📊 Research StudyDecember 2025•96 destinations analyzed
Shoulder Season Index2025
We analyzed 30 years of historical weather data to identify when European destinations offer the best combination of pleasant weather, fewer crowds, and optimal travel conditions.
🏆
Top Destinations
Las Palmas & Mykonos
Score: 88.5 / 100
📅
Best Month Overall
May & October
Peak shoulder season months
👥
Average Crowd Reduction
-35%
vs. peak summer months
💡 Why Shoulder Season?
Shoulder season, the weeks between peak tourist season and off-season, offers a sweet spot for travelers. You get warm weather, fewer crowds, and often better prices.
But when exactly is shoulder season for each destination? It varies widely. That's why we analyzed 30 years of data to find the optimal windows for 96 European destinations.
🌸
Spring Shoulder: April–May
Ideal for Mediterranean coast, blooming gardens
🍂
Fall Shoulder: September–October
Warmest seas, wine harvest, golden light
🏆 Top 10 Shoulder Season Destinations
These destinations scored highest for optimal shoulder season travel based on our weighted analysis of temperature, precipitation, tourist crowds, and sunshine hours.
1
Las Palmas
Spain🌡️ 21.8°C🌧️ 0%🌸 Spring
88.5
2
Mykonos
Greece🌡️ 21.5°C🌧️ 8.1%🍂 Fall
88.5
3
Gran Canaria
Spain🌡️ 19.7°C🌧️ 10.2%🌸 Spring
87
4
Santorini
Greece🌡️ 18°C🌧️ 5.6%🌸 Spring
86.9
5
Lanzarote
Spain🌡️ 20°C🌧️ 4.3%🌸 Spring
86.8
6
Ibiza
Spain🌡️ 19.6°C🌧️ 11.5%🌸 Spring
86.5
7
Bodrum
Turkey🌡️ 19.2°C🌧️ 14.5%🌸 Spring
86.2
8
Nafplio
Greece🌡️ 20.8°C🌧️ 11.6%🌸 Spring
85.8
9
Lisbon
Portugal🌡️ 21.8°C🌧️ 10.4%🌸 Spring
84.5
10
Athens
Greece🌡️ 20.2°C🌧️ 11.4%🌸 Spring
84.3
🌸 Spring vs 🍂 Fall
Which shoulder season is better? It depends on the destination. Here's how they compare.
🌸
Spring Season
April – May
Best for:
Blooming gardensEaster festivalsWarming seas
Top Spring Destinations:
🍂
Fall Season
September – October
Best for:
Warm sea tempsWine harvestGolden light
Top Fall Destinations:
📐 How We Scored Destinations
Our shoulder season score is a weighted combination of four key factors that determine ideal travel conditions.
🌡️
Temperature
40 pts
18-26°C ideal range
🌧️
Rain Chance
25 pts
<15% is excellent
👥
Tourist Crowds
20 pts
Based on flight data
☀️
Sunshine
15 pts
6+ hours daily ideal
Data Sources
✓Open-Meteo Archive API (1995-2024)
✓AeroDataBox flight seasonality data
✓Marine temperature data for coastal cities
✓Daily observations for 30 years
📋 Complete Rankings
All 96 European destinations ranked by shoulder season score. Click any destination for detailed day-by-day weather insights.
| Rank | Destination | Score | Best Month | Temp | Rain | Crowd ∆ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Las PalmasSpain | 88.5 | 🌸 Spring | 21.8°C | 0% | −37.5% |
| 2 | MykonosGreece | 88.5 | 🍂 Fall | 21.5°C | 8.1% | −35.5% |
| 3 | Gran CanariaSpain | 87 | 🌸 Spring | 19.7°C | 10.2% | −23% |
| 4 | SantoriniGreece | 86.9 | 🌸 Spring | 18°C | 5.6% | −26.5% |
| 5 | LanzaroteSpain | 86.8 | 🌸 Spring | 20°C | 4.3% | −33.5% |
| 6 | IbizaSpain | 86.5 | 🌸 Spring | 19.6°C | 11.5% | −36.5% |
| 7 | BodrumTurkey | 86.2 | 🌸 Spring | 19.2°C | 14.5% | −27.5% |
