Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Europeans travel a lot during the summer so many of them put their apartment for rent via
services like
Airbnb.com
.
I also like how it doesn't get dark until around 9:30 in the summer. The sidewalk cafés are
full late into the night, and you'll find the streets full of people—which adds to the ambiance
of the city.
All the attractions are open during the busy season so there is never a shortage of things to
do. The summer is also the best time for music festivals and concerts.
However, Europe is crowded in the summer. People are everywhere and it can be hard to
escape the crowds. Popular museums and other attractions will have long lines and you'll con-
tinue fighting the crowds once you get inside.
The price of accommodation, transportation, and some attractions are elevated during the
summer as well, so your travel dollar doesn't stretch as far.
LOW SEASON
As the temperature drops, so do the crowds and prices. Winter in Europe can be a great time
to travel, and it is a totally different feel than visiting during the summer.
Other than around Christmas and New Year's, crowds are virtually nonexistent during the
winter. You can walk straight into museums without waiting in line and enjoy the artwork
without having to push your way through mobs of camera-touting tourists. I also feel like I
get a more authentic look at the culture because I'm not surrounded by tourists. I find that the
locals are friendlier because visitors are not constantly bombarding them.
Speaking of Christmas, one of my favorite things about traveling in December are all the
Christmas markets all throughout Europe. Additionally, a lot of cities put up ice-skating rinks
and other fun winter activities that add to the celebrations.
Airfare to Europe drops drastically in the winter and is often hundreds of dollars cheaper
than the summer. Accommodation is another area where you can save quite a bit since hos-
tels, hotels, and rental apartments are desperately trying to get business. You may be able to
negotiate some good deals in person if you show up at the end of the day when hotels are des-
perate to fill rooms.
After spending multiple winters throughout Europe, I know firsthand that weather is hard
to predict and changes often—one day it will be sunny and mild and the next it will be down-
right cold and rainy. To be honest, spending all day outdoors while it's cold and gray can be-
come miserable. Of course, it helps if you dress properly, but you'll never be able to fully es-
cape the cold when it's twenty-eight degrees and damp.
Naturally the weather tends to be nicer in the south but don't expect beach weather. The
UK, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands are normally fairly mild but expect frequent light
rain. Temperatures drop as you move north and east.
