Any clever traveller will tell you that the best time to visit a popular destination is during the off-season, when the prices have gone down and the crowds have thinned out, but the weather remains pleasant.
Best of all, locals tend to be far more welcoming of tourists during the low season, allowing for a more personal and authentic travel experience.
With that in mind, here are some places you should visit off-season.
Bangkok, Thailand
There’s really no off-season in Bangkok, which welcomed nearly 22 million visitors in 2018, making it the most-visited city in the world. But November and December are slightly less busy, and by then the wet season is over.
Istanbul, Turkey
According to travel and hotel expert Santorini Dave, the best time of year to explore Istanbul is spring or fall, when the temperature is a pleasant 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit). However, autumn is best for those looking to avoid the large crowds in Turkey’s most-visited city. It also gives you a chance to see the leaves change colour in the beautiful Belgrad Forest.
Rome, Italy
Rome receives upwards of 10 million visitors per year, which means it can get a little crowded when you’re trying to visit the Vatican Museums or the Colosseum.
That’s why it’s recommended that you visit during the off-season (January to February and September to December). Not only will the crowds be smaller, but the conditions will also be less humid.
Las Vegas, Nevada
As TripSavvy notes, the perfect time to visit Sin City is in April—after convention season, the Super Bowl, and March Madness, but before summer’s sweltering heat and swarms of people. Average temperatures in April are a comfortable 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit), ideal for sitting out by the pool or walking the Strip.
New Orleans, Louisiana
Mardi Gras falls on February 25 in 2020, but celebrations begin as early as January. The average attendance for the event in New Orleans is roughly 1.4 million. To beat the crowds (and the heat), you may want to consider visiting in December or early January.
Mykonos, Greece
The Greek Islands—and Mykonos in particular—become heavily crowded, and exceedingly expensive, in the summer months, which is why you’re best off visiting the popular tourist destination in the spring. It will still be warm enough to enjoy the beaches, but you’ll also be able to experience Greek culture, including some of the best food in the world, without having to take out a second mortgage.
