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Airline Peak and Off-Peak Award Charts: The Ultimate Guide [2024]

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Airline Peak and Off-Peak Award Charts: The Ultimate Guide [2024]

Why Is Understanding Peak/Off-Peak Seasonality Important?

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Commercial aviation is one of the most seasonal industries in the world. Typically, the busiest time of the year for airlines is from May to October.

Of course, this varies depending on the exact destinations, countries, or even cities that you visit. That being said, customer demand plummets in the winter months from November to March, especially when visiting Europe.

Airline revenue ticket prices fluctuate wildly thanks to revenue management departments, crazy algorithms, and seats sold. The same is generally true for airline award tickets. As a result, many major airlines have chosen to adopt a binary award pricing scheme, whereby there is an off-peak set of dates priced cheaper than the remaining peak dates.

In this guide, we’ll be taking an in-depth look into every major airline’s seasonality charts and discussing the nuances of each program, with the ultimate goal of minimizing the number of points you’ll use for award flights.

Travelers with flexible plans ought to book flights during off-peak when possible in order to spend fewer miles.

You’ve already worked so hard to earn your points and miles, so why spend any more than absolutely necessary?

By planning trips around off-peak award dates, you’ll extract the maximum value from your points and miles. There’s a minimal amount of work in understanding what constitutes peak and off-peak dates for each airline you want to fly on, but it’s all worth it in the end!

This guide is not about variable award pricing, which itemizes mileage and award prices based on distinct levels. Instead, we’re going to be talking about the major airlines that have specific peak and off-peak travel dates.

Airlines That Have Peak/Off-Peak Award Charts

Before talking about each individual airline, keep in mind that some airlines adopt different seasonality policies depending on what route you fly on, while others have a simple binary system.

Let’s look into the airlines and dissect their peak and off-peak award charts.

Aer Lingus is Ireland’s flag carrier. Aer Lingus is owned by the same company that owns British Airways, IAG, and its frequent flyer currency is known as Avios.

Each calendar year, Aer Lingus publishes its off-peak and peak periods. The off-peak periods constitute two-thirds of the year, whereby you can book award flights for fewer Avios.

Additionally, Aer Lingus has a distance-based award chart along with peak/off-peak pricing. You can redeem Aer Lingus Avios for great value, especially if booking during off-peak dates.

Aer Lingus’s off-peak dates for 2024 are as follows:

January 8, 2024, to March 21, 2024
April 8, 2024, to June 6, 2024
September 2, 2024, to December 12, 2024

Now that we’ve pieced together the seasonality, let’s talk briefly about how many Avios you’d save by booking off-peak. Here’s Aer Lingus’s award chart for one-way flights:

Suppose you wanted to fly from Miami (MIA) to Dublin (DUB) in Aer Lingus business class on September 18, 2024. Assuming you find availability on this date, you’ll be traveling on off-peak dates, meaning you’ll pay 62,500 Avios one-way as opposed to 75,000 Avios (the peak season price).

Let’s also suppose that the departing segment of your trip falls on peak dates while the returning flight falls on off-peak dates. In this case, you’d simply pay the peak price one-way and the off-peak price the other way.

Aer Lingus’ system is pretty straightforward, but you can save up to 12,500 Avios each way by planning your off-peak travel accordingly.

All Nippon Airways’ Mileage Club loyalty program is a fantastic overall program. Although its online user interface is somewhat dated, ANA has so many fantastic redemptions that you can’t miss out on.

ANA Mileage Club takes some time to learn about, but once that time is invested, you’ll find yourself digging up value redemption after value redemption.

Hot Tip: You can start racking up ANA miles pretty easily by following our guide on how to earn lots of ANA Mileage Club miles !

You can only book round-trip award bookings with ANA, so keep that in mind, too.

However, you can book one-way award bookings on ANA using Virgin Points via Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club .

Most airlines split up their peak/off-peak dates into a simple binary system, whereby a date is either a peak or off-peak date. ANA has 3 seasonality periods — low season, regular season, and high season.

ANA uses seasonality only for ANA flights . Seasonality does not apply to partners like United Airlines. The following is a chart that depicts the most updated seasonality dates for flights between Japan and Europe/North America until early 2025:

Keep in mind that there are different seasonality periods depending on what regions you’re flying to/from , and even for domestic flights. For example, Hawaii has a slightly different set of dates to the above as it is in Zone 5, while the rest of North America is in Zone 6.

For flights between North America and Japan , here’s the round-trip award chart:

So, if you choose to fly on ANA business class round-trip from New York City (JFK) to Tokyo (NRT), departing on January 10, 2024, and returning on January 31, 2024, you’ll pay the low season price — an incredibly low 75,000 ANA miles.

On the other hand, flying during high season on the same route will cost a decent 90,000 miles. This represents a 20% hike in prices just for flying during different times.

