Europe in May

April through October gives you the best weather, but also the biggest crowds and highest prices. May and September hit the sweet spot - warm enough for outdoor dining, cool enough for walking, and shoulder season pricing on hotels. Summer brings midnight festivals in Scandinavia and perfect beach weather in Southern Europe, but also heat waves that make sightseeing miserable. Rome in August feels like a pizza oven, while Paris empties out as locals flee to the coast. If you must visit in summer, start your days early and take afternoon breaks. Winter has its own appeal if you dress for it. Christmas markets run from late November through December across Germany and Austria. Northern lights season in Iceland runs October through March. And cities like Prague and Vienna look magical under snow, with far fewer tourists and cozy indoor culture. Avoid European holidays if possible - everything shuts down during Easter week, and August sees mass vacation exodus. But shoulder months reward flexible travelers with empty museums, available restaurant tables, and locals who have time to chat.