Europe Weather And Best Time To Visit Europe

Europe, the heart of the world, is a continent that is majorly located in the temperate belt of the earth. While the crown of the continent kisses the Arctic Circle, its feet skim the Mediterranean Sea. With such diverse climatic influences, Europe’s weather is bound to alter with every leap of mile. Hence, we divide the continent into 5 major zones, and help you study what the weather patterns are like in each, with tourism prospects through the year. So, interested in the best time to visit Europe? Check out what each zone has in store for you.

Northern Europe, being close to the Arctic Circle and North Pole, is a region of cold summers and colder winters. The landscape is all mountains and deciduous forests, along with far reaches of snow-covered plains. Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland etc are also renowned for the sight of Northern Lights during the darker winter months, and midnight sun during summer.

Spring (March to May):

Spring season in most Nordic countries starts by March, and brings a mild respite from winter. The days start to prolong and sunshine returns, with average highs of 16°C by mid-April. Some countries like Sweden see pink-coloured blossoms all around and with rivers and streams melting, everything becomes infinitely more colourful. This is a good time for tourism.

Summer (June to September):

Summer in Finland is the last to arrive, as it starts to become warmer there by June. Other countries see the start of summer by May or end of May. The warmth touches 27°C and berries and mushrooms ripen in forests, with the day lengthening to 24 hour span in some northern-most reaches. That is when by June-July, the midnight sun phenomenon can be seen. Summers are the high tourist time as hikes, mountain sports and adventure become possible. 

Autumn (October to November):

October-November in the Nordic region make for a mild autumn, when winds pick up, rain is pouring and there is slush everywhere in countries like Denmark and Sweden. Norway and Finland mainly experience snowy autumns. By September end, Northern Lights start showing up in the skies above Finland, so tourism is quite possible. However, sure-shot sightings happen only in the thick of winter.

Winter (December to February):

The winters in Nordic countries are cold, harsh and dark. Some days in late December are without much sun, and hence the chances of spotting Northern Lights increases greatly. Some amazing places to see Northern Lights are the Laplands in Finland, Sweden and Norway. The temperatures drop to as low as -22°C in some places, and December marks some brilliant Christmas celebrations (especially in Finland’s Santa Claus Village).

Western Europe is a region dominated by varied landscapes. Though milder than the Nordic region, this part also sees mild temperate summers and cold winters. Rains and snowfall are common, and seasons properly demarcated in most countries. While some like Netherlands and Monaco are warmer, Ireland, Scotland, England, France,  and Belgium are colder. 

Spring (March to May):

Spring months in west Europe are very pleasant and lively, with the temperature ranging between 12-15°C in March and gradually increasing. There are blossoming meadows and flowing brooks, many harvest festivals and bright tulip bulb beds in Netherlands. Belgium is ripe with sunflowers in the countryside.

Summer (June to August):

Summers in west Europe are mild and pleasant as well, with a range of 18-30°C in most countries. The English beaches are sweeping and South of France is filled with tourists, celebrities and artists; while Netherlands and Belgium see a lot of cultural tourism. Summer is pretty much the best time to visit this part of Europe. 

Autumn (September to November):

Autumn is all about bright fiery red-rust trees and streets covered in crunching leaves. The paradise of summer is transformed to dry autumn, with minor rainy days. This is a shoulder season. As temperatures start dropping again, so do the rates of accommodation and travel. Hence if you are on budget, then autumn is a good time to explore Western Europe. 

Winter (December to February):

Winter makes the days short here, and in most countries, viz a viz, England, Scotland, Ireland, North France, Belgium etc, there is imminent snowfall for a few days in a month at least. South of France and parts of Netherlands though see a bit of respite. Christmas is beautiful in all the above mentioned countries, so do pick December if you plan to visit in winter.

Germany, Switzerland, Austria make up the jewels of Central Europe. Central Europe is one of Europe’s most beautiful untouched regions. Since the time of Cold War and Iron Curtain, the land has barely seen much attention from the popular media. However, some of its countries have evolved marvellously and see great tourism; the foremost among them being Germany. As is the case of rest of Europe, summer here is the best season.

