Taking a trip to Europe may get confusing sometimes, especially when you have to figure out the budget, dates, and plenty of other things, and yes, deciding which season is best is also a matter of discussion. So let’s clear all the confusion that might cloud your mind and make your Europe Trip a memorable one.
Europe in Summer season begins from the month of June, lasting till August and offers plenty of activities to indulge in. Here are a few things that you need to keep in mind when you are planning to visit Europe in summer:
Weather Of Europe In Summers
The weather of Europe in Summers is an important aspect to consider if you are planning to visit during the summer season. June to August brings warm to hot temperatures, especially in the Southern Europe Area, so you can expect plenty of sunshine, longer daylight hours, which makes it ideal for outdoor activities. On the North side, the temperature is mild but pleasantly warm.
Things To Do In Europe In Summer
Since summers bring more daylight hours, it allows you to indulge various number of activities and things to do in Europe in Summer season.
- Trekking: If you are one of those people who are always looking for trekking trails, then you can enjoy trekking in various places across Europe including Mont Blanc in France, and Plitvice Lakes National Park Croatia, for an unforgettable adventure.
- Cycling: For the best cycling experience across Europe, you can go cycling in Southern Italy or in the Balkans for a thrilling adventure.
- Kayaking: One of the best things to do in Europe in summers, to beat the summer heat, is to go Kayaking in Croatia, along the Adriatic Coast.
- Husky Sledding: Take adventure up a notch with furry huskies, and go husky sledding in Finland.
- Helicopter Ride: Go for a helicopter ride above the Awiss Alps and witness beauty at it’s finest in Switzerland.
- Cliff Jumping: Cliff Jumping in Croatia is quite famous, so you can try that as well.
Festivals In Europe In Summers
- Glastonbury Festival England: Glastonbury is a music festival attracting huge crowd every year, and takes place on the last weekend of June.
- Running of the Bulls Pampola Spain: Get chased by a angry bulls through the streets of Pampola, and experience something that goes beyond thrill. It takes place between July 6 to July 14.
- Edinburgh Festival Fringe Scotland: It is the largest arts festival in the world featuring thousands of performances including comedy, theatres, music and dance. It takes place in August.
- La Tomatina Bunol Spain: One of the most popular and loved festival of Spain is the La Tomatina, where people throw squashed tomatoes on each other. This festival takes place on the last Wednesday of August.
- Tomorrowland Belgium: Tomorrowland is the world’s largest electronic music and dance festival attracting EDM lovers from all across the world. It takes place in late July.
Reasons To Visit Europe In Summers
If you want reasons to visit Europe in Summers, then you will be spoiled for choice. Let’s see why:
- Weather: The warm and sunny weather brings long, sunny days with warm temperatures, which makes it perfect for outdoor activities, sightseeing, and beach holidays.
- Vibrant Festivals & Events: Summer Calendar in Europe is packed with events and festivals. You can enjoy the music as well as the food festival, and if you are travelling in August, you can also enjoy the La Tomatina festival that takes place in Spain.
- Extended Daylight Hours: Since summer offers extended daylight hours, the days are longer, allowing you to enjoy and sunbathe on the beach on the Greek Islands, the Amalfi Coast, the French Riviera, and also Spain’s Costa del Sol.
- Outdoor Dining and Cafe Culture: Summers allow for alfresco dining in picturesque settings with historic piazzas, promenades, charming village square.
- Blooming Hardens: Enjoy the lush countryside and blooming gardens during the summer season, which creates beautiful backdrops to explore the place, making it one of the reasons to visit Europe in Summers.
Winters in Europe looks nothing less than a fairytale, starting from December and lasting till February. Watch most parts of Europe get coved in a thick blanket of snow, and witness the most magical time of the year, Christmas and New Year. What could be better than spending the festive week in Europe in Winters?
