Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Furthermore, the days are short. The sun sets in Paris around 5 p.m., in Oslo the sun is
down around 3:30 p.m. Naturally, it gets a lot colder when the sun goes down, so it makes it
more difficult to sightsee comfortably. Most parks shut down at dusk and some sights might
have shorter hours.
Small towns, especially ones that cater toward tourists, often turn into ghost towns in the
winter. I traveled through Normandy in February and all the small seaside towns were com-
pletely closed except for maybe a café here and there. Therefore, it usually makes more sense
to stick to big cities in the winter.
Packing also becomes more difficult in the winter because you need heavier and bulkier
clothing. This becomes more of a problem when you live out of a carry-on sized backpack, but
it's managable if you choose the right types of clothes.
SHOULDER SEASON
In most of Europe the shoulder season runs from mid-September to early November and
mid-March to mid-June. These times of year are great because the weather is generally nice
but the major crowds haven't arrived yet.
The temperatures during the shoulder season can be very pleasant in much of Western and
Southern Europe. Even Eastern Europe can be quite comfortable this time of year. I spent a
week in Prague during early April and all I needed was a light jacket. On the other hand, I've
had plenty of chilly days in Paris as late as early June.
England in early May. Lovely weather and hardly any tourists.
Unfortunately prices don't seem much different than summer as more and more people
travel during the shoulder seasons. Airfare will be a little cheaper than in the summer but it
will be more expensive than the winter. Accommodation follows the same pattern.
