Visit Europe Guides - February 2025 Best time to visit Europe off-season

If the thought of navigating huge crowds of tourists in Europe is damping down your travel dreams, consider visiting during the shoulder seasons. These are the times of the year when the most iconic attractions aren’t at their peak or the weather isn’t “perfect”; the upsides of traveling at low season are fewer crowds, a slower pace, more spacious sites, lower costs, and the chance to attend fairs and festivals frequented primarily by local people. Imagine: you might not have to hold your phone above your head to get a shot of the thing you came to see! There’s no set pattern to quieter times —high and low seasons among countries vary depending on their topography, climate, holidays and festival calendars. Read about the lesser-known pleasures of each country during its quiet season, and plan a wonderfully relaxing trip to Europe!

Explore our interactive map, or scroll down to find ideas for your trip!