YOUR TRAVEL CALENDAR
To find the best time for your off-season trip, use this guide to see which global regions are in their “Deep Off-Season” or “Shoulder Season” each month. This overview provides general trends, but check our detailed monthly guides for specific country recommendations and precise planning.
Find Your Perfect Off-Season Adventure!
Global Seasonality at a Glance: Where to Travel When
January
Deep Off-Season: Northern Hemisphere temperate zones (Europe, N. USA/Canada, N. China) experience harsh winter. Southern Hemisphere tropics (Amazon, N. Australia) face peak rainy season. Travel during this time suits budget travelers or winter sports enthusiasts.
Sweet Spot: Limited. Post-New Year, some Northern Hemisphere tropics (Caribbean, SE Asia, Middle East) offer pleasant weather with fewer crowds. Southern Hemisphere summer spots (Australia, NZ, S. South America) also see a post-holiday dip, providing great weather. Arctic regions are ideal for aurora viewing.
February
Deep Off-Season: Continues in Western Europe, most of North America, and East Asia (still very cold).
Shoulder Season: Similar to January, with some Southeast Asian destinations solidifying into their shoulder period. Southern Mediterranean regions can be quite pleasant before the spring crowds.
March
Deep Off-Season: Northern Europe (still cold), Canada, parts of the US (winter’s end).
Shoulder Season: Southern Europe (spring bloom, before summer heat), North Africa, parts of South America (autumn in the southern hemisphere), parts of Southeast Asia (transitioning towards hot season).
April
Deep Off-Season: Northern Europe (still cool), inland regions of North America (pre-summer thaw), parts of the Middle East (before extreme summer heat).
Shoulder Season: Most of Europe (spring is in full swing, pleasant weather), Japan (cherry blossom shoulder for non-peak viewing), parts of Southeast Asia (before intense heat/rain).
May
Deep Off-Season: Southern Europe (some regions beginning to get hot for non-beach activities), parts of the Middle East (heat builds), tropical regions entering rainy season.
Shoulder Season: Northern and Central Europe (beautiful spring weather), North America (pre-summer tourism surge), parts of East Asia (pleasant before summer humidity).
June
Deep Off-Season: Much of Southeast Asia and India (monsoon season), parts of the Caribbean (start of hurricane season, but usually quiet early on), some Middle Eastern regions (extreme heat).
Shoulder Season: Northern Europe (early summer, before main crowds), Canada (early summer), parts of South America (winter in the southern hemisphere, can be shoulder for certain regions).
July
Deep Off-Season: Most of Southeast Asia, India, and parts of the Caribbean (mid-monsoon/hurricane season), Middle East (peak summer heat).
Shoulder Season: Southern Africa (dry winter, excellent for wildlife, but cooler nights), parts of South America (winter, but can be shoulder for cultural exploration), Northern Europe (can still offer shoulder experiences before peak holiday influx).
August
Deep Off-Season: Continues in Southeast Asia, India, and parts of the Caribbean. Southern Europe (can be off-peak for cities due to extreme heat/local holidays).
Shoulder Season: Southern Africa (still dry winter), parts of South America, some Mediterranean islands (towards end of summer, slightly fewer crowds).
September
Deep Off-Season: Parts of the Caribbean (peak hurricane season), some tropical regions.
Shoulder Season: Most of Europe (pleasant autumn, post-summer crowds), North America (fall foliage season, great for non-peak cities), parts of South America (spring in the southern hemisphere).
October
Deep Off-Season: Northern Europe (colder, darker), parts of North America (winter approaches), certain island nations after their peak season.
Shoulder Season: Southern Europe (mild autumn), North Africa (pleasant before winter chill), parts of East Asia (beautiful autumn colors, post-summer), parts of South America.
November
Deep Off-Season: Most of Europe, North America (post-fall, pre-holiday lull), parts of East Asia (colder).
Shoulder Season: Southern Europe (milder winter), North Africa (pleasant, less crowded), Southeast Asia (transitioning from monsoon to dry season), parts of South America (early summer).
December
Deep Off-Season: Northern and Central Europe (cold, snowy, but excluding Christmas market hubs), parts of North America, East Asia (deep winter), some parts of Southeast Asia (monsoon still lingering in some regions).
Shoulder Season: Southern Europe (milder winter, pre-Christmas lull), parts of the Caribbean and Central America (early dry season, before peak holiday rush), parts of South America (early summer).