As temperatures, prices and footfall continue to soar during the summer months, are we on the cusp of a new peak season? Words by Will Payne, Amaris Proctor, Rashmi Narayan and Jack Carter

I am all for a sun-kissed getaway-at-sea, but when temperatures are peaking at 50°C in Turkey in mid-August, I’d rather battle the inconsistent weather of the UK. Couple this with mile-long queues for tourist attractions and it’s no surprise that this sentiment runs true for most Brits, who are turning to the shoulder seasons for their fix of overseas relaxation.

The term “shoulder season” refers to April-May and September-October, flanking the peak June-August period. As well as lower prices, these months tend to come with slightly cooler temperatures and less crowds, thanks to term times and busy work calendars. According to the Advantage Travel Partnership’s latest summer trading report, travelling during these months is becoming increasingly popular.

Data shows that bookings departing from May-June 2025 are up 13 per cent from the same period last year whilst bookings for September-October have seen an increase of 20 per cent. These findings come off the back of record temperature levels posted in Spain and Croatia this summer, with the former seeing highs of 46°C and the latter up to 40°C.

According to Euronews, Europe saw its worst wildfire season in decades this year, with more than one million hectares – equivalent to half the land area of Wales – having burnt since January.

Spain and Portugal accounted for more than two-thirds of the devastation. Meanwhile, UN Tourism reported a 5 per cent rise in international arrivals to Europe during the first half of 2025 compared to 2024, an issue which can lead to further choke points at some of the continent’s biggest attractions – such as Barcelona’s Las Ramblas and The Uffizi in Florence.

According to a study conducted in July by the European Travel Commission, about 9 per cent of European travellers have changed the months they travel due to these factors, up by 8.5 per cent during the same survey period last year.

Julia Lo Bue-Said OBE, CEO of the Advantage Travel Partnership, highlights that cost and quality remain key booking drivers, fuelling demand for destinations like Croatia, Cyprus and Egypt, where travellers can enjoy warm and dry weather during the shoulder seasons.

“The overall trend indicates a move away from peak summer travel and a shift in holiday habits,” she says. The increase in consumers looking to book during the shoulder season supports the case, adds Lo Bue-Said, that there should be a rethinking of the traditional school holiday calendar by shortening summer breaks and extending other holiday slots, such as the May and October half term breaks, throughout the year to allow families to visit these destinations while avoiding extreme heat and potentially benefitting from lower prices.

Lo Bue-Said explains: “By giving schools longer breaks at these times, families would really benefit from having the option of taking holidays in destinations that have warm climates in these months, but not the extreme summer heat.”

As families look to dodge the peak travel periods to save money and avoid the heat, the shoulder seasons will continue to see an increase in demand. Here, we take a closer look at five port cities perfectly poised to welcome customers who are on the lookout for quieter travel periods and comfortable temperatures.

Venice

Venice in winter is a revelation, with a romance born of fog and silence. Mist swirls over the water, marble palazzi glow in the soft light and basilicas beckon on wet, windy days. The cold has advantages, too. The mosquitoes have vanished and, crucially, so have the crowds.

The latter means guests have a fighting chance of securing a table at the hottest restaurants, just as the region’s best seafood is at its most seasonal. Think cuttlefish stewed in its ink or lagoon-fresh clams served with hearty polenta.

Of course, you can’t mention Venice in winter without Carnival in the same breath. This is a season for masks, music and masquerade balls. The revelry begins with the Flight of the Angel, featuring a young woman soaring by harness from St Mark’s bell tower to the square below.

Windstar Cruises’ eight-day Winter Italy and the Dalmatian Coast cruise aboard Star Legend, from Venice to Rome via Zadar, Dubrovnik, Messina (Taormina) and Naples, departs on 4 January 2026, from £2,520pp.

Nice

Of all the coastal destinations on this list, Nice was arguably one of the first to embrace winter tourism. The region became a magnet for aristocrats and royalty during the belle-epoque boom of the late 19th century, with wealthy travellers absconding there for the mild end-of-year weather.

Today, its pastel-hued seafront and opulent palaces look just as resplendent in the low light of the winter sun, where average temperatures hover around 13°C. The historic Vieux Nice neighbourhood, with its 200-year-old chocolate shops and cavernous wine cellars, is a year-round treat.

However, the low season is when the locals come out to play, infusing the cobbled streets with a genial atmosphere that’s impossible not to be swept up by. Guests can follow their lead and peruse the flower markets before gorging on freshly baked socca, a chickpea pancake and Niçois staple.

