Video:Best Times to Visit Europe's Popular Cities

Transcript:Best Times to Visit Europe's Popular Cities

Hi, I'm Jen D'Amore for About.com, and this video is all about the best times to visit Europe's popular cities using tips from About.com's Europe Travel site.

Weather patterns vary from city to city. It may not be often that you travel to Europe, so when you do, make sure the weather will be favorable. In general, summers are crowded throughout Europe, and spring and fall tend to be the most comfortable times in terms of crowdedness and weather.

Best Times to Visit Europe's Popular Cities: Amsterdam and Athens

In Amsterdam, rain is to be expected any month of the year, but tourist season in Amsterdam runs from April to September, with summer being the most comfortable time to go, when the weather finally reaches the 70s. But if you want to catch a glimpse of the incredible tulips the region is know for, mid-April to mid-May is when they're in full bloom, when temperatures will average 46 degrees Fahrenheit, 8 degrees Celsius. Just remember to bring an umbrella.

If you're wanting to check out the Parthenon and what's left of ancient Greece, spring and fall are the best times to visit Athens. In May you'll have a pleasant average temperature of 66 degrees F, 19 degrees C, with less than 1 inch of expected rain.

Best Times to Visit Europe's Popular Cities: Paris

Spring and fall are also the best time to go to Paris when it's mild and sunny. Summer weather can be unpredictable, with August heat and humidity making you want to rush out of town. May has an average of 56 degrees F (13 degrees C), and the romantic autumn months, when the leaves are changing color, has an average of 60 degrees F or 16 degrees C.Rome summers are hot, humid, and crowded, and the heat stays trapped overnight, offering no relief. So you may want to visit in October. October has an average of 65 degrees F, or 18 degrees C, with a possible 4.5 inches of rain. May is also a good choice, with an average of 63 degrees F, 17 degrees C, and just 2 inches of rain.

Best Times to Visit Europe's Popular Cities: London and Madrid

Madrid, in the summer, everyone escapes the mountain town and heads to the coast. but if you stay, you will experience dry heat. Spring and fall are still the best times to go, with an average in may of 60 degrees F, or 15 degrees C, and less than 2 inches of rain.

Any time is doable in London, but summer is best. It will still be rainy and cloudy, and you can expect a short daily sunshower. Temperatures in July average in the 60s in Fahrenheit, or 15 degrees Celsius.

Best Times to Visit Europe's Popular Copenhagen and Vienna

May is when it starts to warm up in Copenhagen. June averages 60 degrees F, or 15 degrees C, and expects about 2 inches of rain.

Vienna is moderate with a warm and pleasant summers, and cold snowy winters. In July and August you can expect average temperatures of 68 degrees F or 20 degrees C, and about 2 1/2 inches of rain. But many people still brave the snowy winters in Vienna to experience some of the many cultural activities that go on.

Best Times to Visit Europe's Popular Cities: Munich and Zurich

If you planning a visit to Munich, summers are wet, and winters are cold. Most travelers go there May through September, and of course in October for Oktoberfest when the temperature averages 47 degrees F or 8 degrees C and about 2-1/2 inches of rain are expected.

In Zurich, summers are mild and changeable. They're also the rainiest time of year. April is considered the best time of year to visit Zurich, when the trees are in bloom, but there's still snow on the high peaks. In April you can expect an average of 48 degrees F or 9 degrees C and about 2 inches of rain. You may not be able to escape the weather, but you can plan around it or for it.

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