September is the best month to travel in Europe and August is the worst. Here’s why.
I was asked the other day about when the best time to go travelling in Europe is. Tricky one, although I can categorically say that the worst time is August.
August can be hellish – temperatures can get uncomfortably high, but more importantly, it’s when everyone else goes on holiday. The entire populations of France and Italy, in particular, seem to pack up and head for the beaches, countryside and any other bit of land worth seeing.
Then there are the northern European hordes descending on the Mediterranean, either with screaming kids in tow or a desire to get as drunk as humanly possible.
Of course, because this is peak season, the prices for everything shoot up too – hotels, flights, even restaurants.
But the best time? Well, some would say it’s winter. This is arguably true in some parts, but in others it’s a bad idea. I spent early January in central Europe last year, encountering reams of attractions that had closed down for the season, and bitter temperatures of minus six degrees. Not much fun.
Spring is good, although April can often see a lot of rain. May can be fantastic however.
But I’d still argue that the best month is September. In recent years, Europe’s summer weather has gone a bit topsy-turvy. Some dismal Junes, Julys or Augusts have been followed by a great end to the summer. From what I remember of the last two years, September has provided pretty much unbroken sunshine.
By this stage, the really nasty humidity and uncomfortably high temperatures tend to subside so that the weather falls into that ‘just right’ bracket.
More importantly, though, you share Europe’s highlights in this weather by far fewer people. Children go back to school all over the continent, which means that the families don’t travel a fraction as often. The sun-seekers have also largely gone back home.
This doesn’t mean that the major attractions are empty, of course, but they’re far more bearable.
And, for those on a budget, this is the time for the best deals – shoulder season kicks in for flights from Australia, while hotels and airlines within Europe desperately try to extend their peak seasons by offering significant discounts and sales.
And, on that note, I’m off to book myself a return flight to somewhere random for about $25…
Do you agree with David, or do you think that there’s a better time to go travelling in Europe? Share your thoughts below.