Bottom Line: In order to figure out the price you’ll pay for a specific ANA flight during a specific date range, you’ll need to figure out the seasonality of the route first. Then, you can figure out the award price by matching the award chart pricing with the correct seasonality and route. Keep in mind that this only applies if you intend to use ANA miles on ANA flights.

American Airlines does offer off-peak awards, and these off-peak awards are often fantastic deals. However, American Airlines only does this for economy flights . Additionally, qualifying tickets include partner airlines and aren’t limited to flights operated by American Airlines.

That being said, American Airlines has off-peak economy tickets for just 2 regions — Contiguous 48 U.S. states and Canada and Europe — and these tickets are called Main Cabin Off-Peak .

The Main Cabin off-peak dates for 2024 are January 10 to March 14 and November 1 to December 14 . Tickets are 22,500 AAdvantage miles one-way.

Hot Tip: In order to minimize your out-of-pocket costs at the hands of fuel surcharges , try to plan your travel solely on American Airlines flights.

Asiana Airlines has deservedly garnered a great reputation with its loyalty program Asiana Club . In addition, Asiana Airlines continues to be a top airline of choice to earn miles on, thanks to its attractive (and niche!) ways to redeem for maximum value .

Asiana Airlines has off-peak and peak pricing only for its own flights . It also has different peak season dates departing on your exact route. Lastly, you can avoid peak season surcharges if you’re an Asiana Club Diamond Plus or Platinum member for both award bookings and upgrades.

Asiana Airlines charges 50% additional miles for flights during high season, so you’ll absolutely want to avoid flying during popular times. Here is the peak season chart for 2024:

Off-peak dates are every other date not listed.

The award chart for Asiana Airlines flights is as follows for round-trip flights:

For example, let’s say you want to fly from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) via Seoul (ICN) on Asiana Airlines, using Asiana Club miles, departing on July 3, 2024, and returning on August 20, 2024. The first segment is during the peak season, while the returning segment is during the off-peak season.

Furthermore, these flights have Business Smartium Class installed, which is Asiana’s best long-haul business class seat. This means that you’ll pay 150,000 miles plus 100,000 miles for the returning flight during off-peak season. You’ll definitely want to be careful to avoid peak season if you can since a 50% price hike is huge.

Bottom Line: Asiana Airlines raises prices for peak season award tickets by 50% across the board. Therefore, if flying on Asiana Airlines while redeeming Asiana Airlines miles, you should book off-peak tickets when you can.

British Airways has previously employed a distance-based award chart with multiple zone brackets. In addition, there’s off-peak and peak pricing. British Airways also has had multiple award charts, but British Airways, Iberia, and Aer Lingus were the only airlines eligible for off-peak pricing.

While award rate charts for 2024 have not been made publicly available , according to Head for Points , British Airways’ peak and off-peak dates for 2024 are as follows:

Off-Peak Dates:

January 8 – February 8, 2024
February 13-14, 2024
February 20 – March 14, 2024
March 16-28, 2024
April 2-3, 2024
April 9, 2024
April 15 – May 3, 2024
May 7-24, 2024
May 28, 2024
June 3-7, 2024
June 10-14, 2024
June 17-21, 2024
June 24-28, 2024
July 1-5, 2024
July 8-9, 2024
July 16, 2024
July 23. 2024
July 30, 2024
August 6, 2024
August 13, 2024
August 20, 2024
August 27, 2024
September 9-13, 2024
September 16-20, 2024
September 23-27, 2024
September 30 – October 25, 2024
October 29, 2024
November 4 – December 6, 2024
December 9-13, 2024
December 26, 2024

If your travel dates fall outside of these dates, your award ticket will be priced as a peak flight.

British Airways’ peak and off-peak calendars have consisted of wide bands, but they also contained multiple single-date occurrences for off-peak dates. Once you’ve identified the seasonality of your travel dates, you’ll want to figure out how much your flight will cost, which has historically been distance-based. Great Circle Mapper is a valid resource to gauge your flight distance.

Hot Tip: See our guides on the top ways to earn lots of British Airways Avios , and then make sure you’re redeeming them for the best value possible !

Iberia is Spain’s flag carrier. The airline happens to be owned by the same company that owns British Airways and Aer Lingus (discussed in earlier sections of this guide), but interestingly, the peak and off-peak calendars haven’t matched those when using Avios from different frequent flyer programs.

Additionally, Iberia has used peak and off-peak dates for flights on Iberia, Iberia Express, and Iberia Regional/Air Nostrum. For all other airlines, a different award chart will apply and seasonality is not used.

Award rates and eligible peak/off-peak dates for 2024 have not been made publicly available yet.

Just like its main competitor airline Asiana Airlines, Korean Air uses peak and off-peak pricing. Korean Air SKYPASS is a fantastic program to redeem miles on , with plenty of options ranging from Korean Air first class to Etihad first class .

