Going to
Europe
The Best Times to Travel
By D.W.
Traveling to Europe can be exceptionally enjoyable or extremely
frustrating depending on your budget and more importantly, your
plan. When planning a trip, the season which you will be traveling
in is perhaps one of the most important factors to consider. And
that choice can make all of the difference in your experience.
Over the course of living in Germany for three years and
traveling to almost everywhere on the continent I have found that
every season has its advantages, depending upon what you want out of
your vacation.
The peak travel season is the summer as not only Americans and
Japanese are traveling, but the Europeans themselves are also
tourists. European summers are short depending where you go but they
can be beautiful. Throughout most of the continent, daylight lasts
from 5:00 AM until 10:00 PM over the summer months, which guarantees
long leisurely days to explore. The weather is usually in the 80’s
or low 90’s, which is hot for Northern European people but just
great for most Americans. Even when it rains during the summer, it
is warm rainfall that will quickly dry off while you are enjoying
drinks or ice cream at a café.
The down side to exploring Europe during the summer is that too
many people are also traveling.
In addition, everything is more expensive, from transportation to
hotels and food. Reservations and tickets are harder to come by and
there are long lines at museums and at other tourist attractions. As
a result, if you are traveling on a budget then summer season is
definitely not the time to go.
However, if you are a frequent European traveler or just really
adventurous then a preplanned package tour for summer travel may be
the way to go. It will cost a lot more but the professionals will
ensure that you have a comfortable room and a seat on the bus or
train. They will also get you into the attractions you want to see.
Many travel guides and travel professionals will say that the fall
is the all around best time to visit Europe. I have to agree with
them from experience. Autumn in Europe is also very beautiful, being
cooler than summer months but not really cold until November,
depending on where you go. The fall days are shorter but still offer
plenty of daylight for exploration. As long as you pack a good
jacket and maybe some light gloves you will be okay to enjoy autumn.
The best thing about going to Europe during autumn is that since
it is the off peak season there are not a lot of foreigners
vacationing although plenty of Europeans also travel in the fall.
Hotel rooms will be much easier to get and less expensive after they
have finished gouging Yankee tourists during the summer. Lines at
museums and at the other tourist attractions will be shorter and
event tickets will be a lot easier to buy. Transportation is less
expensive from trains to flights, especially transatlantic flights.
And during the autumn season, European cities are abuzz with life
and activity but not packed, which can make your vacation experience
just about right.
Now traveling through Europe in the winter is an altogether
different experience unless you are skiing; winter is the peak
season in the Alps. The winter days only provide about eight hours
of light on average which severely limits any outdoor activity. The
entire continent is bitterly cold and snowy, even in southern Spain
and Italy. You will need a full compliment of cold weather clothes
to do anything during the winter, so don’t expect to pack light.
However, exploring European cities during the winter can also be
advantageous if you are planning for a lot of indoor activities.
Nobody really travels Europe outside of ski areas during winter. A
professor on sabbatical who will spend his days in obscure libraries
or those contemplating paintings in an art gallery would benefit
from the winter. Museums usually keep the same hours during winter
as they do the rest of the year. Shoppers can also tremendously
benefit from the absence of tourists during the winter.
Flight and transportation costs in Europe are really cheap during
the winter and hotel rooms in cities are abundant and are usually at
very low prices. Crowds at museums and other tourist attractions can
also be very sparse, leaving lots of time to enjoy the art and the
many other cultural sites. And if you really need to keep a tight
budget on your trip, winter is the best time to go. For everyone
else, I recommend a different season for a vacation.
Exploring Europe in the spring is a lot like traveling in the
fall, except it rains more. The amount of daylight and the weather
are fairly similar and enjoyable. I personally recommend late spring
April and May over early spring as the winter conditions don’t
completely disappear. The prices for hotels and transportation begin
to pick up in preparation for peak season but they are still pretty
affordable.
In general, people shake off the snow and life begins anew across
the continent during spring. And the lazy energy that makes Europe
so delightful also resurfaces. Light crowds begin to form in the
public areas of the urban centers creating a lively but
lackadaisical atmosphere. And the more enjoyable outdoor festivals,
which are really great events common to every city and small town,
begin to kick off.
Overall, one of the keys to traveling and enjoying Europe is to
plan out the best time for you to go. Every traveler has different
circumstances and interests so there is no one right time. But there
is a best time for everyone, so contemplate what you think may be
the optimal weather and conditions before you decide to go. And by
the way, bring twice as much money and half as many clothes (except
for the winter) as you think you may need.
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