Your travel calendar
Know when you're going, but not where? Use our travel calendar to find where to go (and where to avoid) at certain times of the year.
January to June
January:
- Visit Andorra: Soldeu offers some of the best skiing in the principality, with a host of budget accommodation options available. And because it shares its ski area with neighbouring Pas de la Casa you get a choice of 58 lifts.
Attend the Kiruna Snow Festival, Sweden: Embrace the cold with reindeer and dog-sled racing while marvelling at the spectacular ice sculptures.
Avoid Peru: The wet season means a ceasing of Inca trail treks, done to protect the paths.
February:
- Visit Cape Town: Africa’s southern-most city has an average temperature of 27°C this time of year.
- Attend Carnival in Venice: The quintessential Venetian experience sees colourful and funny costumes abounding in St Mark's Square. Buy a mask and rent a costume to attend a palazzo ball.
- Avoid Fiji: The heart of the wet season means cyclones and flooding rains are a constant threat.
March:
- Visit Morocco: Escape the SADS and get some sun while the weather is still pleasant and the landscape, green.
- Attend Las Fallas de Valencia: This five-day carnival in Spain culminates in a fiery final night when the city lights are turned off, huge papier-mâché statues are torched and fireworks explode around the city.
- Avoid continental Europe: As the snow is replaced by icy wind and rain, Europe starts losing its winter-wonderland feel.
April:
- Visit Vietnam: Tourist numbers are down during this part of the year despite the weather’s wonderful balancing act: the dry season is down south and mild weather up north.
- Attend the Pentecost Land Dive, Vanuatu: Known as Naghol, this important ceremony sees men and boys jump from a high wooden tower bungy-jump-style, but with non-stretch ropes.
- Avoid Cancún: The Mexican resort town is one of the prime targets for loud, drunken university students during Spring Break. Need we say more?
May:
Visit Italy: Now is the time to explore the iconic cities or laze about the coasts of the Cinque Terre or Adelphi. The weather is warm and towns are geared up for the tourists without being crowded.
- Attend the Prague Spring International Music Festival: One of Europe's best music events is set against the wonderful backdrop of the Czech capital’s medieval city centre.
- Avoid India: Unless you enjoy monsoons, it’s better to wait until September to visit.
June:
- Visit Peru: The climb to Macchu Pichu is one of the best hikes imaginable. June’s low humidity means you won’t sweat half your body weight getting up there.
- Attend Royal Ascot: What you save on air fares you can spend on a decent hat and top-notch Champagne.
- Avoid Dubai: This is when families of expat workers in the UAE mega-city return home to escape the 40-plus-degree heat and sauna-like humidity.
July to December
July:
- Visit Norway: Revel in the midnight sun at Knivskjellodden, continental Europe’s northernmost point, or head for the energetic cultural hotspot of Tromsø.
- Attend the Rotterdam North Sea Jazz Festival: One of the largest jazz gatherings in the world sees more than 20,000 visitors per day enjoying loads of big-name acts.
- Avoid Venice: Venetian culture takes a back seat to hordes of tourists, humidity and mosquitoes.
August:
- Visit Edinburgh: Festival time kicks off with the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, after which hundreds of performers from around the world collaborate for three weeks of eclectic music, theatre, opera and dance.
- Attend the Palio of Sienna: The Palio, which sees 10 bareback riders clash in a frenzied 90-second dash around the huge Piazza del Campo, has been an institution in this Italian town since the 14th century.
- Avoid Athens: The exodus of holidaying locals means a reduction in services, including transport and restaurants... and don’t forget the heatwaves.
September:
- Visit Croatia: Avoid the summer tourist crush and get the Adriatic beaches and Roman architecture all to yourself while the weather is still great.
- Attend the Munich Oktoberfest: Drink beer from bucket-sized steins where loud, drunken singing is actually a delight.
- Avoid the Caribbean: Hurricane season means paradise lost.
October:
- Visit Barcelona: The perfect place for a short autumn break: the weather is pleasant and the street cafes are still buzzing, but you won’t have to queue for hours to see the Gaudí sights.
- Attend Halloween in Romania: Enjoy witch trials, folk singers, local wines and of course spooky costumes at Dracula's birthplace: the medieval citadel of Sighisoara, Transylvania.
- Avoid Phuket: As the wet season continues in Thailand it rains frequently, and for long periods.
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