Fewer crowds also mean easier access to the islands that dot the coastline, where you’ll find sugar-white beaches and eucalyptus groves. On Saint-Honorat Island, monks toil away at the 11th‑century monastery, producing wines and liquors from the ground’s sprawling vineyards.

For €25pp travellers can sample it for themselves during a private tour, with return boat transfers from Cannes included in the price.

Celebrity Cruises’ 12-night Adriatic & Med cruise, from Athens (Piraeus) to Barcelona, via Dubrovnik, Kotor, Naples and Nice (Villefranche), on Celebrity Infinity, departs 3 November 2025, from £2,348pp.

Barcelona

On an off-season sailing, travellers will find there’s far more to the Catalan capital than sun, sea and lengthy queues. At Christmastime, markets like 18th-century Fira de Santa Llúcia are known for their elaborate nativity scenes, which often feature the mischievous Caganer figurine.

Throughout the city, landmarks such as Gaudí’s dreamlike Casa Batlló are bathed in festive illuminations. In January, the celebrations continue with Epiphany, marked by the grand Three Kings’ Parade, followed by Festa Major de Sant Antoni, when firework-brandishing devils and castellers (human towers) take over the streets.

A spirit of beberse la vida (literally “to drink life”) abounds, often toasted with cava and vermouth. Festivities aside, even the most ordinary winter’s day in Barcelona is an adventure for those led by their taste buds.

As Lindsay Collard, operations manager for the food tour operator Eating Europe, explains: “Visitors get acquainted not only with the historic neighbourhoods of Gothico, El Born and Barceloneta but also with the charismatic vendors within them. You can expect to taste Catalan’s favourite flower, local paella and refined bites with a modern twist.”

Windstar Cruises’ seven-day Southern Spain Winter Escapes aboard Star Legend, from Barcelona to Málaga via Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Cartagena and Gibraltar, departs on 21 November 2025, from £1,363pp.

Malaga

It doesn’t take much convincing to visit Malaga in the winter, with daytime temperatures ranging between 17°C and 20°C. The 1,000-metre-long Playa de La Caleta beach, a short stroll from the city centre, is great for kids, with its playgrounds and shallow waters.

Grown-ups, meanwhile, can embrace the year-round tradition of tardeo – where locals welcome the weekend with tapas, beer and live music at the local tavernas. The Andalucian city also boasts a yearly calendar of events, which according to malagueña Eva Gonzalez, are best experienced between November and January.

“The Christmas lights in Calle Marqués de Larios, are spectacular, but my favourite is the Lantern Festival in November. Even in my forties, I watch these 600 lanterns go up in the sky with child-like wonder.”

During the Three Kings Parade in January, visitors can try some local Roscón de Reyes cake and visit magnificent towns nearby. “West from Malaga, you’ll arrive at the medieval city of Ronda, which has Celtic and Roman history and far fewer crowds in the winter near the iconic El Tajo gorge.”

Windstar Cruises’ eight-day Southern Spain Winter Escapes cruise aboard Star Legend, from Malaga to Barcelona calling at Gibraltar, Cartegena, Valencia and Palma de Mallorca departs on 13 December 2025, from £2,199pp.

Dubrovnik

Between autumn and winter, this ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’ hosts a range of cultural festivals which give travellers a peek into the city’s gastronomy, music and sport. Take the Good Food Festival, for example.

Hosted every October, restaurants and wineries across the city serve rich stews like Peka (meat and vegetables cooked on coals under an iron bell) or Zelena Menestra (a braised, hearty mix of cabbage and smoked meat).

Guests can also participate in olive picking, pastry-making classes, wine tastings and workshops on sustainable cooking. In early November, Lumiart, the festival of lights sees the Old Town every year adorned with dazzling light installations.

The Dubrovnik Winter Festival which kicks off in late November, includes concerts, a Christmas Fair with markets serving traditional Dalmatian Bakalar (dried salted cod) and a lively, open-air New Year’s Eve celebration.

The Old Town is equally charming in the winter, with guaranteed sunny days, a fraction of the crowds and daytime temperatures reaching 14°C. Travellers shouldn’t leave without trying the flat oysters, served in most restaurants and sourced nearby from Mali Ston Bay.

Oceania Cruises’ Hellenic & Dalmatian Gems cruise on Oceania Sirena, from Istanbul to Venice via Mykonos, Katakolon, Dubrovnik and Zadar, departs 12 November 2026, from £2,209pp.