Although there aren’t very many ways to accrue Korean Air miles from transferable points, there are still great ways to earn lots of Korean Air SKYPASS miles .

Korean Air employs a region-based award chart. Also, one-way flight redemptions are only allowed on Korean Air. For all partners, you must book round-trip if you want to use miles.

Hot Tip: Korean Air is one of the few airlines that still operate the A380. Check out our review of Korean Air’s A380 first class .

To determine whether or not your flights fall into peak season, you’ll need to know the route and the travel dates. Peak dates for Korean Air are:

Korean Air’s round-trip award chart is as follows (one-way awards are half the price):

*Direct flights only

If flying from New York (JFK) to Seoul (ICN) on Korean Air first class on December 17, 2024, your flight will fall into peak season. For this, you’ll pay 120,000 Korean Air miles one-way compared to 80,000 Korean Air miles for off-peak travel.

Virgin Atlantic employs standard and peak seasons for Virgin Atlantic flights only, so they are not applicable to airlines like All Nippon Airways. Furthermore, Virgin Atlantic splits up seasonality calendars between Caribbean routes and all others.

For Caribbean routes, the standard (off-peak) season consists of the following date ranges:

March 4-21, 2024
April 16 – May 26, 2024
June 3 – July 19, 2024
September 3 – October 24, 2024
November 6 – December 6, 2024

On the other hand, Caribbean peak dates are on all other dates.

The rest of Virgin Atlantic flights follow these standard dates:

January 4 – March 21, 2024
April 16 – June 15, 2024

All other dates are peak dates for non-Caribbean flights.

Flights on Virgin Atlantic can be significantly cheaper if planned during standard dates. Here’s the Virgin Atlantic award chart for round-trip, standard season bookings:

And here’s the Virgin Atlantic award chart for round-trip peak season bookings:

Let’s take an example flight from London (LHR) to Las Vegas (LAS), which is on the U.S. West Coast. If you book a flight during peak season in Upper Class , you’ll pay 77,500 miles, as opposed to the standard price of 67,500 miles.

Overall, there are a lot of airlines that have unique peak and off-peak season policies. For the most part, airlines tend to limit the price variation from seasonality to their own airlines. For example, Asiana Airlines levies peak surcharges only on flights operated by Asiana and not on any other carriers.

An exception to this would be American Airlines AAdvantage , which makes off-peak pricing in economy available on partner airlines such as British Airways.

Keeping track of peak dates and booking travel flexibly to avoid peak season is a recipe for conserving your hard-earned points and miles. As a result, you’ll want to confirm that you’re getting the best value redemption prior to committing to a flight.

Now, you have a one-stop shop for a guide on the airlines that carry peak and off-peak policies for award bookings. Happy booking!

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is off-peak for flights.

Off-peak travel times vary by airline, route, and dates. Each airline has defined separate date ranges for off-peak seasons where a flight will cost fewer miles.

What is off-peak travel?

Off-peak travel is defined as traveling at a time where there is less than maximum demand. Some off-peak travel ideas would be to fly to Europe during the winter months of January through March.

What is peak travel?

Peak travel is defined as the period of travel in which there is maximum demand. You’ll often see large crowds, expensive hotel prices, and more expensive airplane tickets.

Is off-peak cheaper than peak?

Off-peak is almost always cheaper than peak travel. Because airlines don’t expect to sell out their seats, they release “cheaper” seats that you can use miles for. Also, the mileage price is cheaper during off-peak compared to peak. The exact discount varies from airline to airline, so you’ll need to reference one of the airlines above to figure out how much cheaper it is to travel during peak dates with points.

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Travelling Without a Passport

Your Ultimate Off-Season Travel Calendar

Everybody loves a summer holiday, but more often than not, traveling during the peak tourist season can be a bit of a drag. Here’s our guide to your off-season gems to discover.

Summer may be the best time to travel when it comes to the weather, especially in Europe. However… the flights you want to book are overpriced, the places you want to stay at are more expensive, and the attractions you want to visit are flooded with tourists. In the off-season, you don’t have to worry about dealing with any of those downsides. Sure, you won’t get the best weather, but booking your trip in the low season comes with a bevy of benefits: cheaper airfare, wallet-friendly hotel rates, and fewer crowds.

If you’re ready to jump on the off-peak travel bandwagon, the only question left to answer is: where should I go in the off-season? That’s where this guide comes in! We’ve curated a list of some of the most popular travel destinations and their corresponding low-season periods so you can start planning your off-peak adventure for 2023 and beyond!

North America

South america.

See Also: Iceland Off-Season: Your Complete Guide

Woman standing at a lookout point with mountains in the background in Iceland

For the most part, Europe’s off-season runs between November and March .

