At first, the thought of visiting Europe in winter might not sound so enticing: You\u2019ll find chilly temperatures, fewer hours of daylight, and many attractions closed for the season. (You\u2019ll also probably want to buy\u00a0travel insurance\u00a0in case you encounter snow- or ice-related airport delays.) But there are some major advantages to visiting Europe in winter that could make up for these drawbacks.<\/p>\n
The time of year you travel can mean the difference between standing in a two-hour line and having an incredible historical monument nearly to yourself. While many European cities are popular year-round, traveling during the winter<\/a> will help you avoid the worst of the crowds, which can reach truly epic proportions in July and August.<\/p>\n The lower demand for winter flights to Europe means not only a chance of an undersold plane but also lower fares. According to Co-Founder and Chief Flight Expert Scott Keyes of\u00a0Scott\u2019s Cheap Flights<\/a>: \u201cThe difference between dead-of-winter fares and peak-summer fares isn\u2019t a few bucks; it\u2019s the difference between a hamburger and filet mignon. Whereas flights in January or February to Europe regularly drop as low as $250 roundtrip out of major U.S. airports, July and August flights are normally well over $1,000, especially if you didn\u2019t book months in advance. I would expect summer fares to be priced at least 300 percent higher than the best winter fares, depending on routing and how far in advance you book.\u201d<\/p>\n2. Lower Fares (and Less Crowded Planes)<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n