| 8 | NafplioGreece | 85.8 | 🌸 Spring | 20.8°C | 11.6% | −32.5% |
| 9 | LisbonPortugal | 84.5 | 🌸 Spring | 21.8°C | 10.4% | −35.5% |
| 10 | AthensGreece | 84.3 | 🌸 Spring | 20.2°C | 11.4% | −24% |
| 11 | ParosGreece | 84.3 | 🌸 Spring | 21.6°C | 4.1% | −25.5% |
| 12 | Palma de MallorcaSpain | 84.2 | 🌸 Spring | 19.5°C | 13.5% | −22.5% |
| 13 | MadridSpain | 82.8 | 🌸 Spring | 23.3°C | 12% | −39.5% |
| 14 | CagliariItaly | 81.9 | 🌸 Spring | 22.9°C | 14.2% | −25% |
| 15 | RhodesGreece | 81.3 | 🌸 Spring | 21.4°C | 6.2% | −27.5% |
| 16 | FaroPortugal | 80.9 | 🌸 Spring | 19.3°C | 14.8% | −12% |
| 17 | ValenciaSpain | 80.8 | 🌸 Spring | 20.5°C | 13.1% | −7% |
| 18 | MalagaSpain | 80.3 | 🌸 Spring | 20°C | 14.8% | −14% |
| 19 | FunchalPortugal | 80.1 | 🌸 Spring | 19.5°C | 15.3% | −8.5% |
| 20 | DubrovnikCroatia | 79 | 🍂 Fall | 24.5°C | 22.2% | −32.5% |
| 21 | SplitCroatia | 78.5 | 🌸 Spring | 22°C | 23.7% | −34% |
| 22 | SkopjeNorth Macedonia | 78.3 | 🌸 Spring | 23.3°C | 19.4% | −4% |
| 23 | CórdobaSpain | 78 | 🌸 Spring | 22.1°C | 17.6% | 0% |
| 24 | NiceFrance | 78 | 🍂 Fall | 20.4°C | 20.5% | +4% |
| 25 | BarcelonaSpain | 77.9 | 🌸 Spring | 20.9°C | 16.2% | −19.5% |
| 26 | AntalyaTurkey | 76.8 | 🌸 Spring | 25.9°C | 13.7% | −19.5% |
| 27 | YerevanArmenia | 76.8 | 🍂 Fall | 19.3°C | 10.2% | −9% |
| 28 | IstanbulTurkey | 76.2 | 🌸 Spring | 21°C | 16.5% | −18% |
| 29 | ThessalonikiGreece | 76.2 | 🍂 Fall | 20.8°C | 14.7% | −11% |
| 30 | BudvaMontenegro | 76.1 | 🌸 Spring | 22°C | 31.2% | −29.5% |
| 31 | NaplesItaly | 76 | 🌸 Spring | 18°C | 24.2% | −4.5% |
| 32 | VallettaMalta | 75.8 | 🌸 Spring | 21.4°C | 3.8% | −4% |
| 33 | CappadociaTurkey | 75.2 | 🍂 Fall | 20°C | 7.2% | −5% |
| 34 | SarandëAlbania | 74.8 | 🌸 Spring | 18.9°C | 22.4% | −7% |
| 35 | ParisFrance | 74.5 | 🍂 Fall | 21.2°C | 21.2% | −0.5% |
| 36 | AntwerpBelgium | 74.4 | 🌸 Spring | 18.2°C | 27.6% | −36.5% |
| 37 | MateraItaly | 74.4 | 🍂 Fall | 21.3°C | 15.9% | −10.5% |
| 38 | PodgoricaMontenegro | 73.6 | 🍂 Fall | 25.7°C | 21.9% | −13.5% |
| 39 | Ponta DelgadaPortugal | 73.2 | 🌸 Spring | 18.6°C | 28.1% | +4% |
| 40 | MarseilleFrance | 73.2 | 🌸 Spring | 20.8°C | 15.3% | +2.5% |
| 41 | Reggio CalabriaItaly | 73.2 | 🍂 Fall | 23°C | 24.4% | 0% |
| 42 | BratislavaSlovakia | 72.7 | 🍂 Fall | 21.1°C | 21.5% | −10% |
| 43 | BolognaItaly | 72.6 | 🌸 Spring | 18.2°C | 24.7% | +2.5% |
| 44 | TiranaAlbania | 72.3 | 🍂 Fall | 21.6°C | 23.5% | −7% |
| 45 | ViennaAustria | 72.2 | 🌸 Spring | 20.1°C | 26.8% | −30% |
| 46 | BatumiGeorgia | 71.7 | 🌸 Spring | 20.6°C | 34.2% | −38% |
| 47 | FlorenceItaly | 71.7 | 🍂 Fall | 25.5°C | 22.9% | −2.5% |
| 48 | CreteGreece | 71.5 | 🍂 Fall | 20.3°C | 9.6% | −16.5% |
| 49 | RomeItaly | 71.3 | 🌸 Spring | 23.2°C | 21% | −1% |
| 50 | GhentBelgium | 71 | 🌸 Spring | 18°C | 26.5% | −16.5% |
| 51 | KotorMontenegro | 71 | 🍂 Fall | 25.1°C | 26.9% | −18.5% |
| 52 | PositanoItaly | 71 | 🌸 Spring | 20.7°C | 20.5% | −4.5% |
| 53 | SorrentoItaly | 71 | 🌸 Spring | 20.9°C | 20.5% | −4.5% |
| 54 | BudapestHungary | 70.7 | 🌸 Spring | 21.4°C | 25.3% | −10% |
| 55 | PortoPortugal | 70.7 | 🌸 Spring | 20°C | 24.6% | −4.5% |
