Autumn and early winter is not the most popular time to travel to Europe, but for those who are not burdened by the Institute or the need to drive children to school, this time of year gives the opportunity to relax. The main advantage of travelling during the low tourist season is the lack of crowds. Judge for yourself, the ancient Roman city of Pompeii is a huge Museum under the open sky, with an area of 67 hectares. In high season, from April to October, the day it is visited by 30 thousand tourists in the heat of 30C. In January, Sunny days with a temperature of 18-20C is not uncommon, and visitors average 500 people per day. But there are other, less obvious advantages, for example, theaters and museums keep the most interesting collections and productions in low season, to attract the true connoisseurs of the local audience. Autumn harvest promises abundance to those who are in the journey, an important gastronomic component. But most importantly, the prices of hotels and flights is much lower than usual, so we have compiled for you a selection of the five best destinations to travel in low season.
Istanbul. Flight + hotel 7 nights from 13 369 rubles per person
Low season in Istanbul is from November to February. This is mainly due to the fact that the weather is mostly cloudy, closer to winter, the more often it rains, but we must pay tribute to the sun too Peeps regularly. If how to dress, can be quite a long walk for not less beautiful than in summer, the city, and from the rain to hide in the many museums and one of the largest and most beautiful aquariums in Europe. In November in Istanbul are theatrical and jazz festivals. For lovers of Oriental bazaars “off season” is great time when the famous city market, you can avoid the crowd, and a relaxed stroll between the stalls and bargain successfully, because when there are few buyers, sellers are more willing to deal. And don’t forget the hot tea and steaming kebab in a hundred times tastier after a walk in the fresh autumn air!
Tours by locals in Istanbul
Greece. Flight + hotel for 7 nights in Athens from 17 551 rubles per person
The influence of the tourist season in Greece is very large: many cafes, restaurants and hotels only work from may to October. But those that are open year-round, in low season it’s easy to book the best rooms overlooking the ancient ruins, and restaurants you’ll find the best service and a very sociable waiters who are not too busy with work and will be happy to take a picture of your company for dinner or will reveal local secrets invigorate travelers. Of course, that the deserted are not only cafes, and ancient ruins, so walking on them makes more of an impression. As for the weather, December is the rainiest month, and January is the coldest, but the climate is still very mild and pleasant, due to the high humidity rocky terrain is covered with greenery and is pleasing to the eye bright colors.
Sicily. Flight + hotel 7 nights from 18 543 rubles per person
The Italians call November in Sicily “summer of St. Martin”. Weather at this time is warm and Sunny but not too hot, so you can visit archaeological sites much nicer. In addition, all cruise ships already sailed away, and emptied the museums have cut jobs and close at 15:30, but it only facilitates your travel planning in the morning and cultural program in the evening a walk in the fresh air and dinner at the best table in any restaurant. No queues and very fast service.
Portugal. Flight + hotel for 7 nights in Lisbon from 20 030 rubles per person
Low season starts in Europe almost simultaneously, then as winter creeps in from the North and in November in Portugal is not felt. Cloudy days are less than Sunny, it was hot and still in summer. In the afternoon pleasant to walk lightly through the streets, smelling roasted chestnuts, and if you drive to the coast, you can even sunbathe. But by the evening you need to bundle up in warm sweaters and warm up with a traditional drink: the famous port wine or cherry liqueur Ginjinha, which is especially good if served in edible shot glasses, made of chocolate. Very cool to ride in the autumn of Portugal by car: blushing vineyards alternate with green fields, on which are scattered a huge, almost ripened orange pumpkin, and this beauty slowly rotate blades white wind farms.
Tours by locals in Lisbon
Venice. Flight + hotel 7 nights from 21 838 rubles per person
The influx of tourists in Venice subsides by the end of October, and only resumed in April, not counting a two-week burst at the time of the Venice film festival, which in 2019 will be held from 16 February to 5 March. Of course, life is in full swing in this city all year round, but those short bursts that are formed in the “off season” do not go to any comparison with those in which you need to defend, for example, in June or July. That winter, in January and February it gets really cold — the truth, because the city is literally on water and humid air usually feels colder than the thermometer reading. But if you come during the extreme months of the low season, i.e. in November or March, you can catch nice fresh air and not the hot Sunny days. Private entertainment — the so-called “acqua alta”, i.e. high water. In the colder months, the tides are so strong that the water from the channels fills the squares and streets of the city. Actually the water goes as quickly as it comes, that is, the flood lasts not longer than a couple hours you can safely spend in the cafe, but much more fun is to wear high rubber boots and, as a child, to run through huge puddles.
* Prices on flights and accommodation provided at the time of writing of the text. The cost in material, and the final price may vary.
Text: Irina Krokhaleva