What are the best places to visit in Europe in 2027?

The list by month

• January: Prague, where the Old Town and Wenceslas Square Christmas markets run to 6 January 2027.

• February to March: Istanbul in Ramadan (about 8 February to 8 March 2027), quiet and cheap.

• March: Valencia for Las Fallas (15 to 19 March) and Seville for Semana Santa (21 to 28 March).

• May to June: Venice and the Veneto for the Biennale; London and Bath before the school holidays.

• June: Sibiu and Transylvania (theatre festival 18 to 27 June).

• 2 August: the Cádiz coast and Tarifa for the eclipse.

• September: Croatia and Kotor, warm sea and thinner crowds.

• Late September: Munich for Oktoberfest (18 September to 3 October).

For one list across all 20 of our countries, including Asia and Australia, see best places to visit in 2027.

Spain: March festivals and an August eclipse

1. Valencia and Seville in March. Easter is early in 2027, so Las Fallas and Holy Week nearly meet. Valencia's Fallas run at full strength from 15 to 19 March, ending with the Cremà on the night of Friday 19 March, and Semana Santa runs from Palm Sunday 21 March to Easter Sunday 28 March, with Seville's Madrugá on the night of 25 to 26 March. Late March in Andalusia is mild, not the summer furnace. The catch: these are the most expensive hotel weeks of the year in both cities, and the old towns become slow-moving crowds. Our Las Fallas 2027 and Semana Santa 2027 guides have the details; to link the cities by rail, see our Andalusia itinerary. We spent 4 days in Valencia and 5 in Seville in summer 2022.

2. The Cádiz coast and Tarifa on 2 August. Spain's National Geographic Institute (IGN) puts almost all of Cádiz province inside the band of totality for the eclipse on Monday 2 August 2027: about 2 minutes 54 seconds in Cádiz city from 10:45 and 1 minute 48 seconds in Málaga from 10:48. Tarifa, at the tip, gets about 4 minutes 40 seconds by eclipse planners' figures, and Tangier across the strait about 4 minutes 51 seconds. Seville is outside the band. The catch is August itself: peak beach season, peak prices and inland heat in the high 30s °C, per our best time to visit Spain. We spent 2 days in Cádiz and a night in Tarifa in August 2022.

3. Asturias and the Basque Country for the holy year. 2027 is a Xacobeo year on the Camino de Santiago, because 25 July falls on a Sunday, and the next is 2032. Oviedo, where the Camino Primitivo begins, and the Picos de Europa make a cooler summer base than the south. Check the private-car ban on the road to the Lakes of Covadonga before you drive, and note the Basque tourist tax that starts on 1 January 2027. We spent 3 days in Oviedo and 2 in Gijón in July 2022; see Gijón and Cangas de Onís.

Italy, Germany and central Europe

4. Venice and the Veneto from May. La Biennale di Venezia runs the 20th International Architecture Exhibition from 8 May to 21 November 2027, curated by Wang Shu and Lu Wenyu, in the Giardini and Arsenale. Late April to early June has the best weather, with highs in the low to high 20s °C across most of Italy, per our best time to visit Italy. The catch is the access fee: the city council has approved 72 fee days for 2027 from 26 March into mid-August, still awaiting sign-off from the national government. In 2026 it was €5 (≈ $5.6) if you paid at least four days ahead and €10 (≈ $11.1) after that. Staying overnight in Venice, or basing yourself in Verona or Bologna and choosing a non-fee day, avoids it; see the access fee guide. We spent 2 days in Verona, 4 in Bologna and 3 in Venice in July and August 2023.

5. Munich for Oktoberfest. The City of Munich lists Oktoberfest 2027 from 18 September to 3 October. Our best time to visit Germany puts late May, June and September as the sweet spots, so the Wiesn's first week falls in a good month. The Deutschlandticket for regional trains rises to €66.80 (≈ $74) a month on 1 January 2027, still the cheapest way to add Würzburg or Ulm. The catch: room prices in Munich peak during the Wiesn, so book early or stay a train ride out. See where to stay in Munich and day trips from Munich. We spent 5 days in Munich in July 2023.

6. Prague for New Year week or the shoulder season. Visit Czechia lists the Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square Christmas markets running to 6 January 2027, later than most big markets in Europe, which makes Prague the best place to start 2027 if you want a festive city. Otherwise go in May, early June or September, at about 18 to 24 °C (64 to 75 °F), per our best time to visit Prague. The catch: the centre is no longer cheap, and Charles Bridge in July is packed. Pair it with Budapest using our Prague to Budapest train guide. We spent 5 days in Prague in September 2022.

7. Sibiu and Transylvania in June. The Sibiu International Theatre Festival runs 18 to 27 June 2027, its 34th edition, with street shows in the medieval squares. June is also the start of the season on the Transfăgărășan, which in 2026 reopened on 12 June and only opens from 07:00 to 21:00 (see the road's open dates). The catch: Romania is now fully in Schengen, so these days count toward your 90 in 180. We spent 2 days in Sibiu and 3 in Brașov in October 2022; see Sibiu.

The Adriatic, Istanbul and England

8. Croatia and Kotor in September. Late September is our pick for swimming in Croatia without the crowds: coastal highs around 23 to 28 °C and a sea of about 21 °C or more, per our best time to visit Croatia. Kotor is only a few hours' drive from Dubrovnik. The catch: crossing from Croatia into Montenegro is now a Schengen exit recorded by the EES biometric system, and coming back is a new entry, so first crossings can queue. Read Croatia vs Montenegro and the Kotor to Dubrovnik border guide. We were in Croatia and Montenegro in August and early September 2023.

9. Istanbul in late winter or autumn. Ramadan 2027 runs from about 8 February to 8 March, according to Turkey's Diyanet calendar, with the Eid holiday from 9 to 11 March. For a visitor, sights and trams run normally in Ramadan, and February is low season: cold and wet, but cheap. Turkey is outside Schengen. The catch is the bayram: domestic travel peaks on those three days. See Ramadan 2027 in Istanbul and best time to visit Istanbul. We spent 16 days in Istanbul in October and November 2023.

10. London and Bath in May, June or September. These are England's best months for daylight and fewer families. The 2027 cost to know: the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation has cost £20 (≈ $27) since 8 April 2026 and is required before you board; see UK ETA. The catch: England has no reliably dry month, per our best time to visit England. We spent 8 days in London and 3 in Bath in November and December 2023.

Europe's 2027 entry rules in one paragraph

The EU's Entry/Exit System has been fully running at Schengen external borders since 10 April 2026: fingerprints and a photo at your first entry, no more passport stamps, and an automatic count of your 90 days in 180. ETIAS, the €20 (≈ $22) travel authorisation, had not launched as of October 2026 and has no published start date, so do not pay any site that offers it. The UK, Albania, Montenegro and Turkey sit outside both. Our ETIAS and EES explainer has the details, and the cheaper corners of the same countries are in cheapest places to travel in Europe in 2027. For towns that see a fraction of Venice's crowds, see underrated places in Europe.

Frequently asked questions