What are the most Popular Tourist Destinations? When you plan your next holiday, it's not only about where you want to go – it's also about when you want to go!

The time of year, month or even the day you decide on for your holiday can completely change your experience – whether it's whether or not you'll have sunny weather, whether the company will be better or worse, or if it'll be a pricey time to be visiting.

In this guide, we will talk about the best times to visit some of the world's most popular tourist destinations.

What are the Most Popular Tourist Destinations?

#1. Europe

There's a lot to see on this continent, and it's one of the most popular chunks of land for traveling. And who can blame them?

Europe has a range of rich cultures, history, and simply astounding architecture all over. So when is the best time to visit Europe? It all depends on which bits of Europe you want to explore, as well as the kind of traveler you are.

Europe is at its busiest in summer from mid-June to mid-August with long days and decent weather.

For those who like shoulder seasons, try spring (April to May) or fall (September to October), both of which are warmer in the day with fewer tourists, ideal for landscape photography, with spring lavenders in bloom and fall foliage.

Winter (November to March) can be quite cold in much of Europe, but it's magical, with Christmas markets in cities and chalets, and in most prime cities, it's not as crowded with tourists. And it is a great time for skiing in the Alps.

#2. Asia

Due to the variety of climates and cultures, the recommended time to visit Asia depends on the country. In general, during the period of October up until March, the majority of the countries can be considered best.

This is generally the low season for many countries and offers cooler and drier times. The shoulder seasons are, as the name implies, the transition into the high and low seasons and are usually pleasant with fewer crowds to deal with.

These would be the months of April, May and September.

Although the summer months can be great for travelling in some parts of the world, there are many parts of Asia that should be avoided during the summer months of June to August because the weather tends to be hot and humid.

India, Thailand and Vietnam are great countries to visit, but the humidity is so high you will be uncomfortable.

#3. North America

North America is full of great places to visit, and for each of them, you can find the best time to visit.

In many parts of North America, summer (June to August) is also a high tourist season, not only because temperatures are warm, but because it is also a popular time to visit major cities such as New York and San Francisco.

Milder weather and fewer crowds can be found during the shoulder seasons of spring (April and May) and fall (September and October).

Winter in North America (November to March) can be a fine time to visit some parts of North America, such as downhill-ski areas, but others such as major cities and the northern part of the US and Canada can be quite cold and get heavy snowfalls.

#4. South America

With such a fantastic variety of different places to visit, it goes without saying that there is no single answer about the best time to travel to South America, but here is a guide to help you understand why the various parts of this continent become busier with more visitors at different times of the year.

Tourist season in South America ranges between December and February when the weather in most of the continent is warm and pleasant, although there are some exceptions.

March to May and September to November are like the shoulder seasons in many other parts of the world, offering pleasant weather and slightly fewer crowds than the peak of the local tourist seasons.

Unless you absolutely have to, it is best to avoid travelling during the summer seasons (June to August) when much of South America will be cold and rainy, especially the countries on the southernmost part of the continent such as Argentina and Chile.

#5. Africa

When is the best time to visit Africa? This really depends on where you want to go in Africa, although it is summertime in most of the continent between June and August, and between December and January.

During these months, animal viewing is best in countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and others.

Spring and fall are considered shoulder seasons, so for travellers who want to skip a summer holiday, and who don't mind a bit of wet weather, there are times when animals are at their peak, and the crowds are lower.