August Summer Travel

Here are the summer vacation dates for the various states in Germany. Munich is in Bayern.
http://www.schulferien.org/Schulferien_nach_Jahren/2015/schulferien_2015.html

If it was me, I would go farther north. Italy, Greece, Spain, are all way too hot for me in August. Look at northern Germany, Belgium or the Netherlands. What about Iceland?

Well, I think it's better to go than to skip...but this is a good reason to get a centrally located room/hotel/whatever your preferred abode and make sure it is air conditioned if at all possible. We generally go mid-Sept, but last year went early Sept to Italy and the heat - especially in Rome - was oppressive. We had very central apartments in all three places we visited and would go back to the room during the hottest part of the day for a siesta and to cool off (generally from 2-5pm). I would plan to get up and go out early, stay out late...and if you can't get back to your room to cool off, just make sure you have a hat, sunscreen, breathable clothing and water.

As for crowds - well, you just have to take a deep breath and go with the flow. But if I had a choice of going in August or not going at all, I'd go in August...

August in Southern Germany or Northern Italy means: Very hot, humid (think Florida) and high season, so most expensive.

If it has to be in August have you ever visited Scandinavia? Their high season is in late June, early July and it's warm, sunny, doesn't get dark until past 10pm...

If August is it. Then you adjust. It will be hot, could be very humid, and crowd, but you work around it. There is reason that the afternoon siesta is popular. Avoids the high heat of the day. And a little nap increases you evening time. Just adopt local customs. It is not our preference but if that was my only choice for year I would do it. The Greek Isles would be nice at that time. Great beach time. And, of course, the further north you stay the cooler the weather.

I am going to second (or is it third?) the suggestion to go north. I took vacation in Greece in July and it was very hot. I've vacationed fairly often in August in the highlands of Scotland and not found it packed like the rest of Europe is. Even Edinburgh's festivals don't start until the 7th of August so there will not bee peak crowds there either.

Pam

Visit places along the Atlantic or Baltic Coast, or see Northern Europe. Galicia and Asturia in Spain for instance are great in August. Green, with great beaches, interesting historic sights, beautiful mountains and good food (CABRALES!!!).

When I lived in Germany, heat waves weren't very common, and relatively short... but because air conditioning was far from universal, the heat was very difficult to escape. So, on the weekends, I would head up... meaning, to the Alps, or much further north. Even in the Alps, the weather wasn't cool, but at least it wasn't sweltering. The Baltic coast and Scandinvia could also be quite warm, but at least the never-exactly-warm Baltic water moderates the climate quite a bit and you can always go swimming.

We have gone to Europe in 12 of the last 13 years usually going in late Spring or early Fall. After doing much research we have stayed away from July/August travel EXCEPT the year when we visited the Scandinavian countries. We went to Greece last year and after weather research we decided on early Spring since it would have been oppressively hot and humid in the summer.

Hi,

Normally you can expect the weather to be hot in August. Most of my trips in Germany and France have been in July and August. If you are going to be in Munich in August, chances are that it will be hot. Sometimes a heat wave lasting almost all summer takes place but the odds are against it. The heat is more oppressive in Vienna in August than it would be in Munich.

It's unanimous. Head to Northern Europe.
And there's no more bargain way for you to go than Norwegian Air Shuttle out of Oakland--non stop to either Oslo or Stockholm. For 2015, they're the cheapest airline out there--and flying brand new Boeing 787's.

Stockholm's a world class city, and a great place to catch an overnight ferry/cruise ship over to Helsinki. There are other cities that you can easily reach from Stockholm on Norwegian AIr and still get back to their gateway cities of Oslo and Stockholm.

Thanks so much for all you advices and suggestions. I really appreciate it. I don't do well in the heat so Santorini in August will have to be moved to another time. Thanks again.

I often have to vacation in August.. its not a big deal to me.. and having vacationed in june, july and September also.. I don't find the crowds that much better in those months either ( May was slightly better).. the one exception is of course beach destinations are very crowded in August.

However I too do not do well in the heat, and places like Rome almost kill me in the summer ( but I still go.. lol ) because there are no cooling sea breezes and no water to jump into and cool off easily.. so I have been to the Greek islands in the heat and find them far more tolerable then any big city destination .

The option of not going on vacation in August is beyond me.. I go whenever I can.. and just make allowances for heat( slower days.. beach breaks etc) . So even when we did our vacation last summer..( a month) we made sure to build in a week at a beach resort in Spain.. and a visit to Dublin.. both took the heat off our Paris ( sweltering ) and London ( just busy) visit.

Hello Sally. David said : Norwegian Air Shuttle out of Oakland -- non stop to either Oslo or Stockholm. In a new Boeing 787 airplane. That airline has lower prices for tickets, than other airlines. Wow ! That is what I would do. I would ride in an airplane from the airport of Oakland in California to the airport of Stockholm in Sweden. And ride in the new high - speed train from Stockholm in Sweden to Oslo in Norway. And do the "Norway in a Nutshell" fjord trip. And fly from Oslo to Oakland. Both of those big cities : Stockholm and Oslo are pleasant and interesting. Sweden and Norway are tranquil countries, with wonderful people. Flying from Oslo to Oakland is a long travel time (Norwegian Air Shuttle) because it is not a non stop flight. But the departure time and arrival time are not bad.