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Best time to visit Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is often overlooked by the popular Western Europe destinations - which can often mean that Eastern Europe is a lot cheaper! Tucan Travel visit the ever intriguing and cultural destinations of Georgia, Poland, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Armenia, Lithuania, Serbia, Romania, Slovakia, Albania, Estonia, Kosovo, Slovenia, Latvia, Montenegro Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Turkey.
Eastern Europe spans a wide area full of hidden gems, cultural treasure troves and diverse landscapes. Generally a lot colder than Western Europe, it is heavily recommended to be prepared when travelling this part of the world! However it’s not just chilly climates and short days - the baltics have beautiful summers, stunning inland lakes and some of the best hiking in the world. Whether you’re looking for stunning medieval architecture in Romania, lazing lakeside in Slovenia or exploring majestic national parks in Poland, Eastern Europe has something for everyone.
On the whole Eastern Europe experiences gorgeously hot summers with some cities like Moscow being prone to intense heat waves. However all of Europe encounter irregular showers, so make sure you pack an umbrella whatever time of year you go! Residents tend to flee the cities in search of cooler climates among the hills during the summer, relaxing by the serene inland lakes or trekking in the mountains. Winter can get very cold in Eastern Europe so it’s not recommended for the faint hearted! Small towns shut down, attractions close early and roads out of the cities close off completely. However, winter can be one of the most beautiful times to visit, you just need to do a little more preparation!
Travelling Seasons
When planning a trip, you will often hear a bit of jargon on travelling times which is split into three distinct seasons.
High Season / Peak Season
High season refers to summer which is from July - August. This is when most Europeans leave their jobs and homes in search of a well-earned break. Most definitely the busiest time of the year, you will experience a huge volume increase in crowds. This in turn increases the prices across the board from hotels to flights to even fees for visiting attractions.
Low season
Low season in Eastern Europe is during the winter. Eastern Europe has a great selection of ski resorts to explore, winter being the preferred time to get out on the slopes. The continent as a whole suffers cold temperatures during winter, which is often accompanied by snow. A great time to visit, however you are often restricted to the main cities as the countrysides shut down completely. If you’re looking for a bargain trip to the capital, low season could be your answer!
Shoulder season
Shoulder season is often the preferred time to visit Eastern Europe. The crowds aren’t as heavy as in high season but not as small as low season. Shoulder season refers to Spring (March - May) and Autumn (September - November). Temperatures are still warm, but not scorching and the prices are reduced, compared to high season.
The four seasons
Spring (March - May) Highs of 14°, lows of 4°
Spring is often the preferred time to visit Eastern Europe. The weather is just beginning to warm, but the heat is not as intense as in summer. Eastern Europe is blessed with a stunning backdrop of sheer mountains almost everywhere you go which are particularly beautiful in Spring, snow still covering the highest of peaks. Flowers start to peek through and wildlife begins to emerge from a long hibernation. It’s a great time to go trekking, especially in the Tatra Trails in Poland, Macedonia and Bulgaria. The crowds are smaller than in summer and the prices are a little less so it’s a great time all round.
As spring is a great time to visit, Tucan Travel offer lots of tours to Eastern Europe around this time. Here are some of our favourites:
Summer (June - August) Highs of 25°, lows of 14°
Summer in Eastern Europe can get very hot! With the Adriatic sea warming up, the pristine beaches such as those in Croatia become heavily crowded. As summer is fairly short in the East compared to the rest of Europe, tourists flock to the coast to get the most out of the short-lived summer sun. Eastern Europe doesn’t get as much tourism as Western Europe, but it is still very busy during summer which can mean dramatic increases in prices. Residents tend to skip town during high season to miss the intense heat and crowds, escaping to the mountains. Eastern Europe has some beautiful inland lakes like those in Slovakia, Slovenia and Montenegro, which are perfect to visit during summer.
Even though it is busier, summer can still be a great time to visit the hidden gems of Eastern Europe. Here are some of our top summer tours.
Autumn (September - November) Highs of 14°, lows of 7°
Autumn is one of the most beautiful times to visit Eastern Europe. A lot of countries such as Latvia, are densely forested and national parks such as The Gauja in Latvia and the Pirin National Park in Bulgaria become particularly charming when the trees and leaves take on a warming autumnal glow. Being shoulder season, the prices tend to be a lot cheaper than in summer and the crowds are significantly smaller. Autumn is a great time of year to go hiking around Lake Bled, Slovenia or the Tatra trails in Poland. The weather begins to cool down from September, especially in the evening so be sure to bring warm clothing.
Winter (December - February)
Highs of 5°, lows of 0°
Winter can be excruciatingly cold in the Balkans, especially if you’re not used to low temperatures. However, if you can stand the chilliness and can come prepared, it is a stunning time of the year to go. Eastern Europe is well-known for its fairytale medieval castles and winter can be one of the best times to see them. Trakai Castle Island in Lithuania is incredible in winter as the lake surrounding the castle complex is often frozen over. The famous Bran Castle in Romania is particularly enchanting this time of year. Cold nights crowding around the open fire listening to stories of Dracula has a certain special something in winter. Winter is also ski season and the perfect time to hit the slopes in Bulgaria, Poland and Macedonia - resorts can get filled quickly, so make sure you book well in advance. Many of the towns outside the capital cities are covered in a blanket of snow. The roads are closed off and the towns completely shut down, so be prepared to stick to the ski resorts or major cities.
Winter in Eastern Europe may not be for the faint hearted but it can be magical as long as you’re prepared! Here’s our pick of the best tours to go on during winter:
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