Of course, temperatures and weather conditions will vary by region; if you visit in, say, December, you may have to contend with freezing temperatures and snow flurries in Northern Europe, while Mediterranean countries like Greece offer a fair amount of sunshine and relatively mild temperatures.

No matter what destinations you choose to visit (aside from ski resorts), you’re guaranteed to find fewer crowds and bargain-worthy prices when traveling to Europe during the winter months.

Here are a few great cities, countries, and regions to choose from for off-season travel — those places where you’ll get the most bang for your buck and have a fantastic overall experience:

All of the continent’s most popular and iconic cities (e.g., Venice, Paris, Rome, Barcelona, or Amsterdam)
Finnish Lapland

See Also: What to do in Greece in December (Updated 2022)

Gondolas docked along a canal in Venice, Italy

Southeast Asia – June to October

As you can imagine, Southeast Asia plays host to several climates to match its incredibly diverse landscapes. Many travelers avoid the off-season in this region completely, but — with a little extra planning and preparation — it can actually be a fantastic time to travel here.

Just remember: the off-season months typically coincide with the rainy season. Monsoon rains usually occur between June and October in most parts of Southeast Asia, but weather patterns can vary drastically depending on the destination.

During this time, your trip can be disrupted by torrential downpours, or you might get lucky with sunshine and short-lived periods of rain — it’s a chance you take traveling during the low season!

Here are the off-season months for some of Southeast Asia’s top hotspots:

Bali – April to June
Bangkok and Northern Thailand – May to October
Thai Islands (Gulf of Thailand) – Gulf of Thailand October to December and the Andaman Sea June to October
Vietnam – May to September
Cambodia – July to September

Japan / China / Taiwan – November to March

The best time to escape the crowds in China , Japan , and Taiwan is during the winter months, as long as you’re not traveling to wintry destinations or ski towns like Harbin and Hokkaido. As these destinations are pretty far north, it can get quite cold, however, so for trips to Tokyo, Seoul, or Beijing, your best bet is to dress for the occasion and check the weather reports thoroughly.

India & Sri Lanka – May to August/September

India and Sri Lanka experience varied weather conditions, with certain regions (such as Goa, for example) being dominated by rainfall at any given time of the year.

With the exception of tropical states like Florida and Hawaii, the low season in Canada and the USA falls between the winter months of November and March/April.

Los Angeles, Vancouver, and other West Coast destinations offer milder temperatures throughout this season, while cities in the northeast (New York, Toronto, Boston) transform into real-life winter wonderlands.

Prices skyrocket during winter holidays and school holiday periods, so it’s best to avoid Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and Spring Break if you don’t want to deal with inflated hotel rates and crowded attractions.

In Mexico and the Caribbean , the off-season period begins shortly after Easter and lasts until the middle of December, just before the holiday season is in full swing.

United States – November to March
Hawaii – April to early June and September to mid-December
Canada – November to April
Mexico – May to mid-December
The Caribbean – May to mid-December

See Also: Low Season USA Travel: 11 Adventures in Your Backyard

Person walking down a street covered with snow in New York City

Given its gargantuan size, it should come as no surprise that there’s a whole host of varying climates and microclimates occurring on this vast continent throughout the year.

Generally speaking, South America can be divided into two regions, the first being Chile , Argentina , Uruguay , and southern Brazil, where the low season falls during the chilly winter months. Please be aware that here, it’s winter from May to August! The other region is Colombia , Peru , Ecuador , and Bolivia , where the weather patterns are dictated by wet and dry seasons rather than significant temperature changes. In Brazil, for example, there may be temperatures as low as ° C 15.8 / ° F 60.4 in Foz do Iguaçu, in the south in July, while Salvador, Bahia up north will still have approx. ° C 23.7 / ° F 74.7 degrees.

If you don’t mind packing a few extra layers and waterproof gear, you’ll love traveling outside of peak season here.

Colombia / Peru / Ecuador / Bolivia – December to March
Mach u Picchu – October to February (The Inca Trail closes every February for essential maintenance.)
The Galapagos Islands – May to June and September and October
Brazil – May to September
Chile and Argentina (excluding Patagonia) – June to August

People walking across the street in Buenos Aires, Argentina

In many African destinations (especially safari hotspots), low-season travel comes with loads of perks: the Kalahari Desert offers fantastic game viewing during the off-season; the low season in Kenya means better deals and cheaper international airfare; and Tanzania’s birthing period falls during the off-peak months, so you’re more likely to see lion cubs and other baby animals.

Plus, you’ll get great value for money, you won’t have to compete for space at wildlife sightings, and the rainy season brings lush landscapes — which makes for excellent photo opportunities.

It may be wetter during the low season, but if you can bear a bit of rain, there are a number of fantastic benefits that come with off-peak travel on this continent.

