So that you’re planning an epic Euro summer time, maybe heading to Tuscany or the French Riviera or the Greek Islands, or any of the good European cities from Lisbon to Paris to Prague to Rome. I personally have had a Euro summer time the previous a number of years, spending weeks (typically months) touring all throughout the European continent.
I’ve actually been to all corners of Europe in the summertime months, and am right here to share with you this one incontrovertible reality: summer time tends to be essentially the most crowded and hottest time to journey in Europe – particularly the months of July and August.
Properly, okay, *most* of Europe – you may definitely discover loads of less-crowded corners, and the climate would not are usually as oppressive in the event you head to Scandinavia, the Baltics, or Iceland. BUT, on the entire, summer time generally is a tough time to be within the main metropolitan facilities of Europe.
(And sure, I actually do imply virtually all of Europe. The warmth and crowds can and can discover you whether or not you are in Barcelona or London or Budapest.)
I notice, although, that summer time is commonly the one time individuals can journey, from academics to households with youngsters. So, in the event you’ve received a Euro summer time dream and never a lot flexibility in your journey dates, listed below are my prime ideas for taking advantage of summer time journey to Europe.
Suggestions for Europe summer time journey
Notice: Sure, I am conscious that “Europe” includes as much as 50 totally different nations, and that journey experiences can range from individual to individual and from nation to nation. Sure, I’ll make some generalizations right here. However the following tips are broadly relevant to most nations in Europe through the busy summer time months, in my expertise. (And my expertise is that I’ve visited 30+ nations on the European continent, most of them through the summer time!)
1. Be strategic together with your timing
“Summer season” generally is a broad timeframe on the subject of touring in Europe. The “summer time season” can actually apply to any time between mid-Might and mid-September in most locations; that is the excessive season in virtually each nation in Europe.
IF your journey plans are versatile sufficient to journey at both finish of excessive season (or within the shoulder season that surrounds it), you are going to have a way more pleasurable journey. Touring in most components of Europe in Might or September will nonetheless be busy, however you will not discover the identical overwhelming crowds (and often not the warmth, both) that you will discover in, say, late July.
When you actually solely have the break day from late June via August, nevertheless, you may nonetheless make your journey barely much less chaotic in the event you attempt to plan your time in main cities on weekdays as an alternative of weekends, and do a fast search about nationwide and faculty holidays within the nation you are visiting to attempt to keep away from the busiest occasions when locals can even be touring.
2. Select the best vacation spot
Hear, I do know that your dream Euro summer time most likely takes place in France or Italy or Greece or Spain… however so does everybody else’s! I promise that summer time on the Amalfi Coast or Santorini is NOT going to be as romantic as all of the Instagram pictures make it appear. Essentially the most Insta-famous cities and areas throughout Europe are often scorching as hell in the summertime, lodges are costly, museums promote out, and it may be downright disagreeable to be there.
Contemplate lesser-visited components of Europe if you are going to be visiting within the top of summer time.
For instance, head to locations within the Nordic area (Norway, Sweden, Finland), the Baltics (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), components of the Balkans (like Slovenia, Albania, and components of Croatia), and even Poland or Wales to seek out locations which can be lots much less crowded!
Locations in northern Europe (particularly Scandinavia and components of the UK) additionally are usually a bit cooler than the remainder of mainland Europe, even through the top of summer time.
(The exception right here is Iceland; Iceland is sweet and funky in the summertime, however summer time is the most well-liked time to go to. When you’re planning a summer time Iceland street journey, you should definitely e book issues like your rental automobile and lodges months and months prematurely.)
3. Do not ONLY go to the well-known cities
The “massive” cities in Europe (suppose: London, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, Amsterdam, and so on.) are all the time going to be the busiest in the summertime months. And a few of these cities – like Venice, Barcelona, and Amsterdam – are actively making an attempt to dissuade the crush of summer time vacationers.
I am not saying to fully skip these cities in the event that they’re in your bucket listing. However as an alternative of planning per week or extra in solely massive cities, contemplate pairing a preferred massive metropolis with a smaller metropolis the place your vacationer {dollars} will go farther and you’ll get pleasure from your self a bit extra.
For instance:
- As a substitute of Paris, head to Lyon or Bordeaux or the Loire Valley.
- As a substitute of London, strive Liverpool and even Cardiff in Wales.
- As a substitute of Venice, head to Treviso or Trieste.
- As a substitute of Rome, go to Bologna or Verona.
- As a substitute of Barcelona, discover Valencia or San Sebastián or Granada.
- As a substitute of Santorini, head to Naxos or Paros.
- As a substitute of Amsterdam, head to Leiden or Haarlem.
