Best time to visit Europe

2 min summary When to go Map & highlights Things to do Top 10 wildlife Top 10 adventures Mediterranean food First time traveller Families Tips Responsible Tourism All our Europe guides

Best time to visit Europe

Hiking in Spain is wonderful year-round, and Lapland’s landscape is just as magical when the snow has melted.

Hooray! This is the perfect time to clear up a massive misconception: Europe is a not a seasonal destination; the best time to visit Europe is whenever you like. If you want snow in Finland, don’t go in July, but if you want to go to Finland in July, then go. You’ll find glorious hiking & kayaking. Likewise, July-August probably aren’t ideal for hiking and cycling in places like Spain, Italy and Greece when the crowds swell along with the temps; but there's always a hidden mountainside which will be cooler - and calmer. Europe really is your oyster. All year round.

Call us for the best time to go to Europe

Finland Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

-10

-4

FEB

-10

-3

MAR

-6

APR

-1

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

-2

DEC

-7

-1

Our Europe Holidays

Europe, month by month

August really is peak of peaks across the Mediterranean countries, and so if you are going to some of the popular spots – particularly on the coast – be prepared for crowds. It will also be searingly hot for inland sightseeing, hiking or cycling, although more mountainous regions, such as Spain’s Picos de Europa and Sierra Nevada, will be refreshingly cool. December to mid January may seem like an idyllically festive time to be in Lapland – but with the sun nudging above the horizon for just a few twilit hours each day, you’ll be limited as to how much you can actually do. February and March are still snowy – but with much longer days. You’re also more likely to spot the Northern Lights around the equinox (21st March). Don’t go to the Pyrenees in April for spring hiking – many paths are inaccessible due to avalanche risk or existing snow; ‘spring’ hiking in the mountain means during June. November-March tends to be cold and wet in much of Italy and France– apart from the mountains, when this is the time for winter sports. Italy's historic cities can also be moodily atmospheric – especially a twilit Venice without the crowds. Foodies will love October in Scotland. Seafood is superb from lobster to langoustines, monkfish to mussels. And the game is on, with wild duck, grouse and pheasant very much 'flight to fork'. Midwinter can be pleasant in southern Spain and Italy – on a sunny day temperatures can be in the low 20s, and rain is rare. Even in Montenegro, weather can be ideal for hiking right up until November. Don’t assume southern Europe is all hot and sunny in winter, though. Inland climates are continental, with snowfall common in central Spain and Turkey.

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Europe or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

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rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Responsible Travel recommends

Katherine Tory, from our supplier Exodus, shares her advice on the best time to visit Europe:
“With so many cultures and countries just a short flight away, Europe offers far more than it’s credited for. With gloriously sunny summers and snowy winters, there’s something to keep you entertained all year round. Adventure is right on your doorstep!”

Tim Winkworth, from our supplier, Intrepid, shares his advice on the best time to visit Europe: “Europe is a great place to travel, no matter what time of year. Nowhere else in the world can you experience such variety in just about everything so close to each other. With 51 countries, most of which can fit inside Australia, Europe is a dream to explore, often allowing you to discover many countries, interact with many cultures, and eat a myriad of wonderful food. It’s the diversity in Europe that gets me though – the scenery doesn’t evolve, it can be radically different from one place to the next, cultures are many and varied, religions are various and plentiful, and there are so many wonderful national foods and national drinks squeezed so tight that you could feasibly have three meals in three countries in the one day – where else can you do that?”

Festivals & events

The Athens and Epidaurus Festival

Every June-August, Greece celebrates its role as birthplace of Western theatre with performances at historic venues – most famously, the magnificent ancient theatre at Epidaurus, but also at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the Acropolis. It's a unique chance to see plays by Sophocles, Aeschylus, Aristophanes and Euripides staged where they were first performed 2,500 years ago.

More about Europe

Europe travel guide

If you’re searching for a continent that’s about as an eclectic mix of old and new as you can imagine then our Europe travel guide lifts the lid on what we rate & what we don’t including information about the food, shopping & people to help you discover Europe like a local.

Where to go in Europe

Where to go in Europe to make the most of your time obviously depends on what you’re into however, if you’re looking for ideas then mull over our favourite Europe highlights featured on our interactive map and you’ll soon get to grips with distances and travel times in Europe.

Things to do in Europe

Our top activities in Europe range from activity holidays to cultural touring with every chance possible to go wild, never to be missed.

Top 10 wildlife holidays in Europe

Take a safari – in Europe! Sure, you won’t see the Big Five, but there are some really big beasts and giant-sized thrills waiting for you here, from tracking wolves through snowy mountains to swimming with dolphins in clear Atlantic waters.

Top 10 European adventure breaks

Find out which tours have made our European adventure breaks top 10 as well as the best times to go, and direct links to other relevant trips and travel guides.

Cooking and food holidays in the Mediterranean

Cooking and food holidays in the Mediterranean offer a feast for the senses: tempting smells waft up from markets and sizzling food stalls and cooking lessons offer the chance to learn from passionate local people eager to share favourite recipes. Read on to discover more.

Tips for the first time traveller to Europe

Whether you’re planning to hit the road on a multi-country extravaganza or stick to exploring one city or region, your first time in Europe offers a whole continent of experiences.

Family holidays in Europe

Family holidays in Europe are laid-back and hassle free, with a huge array of sights and activities to keep both parents and kiddies happy.

Europe travel advice

We’ve asked our friends in Europe for travel tips with some superb results including Europe travel advice on why you shouldn’t skip the Peloponnese, getting off the beaten track in Spain and respecting Croatia’s tricky past.

Responsible tourism in Europe

There’s never been a more important moment to travel right in Europe with masses of overdevelopment, cruise ships, walking pollution and captive cetaceans still hot topics when it comes to responsible tourism issues in Europe.

All our Europe guides

Find all our Europe guides in one place from Croatia to Finland and everything in between and discover some of our activity guides such as Walking in Spain or multi activity holidays in Montenegro.