North Africa

Morocco – November to February
Egypt – June to August

Central/East Africa

Kenya & Tanzania – March to June and October to December
Ugand a – April and May
Rwanda – April, May, and November

Southern Africa

South Africa – April to September
Namibia & Botswana – December to April
Moz ambique – March to June

Baby lion cubs in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

Australia – June to August

Most people want to experience summer Down Under, but visiting during Australia’s winter (June to August) will save you cash on everything from your airfare to tours and bucket list activities.

And, since the weather is still pleasant and warm in many places around the country, choosing to travel during the off-season comes with some serious advantages.

New Zealand – June to August

The off-peak winter season is similar in New Zealand : you’ll find far fewer crowds at all the popular tourist spots (besides the ski resorts dotted around the country, of course).

Prices go down; hotel rates drop, and, in some destinations, you might feel as though you have the whole place to yourself.

Things to consider when booking an off-season holiday

Not every destination is suited to off-season travel; you definitely don’t want to be trekking in the Himalayas in a foot of snow or sweltering in Northern Australia in 45-degree heat.

You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons and do some additional research before you travel to any particular destination during the low season. Weather, seasonal closures, and safety are three of the main things to keep in mind while you’re planning your trip.

Ashley Nitransky

Ashley is a Content Editor at TourRadar. When she’s not writing, travelling, or obsessively checking flight prices on Skyscanner, you can find her attempting to fine-tune her photography skills or watching a shark documentary.

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The Best and Worst Days to Fly

Caroline Costello

Caroline Costello's travel accomplishments include surviving a 2 a.m. whitewater rafting excursion in the Canadian wilderness, successfully biking from Dusseldorf to Cologne without a map, and gaining access to a covert pizza speakeasy in New Orleans.

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Airfares jolt up and down like a plane caught in turbulence. The airlines use computer systems to set ticket prices based on a complicated mix of factors, including competition, demand, the state of the economy, seasonality, taxes, the number of views on a YouTube cat video—you name it. That’s why it’s nearly impossible to predict exactly where ticket prices will fall on any given day of the year, and which will be the cheapest or best days to fly.

Thanks to a handful of websites that compile data based on everything from direct bookings to historical studies of published fares, it’s possible to analyze fare models and get at least a rough idea of the most expensive and cheapest days to fly during the year. Use this information to figure out when a potential flight will cost you top dollar—and when you can fly for a song.

The Worst Days to Fly

Thanks to high demand and correspondingly high fares, the following times of year are usually the most expensive days to fly.

Christmas and New Year’s

The Christmas and New Year’s holiday travel window is more or less a 17-day period that overlaps the two holidays by about five or six days, according to statistics gathered from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Peak days always depend on when the weekends fall in relation to the holidays, since lots of people want to travel over convenient long weekends.

Note that it’s not unusual to see flights departing on Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and sometimes the days immediately following or preceding the holidays that are cheaper than departures a few days out, depending on how they fall during the week. If you’re booking a holiday trip, use your booking engine’s flexible dates option to see which days will save you the most money.

Spring Break

Spring break peak travel dates vary by destination but generally extend from late February through the beginning of April. Most colleges and universities have spring break in March or even late February; meanwhile, families with school-age children vacation around Easter, which is usually in late March or April. Watch out for higher fares to beach and family destinations like Florida and the Caribbean during this time. (See Top 25 Ways to Save on a Caribbean Vacation for more help.)

If you’re visiting a destination that attracts the college set, such as Cancun or Punta Cana , but you’re looking to avoid wet T-shirt contests and noisy parties, here’s a tip. Take a look at this list from STA Travel , which outlines the spring break dates for American colleges and universities each year. Avoid planning your beach vacation around those dates.

Summer is high season for numerous destinations, and fares are accordingly driven higher by demand. The crest of summer travel is from Memorial Day to Labor Day, during which fares to most U.S., Canadian, and European destinations are at their peak. Three-day weekends around summer holidays like Memorial Day or the Fourth of July are particularly expensive times to fly.

If you can put off your trip until mid-September or go in May instead of June, you’ll likely pay less than you would over the summer (not only for airfares but also for hotels once you arrive).

There are some exceptions to this rule. Summer is low season for U.S. mountain towns, the Caribbean, parts of Mexico, Costa Rica, and many places in the Southern Hemisphere like Australia and New Zealand.

Thanksgiving

Peak Thanksgiving travel dates are predictable year after year, as the holiday always falls on the fourth Thursday of November. The period from Wednesday through Sunday around Thanksgiving wins the award for Busiest Travel Time of the Year.

So when’s the best time to depart for the big family feast? The busiest and most expensive days are the Wednesday before and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Flying on Thanksgiving Day itself typically offers the cheapest possible fares; the day after is often a pretty good deal as well. As with Christmas and New Year’s, you’ll save by zigging when others zag; while everyone else plans to be back at work the Monday after Thanksgiving, you could save by extending your long weekend and flying home that day instead of Sunday.