- As a substitute of Lisbon, go to Évora or Coimbra.
- As a substitute of Vienna, strive Austria’s “second metropolis” of Graz.
- As a substitute of the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre, go to Salerno and the Cilento Coast.
- As a substitute of Dubrovnik, head to Rovinj or Korčula.
The massive capital cities of Europe are nice, however they don’t seem to be all there may be to do in a rustic! Do not be afraid to department out, particularly through the busy summer time months.
4. Pack for it to be scorching
Local weather change is coming for Europe, and quick. In 2025, the Mediterranean Sea hit a report excessive temperature in June with water temps at 30 levels C (86 levels F), and nations like Spain and the UK recorded their hottest Junes ever on report.
In lots of nations within the northern half of Europe, the buildings are outdated and constructed to maintain warmth IN in historically cooler climates. However, with Europe quickly warming, that signifies that these buildings now simply work as incubators which can be very laborious to chill down as soon as they get scorching.
Warmth waves are hitting Europe earlier and earlier every year, and it isn’t unusual now to have locations like Turkey and Greece battling wildfires as early as mid-June.
So, whether or not you are visiting a spot you count on to be scorching like Spain or Southern Italy, or a spot that you just usually affiliate with cooler climate like Scotland, you’d higher put together and pack for heat climate.
A metropolis like Florence or London or Paris will FEEL hotter than it’s due to the structure that’s meant to lure warmth in. (And this goes double for any metropolis with underground metro methods and poor air flow; the London Tube and Paris Metro, for instance, are infamous for feeling like saunas when the temperatures rise.)
Be ready with gentle clothes, solar safety (good sunscreen and a hat are musts), and a fan. I actually swear by this handheld electrical fan with a extremely lengthy battery life. It is the one method I’ve survived European warmth waves in the previous couple of years!
5. Search for lodges with AC
Talking of warmth waves, take into account that many nations in Europe don’t embrace air-con. The French consider it is going to make you sick, Germans suppose it is too costly, and once more in lots of locations it by no means was wanted.
So, as you are planning your Euro summer time, if that you’ve bother sleeping when it is scorching, I can’t stress sufficient how vital it’s to e book a resort with air-conditioned rooms. Double and triple verify that AC is accessible if it is vital to you (take a look at listings, learn evaluations, and verify pictures for an AC unit).
And look, sure, it might “mark me as an American” that I care about an air conditioned room this a lot, however I actually do not care. I do know I change into a cranky bitch once I’m overheated, so that you greatest consider I WILL exit of my method to be snug when on a dream journey.
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6. Don’t be concerned about “trying touristy”
Each summer time I see movies on-line giving recommendations on what to put on in Europe in the summertime. And plenty of these movies are suggesting fully impractical outfits with a number of layers/equipment, strappy sandals, and purses that may get you pick-pocketed quicker than you may say “Euro summer time.”
I am not saying you must fully depart your style sense at residence. However I am saying that individuals within the locations you are touring do not actually care what you are carrying.
In a scenario the place you are going to be strolling a ton and it is more likely to be scorching, please please pack and costume for consolation first! You may nonetheless look cute in a summer time costume and a few white sneakers (it is actually what all the ladies are carrying in Europe anyway), whereas on the identical time truly being snug.
There’s nothing worse than being scorching and coping with crowds whereas ALSO being overheated and having very sore ft.
My go-to shoe line-up for any Europe summer time journey is all the time one pair of sneakers (white sneakers are IN in Europe; I’ve a pair of these Reeboks, and these Dr. Scholl’s sneakers are additionally a fan favourite) and one pair of strolling sandals (I really like my Teva Verra sandals for Europe, as you may get away with dressing them up a bit, too).
You are doubtless going to face out as a vacationer it doesn’t matter what you put on – since you ARE a vacationer. So chances are you’ll as properly not stress about it and simply be comfortable.
7. Watch out for scams and pickpockets
Like I stated, you are most likely going to be learn for a vacationer it doesn’t matter what you are carrying since you are going to be visiting touristy spots, taking pictures of issues, most likely not talking the native language, and maybe making typical vacationer errors. That is effective! It is regular.
However because it’s most likely going to be apparent that you are a customer, you are additionally going to be a neater goal for scammers and pickpockets.
Scams and pickpockets are rife within the giant cities of Europe, and these kinds of individuals ramp up their operations through the busy summer time months.
Just a few ideas for preserving your self (and your stuff) secure:
- Be further conscious of your environment in crowded locations (like round main vacationer points of interest and on busy public transit).
