When’s the best time to visit Greece? Travel experts often recommend spring and early fall. This is the shoulder season: the less crowded, more affordable period just before and after the peak demand of summer.

But millions of travelers have taken the experts’ advice. Now, shoulder season in Greece—and many other destinations—feels more like an extension of the high season.

Shoulder season travel used to be a well-kept secret. Why are so many people doing it now?

• Climate change continues to push summer temperatures higher, meaning popular destinations in Europe and elsewhere are seeing many more visitors in spring and early fall. More warm-weather days also result in a longer season at popular beach and resort destinations.

• Demographic shifts mean there are more retired travelers, digital nomads, and travelers without children who have the freedom to travel when they want to.¹

• Increased global travel demand means there are simply more people traveling. The number is expected to increase in years to come, although not as sharply as it did post-pandemic.²

• Marketing efforts to brand the shoulder season as desirable have been successful in many parts of the world. In Costa Rica, tourism promoters have drawn more people to the “green season” (aka rainy reason) May through November. In Napa Valley, they dubbed November-April the “cabernet season.”³

Don’t get discouraged. You can still plan a wonderful shoulder-season trip—we’ll tell you how.

Tips for planning your shoulder season travel

Rethink your definition of shoulder season. Instead of planning your trip around the margins of the high season, think about nudging it toward the edges of the off season instead. This may mean a shift of just a week or two, but it can make a big difference. For instance, in Italy you’ll get fewer crowds in early March or early November, compared to late March or late October.⁴

Embrace the rain. In many countries, the shoulder season falls during the beginning or end of the rainy season. Trudging around in a downpour is no one’s idea of a great vacation… but that’s not necessarily what your experience will be like! Often, the rainy season brings short downpours between intervals of sunshine. Monsoon season can be intense, however, so research weather patterns before you go.

Use online tools to find the ideal time to travel. We like Kayak’s AI-powered “Best Time to Travel” feature. Enter your departure airport, destination and approximate length of trip, and Kayak will recommend when you should travel. Flying  from New York to Seoul? The tool suggests October, when airfares are low, crowds are thin, and the weather is cool but pleasant.

Adapt your trip to what’s possible in shoulder season. Attraction hours may be limited and some activities may not be offered during these times. This can work in your favor: If you love being near the water but you don’t care about sunbathing or swimming, a trip to the beach in shoulder season is perfect for you. In ski towns, you can get great shoulder-season deals if you plan your trip for non-snowy periods.

Locals might be happier to see you… or they might be exhausted. Pushback against overtourism is another reason to embrace shoulder season travel. At a time when fewer people are visiting, you’re more likely to enjoy positive interactions with locals (and fewer shouts of “tourist, go home!”) Just be aware that if you travel just after peak season ends, you might still encounter a lot of tourist fatigue.

Always, always buy travel insurance to cover your risks. Travel insurance is essential for every trip, but it can be especially helpful during shoulder season. Traveling to the Caribbean at the end of hurricane season? Trip cancellation benefits give you peace of mind. Stuck in a tiny mountain town because an early-season blizzard closed the roads? Trip delay benefits can reimburse your eligible extra expenses. Don’t wait until it’s too late: Get a quote for your next trip!

Shoulder season for a few popular destinations

When is shoulder season in Europe? It’s usually considered to be April-May and September-late October. For fewer crowds, aim for earlier spring or later fall.

Iceland’s shoulder season is September-October and March-May. The weather is pleasant, there’s enough daylight to enjoy, and you may be able to catch the northern lights in the fall.

In Australia, shoulder season is March-May and September-November. The high season is December-February, when the weather is hot and beaches packed.⁵

In Japan, unlike other destinations, spring and fall are the high seasons. If you’re okay skipping the peak cherry-blossom and fall foliage seasons, plan your trip for late May to August or late November to December.⁶

Vietnam’s shoulder season varies by region, as the climate in the north is very different from the south. “From April to June and from September to November, the weather is often unsettled but rarely extreme,” Lonely Planet advises. “You may get days of glorious sunshine, but there will also be days of rain, so pack for both dry and wet weather.”⁷

In Botswana and South Africa, the rainy season ends in April and May. The landscape is green, the weather is cooling, and peak safari season hasn’t yet begun.

In the Caribbean, shoulder season is mid-April through May and September through mid-December (excluding holidays and school breaks). This is a good time to snag a deal on a cruise, too.

The shoulder months of May and November are a great time to visit Costa Rica. These are the intervals between the dry and rainy seasons, when the weather’s usually good and demand is lower.

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