One of the most common questions I get is “where can I travel to during [insert month here]?” Honestly, there’s no simple answer as it depends on your travel style, interests, and budget.
Thankfully, the world is now more accessible than ever before, giving us the opportunity to travel to almost anywhere with any travel style and budget. But, with so many options available, it can be hard choosing the best destination for our next trip.
Also, you want to make the most of your trip and not waste your precious limited time abroad wading through the high-season crowds or in your hotel room due to bad weather.
And what about those expensive flights, overbooked hotels, and overpriced meals that come with the peak of the high season? We can avoid those too!
Enter, The Guide On Where To Visit Each Month of the Year
This month by month guide consists of 12 maps that show which destinations are on their high season, shoulder season (the travel period between high and low seasons), and low season.
It also highlights a few destinations that are the top destinations to visit in that specific month, as well as the destinations you should avoid due to bad weather. These are accompanied by a description of the best places that you should consider.
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The data shown here has been compiled from several sources I’ve used plan my own trips, as well as from my own experience traveling to over 131 of these countries in the past seven years. To help make this guide visual and easy to understand, I used the following color codes.
- Dark Teal for the high/peak season
- Teal for shoulder season
- Light Teal (light teal) for low/off-peak season
- Green for the optimal countries to visit this month
- Red for the countries you should avoid this month
Whether it’s a honeymoon, an adventure trip, or a relaxing cultural getaway, this guide will help you narrow down your choices to fit best your trip based on a combination of activities, weather, and specific events.
Feel free to jump to a month of interest using the links below:
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
- What to do now?
January
Where to Go:
January is one of the cheapest months to travel since it is just after the holidays and this is the moment when many travelers are starting to plan their trips for later in the year.
This is one of the best months to watch the northern lights in countries like Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Greenland.
Skiing in the Alps is also a popular trip this month, so expect crowds in Austria and Switzerland. The Caribbean and Central Americaare perfect this time of the year with warm weather and not much rain. Great beach time!
Puerto Escondido in Mexico has managed to stay off most tourists’ radars for years, yet its slowly coming to the spotlight.
All kinds of activities like scuba diving, horseback riding, and spotting wildlife like dolphins, sea turtles, and whales can be done this time of the year. And of course, you can relax at the beach too.
Speaking of beaches, Southeast Asian countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Philippines, Singaporeand Malaysia are also excellent options. Great dry and sunny weather for the beach or any outdoor activity.
South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, on the other hand, are on the summer months and quite warm. This is a great time to visit, but be aware that the Australia outback can get really hot.
If you’re looking to hike, Patagonia in Chile and Argentina is at the peak of its high season as the weather is at its warmest and driest, so if you’re a hiker, this is the time to go. Ethiopia is also in its cool, dry season, which is excellent if you’re looking to visit the Omo Valley tribes.
In Bolivia, on the other hand, the country is in its rainy season, but this is a good time to visit the Salar de Uyuni – the largest salt flats in the world.
It is during this time when a thin layer of water creates the surreal optical illusion of a giant mirror reflecting the sky on the ground.
Even though it is in the middle of its rainy season, Hawaii is a popular destination in January – especially if you’re a surfer. You might experience some rain, but the weather is still good enough to go to the beach and go whale watching (as this is the peak of Hawaii’s humpback season).
Surprisingly this is Hawaii’s high season, so expect crowds. If sunny days are more important to you, then go there during the dry season, from April to October.
If you’re interested in visiting the 7th continent, Antarctica is now on its prime time as this is their summer, so “warm” and clear days make the voyage much more comfortable. Since this trip is only done on a cruise, I recommend checking these cruise options here.
Where to Avoid:
It is winter in the northern hemisphere, so countries in higher latitudes are best avoided due to their cold, wintry weather. That is unless, you are hoping to see the northern lights or skiing, as mentioned previously.
Also to be avoided are Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Polynesia as it’s the rainy season. The islands east of Africa like Madagascar, Reunion, Seychelles, and Mauritius, among others, are also to be avoided due to potential cyclonic activity.
February
Where to Go:
Southeast Asia is still in its peak season, being one of the most popular regions for travelers this month. As much as I try to avoid high seasons, I have to admit this is one of the best months to visit the region.
The northern Scandinavian countries are still optimal to watch the northern lights, as so are France, Switzerland, and Austria for skiing. Be aware that those slopes will be crowded. Alternatively, there is Utah, Vermont, and Colorado in the USA, which are among the most popular states to ski.
Being the city of love, Paris will be beaming for part of the month, especially around St. Valentine’s Day. Be aware that everything will be crowded, more expensive, and still cold.
The Caribbean and Central America continue with their excellent warm weather, and so do Chile and Argentina, for those interested in visiting the vineyards and hiking trails in Patagonia.
February marks the end of the summer season in the southern hemisphere, so don’t miss visiting Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile and hiking the W trail.
Egypt, while a bit chilly at night, is now a great option if you want to visit the ancient ruins in Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, and travel down the Nile River in comfortable weather.
Further down in the African continent, South Africa is also an ideal destination – especially one of its capital cities, Cape Town.
You can enjoy its famous wines and visit some of its popular beaches. Not to be missed is Boulders Beach, where you can get a close-up view of an African penguin colony that lives right at the beach.
While February is not the high season for Italy, many travelers go there this month to see the Carnival in Venice. Another Carnival you shouldn’t miss is Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival in Brazil. Several other countries celebrate carnival this month, including the USA with Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
Another festival worth seeing is the Chinese New Year in none other than China. Alternatively, you can head to Singapore, which has the biggest Chinese New Year celebration outside of China.
Antarctica is still open for business.
