BEST TIME TO VISIT EUROPE

Europe

A lot of people recommend the so-called ‘shoulder seasons’ for taking holidays to explore Europe. The idea is to avoid the heat and the crowds of mid-summer without compromising too much on the weather and availability of attractions. Broadly speaking, these ‘shoulder seasons’ are between Easter and mid-June, and again from late September to mid-November.

The trouble with these periods is that the weather can be a bit unpredictable, and some parts of Eastern Europe like Bulgaria, Romania and Slovakia can still have a slight chill in the air. Of the flip side, the countryside busts into colour in the spring and attractions such as castles can be much more fun when the gardens are in full bloom and the queues are short.

Many Europeans take their holidays in August and some major cities, Rome in particular, seem to shut down as all the locals head for the beach. Expect crowded beaches and busy hotels right across the Mediterranean between June and August but you may be prepared to accept this to attend a specific summer festival.

Turkey is best to visit in spring (April to mid-June) when the weather is moderate, the days are long and the tourist rush hasn’t begun. April can be a bit rainy though if that bothers you. Kurban Bayrami is the most important Islamic festival of the year and there is a 5 day public holiday in November.

BEST WEATHER TO EXPLORE EUROPE

This guide to the best weather to explore Europe checker is intended only as a guide to countries based on rainfall, temperature and humidity. It doesn't reflect other considerations mentioned above - just the weather! The world's weather patterns are changing, so please use this guide as a rough guide only.