Best Time to Visit Any Place
When is the best time to visit Japan, Hawaii or Costa Rica? Find the best month to go for any place, based on 5 years of real weather. Pick your trip type and we score every month.
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Find the best time to visit any place
When is the best time to go? It depends on the weather and on what you want to do. A beach trip needs hot, dry days. A city trip is best when it is mild.
This free tool looks at 5 years of real weather for any place. It scores every month for your trip type. Then it shows the best months, the worst months and the weather by month.
It works for any city, island or country in the world.
What you get
- The best months to visit
- Months to skip
- A score for every month
- Weather by month: highs, lows, rain and sun
- Results for beach, city, hiking or ski trips
- What to pack for each month
Built on real weather, not guesses
Most "best time to visit" lists are one person's opinion. This tool uses real weather data.
5 years of weather
We read every day of weather from the last 5 years. Then we work out the average for each month.
Scored for your trip
Pick beach, sightseeing, hiking or ski. The best month changes with what you want to do.
Month by month
See a score from 0 to 100 for every month. Green is great. Red is poor.
Rain and sun
See rainy days, total rain and hours of sunshine for each month.
Snow for ski trips
Pick Ski & snow to see snowfall by month and the best time for snow.
Packing tips
Tap any month to see what to pack for the weather that month.
How to find the best time to go
Four quick steps.
- Search a placeType a city or island. For a country, try its capital or main city.
- Pick your trip typeChoose sightseeing, beach, hiking or ski.
- See the best monthsThe best months show at the top. Stars mark them in the month list.
- Tap a monthSee the weather and what to pack for that month.
Peak season, shoulder season and low season
Weather is not the only thing that matters. Crowds and prices change with the season too.
The best time to visit is often the shoulder season. The weather is still good. But there are fewer people and lower prices.
Look for a month that scores Good or Great, just before or after the busiest months.
The three seasons
School holidays push up prices in the US and UK. Travel just before or after them to save.
Best time to visit popular places
Pick a region. Tap any place to see its best months and weather by month.
Best time to visit the top 24 places
A quick guide to the most searched places. Use the tool above to see every month.
Best time to visit Japan
Cherry blossoms in spring and red leaves in fall. June is the rainy season. July and August are hot and humid.
Best time to visit Hawaii
Good weather all year. These months have fewer crowds and better prices than winter and summer.
Best time to visit Costa Rica
The dry season brings sunny days. May to November is the green season, with afternoon rain and lower prices.
Best time to visit Iceland
Long days and open roads. For the northern lights, go from September to March when nights are dark.
Best time to visit Greece
Warm sea and fewer crowds than July and August. Many island hotels close in winter.
Best time to visit Thailand
The cool, dry season in Bangkok and the north. March to May is very hot. Rain comes June to October.
Best time to visit Alaska
The warmest months with long days. Cruises run May to September. Winter is best for northern lights.
Best time to visit Switzerland
Best for hiking, lakes and mountain trains. Go December to March for skiing.
Best time to visit Maldives
The dry season with calm seas and lots of sun. May to October brings more rain and wind.
Best time to visit Italy
Warm and less busy than summer. July and August are hot and crowded, and many locals go on holiday.
Best time to visit Yellowstone
All roads are open. Many park roads close to cars from November to April.
Best time to visit Vietnam
A good time for the whole country. The north is cool in winter. The center gets heavy rain in fall.
Best time to visit Portugal
Sunny and mild. Summer is hot and busy on the Algarve beaches.
Best time to visit Ireland
Longer, milder days. Rain can come any month, so always pack a jacket.
Best time to visit Bali
The dry season. July and August are the busiest. November to March is the wet season.
Best time to visit Puerto Rico
Good weather, fewer crowds and lower prices. December to April is peak season. Hurricane season is June to November.
Best time to visit New Orleans
Mild weather, Mardi Gras and spring festivals. Summer is hot and humid.
Best time to visit Banff
Lakes turn blue and trails open. December to March is best for skiing.
Best time to visit Scotland
Long days and the best chance of dry weather. Midges bite in the Highlands in summer.
Best time to visit Spain
Warm, sunny and not too hot. Inland cities like Madrid and Seville are very hot in July and August.
Best time to visit New Zealand
Summer, with long warm days. Seasons are the other way round. June to August is ski season.
Best time to visit Cancun
The dry season with sunny days. Hurricane season runs June to November.
Best time to visit New York
Mild weather for walking. Summer is hot and sticky. Winter is cold, but the holiday lights are lovely.
Best time to visit Australia
Spring and fall are mild in the south. The tropical north is best from May to October.
How the monthly score works
Each month gets a score from 0 to 100. Here is what we look at.
| Trip type | Best high temperature | What else counts |
|---|---|---|
| 🏛️ Sightseeing | 64 to 79°F (18 to 26°C) | Few rainy days, some sun |
| 🏖️ Beach | 81 to 90°F (27 to 32°C) | Lots of sun, few rainy days |
| 🥾 Hiking | 54 to 73°F (12 to 23°C) | Few rainy days |
| ⛷️ Ski & snow | 18 to 37°F (-8 to 3°C) | Lots of snowfall |
The score is based on weather only. Always check local events, holidays and prices too.
Found your month? Plan the trip.
Close to your trip? Check the 10 day weather forecast for the latest weather.
Then build your day by day plan, budget and packing list with our free travel planner.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Hawaii?
April to May and September to October. The weather is warm and sunny, with fewer crowds and lower prices than winter or summer.
What is the best island to visit in Hawaii for the first time?
Oahu is the easiest first island. It has Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, great beaches and lots of flights. Maui is a great pick for beaches and the Road to Hana.
When is the best time to visit Japan?
March to May and October to November. Spring has cherry blossoms. Fall has red leaves. June is rainy and summer is hot and humid.
When is the best time to visit Iceland for the northern lights?
September to March. You need long, dark nights and clear skies. Get away from city lights for the best view.
When is the best time to visit Costa Rica?
December to April, the dry season. May to November is the green season. It rains most afternoons, but prices are lower.
When is the best time for an Alaska cruise?
Cruises run from May to September. June to August is the warmest. May and September are cheaper and less busy.
When is the best time to visit Disney World?
Crowds are usually lower in late January and February, late August to September, and early November to early December. Avoid school holidays. Summer is hot, with afternoon storms.
When is the best time to visit Italy?
April to June and September to October. It is warm, but not as hot or busy as July and August.
How do you find the best time to visit?
We look at 5 years of real daily weather for the place. We find the average for each month. Then we score each month for your trip type.
Why does the best month change when I pick a trip type?
Different trips need different weather. A beach trip needs heat and sun. Hiking is better when it is cooler. Skiing needs snow.
What does the score mean?
It is a number from 0 to 100. 75 or more is great. 60 to 74 is good. 45 to 59 is OK. Under 45 is poor.
Can I check a country?
Yes. For best results, search the main city or area you will visit. Weather can be very different across a big country.
Does it show weather by month?
Yes. The table shows the average high, low, rainy days, total rain, sunshine and daylight for every month.
Does it include crowds and prices?
No. The score is based on weather only. Shoulder season months, just before or after peak season, often have good weather and lower prices.
Is this a weather forecast?
No. It shows what the weather is usually like. For the next few days, use our 10 day weather forecast.
Where does the weather data come from?
The data comes from Open-Meteo. It uses weather records from national weather services.