Where to Avoid:
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Polynesia are still in their rainy season and the islands east of Africa, like Madagascar, Reunion, and Mauritius are in the middle of their cyclone season.
March
Where to Go:
March is the start of shoulder season for many countries, so it’s a good time to have an affordable trip no matter your travel style. Italy and the other Mediterranean countries are starting to warm up pleasantly, so you’ll be able to enjoy decent weather without the crowds. Egypt still has exquisite weather too.
Southeast Asia is still a good region to visit with good weather, yet with fewer people than in the previous months. India is one of the best countries to visit in March, especially if you want to participate in their colorful Holi Festival.
Mumbai is among the best Indian cities to celebrate it. Not far from India is the Maldives, where you can have ideal tropical temperatures with blue skies almost every day.
The USA is now also welcoming some pleasant weather, especially along its coastal cities like New York City, Boston, San Francisco, and the southern states with are quite warm by now. Cuba is in its dry season as are the surrounding Caribbean islands.
In South America, Colombia is a good option, especially the city of Cartagena with its beautiful beaches, traditional food, and some of the best nightlife in the country. Its good weather makes March perfect to go hang gliding or kitesurfing. You can also have a relaxing day trip to the white sand beaches on Isla Barú.
Patagonia is still doable early in the month, but the weather is starting to deteriorate with high winds in the mountains.
While March is the rainiest month in the Galapagos, the showers are brief, there are fewer people, and you’ll get to the beginning of the mating season for birds. This is a great time to visit the Galapagos on a small budget.
Where to Avoid:
Countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and other East African countries are in their rainy season, so it’s not the optimal time to go if you’re looking to do a safari or go to the Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls. The islands east of Africa are still in their cyclone season, but just coming out of it.
April
Where to Go:
April is a really good month to travel on the northern hemisphere as the ice is finally thawing, the flowers are starting to bloom, and in many places, you are a couple months ahead of the heavy crowds that come in the summertime.
Starting April, the Mediterranean is one of the best places to visit, including islands like Crete, Cyprus, and Malta. The Canary Islands has even more hospitable weather for an April vacation than most destinations in Europe.
In Africa, places like Morocco, Tunisia, and other northern African countries just came out of their rainy season. Further south, nestled between Zambia and Zimbabwe you’ll find Victoria Falls – the largest waterfall in the world.
April marks the start of the dry season, which means the falls will be less intense, but you will have a better chance of seeing the stunning curtain of water falling into the Zambezi River because of less spray. It’s also a great time to go bungee jumping there!
The Middle East and Namibia now have hot and dry weather that is still good for any kind of trip. The USA is now a nice place to explore on a road trip as it’s warm enough yet still off its peak season.
Notable highlights during this month are Japan with its beautiful cherry blossoms and The Netherlands with its colorful Tulips.
Washington D.C. is also a popular destination as hundreds of thousands of tourists flock to the American capital in April to see the world-famous National Cherry Blossom Festival, which celebrates the blooming of the Japanese cherry trees the city received as a gift from Tokyo in 1912.
Taiwan is another lesser-known cherry blossom destination. Head to Yangmingshan National Park to it in all its red, white and pink glory. Additionally, Taiwan’s location near a volcanic system also makes it an ideal vacation spot for hot springs lovers.
The Caribbean is experiencing almost perfect weather, with Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico being among the top choices.
New Zealand, on the other hand, is starting its autumn, which is the perfect time to visit its wine-growing regions and witness the trees and vines change from green to fiery red, orange, yellow, and golden brown.
Where to Avoid:
Southeast Asia should be avoided as it is unbearably hot. East African countries like Tanzania and Kenya are still in their rainy season. South America, in general, is quite humid at this time of the year, but still doable overall.
May
Where to Go:
May is one of the best months to travel as it has summer-like weather in most of the northern hemisphere without the summer crowds.
The UK tends to be sunny and Europe, in general, is now warm and full of outdoor activities. Croatia, while still in its low season, will soon ramp up to become a busy summer destination, so why not go ahead of the crowd?
Notable destinations that are worth visiting, but are still in their shoulder season are Hungary -especially Budapest– and Italy. The Mediterranean and the beaches in Portugal are also excellent choices this month.
Prague in the Czech Republic comes to life during its three-week long Spring Music Festival.
China is one of the highlight countries this month, giving you comfortable weather in almost all of its regions. Nepal and Bhutanoffer excellent weather for hiking, especially if you want to hike to Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal.
Also in Asia, Indonesia is just coming out of its rainy season, so popular destinations like Bali now have good weather, yet are still in their shoulder season.
Another great destination for hiking at this time of the year is Peru, with some of the best weather to visit Cusco and hike the Inca Trailor other trails. The same applies to other countries in the Himalayas, the Alps, and the Andes.
In the USA, the weather is now perfect to visit national parks like Yellowstone before the summer crowds come. Most cities in the US and Canada are now full of activities and breathtaking scenery.
For nature lovers, there’s nothing quite like visiting Sossusvlei in Namibia. This expansive salt and clay pan is among the most surreal and stunning landscapes you’ll find in Africa.
It also counts with the tallest sand dunes in the world. Its red sand dunes and scorched remains of trees make it a favorite among photographers to take some breathtaking shots. I recommend doing any of these camping trips here!
Where to Avoid:
India and Sri Lanka are best to be avoided starting May, as this is just the beginning of the monsoon season, which tends to be pretty harsh there.
Should you want to visit India in May, concentrate on the Himalayan region which sees a lot less rain this time of the year. East Africa is still in its rainy season, but just about to end.
While not necessarily a place to avoid, be aware that the Caribbeanis a bit wet at this time of the year.
Starting now, Egypt and most Middle Eastern countries will experience heat waves.
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