Best time to visit Europe, month by month
By Ganesh ·
What Europe is like each month for travellers from India: weather, crowds, prices and where to go from January to December, plus when to apply for a Schengen visa and how Indian school holidays fit in.
For most first trips from India, the best months for Europe are May, June and September. The weather is warm enough for long days out, the summer crowds and prices haven't peaked (or have just eased), and most attractions keep full hours. July and August are the hottest and busiest. November to March is cold, dark early and cheap, apart from Christmas and the ski resorts.
Month by month
| Month | Weather | Crowds and prices | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cold, short days, snow in the Alps | Lowest of the year, except ski resorts | Skiing, Vienna and Prague in snow, museums |
| February | Still cold | Low | Venice Carnival, ski trips, Lapland for the northern lights |
| March | Mild in the south, cold in the north | Low, rising at Easter | Spain, Portugal, southern Italy |
| April | Spring, mixed rain and sun | Busy at Easter | Tulips in the Netherlands, Paris, Rome |
| May | Warm, long days | Moderate, prices climbing | Almost everywhere, Swiss lakes, Greek islands open |
| June | Warm to hot, longest days | Busy late in the month | Switzerland, Scandinavia, Scotland, the Alps |
| July | Hot, heatwaves in the south | Peak | Mountains, the north, beaches if you don't mind crowds |
| August | Hot; many locals on holiday | Peak, some city shops shut | Same as July; Edinburgh festivals |
| September | Warm, settling | Easing | Italy, Greece, Croatia, Portugal, wine regions |
| October | Cooler, autumn colours | Moderate | Southern Europe, Germany's Rhine and Mosel |
| November | Grey, cold, wet | Low | City breaks, museums, cheap hotels |
| December | Cold, dark by 4 to 5 pm in the north | High around Christmas | Christmas markets in Germany, Austria, Prague, Strasbourg |
Season by season
Spring, March to May
The south warms up first. Spain, Portugal and southern Italy are pleasant from March. By late April and May, the whole continent opens up, gardens are in bloom and the Alps start to lose their snow at lower levels. Easter week is busy and expensive everywhere, so check its date (it moves each year).
Summer, June to August
Long days (light until 10 pm in the north) and every site open. It's also when queues are longest at the Eiffel Tower, the Vatican and the Colosseum, and when hotel prices are highest. Southern Europe now regularly gets heatwaves above 40°C in July and August. If you travel with older parents or young children, favour Switzerland, Austria, Scandinavia or the UK in those months, or plan indoor afternoons.
Autumn, September to November
September is many experienced travellers' favourite month: warm seas in the Mediterranean, fewer families, lower prices. October brings autumn colours in the north and the grape harvest. By November, days are short and grey, which suits museum-heavy city breaks.
Winter, December to February
Cold and dark, but Christmas markets make December special, and the Alps are at their best for snow from late December to March. Mountain passes and some high railways close or run reduced schedules, so check before planning a scenic route.
Fitting Europe around Indian holidays
- Summer holidays (May to June) line up well with Europe's best months. Book flights and hotels by February or March.
- Diwali (October or November) falls in shoulder season, with mild weather in the south and low prices.
- Christmas and New Year is the most expensive time to fly from India. Book months ahead.
When to apply for the Schengen visa
Apply as early as the rules allow, and at least 6 to 8 weeks before travel for May to September trips, when appointment slots at VFS and BLS centres in big Indian cities fill up fast. You can apply up to six months before your trip. Check the consulate or embassy page of your main destination for the current documents and fees.
Questions people ask
What's the cheapest month to go?
January, February and November, apart from Christmas, New Year and ski holidays.
Is Europe too cold in winter for a first trip?
It's cold (often 0 to 5°C in Paris or Vienna, colder in the Alps) but very doable with a good coat. The bigger issue is short days, which cut your sightseeing time.
When can I see the northern lights?
From about September to March in northern Norway, Finnish Lapland, Sweden and Iceland, on clear, dark nights.
Photo: Hallstatt - Zentrum by C.Stadler/Bwag, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
