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There is a lot to be said about traveling to Europe during the summer.
Long days, lots of sunshine and a lively atmosphere make summer the most popular time of year to travel to Europe’s hotspots.
But there are three extremely popular destinations that I have visited in both summer and winter – and I found winter to be the best time to visit by far.
Those three cities are:
- Venice, Italy
- Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Barcelona, Spain
These destinations have several things in common: the peak season for visits is summer, they are all incredibly popular destinations that attract millions of visitors annually, they are all notoriously expensive, they are all popular with cruise ships, and they all suffer from overtourism.
This is why winter is actually the best time to travel to these popular European destinations.
Venice, Italy
Venice is one of my favorite cities in all of Europe. It is truly magical and enchanting, with its breathtaking architecture and hundreds of bridges and canals.
However, during the summer months, a visit to Venice can feel like visiting a crowded theme park rather than a historic city. The crowds have become so great that Venice will soon introduce a visitor fee of 5 euros to enter the city on peak days.
But Venice in winter is a completely different story. There are virtually no crowds, and although the weather can be chilly and cloudy, this adds to the city’s moody, mysterious atmosphere.
Winter is also the best time to visit for lower prices, with average hotel prices dropping by more than 50% compared to the summer months.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik is a beautiful historic city on the Adriatic Sea, famous for its walled Old Town. This is a destination that has exploded in popularity in recent years, with the summer of 2023 heralding a new tourism record for Dubrovnik.
Just like Venice, this is a city that suffers enormously from extreme crowds and overtourism. Dubrovnik has also seen skyrocketing prices in recent years, especially after it officially joined the Schengen Zone and adopted the euro as its currency in early 2023.
Winter is my favorite time to visit Dubrovnik because there are very few tourists and you can enjoy activities like walking the city walls without the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.
It may be too cold to go to the beach or swim in the Adriatic Sea, but it is still sunny and mild, with average temperatures of around fifty degrees in winter.
Barcelona, Spain
Finally, Barcelona is another European hotspot that I prefer to visit in winter rather than summer.
While there are certainly advantages to visiting Barcelona in the summer – you can go to the beach, there are lots of concerts and festivals – there are also plenty of disadvantages. Summer in Barcelona can be unbearably hot and everything is extremely busy.
This is because Barcelona is a major cruise port, meaning cruise tourists flood the city in the summer months (much like Venice and Dubrovnik). It is also the high season for tourism in general.
But Barcelona is actually a year-round city, so there’s no shortage of things to do in winter. You can enjoy everything the city has to offer with much less crowds and lower prices. Moreover, Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate, so even in winter temperatures are often around sixty degrees.
Surprisingly, Barcelona is also a great holiday destination. I love the city during the Christmas period, especially on Epiphany on January 6 when there is a huge parade.
European hotspots best visited in winter
Overall, Venice, Dubrovnik and Barcelona are three European cities that I would definitely rather visit in winter than in summer.
In winter you will not be bothered by large crowds, expensive prices or extremely hot weather. You can enjoy these destinations without the hordes of cruise ship tourists and take advantage of lower off-season prices.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
