My husband and I will be attending a large music festival in Estonia mid-July next year (2014). We'd like to add another week or so of travel immediately following. If it weren't for this festival, we wouldn't be planning to be in Europe at the hottest and most crowded time of the year. Any suggestions for cooler, less-crowded places to visit would be much appreciated. We're in our mid-sixties, eager to see the world now that we have more time. The only places we've been so far are England, briefly, Finland, and Paris. Are the Azores, off Portugal, something to consider?
Posted by
Washington DC Region, USA
7053 posts
What about Scandinavia? It's cooler there and you have more daylight. Also, Iceland is great and it never gets hot there in the summer. If you are able to fly Iceland Air, you can stop there free of charge on your way to or from Estonia.
Posted by
Corvallis OR
7153 posts
Since you're going to be in that area anyway, why not the other Baltic States of Latvia and Lithuania. I don't think the heat in July would be a big problem there (any more than Estonia).
Posted by
Virginia, USA
5833 posts
Since you will be in Estonia, you might want to consider something that easily connects from there. What about taking the overnight ferry from Tallinn to Stockholm? You could easily spend several days in Stockholm and if you have more time, either see more of Sweden or continue to Denmark or Norway. Another option might be St Petersburg. Check on the St Peterline boat.
Posted by
2539 posts
Stockholm would be a good choice. If your list of attractions there is short, then visit other cities in the country and/or see a bit of Norway.
Posted by
Frankfurt, Germany
9202 posts
Have a look at Riga. Beautiful architecture. Have you thought about Hamburg, sitting on the North Sea, you have cheaper prices than in Scandanavia and one of the prettiest and liveliest cities around.
Posted by
southwest, Missouri, U.S.A.
1717 posts
Hello Janis. If you will be at Estonia, I recommend going to Latvia and Lithuania. The people are different in each of those three countries. I think, in each of those three countries there are people who are equally as charming and wonderful as the people in any other country in Europe. I think going to those two countries after Estonia would be a good efficient use of your time. I think you could have short travel time, going from one country to another. And there are pleasant and interesting places to visit in Estonia, other than at the city Tallin.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Keep the idea of "crowds" in perspective. Yes, July and August are the months of the year that see the most tourist visits throughout Europe. But aside from some very specific attractions in certain cities (ie, some of the popular museums and monuments in London, Paris and Rome), it's generally nothing like a busy day at an amusement park. Two of my four visits to Scandinavia occurred during the summer. Although tourists are definately visible, the number of visitors is dwarfed at any moment by the people who actually live in these places. So, unless destinations like the Louvre, Neuschwanstein, the Tower of London or the Vatican Museum are on your agenda, don't worry too much about crowds.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
Comparing to USA air-conditioning in Europe is either nonexistent or much weaker. For July travel I would consider Iceland, Scandinavia, Scotland, Ireland. Azores are very windy. To enjoy beach most people would prefer Canary Islands.
Posted by
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2779 posts
I absolutely and strongly recommend that from Tallinn you take the overnight cruise ferry to Stockholm (www.tallink.com) and spend time in and around that amazing city and the islands inland and outside of the city. There are many festivals going on in July and it's definitely one of the coolest and most beautiful place of Europe to be in during that time!