- Watch out for “bracelet males” in locations like Paris, Rome, Milan, and so on. They are going to seize your arm and attempt to tie a woven bracelet in your wrist after which demand cash for it. (Similar goes for individuals making an attempt at hand you flowers; say no and don’t contact something.)
- Additionally watch out for petition scams, the place teams of youngsters (often teenage ladies) will attempt to get you to signal a petition for some “charity” trigger. The charities are all the time pretend, and it is only a distraction for them to rob you.
- Be careful for pretend taxis; by no means get right into a automobile at an airport or prepare station that isn’t an official taxi, or that you just did not pre-book or order via a rideshare app. It is also sensible to search for set taxi costs prematurely.
- Carry a cross-body bag with a zipper at any time when potential; I extremely suggest luggage with theft-proof options, however any crossbody bag with a zipper is best than an everyday purse or backpack.
- Be careful to your cellphone! Telephone theft has been rampant in massive European cities; thieves will snatch them out of your hand whereas driving by on a motorbike/motorcycle, or seize them on public transit simply earlier than the doorways shut. If you must use your cellphone in public, I swear by utilizing a cellphone lanyard nowadays!
ALSO READ: Tips on how to Preserve Your Cash and Valuables Protected Whereas Touring
8. Begin your days early
To keep away from the worst of the crowds and the worst of the potential warmth, contemplate getting up sooner than you usually would to start out your sightseeing earlier than most different individuals*.
You will not essentially be capable to buy groceries or go to museums earlier than 9 or 10 a.m. in lots of cities, however you may sightsee open air, go to church buildings, stroll via parks, and extra within the early morning hours. And, in lots of components of Europe, even 8 a.m. may be thought of “early.”
You may all the time take a break at your resort within the afternoon (embrace that Spanish siesta life!), after which head again out once more round dinnertime.
*This tactic is not essentially going to web you fully empty websites (the Trevi Fountain in Rome isn’t empty nowadays, for instance, regardless of whenever you go), however you at the very least have an excellent shot at encountering much less/smaller crowds.
9. Pre-book as a lot as you may
Look, I am not right here to inform you to skip the well-known cities or in style vacationer spots. When you’re taking your dream journey to Europe, in fact you are going to wish to go to Paris or Venice or no matter different metropolis is in your bucket listing. I might by no means recommend you skip them solely.
However what I WILL recommend is that you just go in with real looking expectations, and plan to pre-book eachfactor. Flights, lodges, trains, rental vehicles… these are givens. When you’ve got your coronary heart set on particular museums, excursions, and even eating places, you additionally must be reserving these weeks prematurely.
All the pieces sells out nowadays. Tickets to the Louvre in Paris. Meals excursions in Rome. Tickets to go to Anne Frank’s Home in Amsterdam. Tables at in style eating places, even on weekdays. E-book your absolute must-dos as far prematurely as you presumably can.
Professional tip: When you neglect to e book one thing, like maybe a ticket to go to the Louvre, verify on a website like GetYourGuide to see if any corporations are promoting combo tickets – like perhaps the Louvre and a Seine cruise. *Typically* tour corporations have entry to tickets you may’t purchase by yourself, and also you may luck out and be capable to get a last-minute ticket this fashion. It isn’t assured, however it’s price a strive.
10. Pack your persistence
Lastly, I’ll want you to pack a little bit of persistence with you. A summer time journey to Europe may be unimaginable! However it can be exhausting and unpredictable at occasions.
In June 2025 alone, some main cities in Europe noticed anti-tourism protests; in Paris the Louvre shut down for a day when the employees went on strike, and the Eiffel Tower closed down one other day on account of extreme warmth; and wildfires have already been plaguing Greece, forcing evacuations in locations like Crete.
You may virtually rely on excessive climate (be it warmth or flooding) snarling up journey plans, and there is additionally all the time the opportunity of prepare and even airport strikes on prime of the big crowds in main vacationer facilities. So simply… be mentally ready to roll with the punches at occasions.
And also you additionally must be ready to cope with all the opposite vacationers! Touring in Europe in the summertime means you are by no means going to be alone. You are most likely going to have to attend in line – to enter museums, get a desk at in style eating places, and even take pictures at Insta-famous places.
When you’re not ready to be a form and affected person vacationer your self, then I might extremely, extremely suggest selecting one other time to journey.
Having a Euro summer time may be completely unimaginable – so long as you are ready!
Have you ever traveled wherever in Europe through the summer time months?
Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Harmful Enterprise Journey Weblog. She has traveled to greater than 60 nations on 6 continents from her residence base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and considerate journey via the US, Europe, and remainder of the world. Amanda solely shares ideas primarily based on her private experiences and locations she’s truly traveled!