The Best (and Cheapest) Days to Fly

So what is the cheapest day to fly? Read on to find out when travel demand tends to be lowest.

Winter/Low Season

Speaking of seasonality, here’s a hard, fast, and simple rule: The cheapest days to fly are low-season, non-holiday travel dates; this will vary based on your destination, largely because of weather. Because summer is the popular tourist season for an abundance of vacation spots, winter is a great time to seek out rock-bottom airfares. Look for amazingly cheap tickets to places that draw big crowds in summer, like Europe , Canada, and most U.S. destinations (except ski towns, Florida, and Hawaii). Excluding spring break and Thanksgiving, spring and autumn are also excellent occasions to find affordable shoulder-season fares to these destinations.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Unless you are the amazing Zoltar, it’s impossible to predict what the single cheapest day to fly will be. Even if you could gauge data from previous years to determine which day offered the lowest prices for your particular route, there’s no telling if the same pattern would happen the following year.

Travel experts generally agree on the cheapest travel days of the week. Fare tracker site Airfarewatchdog, SmarterTravel’s sister site, notes that Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the two best days of the week to fly if you want to save some coin.

Thursdays and Saturdays

The next cheapest days of the week to fly are Thursday and Saturday. Saturday might sound like a popular—hence expensive—day to fly. But in truth, most travelers prefer to come back from vacation on Sunday to maximize their time away. The most popular days for business travelers, meanwhile, are Monday and Friday.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Ultimately, your best day to fly all depends on your route and your airline. I see plenty of airfare sales that restrict discounted dates to Tuesdays and Wednesdays only or Mondays through Thursdays. I’ve also seen international fare sales that tack on weekend surcharges and require a Saturday night stay. Airline, seasonality, current demand, and a barrage of other factors can completely overthrow the Tuesday/Wednesday rule of thumb … which brings me to my next point.

How to Do Your Own Flight Research

There’s that old saying about teaching a man to fish. I can give you scores of statistics, but you’re still going to want to know how to find the least expensive flights that work with your particular travel itinerary. Below are some useful resources to get you started.

SmarterTravel Tips and Advice for Finding Flights

To learn the basics, start with 10 Tips for Finding Cheap Airfare , which offers 10 tricks for grabbing the cheapest possible tickets available. It’s a must-read for flyers. Other useful stories include 7 Mistakes to Avoid When Booking a Flight and Want the Lowest Fare? Here’s When to Book . SmarterTravel has also put together a list of The 10 Best Flight Search Sites for Booking Cheap Airfare .

Airfarewatchdog for Fare Alerts

I love Airfarewatchdog because it does the work for you. Sign up for free fare alerts from your local gateway, and the site will send you email notifications when fares for your itinerary drop.

Predictive Services to Determine When to Book

When you search flights on Kayak.com , the site typically offers a prediction for whether you should buy or wait, along with a chart of recent fare trends for that itinerary. The site uses data to predict whether the fare is likely to rise or fall in the next seven days.

The Hopper app ( iOS | Android ) offers a similar predictive service, telling you to buy or wait once you enter your itinerary. It will alert you when the price drops and its prediction changes from “wait” to “buy.”

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What is Peak Season?

Peak season is the time when more people are traveling, so prices tend to be higher and crowds are bigger.

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When is peak season?

Because climates can vary considerably from country to country (and, often, region to region), peak season isn’t the same everywhere.

On a very general level, you can roughly say that peak season is summer—which is June–August in the northern hemisphere and November–February in the southern hemisphere. The Christmas and New Year’s holidays are also peak seasons in many parts of the world.

In addition to those generalities, specific countries or regions or even cities may have their own peak seasons because of popular local festivals, holidays, special events, or microclimates. Knowing when it’s summer in one or the other hemispheres is a good start, but you’ll be much better off with details on the exact places you’re visiting.

Australia and New Zealand: Summer, usually December–February
Caribbean: December–April
Hawaii: Summer, usually June–August; Christmas and New Year’s
Europe: Summer, usually June–August; Christmas and New Year’s
North America: Summer, usually June–August; Christmas and New Year’s; long holiday weekends such as Independence Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving in the United States; southern beaches are also busy during Spring Break; some destinations are the exact opposite, however, such as ski resorts (winter is peak season)
South America: Summer, usually December–February; some exceptions to this are the Inca Trail and Machu Picchu (high season is July–August) and the Galapagos (high season is July–November)
Africa: Travel seasons vary significantly by region on this enormous continent; in East Africa, peak season is July–November (dry season); in North Africa it's June–September (dry season); in Southern Africa it's April–October (dry season); and in West Africa it's November–April (dry season)
Asia: Travel seasons vary significantly throughout Asia, particularly between mainland countries and island nations; peak season in Central Asia is typically April–June and September–October; in East Asia peak season is typically festival-based (such as Golden Weeks in China around May Day, National Day, and Spring Festival; cherry blossom season in Japan in March or April); in South Asia peak season is November–March; in Southeast Asia it's June–August and December–February; and in West Asia and the Middle East it's December–February

How does peak season affect airfare?

