Lavender fields in Provence
European Holiday Planning
Climate
The temperatures in Europe are pleasant between end of April and end of June and then again from end of August to the beginning of October. July and most of August can be pretty hot in Italy and Spain. For our river cruises Europe we suggest you travel any time between April and October. If you want to experience snow during your Europe holiday then your best chances are from mid December to early March in the European Alps.
European School Holidays
The European summer holidays are mostly in July and August. If possible do not travel during those 2 months as everything – roads, trains, hotels, historic sights and beaches are terribly crowded.
Concerts
Treat yourself to a concert while on holidays in Europe.
Have a special White Christmas holiday with a Christmas concert by the 'King of Waltz', André Rieu , listen to heavenly music under the stars in the Roman Amphitheatre in Verona or book tickets to a concert by Andrea Boccelli while in Italy.
Carnivals
Get carried away by the music and vibrance of the Notting Hill Carnival that is held in London on Bank holiday in August. Miles of colourful costumes and hundreds of Caribbean food stalls. Watch the Gay Pride parade in Paris in late June or the Mardi Gras carnival on Shrove Tuesday in Nice.
The most spectacular carneval with magnificent traditional costumes takes place in Venice during the 10 days before Ash Wednesday.
ANZAC Day in France
Visit the battlefields of the Somme and participate in the moving ANZAC day dawn service in Villers Bretonneux during one of our European tours.
Extend your Europe tour by 2 or 4 days. The 4-day extension includes a visit to the Fromelles on the day prior to ANZAC day and a ceremony at Bullecourt and The Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate in Ypres. On the following day visit the battlefields of Messines, Ploegsteert Wood, Passchendaele, Tyne Cot and Plygon Wood. Read more.....
Blooms and Gardens in Europe
Co-incide your holiday in Europe with a visit to the magnificent garden displays at the Chelsea Flower Show each May in London. See the tulip fields of Holland in April and May. Experience ‘Almrausch’ – alpine meadows covered in pink and red in an iridescent sea of colour in June or the Narzissus festival of Bad Aussee in Austria and the lavender fields of Provence that are in bloom from mid June to mid August.
Festivals
Film festivals Cannes Film Festival Mid May. Venice International Film Festival. End August to Mid September. Cinque Terre Festival of St. Giuseppe. Mid March. Big folk fair. 'Palio del Golfo', sea festival. First Sunday in August. Canoe race, folk parade, fireworks. Venice Festa del Redentor. 3rd weekend in July. Fireworks and procession. Florence The Feast of John the Baptist, Mid June. And 'Calcio Storico' – football played in 16th century costumes ending with firework display. June. Rome Festa di San Giovanni. Dancing and eating in the streets. Mid/End June. Rome Spring festival. The Spanish Steps are a sea of flowers. April. Austrian Alps Harvest festival. End August. Food, Music, celebrations and festivities, traditional folk costumes.
National and Religious Celebrations
London The Queen’s birthday parade - Trooping of the colours. Spectacular pageantry. Mid June.
Paris Bastille Day. 14th of July. Military procession, fireworks at the Eiffel Tower, fly-past along the Champs-Elysees.
Rome Procession of the cross between the Colosseum and the Palatino. Good Friday. The Pope’s blessing in the Piazza San Pietro on Easter Sunday.
Quirky Markets
During your European tour browse lively stalls to find vintage and designer clothes, asseccories, art and collectables while sampling regional delicacies. London markets at Peticoat lane, Portobello Road and Greenwich.
Paris has the famous 'Marche Bastille'. The best of Paris’ many open air markets. Every Tuesday and Sunday 7am – 2pm. (Metro station Bastille) Paris Flea Market 'Marche aux Puces de Montreuil' (Metro station Porte de Montreuil). 500 stalls selling quality second-hand designer clothes and accessories. Como hosts an antique market in the centre of the city every last Saturday of the month.
Music Festivals
Paris Fete de la Musique. 21st of June. Jazz, reggae etc all over the city to welcome summer. Jazz a La Villette. 10 day Jazz festival. Early September.
Prague Spring festival: Mid-May to early June. Classical music. World music festival. Mid-June. Jazz festival. Late October.
Salzburg Easter and Summer festival. Easter and end July to end August. Famous international performers. Classical music to Jazz.
Party - Party - Party
Paris New Year Day parade.
Vienna New Years Eve party in the historic heart of the city in front of the Cathedral.
Munich Octoberfest. Mid September to early October. (ends on the first Sunday in October and starts 15 days prior to that.)
European Sports Events
France Tour de France. Finishing on the Champs Elysees in Paris at the end of July.
Monaco Grand Prix Formula One race. End May.
London Wimbledon. End June early July. Olympic games. End July to Mid August.
Other Important Dates
Paris
Versailles Palace. Closed on Mondays. Spectacular fountain displays on Saturdays and Sunday only from early May to late September.
Rome
Papal audience (Wednesdays).
Most museums closed on Mondays.
Salzburg
Eisriesenwelt (World of the ice giants), the world’s largest accessible ice caves in Werfen near Salzburg: June to 26th September.
Vienna
Vienna Boys Choir: Every Sunday (except July/August) at 9:15am in the Chapel of the Hofburg. For reservations, write to ‘Verwaltung der Hofmusikkapelle, Hofburg, A-1010 Vienna’. Or just show up on the day for free standing room only tickets
Spanish Hofreitschule. (Spanish Riding School) Usually April – October and December at 11am. Book online months in advance.
Munich
Nearby King Ludwig’s fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein closed on public holidays.