Weather Of Europe In Winters
The weather of Europe in winters, varies throughout the continent with a wide range of weather conditions. While some places experience heavy snowfall, and others get really windy, and cold. The Northern Europe’s temperature ranges from -10°C to 0°C, and in the Arctic region, it gets even colder. Southern Europe on the other hand experiences temperatures from 8°C to 15°C with occasional rainfall.
Things To Do In Europe In Winters
There are plenty of things to do in Europe in winters as well to make the most of your trip:
- Skiing and Snowboarding: Go skiing and snowboarding in at the world class ski resorts in the Alps(France, Switzerland, Austria, and Italy). Even if you are a beginner, you can still try skiing and snowboarding for an ultimate experience.
- Dog Sledding: Another popular winter sport, which is one of the best things to do in Europe In Winters, is Dog Sledding.
- Witness The Northern Lights: Your trip to Europe is incomplete if you don’t witness the Northern Lights, afterall it’s the most magical natural phenomenon in the world, making it one of the best things to do in Europe in Winters. Northern Lights can be witnessed Norway, Finland, Sweden and Iceland.
- Winter Cycling: For an ultimate cycling experience, you can even go winter cycling in places like Amsterdam or Copenhagen.
- Heli Skiing: For people who are experts acn go for Heli Skiing which offers a chance to touch the unaccessed part of the Alps.
Festivals In Europe in Winters
- Christmas/New Year: Christmas/New Year all across the Europe is celebrated with grand celebration. Watch all the places get decked up with fairy lights, even the snow covered streets, which looks absolutely magical. Christmas Markets in Europe will make you fall in love with the place.
- St. Lucia’s Day in Sweden: The St. Lucia’s Day in Sweden takes place on December 13, which is a Swedish tradition that celebrates light during the darkest part of winters, and features candlelit processions, followed by singing.
- Carnival of Venice: The dates of Carnival of Venice varies but it usually takes place in February, where you can see people wearing masks, and costumes celebrating the history, art, and culture with grand balls, parades, and some stunning street performances.
- Winter Lights Festival: Watch Amsterdam illuminate with spectacular light art installations at the Winter lights festival that takes place between December to January.
Reasons To Visit Europe In Winters
There are several reasons to visit Europe in winters, here are some that will make you want to book your trip now:
- Christmas Markets: The Christmas Markets In Europe are not just any ordinary market, they are an absolute vibe on their own.
- Northern Lights: Do we need to say anything else? The Northern Lights are an absolutely magical phenomenon that will leave you in awe and wonder, which makes it one of the biggest reasons to visit Europe in Winters.
- Winter Activities: Since the place gets covered in snow, you can indulge in various winter activities in Europe.
- Snow-Covered Streets: When it snows, the place looks like a scene from a movie. The snow covered streets, decked with fairy lights makes the place a winter wonderland.
- Off Season Deals: Since it’s the off season, you can snag on some great deals on your travel plans and flight tickets.
Suggested Read: What is the currency of Europe?
Best Time To Visit Europe
The best time to visit Europe depends totally on what are the countries you are planning to visit. Summers are mostly the peak travel season in Europe, allowing you to indulge in various adventure activities.
Winters, on the other hand will give you plenty of chance to enjoy snow activities like husky sledding, and witnessing the Northern Lights. So to answer your question, the best time to visit Europe depends on what exactly it is that you are looking for.
Tips For Visiting Europe During Summers Vs Winters
- Book Early: If you are planning to travel during summer, it is advisable that you book early because summer is the peak tourist season.
- Stay Hydrated: Countries like Italy, Spain, and Greece can get very hot, so it is important to keep yourself hydrated.
- Pack Light: Ensure that you pack light because you’ll definitely be doing a lot of shopping there.
- Choose Off Timings: Avoid tourist places during the peak hours if you don’t want crowds. Choose early mornings or late evenings for the best experience.
- Beware of Pickpockets: If you are in a crowded area, beware of pickpockets