Airfare changes with the seasons, as you might expect, with higher demand making for higher prices. What you might not expect, however, is that price changes are based not just on the season in your destination but also sometimes the season in your departure region.

The price differences become particularly pronounced when you’re traveling between hemispheres. For instance, US travelers going to Australia are going to pay much less if they travel in January than in July. Even though June is Australia’s winter and therefore low season, it’s the high season in most of the United States and more Americans are traveling so fares are generally higher.

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Last updated Jan 11, 2024

The Best Time to Visit the Caribbean

TripSavvy / Alison Czinkota

Planning a Caribbean vacation doesn't end with picking an island : You also need to figure out when to take your vacation. The best time to visit the Caribbean is from October to mid-December when the weather is sunny and the hotel rates have yet to increase for the peak tourist season. If you have more flexibility with your schedule, every month brings unique events and festivals that you'll want to factor into your trip planning. Read on for your ultimate guide to scheduling your next visit to the Caribbean.

Weather in the Caribbean

Thanks to trade winds that keep many of the islands cool, the weather in the Caribbean is sunny and delightful year-round. The dry season reliably occurs during the winter months, from December through March, making it the perfect time for northern snowbirds to book flights down to the tropics. The rainy season begins in the summer months, and the chance of tropical storms and hurricanes increases through early fall. Travelers looking to visit during hurricane season should consider purchasing travel insurance.

Peak Tourist Season in the Caribbean

The rates of hotels and airfare vary drastically based on the time of year you are visiting. The peak tourist season begins in mid-December and concludes in mid-April, after the last of the spring break visitors have boarded their flights home. Travelers looking to visit the Caribbean during the colder months should plan to book their travel well in advance in order to save money and to monitor for flight and hotel deals in the months preceding their vacation.

Key Events in the Caribbean

Visitors should consider visiting during Carnival, which occurs at different time periods on each island. It's both a holiday festival and celebration of national pride. There are pageants, J'ouvert music (calypso-type music), food fairs, and street parties.

The few weeks before Christmas are filled with bargain rates on hotels and airfares. Many resorts cater to families looking to spend the holidays together, and it's easy to find local Christmas celebrations regardless of where you travel. Holiday cruises to the Caribbean are also very popular.

In January, New Year's Day cements the Caribbean's reputation for throwing a great party, and many islands' Carnival celebrations are getting into full swing.

Events to check out:

St. Nicholas Day : This day is celebrated on December 5th in the Dutch Caribbean, which comprises of Curaçao , Aruba , St. Maarten , Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba.
Junkanoo Festival: A celebratory parade and party across the Bahamas, Junkanoo festivals take place on Boxing Day and New Year's Day. The largest party parades are in Nassau , but you can also experience the intoxicating carnival atmosphere on Grand Bahama Island, Eleuthera & Harbour Island, Bimini, the Exumas, and the Abacos.
New Year's Day: Parades are the order of the day in the Key West and St. Kitts, where the streets are full of revelers long into the evening.
Bob Marley Day: Jamaica celebrates the life and music of Bob Marley on his birthday (February 6) each year.
Carnival :
St. Kitts celebrates from the end of November until the first week of the New Year.
St. Martin, Jamaica , St. Barths , Martinique , Trinidad , Dominica , Aruba and Curaçao are among the islands celebrating Carnival into February.

The weather is dependably warm and dry in March , and a lot of people head to the islands over Spring Break . The Caribbean is a very Catholic region, so you'll see a great number of celebrations and parades over the Easter holiday.

You’ll have mostly sunny days and comfortable, moderate temperatures in April—but if you can wait until the end of the month (the “shoulder season”) to book your trip, you’ll also save money and avoid the Spring Break crowds.

Come May, there's no threat of hurricanes, resorts offer great rates and last-minute bargains, and there are plenty of events and festivals designed to entice visitors.

FLOW Oistins Festival: Barbados holds this annual celebration during Easter Weekend. The street fair includes cuisine such as fish cakes, fried fish, and head cheese.
Taste of St. Croix: The U.S. Virgin Islands celebrates its unique and diverse cuisine at this one-day fundraiser event that draws some of the island's best chefs.
The Tobago Jazz Experience: This three-day concert attracts some top international acts to the typically sleepy island. Past headliners include Diana Ross and Rod Stewart.
St. Barth Film Festival: Celebrities flock to St. Barth at the end of April for the five-day celebration of Caribbean film.
The Grenada Chocolate Festival: This nine-day event celebrates everyone's favorite confection. The dates vary year-to-year, but it's typically held from late May into June.
St. Maarten Carnival: St. Maarten touts their Carnival celebration as the "biggest and best" in the northern Caribbean. The celebration runs from the end of April through the first week of May. Regattas: The Caribbean hosts many regattas throughout the year, but these exciting sailing events are especially prevalent in the spring. The St. Thomas International Regatta takes place in March. This is one of the world's best competitive yacht races and is based at the St. Thomas Yacht Club, with major social events at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas.
Antigua Sailing Week is the biggest regatta in the region; it runs from late April to early May.
Les Voiles de Saint Barth takes place mid-April.

