in the northern summer for us was way too busy, e.g London very crowded, packed like sardines in the Vatican Museum and you could barely move in San Marco Piazza. Never again, next time it will be in a shoulder season.

 

[Flashback]

I agree Matt. Last trip in the northern summer for us was way too busy, e.g London very crowded, packed like sardines in the Vatican Museum and you could barely move in San Marco Piazza. Never again, next time it will be in a shoulder season.

That stuff does still happen in shoulder season, too!

 

[Forg]

That stuff does still happen in shoulder season, too!

Yeah we visited the Vatican in September … was a coughshow. From memory, hour queue just to get into the Sistine Chapel.

 

[RooFlyer]

Yeah we visited the Vatican in September … was a coughshow. From memory, hour queue just to get into the Sistine Chapel.

Go the 'early access' tour if there is a next time. Costs more but I was literally the second person into the Sistine Chapel. A few minutes of quiet awe.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

It depends on each persons circumstances but as someone not bound by school holidays I’m a big believer in the shoulder seasons e.g. late May early June was great this year and I got EK F redemptions both ways.

I lived in London for a while and vow never to visit when cold…Europe is just miserable then

 

[jastel]

For those saying Daylight Savings is a benefit for Eurpoe summer travel...
What do you do in smaller towns apart from sit in a bar?

There is 4-5 hours of daylight left and most tourist sites are shut. You can walk around a park or something maybe but then you get to the pub/restaurant at dusk...9pm or so...and find there is no food as "Chef goes home at 7.30". Several times my dinner was museli bars and a coke from a service station.

If it is light out I wanna see stuff.

I agree with the rest of the article...but to be fair its NOT JUST EUROPE.

 

[kookaburra75]

Why just Europe? We basically do northern hemisphere travel between Mid March and May or mid august to November. The only times in summer proper have been for cruises in the arctic -Svalbard, Iceland, Greenland and Hudson bay.

Same here. We've done our trips into US, Canada, UK and Europe in the Feb/Mar and Oct/Nov blocks to get the cheaper flight and accommodation deals, and avoid the crowds. Yes, it can be cold, but we prepare for it.

One of our highlights was taking the train from New York to Montreal, along the rivers and lakes with everyone out on the ice fishing, complete with their Hiluxs and huts.

 

[Scarlett]

Because for the rest of the year your destination is covered in cold, wet stuff?



And when you’re finished you get to hear the cow bell symphony on the journey back to your hotel.

 

[itchy feet]

Totally agree. The WORST time to visit. Ridiculously expensive, overcrowded and European cities are most unpleasant in the heat. Have recently returned from 3 weeks away, in northern Italy and Croatia. Not my idea - my fellow traveller is a teacher in US so only has summer holidays. Less popular areas of Italy were pleasant. Venice and coastal Croatia were horribly overcrowded. Overall, I was glad to come home.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

One of our highlights was taking the train from New York to Montreal, along the rivers and lakes with everyone out on the ice fishing, complete with their Hiluxs and huts.

I just did this in late June. Very nice train trip. Very cheap and a great way to get to Canada from NYC.

Back on topic. We are mainly "shoulder travellers" for the reasons outlined above, however as travellers it is also good to sample the main summer periods from time to time as each season has its own flavour. For the same reason seeing places in winter needs to be experienced.

 

[StayGoldPonyboy]

Would mainly go shoulder except that children are school age.

it's the 3 wk June/July school hols that make it more worth it than the 2 weeks we get at Easter or September.

going to UK in summer is excellent. All the fun stuff is happening. The flowers, the festivals, Wimbledon, the long evenings, the summer shows, people are happy. You can avoid the touristy places/times if you are crafty. And tbh I haemorrhage money when on hols at home, I may as well be doing it over there.

 

[SCM]

I agree 100%, and for southern Europe it's 200%. I once was in northern Italy just in May and it was 33-36 degrees every day, never again.

Don't need the inhumaine heat, the crowds, the peak pricing.

 

[kyle]

Yes it's expensive but it's just too cold in Melbourne.

 

[Scarlett]

Yes it's expensive but it's just too cold in Melbourne.

And Canberra, and Hobart, and Adelaide…

 

[VPS]

And Canberra, and Hobart, and Adelaide…

never that cold in Adelaide.

 

[SCM]

If it's not below -20, it's not really cold.