Keep in mind that these season are approximate and can be different throughout the regions of Europe, so do some research to learn more about what is considered to be Peak, Shoulder and Off Seasons at your destination.  Due to their locations, climates and crowds can be vastly different between Nice and Paris France or between Istanbul Turkey and Copenhagen Denmark even at the same time of the year.

Peak Season Travel (mid-June through August) - Summer Travel

Summer is undoubtedly the most popular time of year to travel and that is why you will experience higher prices and heavier crowds.  We have made several trips to Europe during the summer season which have been very enjoyable, but we did have to deal with the heat, longer lines as well as the higher prices and crowds.

One way to avoid some of the summer congestion at least for part of the time is to consider staying in smaller out of the way places such as San Gimignano or Riomaggiore in the Cinque Terre of Italy.  You will find that during the day, the towns can be quite crowded with tourists but as evening approaches, the tourists leave (other than people like us who were staying the night) and the towns can become deserted and peaceful.

Staying the night will give you a different perspective on what a town is like during the evening, night and morning that other tourist will never experience.  For example, staying the night at a hotel on the island of Mont. St. Michel in France will provide the opportunity to witness the incoming and outgoing tides that will surround the Island Abbey with water that you will more than likely never witness as a daytrip tourist.

San Gimignano	Riomaggiore	Mont St. Michel
Italy	Cinque Terre, Italy	France

Living in the tourist town of Windsor, England we experienced heavy crowds during the summer days changing to a ghost town in the evenings.  During the day as the tourist busses arrived, the entire town would be jammed with tourists shopping, walking the town and touring the castle.  In the evenings when the busses had departed, everything suddenly quieted down and things quickly returned to normal.

Windsor England

Pros

• All attractions should be open
• More hours of sunlight

Cons

• Hotter weather
• Expensive flights
• Expensive hotels
• Larger crowds
• Longer lines at attractions
• Events can be sold out

Fall Shoulder Season Travel (September through October)

Our favorite travel season is the Fall Shoulder Season due to the mild temperatures, lack of crowds and reduced cost.

We visited the island of Sardinia Italy in October one year.  This was during the time we were living in England and found a late Fall flight/hotel package.  At this time of year, there are absolutely no crowds as the tourists were gone for the season and due to that, many restaurants and shops had already closed.  The weather was beautiful and the water temperature when swimming in the sea was absolutely perfect; we practically had the entire beach to ourselves.  This was the perfect time to get away for a long weekend just to relax and do nothing.

Olbia on the Island of Sardinia, Italy

On another trip to Europe, we traveled through Germany, Luxembourg, the Alsace area of France and Austria in late September/Early October.  On this two week trip, we experienced only a single day of rain in the morning.  Every day we had mostly sunny days with temps in the high 60’s or 70’s; perfect, beautiful weather.  Gardens were in bloom, fountains were running and crowds were light.

Colmar, France	Trieburg, Germany (Black Forrest)	Salzburg, Austria (Castle)

Pros

• Morning temps can be cool but warming up during the day with mild temps
• Flowers may still be in full bloom
• Fewer crowds and lines
• Less expensive travel options

Cons

• Attractions may be closing
• Fewer hours of sunlight
• Fountains may be turned off for the upcoming winter season

Off Season Travel (November through March) - Winter Travel

On this trip, we flew to Paris for New Year's before heading to Rome for several days of vacation. 

At the Louvre in Paris, the crowds were small.  Even at Leonardo Di Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the room was not packed with people as it can be during the summer months and we were allowed to take photos.  We have visited the Louvre during the summer and found the Mona Lisa room to be jammed packed with tourist and photos were not allowed.

In Rome, it was cold but not crowded.  We were able to walk right in to the Vatican Museums without having to wait in line.  In the Sistine Chapel, there were no crowds and we were allowed to hang out in the Sistine as long as we wanted.  During summer peak times, they limit the number of people in the chapel and the amount of time you can stay before they usher you out so the next group can enter.  It is important to note that photos are never allowed in the Sistine at anytime.

Mona Lisa - The Louvre

Paris, France

Traveling during the Off Season may be something to consider for a museum trip due to the reduced crowds.

Pros

• Fewer crowds so shorter or no lines
• Less expensive travel options
• Easier to travel without reservations

Cons

• Weather can be extremely cold
• Fewer hours of sunlight
• Attractions may be closed
• Gardens not in bloom
• Fountains will not be running
• Requires you to bring additional clothing on your trip
• Depending on the weather, transportation could be an issue

Spring Shoulder Season Travel (April through mid-June)