Why May is the new September when it comes to European holidays
For years, Euro summer has been a big pull for Aussies, as well as other global travellers.
Visiting the historic sites, sipping Aperol and posting photos of it all in the months of June, July, and August became a must-do.
But crowds and heat mean that season has stretched out, and the "peak" seasons are changing.
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Positano on the Amalfi coast in Italy is extremely popular with travellers. Getty
September is so attractive now one expert called the month the "new peak."
It's a little cooler than the height of summer, plus kids in Europe have started to return to school.
But with hoards of people descending that month too, there's another new time travellers are clamouring to travel - May.
"September has steadily become the new peak travel season with growing interest over the last decade, driven by an older, more affluent traveller base avoiding summer heat in Europe, returning expats, and river cruise bookings," Mark Trim, Managing Director of Flat Beds says.
But he says that means prices can be "brutal" well into October as holidaymakers return.
And a knock on effect means May travel to the region was up 20 per cent last year.
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Valencia in Spain is a popular city. Getty
"The trend is continuing as people look for the combination of warm but not hot temperatures and better value airfares," he says.
And May is also stretching out to from April to mid June.
"What used to be a quiet month can spike quickly once word gets out, and May is the clearest current example of that happening in real time," he says.
The comments are just the latest declaration that Euro summer is over.
Last year, travel firm Contiki said it's seeing travellers increasingly book outside of the traditional summer.
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I love the dining culture in Europe - just not how late it goes. Getty
Visiting popular places like the Amalfi Coast Italy as late in the season as October can also save you hundreds.
Going during quieter times could also help contend with a new issue leaving travellers queuing for hours when landing in Europe.
Travel expert Sami Lukis was recently caught up in the new entry system now in place.
The European Union launched a new Entry/Exit System on April 10, 2026, changing the way non-EU citizens enter and exit the 29 countries within the Schengen Area.
9Travel expert Sami Lukis was caught up in the new entry system now in place. Supplied/Sami Lukis
This includes all the Euro Summer hot spots like Italy, France, Greece, Croatia, Portugal and Spain.
Non-EU nationals arriving into a Schengen country should now expect biometric registration of facial imaging and fingerprints at passport control, alongside more detailed questions about their stay.
She was left panicking about catching her flight with around 200 people in the line ahead of her.
Of course shunning Spain, Italy, Greece and Portugal for lesser-visited European nations like Scandinavia is also good move to avoid too many crowds.
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