| 56 | InnsbruckAustria | 70.4 | 🍂 Fall | 20.5°C | 40.3% | −4.5% |
| 57 | BaselSwitzerland | 70.2 | 🌸 Spring | 19°C | 39.5% | −33.5% |
| 58 | SevilleSpain | 70 | 🌸 Spring | 23°C | 16.7% | +9% |
| 59 | LyonFrance | 69.7 | 🌸 Spring | 20.5°C | 28.2% | −20% |
| 60 | VeniceItaly | 69.6 | 🍂 Fall | 23.6°C | 24.3% | +6.5% |
| 61 | TbilisiGeorgia | 69.5 | 🌸 Spring | 20.8°C | 34.6% | −20.5% |
| 62 | BilbaoSpain | 69.3 | 🌸 Spring | 18.9°C | 32.3% | −18% |
| 63 | RiomaggioreItaly | 69.2 | 🍂 Fall | 23.6°C | 27.7% | −14.5% |
| 64 | PiranSlovenia | 69.2 | 🌸 Spring | 20.2°C | 29.5% | −8% |
| 65 | BrugesBelgium | 69 | 🍂 Fall | 19.3°C | 25.5% | −16.5% |
| 66 | BordeauxFrance | 67.7 | 🍂 Fall | 24.1°C | 23.1% | +11% |
| 67 | TenerifeSpain | 67.5 | 🍂 Fall | 17.4°C | 9.8% | −12.5% |
| 68 | LjubljanaSlovenia | 67.2 | 🌸 Spring | 19.5°C | 32.8% | −8% |
| 69 | SofiaBulgaria | 67 | 🍂 Fall | 22.9°C | 15.6% | +7% |
| 70 | PragueCzech Republic | 66.5 | 🌸 Spring | 19.3°C | 25.7% | −11% |
| 71 | LondonUnited Kingdom | 66 | 🌸 Spring | 17.3°C | 21.8% | −37% |
| 72 | BrusselsBelgium | 65.8 | 🌸 Spring | 18.3°C | 27.1% | −19% |
| 73 | BerlinGermany | 65.7 | 🍂 Fall | 19.9°C | 18.8% | −41% |
| 74 | KrakowPoland | 65.5 | 🍂 Fall | 19.3°C | 26.5% | +15.5% |
| 75 | StuttgartGermany | 64.9 | 🌸 Spring | 18.9°C | 32% | −1.5% |
| 76 | RotterdamNetherlands | 64.5 | 🍂 Fall | 19.2°C | 27.2% | −10% |
| 77 | InterlakenSwitzerland | 63.4 | 🍂 Fall | 19.2°C | 34.5% | −23% |
| 78 | ZurichSwitzerland | 62.6 | 🍂 Fall | 19.6°C | 31.3% | −46% |
| 79 | SalzburgAustria | 62 | 🍂 Fall | 19.5°C | 41.3% | −8% |
| 80 | RigaLatvia | 60.5 | 🌸 Spring | 16.4°C | 22.2% | −10% |
| 81 | WarsawPoland | 58.6 | 🍂 Fall | 19.1°C | 20.3% | +5% |
| 82 | AmsterdamNetherlands | 58.2 | 🌸 Spring | 16.8°C | 26.3% | +2.5% |
| 83 | DüsseldorfGermany | 58.2 | 🌸 Spring | 18.6°C | 26.9% | −0.5% |
| 84 | CopenhagenDenmark | 55 | 🍂 Fall | 17.2°C | 19.3% | −8.5% |
| 85 | HamburgGermany | 55 | 🍂 Fall | 19.1°C | 21.9% | −5% |
| 86 | MunichGermany | 53.5 | 🍂 Fall | 18.8°C | 31.5% | +6% |
| 87 | StockholmSweden | 52.2 | 🍂 Fall | 16.2°C | 18.9% | +8.5% |
| 88 | OsloNorway | 50.3 | 🌸 Spring | 15.9°C | 24.9% | −9% |
| 89 | DublinIreland | 49.5 | 🌸 Spring | 15.2°C | 25.6% | +18% |
| 90 | KillarneyIreland | 49.4 | 🍂 Fall | 16.8°C | 32% | +0.5% |
| 91 | TartuEstonia | 47.2 | 🌸 Spring | 15.7°C | 22.5% | +25% |
| 92 | EdinburghUnited Kingdom | 46.9 | 🍂 Fall | 15.6°C | 28.3% | +17.5% |
| 93 | TallinnEstonia | 46 | 🍂 Fall | 16°C | 24.5% | +11% |
| 94 | HelsinkiFinland | 45.6 | 🌸 Spring | 11.8°C | 17.6% | +4.5% |
| 95 | ReykjavikIceland | 36.5 | 🍂 Fall | 10.7°C | 46.3% | −46.5% |
| 96 | BergenNorway | 31.1 | 🌸 Spring | 13°C | 35.3% | +14.5% |
📝 Cite This Research
Journalists, bloggers, and researchers are welcome to cite this study with attribution.
30YearWeather. (2025). Shoulder Season Index 2025: Best Time to Visit 96 European Destinations. Retrieved from https://30yearweather.com/research/shoulder-season-index-2025
Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Share and adapt with attribution.
Plan Your Shoulder Season Trip
Explore day-by-day weather insights for any destination in this study.