Best Times to Travel the World: Guide by Month and Destination
When is the best time to go to...? It's the question everyone asks. Traveling at the wrong time can mean paying twice as much, pouring rain, or encountering endless crowds. Here you have the definitive guide.
Quick guide by month
January
- Ideal for: Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Colombia
- Avoid: Europe (cold), Japan (snow), Egypt (rains)
- Why: It is dry season in Southeast Asia and summer in the southern hemisphere
February
- Ideal for: India, Morocco, Thailand, Cuba
- Avoid: Central Europe (snow), Scandinavia (dark)
- Why: India has good weather before extreme heat
March
- Ideal for: Japan (cherry trees), Portugal, Greece, Thailand
- Avoid: Southeast Asia (extreme heat), Caribbean (rains)
- Why: Japan in March is magical with cherry blossoms
April
- Ideal for: Japan, Spain, Greece, Morocco
- Avoid: Southeast Asia (pre-monsoon), Mexico (heat)
- Why: Perfect temperatures in the Mediterranean
May
- Ideal for: Europe (almost everything), Iceland, Turkey
- Avoid: India (heat), Thailand (pre-monsoon)
- Why: Europe is at its best: good weather, few people
June
- Ideal for: Iceland, Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska
- Avoid: Thailand (monsoon), India (rains)
- Why: Midnight sun in the north, perfect summer
July
- Ideal for: Northern Europe, Canada, Japan (festivals)
- Avoid: Southern Europe (heat), India (monsoon)
- Why: Only if you can stand the heat or go north
August
- Ideal for: Greece, Croatia, Turkey (beaches)
- Avoid: Southern Europe (extreme heat), Asia (monsoon)
- Why: Most expensive and crowded month in the Mediterranean
September
- Ideal for: Almost any destination
- Avoid: Nothing in particular
- Why: The perfect month: good weather, low prices, few people
October
- Ideal for: China, Peru, Portugal, Spain
- Avoid: Scandinavia (dark), Canada (cold)
- Why: Perfect autumn in the Mediterranean
November
- Ideal for: Thailand, Vietnam, Egypt, Morocco
- Avoid: Europe (cold, rain), Japan (cold)
- Why: Start of the dry season in Asia
December
- Ideal for: Thailand, Australia, South Africa, Caribbean
- Avoid: Northern Europe (dark, cold)
- Why: Christmas on the beach is a unique experience
Summary table by destination
| Destination | Best time | Worst time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | March-April, Oct-Nov | July-August | Medium |
| Thailand | Nov-February | Jun-Sept | Low |
| Greece | May, Sept-Oct | July-August | Medium-High |
| Iceland | Jun-August | Nov-Feb | High |
| Peru | May-Sept | Jan-Mar | Low |
| Australia | Sept-Nov, Mar-May | Jun-Aug | High |
| Morocco | Mar-May, Sept-Nov | Jul-Aug | Low |
| India | Oct-Mar | Jun-Sept | Low |
| Egypt | Oct-Apr | Jun-Sept | Low |
| Colombia | Dec-Apr, Jul-Aug | May-Jun, Oct-Nov | Low |
How to find the best prices
- Use Google Flights with flexible dates: Shows you the price calendar
- Activate price alerts: Skyscanner and Kayak notify you when it drops
- Travel in low season: You save 20-40%
- Book 2-3 months in advance: Sweet spot for flights
- Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the cheapest: Both flights and hotels
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