Spring (March to May):

Spring in Central Europe is not very different from that in the Western part, except for the isolated Alps or the dense Black Forest region where the trees become thicker after melting snow. The average temperature here during spring is around 18°C, and it is a good time to visit.

Summer (June to September):

The summers are mild and not very warm in central Europe, with Germany seeing warmer clime than Austria or Switzerland. This is the high season and hence a very expensive time to visit this region. There are many festivals also celebrated, including the Bohemian delights of the Austrian countryside. Switzerland is the best between June and September for hiking, sightseeing and romance.

Autumn (October to November):

The highlight of autumn in the region is Oktoberfest celebrated with great pomp in Germany. It is one of the largest beer fests where the Slavic and German culture is displayed in all its glory. Some rain might be expected in autumn here, while the red and golds of trees take your breath away. 

Winter (December to February):

Winter in Central Europe is a cold, bleak time, except the Christmas month when everything is prettier than one could imagine. Austria’s Vienna features in the top places of the world to enjoy Christmas night markets, and Germany also is strung up with fairy lights and Christmas carols. New Years in Switzerland are beautiful, especially in the skiing resorts.

One of the most exotic portions of European landscape is its Southern part. With some exceptionally beautiful countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Andorra and Greece, Southern Europe is a tourism paradise. Here, spring to autumn makes for a great time to visit. 

Spring (March to May):

The Mediterranean and Aegean seas influence the weather of southern Europe and hence spring is warm and pleasant with some of the most clear aqua-coloured waters to keep company. The coastal areas of Italy, Spain, Greece etc become coveted, as do the islands off their shores.

Summer (June to September):

June to September makes for the most crowded time in all these countries, what with a streaming happy sun, locals out and about to indulge in their homeland’s fun and tourists dime a dozen. The beaches and shores are overwhelming with their beauty, and fishing is a coveted sport. Swimming is just as much fun, along with boating and gondola rides (in Italy). There are great opportunities to eat and shop by the shores too.

Autumn (October to November):

Autumns in Southern Europe are shorter and not very intense. They do see the departure of tourists with the temperatures dropping; but because of that very reason it is a cheap time to explore. Many harvest festivals abound in the smaller villages and towns of Italy, Sicily, Naples, Spain and Andorra. While Greece becomes extensively quiet as locals return to their jobs.

Winter (December to February):

Winters in Southern Europe are chilling, but not as bitter as the north or west or even east. Because of the maritime influence, most coastal areas are mildly pleasant even through the thick of winter. Ski resorts in the alps of Italy are a great haunt, and you will also find enjoyment in the heart of Spain and Greece during Christmas.

Eastern Europe is the landscape of this continent that seamlessly goes and merges into the Eurasian land, that transitions to Asia. From Hungary to Russia, this part sees mild summers but chilling winters, with not much brightness in spring. Some other countries are Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine and Slovakia.

Spring (March to May):

Even though the arrival of spring raises the temperatures to around 20°C highs and the fog of winter gets partly cleared, its is still not as bright and sunny as elsewhere in Europe. Countries like Hungary and Czech Republic might see a good spring but Russia, Poland etc are still quite frozen.

Summer (June to August):

Summers are happy almost everywhere in Eastern Europe, even Russia and Ukraine’s uppermost reaches see sunny warm days. Hungary and Czech Republic are the best during summer too, opening their arms to tourism. This also makes it quite expensive to travel here.

Autumn (September to November):

Autumn is actually a good time to visit this region, mostly because the temperatures are still quite warm and everything is in the momentum of summer high, while European tourists leave to resume work back home.

Winter (December to February):

Winter in some of the Russian territory is unbearable, including St Petersburg. Otherwise some places in Hungary and Czech Republic are bearable, while the Alps and Balkan mountains are completely covered in snow. Ski resorts are the norm here and Hungary is best visited during Christmas in winter.