Best time to visit: when to go, city by city

Paris is at its best in late spring and early autumn, when the weather is mild, the parks are in leaf and the crowds are lighter than the July to August peak. April to June and September to October are the sweet spots.

August is hot and, famously, many smaller restaurants and shops close as Parisians leave on holiday. Winter is cool and grey but atmospheric and cheaper, with Christmas lights in December.

Worth knowing: Avoid August if you want the full city: many local restaurants and shops shut while Parisians are away.

Source: Paris je t’aime (official tourism)

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London is mildest and brightest from late spring to early autumn, with May, June and September offering the best balance of long days and manageable crowds. The parks and outdoor terraces are at their best then.

Rain is possible year-round, so pack a layer and an umbrella whenever you come. Winters are grey and damp but the city is festive and cheaper, December aside.

Worth knowing: There is no truly dry season, so bring rain gear even in summer; the weather is changeable rather than extreme.

Source: Visit London (official tourism)

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Rome rewards a spring or autumn visit: April to May and September to October bring warm, walkable weather and lighter crowds at the major sites. The light in these months is lovely for the piazzas and ruins.

July and August are hot and crowded, and in mid-August (around Ferragosto) many local businesses close. Winter is mild and quiet, a good time for the museums.

Worth knowing: Summer is hot and packed, and mid-August sees widespread closures around the Ferragosto holiday.

Source: Turismo Roma (official tourism)

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Barcelona is at its best in late spring and early autumn: May, June and September give you warm city weather and fewer crowds than the August peak; the sea is reliably swimmable from June, with late May sometimes warm enough.

High summer is hot, humid and very busy, with packed beaches and long museum queues. Winters are mild and quiet by European standards.

Worth knowing: August is the hottest and most crowded month; the shoulder months are warmer-feeling without the crush.

Source: Barcelona Turisme (official tourism)

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Madrid’s inland, high-altitude position gives it hot summers and cold winters, so spring and autumn are ideal: April to June and September to October are comfortable for walking the city.

July and August are very hot and, as in much of Spain, many locals leave, with some businesses on reduced hours. Winters are crisp and clear but chilly.

Worth knowing: High summer is genuinely hot and quieter as residents escape the heat; spring and autumn are far more pleasant.

Source: esMadrid (official tourism)

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Amsterdam shines in spring, especially April when the tulips are out and King’s Day (27 April) fills the city with orange. Late spring and early autumn give you the best mix of weather and lighter crowds.

Summer is the busiest and priciest time. Winters are cold, dark and wet, though the canals and cosy brown cafes have their own appeal.

Worth knowing: For tulip season aim for April; summer is the most crowded and expensive stretch.

Source: I amsterdam (official tourism)

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Berlin is most enjoyable from late spring to early autumn, when beer gardens, lakes and open-air culture come alive. May, June and September give warm days without the deep cold.

Winters are long, grey and cold, though the museums and nightlife run year-round and prices drop. The city is spread out, so good weather makes a real difference.

Worth knowing: Winters are cold and grey; the city’s outdoor life really needs the warmer half of the year.

Source: visitBerlin (official tourism)

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Vienna is lovely in spring and early autumn, with mild weather for the palaces and gardens and fewer crowds than summer. April to May and September to October are the sweet spots.

December is a destination in itself for the Christmas markets and concert season, if you do not mind the cold. Summers are warm and pleasant but busier.

Worth knowing: Come in December specifically for the Christmas markets and classical-music season, weather permitting.

Source: Vienna Tourist Board

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Prague is at its prettiest in spring and autumn, when the weather is mild and the Old Town and Charles Bridge are less mobbed than in peak summer. April to May and September to October are ideal.

December brings Christmas markets and a fairytale feel, though it is cold. Midsummer is warm but very crowded; winters otherwise are quiet and cheap.

Worth knowing: Summer is the most crowded; the shoulder months and the December markets are the rewarding times.

Source: Prague City Tourism

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Budapest is comfortable in spring and autumn, with warm-but-not-hot days for the riverside, the baths and the hilltop views. April to May and September to October are the best windows.

The thermal baths are a treat in any season, and steaming outdoors in winter is a particular pleasure. Summer is hot and busy; deep winter is cold but cheap.

Worth knowing: The thermal baths make even cold months worthwhile; for general sightseeing the shoulder seasons are best.

Source: Budapest Info (official tourism)

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Lisbon enjoys a mild climate and is good much of the year, but spring and early autumn are ideal: March to May and September to October bring warm, sunny days without the summer crush.

Summer is hot and busy but tempered by an Atlantic breeze. Winters are mild and among the warmest of any European capital, with the odd rainy spell.

Worth knowing: Lisbon’s hills are hard work in high-summer heat; the shoulder months are kinder for walking the city.

Source: Visit Lisboa (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Lisbon

Porto is at its best in late spring and early autumn. It is wetter than Lisbon overall (July and August are the driest months), so May, June and September give the best balance of decent sun, comfortable temperatures and lighter crowds.

