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Traveling to Europe is a bucket-list dream for many: a land of culture, a rite of passage, and the chance to follow in the footsteps of your ancestors.
Europe boasts some of the world’s greatest cultural attractions, and 6 of the world’s ten most visited countries for 2022 are located in Europe.
Everyone should visit Europe at least once in their life. But despite its many attractions, the summer of 2023 is not the best time to visit Europe.
Here are 5 reasons why you shouldn’t visit Europe this summer:
The crowds
Europe has seen a veritable post-covid travel boom.
Travel that was postponed because of the pandemic has been rearranged, leaving Europe busy and overcrowded.
A new report from CNN has found that the number of Americans traveling to Europe this summer is expected to be 55% higher than last summer.
As a result, the crowds, particularly at the most popular tourist attractions, can be overwhelming.
Many of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations are implementing crowd control measures, often to the detriment of the tourist experience.
Tourists in Portofino, Italy, have been banned from taking selfies, for example, and face a $300 fine if they delay doing so. This is to stop pedestrian traffic jams.
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Anecdotal evidence from local residents in the most popular cities in Italy, Spain and France has suggested that crowd levels are already so high that it is difficult to walk the streets.
The weather
From floods in Italy to droughts in much of Spain, Europe is expecting another summer of extreme weather.
The European Parliament has announced that Europe will face ‘a water war’ as a result of this summer’s droughts.
It can’t be helped that Europe in the summer is hot every year, but the number of 90 degree Fahrenheit (32 degree Celsius) days experienced this year is expected to surpass all historical records.
Even without these extremes, it is very difficult to explore Europe during the heat of summer, especially if you are interested in cultural attractions rather than beaches.
The ruins at Pompeii, for example, are highly exposed and the heat can be prohibitive for exploration. The same happens with the Gaudí Park in Barcelona and the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
You can avoid the crowds and enjoy milder temperatures by traveling to Europe in the spring or fall.
Prices
When demand is high, so are prices.
The average price of a round-trip plane ticket from the US to Western Europe is currently $1,200. That’s $300 more than the average price for the same ticket at this time last year.
Accommodation prices are also higher in Europe this year than ever before.
The average price of a five-star hotel in Spain in May 2023 was 14% higher than the price of a hotel of the same level in May 2022, for example. This is a trend that has been seen across Europe.
In addition, rampant inflation across Europe, much of which can be attributed to the conflict in Ukraine, means that the price of food and drink in European restaurants is also significantly higher than in previous years.
If you’re traveling on a budget, there are more affordable destinations to choose from this summer.
the closures
Much of Europe will simply shut down for the hottest month of summer, meaning visitors won’t see the bustling, vibrant cities at their best.
In many of the largest cities in Spain, France and Italy, shops and businesses will close for the month of August so that their employees, along with their families, can escape the stifling summer heat in the city and head to the mountains or coastal regions instead.
While these closures won’t affect tourist attractions like museums and galleries, they will affect some shops and restaurants.
They also influence the general atmosphere of a city.
If you want to experience the true heart of a European city, you must visit a time when it is populated by locals, not throngs of tourists.
The rest of the world
We live in a wide world, and while Europe may be one of the most popular vacation destinations, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the best, especially during the summer months.
There are plenty of other places you could explore this summer that are probably less crowded and more affordable than a trip to Europe.
For beaches, why not try African countries like South Africa and Kenya? Adventurers should head to the South American countries of Argentina and Chile.
And if you’re looking for unique cultural experiences, then Sri Lanka and North India offer excellent weather and an abundance of temples and other attractions.
traveler alert: Don’t forget travel insurance for your next trip!
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
