Best Places to Travel in Europe Each Month

I’ve travelled around Europe in different seasons, a place that is perfect in September might be far less enjoyable in August, while somewhere I would avoid in the middle of summer can be fantastic in December.

Plan Your Trip Around the Time of Year

Here are some of my favourite options throughout the year, including what each destination is particularly good for and the type of trip I would plan there.

I've created ready-to-use travel itineraries, from short city breaks to longer adventures. And if you're not sure where to start, you can also use my free packing checklists to get organised before you go.

January

January is a great month if you don't mind colder weather. It is also one of the best times of year for a proper winter experience.

Lapland, Finland

If snow, winter landscapes and the Northern Lights are on your list, January is a fantastic time to visit Lapland. I spent several weeks in Rovaniemi and found that the experience was much more about the winter atmosphere and being outdoors than simply visiting Santa Claus Village.

For a short trip, I would plan around four or five days, with a mixture of Northern Lights tours, a husky or reindeer experience, snowy walks and some free time in Rovaniemi.

February

February is still firmly in winter across much of Europe, but this is where choosing the right destination matters.

Madeira, Portugal

Madeira is a good choice if you want some greenery, outdoor activities and milder temperatures. It works particularly well for a trip where you don't want to spend the whole day sightseeing in a city.

March

March is when I would start looking further south. Spring is beginning in many places, but you can still find quieter destinations before the main tourist season starts.

Malta

Malta is an option when you want relatively mild weather and plenty to explore without committing to a long holiday.

April

April is one of my favourite months for travelling around Europe because spring is properly getting started and temperatures are generally more comfortable for walking around all day.

Rome, Italy

Rome is particularly enjoyable when you can spend hours walking between sights without the heat of July and August.

May

May is when Europe starts to feel like summer, but without the full intensity of July and August in many destinations.

Puglia, Italy

Puglia is one of the places I would seriously consider for a May trip. You can combine beautiful towns, coastal stops and excellent food without having to spend the entire trip on a beach.

A week gives you enough time to visit places such as Bari, Alberobello, Ostuni, Lecce and Polignano a Mare without changing hotels every single night.

June

June is one of the easiest months to recommend for a European summer trip. Days are long, the weather is generally warm and many destinations haven't yet reached their peak summer crowds.

Sicily, Italy

If you want beaches but also want plenty to do away from the coast, Sicily gives you both. You can build a trip around beaches, historic towns, food and archaeological sites.

July

July is peak summer, so this is the month when I pay more attention to what kind of holiday I actually want.

If you're looking for a beach holiday, Greece and Croatia are obvious choices. If you want a city break, however, I would think twice about choosing somewhere that becomes extremely hot and busy in July.

Greece

For an island trip, you can spend your days swimming and exploring small towns, then keep evenings for restaurants and sunset walks.

August

August is probably the month when I would be most careful about choosing your destination. Popular European destinations can be extremely busy, and temperatures can be high.

Mallorca, Spain

Mallorca can work well for a mix of beaches, villages, scenery and food. Again, I would choose your base carefully because where you stay can make a big difference to how much time you spend travelling around.

September

September is one of my favourite months for travelling in Europe. Summer is still there, but the atmosphere can feel much more manageable.

Tuscany, Italy

Tuscany works beautifully at this time of year. I would plan a mixture of cities, countryside and food experiences rather than turning the trip into a checklist of towns.

October

October is a great month for a European city or food-focused trip. Temperatures are generally more comfortable than during summer, and you can spend long days walking around without feeling exhausted by the heat.

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon is a good choice if you want a combination of city sightseeing, good food and relatively mild weather. You can also add Sintra without turning the trip into a long journey.

November

November is when I would start thinking about European city breaks rather than traditional summer destinations.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is especially appealing as the weather gets colder. The thermal baths are perfect for breaking up a day of sightseeing.

December

December completely changes the feel of many European destinations. If you want Christmas markets and winter atmosphere, this is when I would plan around the experience rather than the weather.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna is a classic choice for Christmas markets, beautiful buildings and festive cafés. A three or four-day trip works well here.

Find Things to Do Before You Go

Once you've chosen your destination, I like to have a quick look at the experiences available before I travel. GetYourGuide is useful for finding guided tours, day trips, sightseeing tickets and local experiences in destinations across Europe, while Klook can be helpful for activities, attraction tickets, transport and experiences, particularly in popular destinations. Booking a few things in advance can save time and make it easier to fit everything into a short trip, while still leaving plenty of room to explore on your own.