The São João festival on 23 June is a riotous local highlight. Winters are mild but rainy; summer is warm and the busiest season.

Worth knowing: Porto is rainier than the south, so the late-spring and early-autumn windows give you the steadiest weather.

Source: Visit Porto (official tourism)

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Venice is most pleasant in spring and autumn, with mild weather and the canals at their prettiest. April to June and September to October avoid both the summer heat and the worst crowds.

High summer is hot, intensely crowded and the canals can smell at low water. Autumn and winter bring acqua alta (high-water flooding), and the famous Carnival lands in February.

Worth knowing: Summer is hot and overrun; autumn and winter can bring acqua alta flooding, so check tide forecasts.

Source: Venezia Unica (official city)

Plan things to do in Venice

Florence is best in spring and autumn, when the Tuscan weather is warm and walkable and the museum queues are shorter. April to May and September to October are the sweet spots.

July and August are hot and very crowded, with long waits at the Uffizi and the Duomo. Winter is quiet and cool, good for the galleries.

Worth knowing: Summer is hot and the museum lines are brutal; book the Uffizi and Duomo ahead whenever you visit.

Source: Feel Florence (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Florence

Athens is ideal in spring and autumn, when the weather is warm and the archaeological sites are comfortable to explore. April to June and September to October also pair neatly with shoulder-season island trips.

July and August are very hot, with the Acropolis exposed and heat that can be intense, sometimes prompting midday site closures during heatwaves. Winters are mild and quiet.

Worth knowing: Midsummer heat on the exposed Acropolis is punishing; go early in the day or visit in the shoulder seasons.

Source: This is Athens (official tourism)

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Dublin’s mild, changeable climate makes late spring to early autumn the best bet, with the longest days and the most likely sunshine between May and September. June often has the kindest weather.

Rain is possible any time of year, so layers and a waterproof are essential whenever you come. Winters are dark and damp but rarely freezing, and St Patrick’s Day in March is a major draw.

Worth knowing: Expect rain in any season; the difference between months is daylight and warmth more than wet versus dry.

Source: Visit Dublin (official tourism)

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New York is at its best in late spring and autumn: April to June and September to November bring comfortable temperatures and the city’s parks at their finest, autumn foliage included.

Summers are hot and humid, winters cold but festive, with the holiday season from late November a spectacle of its own. Spring and fall sidestep both extremes.

Worth knowing: July and August are hot and humid; visit in spring or autumn for the most comfortable sightseeing.

Source: NYC Tourism (official)

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Las Vegas sits in the desert, so spring and autumn are by far the most comfortable times: March to May and October to November bring warm, dry days without the searing summer heat.

Summer temperatures regularly soar past 40°C (104°F), which makes daytime outdoor time hard going. Winters are mild and pleasant, occasionally cool at night.

Worth knowing: Midsummer desert heat is extreme; the shoulder seasons are far more comfortable for anything outdoors.

Source: Visit Las Vegas (official tourism)

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Dubai is a winter destination. From November to March the weather is warm and sunny rather than punishing, which is when the city’s outdoor dining, beaches and events come into their own.

Summer (roughly June to September) is extremely hot and humid, with temperatures often above 40°C (104°F), so life moves indoors to air-conditioned malls. Prices are lower in summer to compensate.

Worth knowing: Avoid the summer: heat and humidity are intense, and outdoor life largely shuts down until evening.

Source: Visit Dubai (official tourism)

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Istanbul is most comfortable in spring and autumn, when the weather is mild for exploring the mosques, bazaars and the Bosphorus, and the crowds are thinner. April to May and September to October are the sweet spots.

Summer is hot, humid and busy, while winter is cool, grey and can be rainy or even snowy. The shoulder months hit the balance.

Worth knowing: Summer is hot and crowded and winter is damp and grey; spring and autumn are the rewarding windows.

Source: Go Türkiye (official tourism)

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Tokyo’s headline seasons are spring and autumn. Cherry blossom usually peaks from late March into early April. October and November bring crisp, clear days too, with the city’s autumn foliage usually best from mid-to-late November into early December; both seasons are beautiful but popular.

June is the rainy season, July and August are hot and humid, and September can bring typhoons. Winters are cold but dry and clear, with fewer crowds.

Worth knowing: Cherry-blossom timing shifts each year (typically late March to early April) and books out fast, so plan ahead.

Source: Go Tokyo (official tourism)

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Milan is at its best in spring and early autumn, when the weather is mild for walking the city and the design and culture calendar is in full swing. April to May and September to October are the sweet spots.

Summer is hot, humid and quiet, with many businesses shut in August as locals leave. Winter is cold and often foggy. The big trade fairs, Fashion Weeks (February and September) and the Salone del Mobile design week (April), send hotel prices soaring, so avoid those dates unless that is why you are coming.

Worth knowing: Dodge Fashion Weeks (Feb, Sep) and the Salone del Mobile (April), when hotels are scarce and very expensive.

Source: YesMilano (official tourism)

Plan things to do in Milan