Low-season rates in June , July, and August are the biggest attraction. Plus, you'll experience warm, mid-summer temperatures throughout the region, including the Bahamas and Bermuda. Keep in mind that the northern latitudes may be experiencing some cooler days and evenings in June, and hurricane season starts heating up in August.

Anguilla Summer Festival : This annual tradition features boat races, beach parties, and parades, with lots of delicious food, exuberant music, and pageantry to fuel the fun.
Aruba International Regatta: Sailors from around the world come to the island to race all manner of watercraft, from yachts to sunfish to miniature boats and even stand up paddle boards.
Caribbean Fashion Week: Usually taking place in mid-June, this week-long fashion event is held at the National Arena in Kingston, Jamaica each year.
Portland Jerk Festival: Jamaican jerk flavored foods have become popular worldwide, and in July you can get mouthwatering jerk chicken, pork, sausage, and more at this annual festival in Jamaica.
North Sea Jazz Fest Curaçao : This event closes out August with some of the hottest names in music. Performers like Prince, Rod Stewart, Alicia Keyes and Stevie Wonder join the island's best homegrown talent for three days of nonstop entertainment.
Barbados throws the largest Carnival celebration in the region with Crop Over . This three-month-long festival is filled with music, dance, drinks, and plenty of cultural events and performances throughout the summer in celebration of the harvest.
Bermuda starts the festivities in June over National Heroes Day Weekend and continues the celebrations into July with Emancipation Weekend at the end of the month.
Antigua celebrates its Carnival in July into August.

Visitors to the Caribbean in the fall will enjoy off-season prices, uncrowded resorts and beaches, and generally great weather (although things begin to cool in the northern latitudes). November is especially a good time for airfare deals. Renting a villa in the Caribbean has become a popular option for Thanksgiving celebrations by far-flung families, and cruise lines also offer special Thanksgiving cruises.

Belize Independence Day : Celebrations begin on St. George's Caye Day on September 10 and end on September 21, Independence Day. Expect flag-raising ceremonies and street parades.
Belize Carnival: The annual Carnival is held in September in Belize to showcase music, theatre, fashion, and dance.
Bermuda Sand Sculpture Competition: Witness artists from all over the world build unbelievable sand structures in Horseshoe Bay Beach in Bermuda.
Bonaire International Sailing Regatta : This long-running (and week-long) regatta features races close to the coast of Bonaire. The festival itself features a street carnival and many events for sports fans, including softball, beach volleyball, and even a dominoes tournament.
World Creole Music Festival: Held at the end of October, this is the highlight of sleepy Dominica's annual cultural calendar with Creole music like cadence-lypso, Kompa, zouk, soukous, bouyon, and even Louisiana zydeco.
Pirates Week: This annual event in the Cayman Islands celebrates the nation's cultural heritage and pirate legends. Spectators are treated to parades, fireworks displays, street dances, and costume contests.
The Barbados Food and Rum Festival: This festival is a series of culinary experiences with acclaimed chefs, rum experts, and mixologists. There are food and rum pairing events, plus a beach party at the Hilton Resort Barbados.
Mojito Fest: Enjoy unlimited mojitos, food samples from local restaurants, and live music at this festival in Puerto Rico.

The best time to visit the Caribbean is during the months of October through mid-December. At this time of year, the weather is sunny and hotel rates have yet to increase for the high season.

Hurricane season in the Atlantic Basin starts on June 1 and ends on November 30. That said, October usually sees the most storms due to the warming of ocean surface temperatures.

Montserrat ("The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean") is a British territory and is considered the safest of the Caribbean islands. Its last recorded murder was in 2008.

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Best Time to Visit Mexico: Month by Month Breakdown

Mexico is a vast country and there is a huge range of seasons and climates across the different regions.

The weather can be roughly split into a wet and a dry season, although this mostly counts in the tropical regions south of Mexico City.

The north has a more arid, desert-like climate, while the central regions are at high altitude and enjoy much cooler weather than the rest of Mexico.

Mexico also has distinct low and high seasons when it comes to tourism, especially in touristy destinations like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta. These generally coincide with the wet and dry seasons too.

To inspire your next trip, here’s our guide on the best time to visit Mexico!

Don’t leave home without: Lonely Planet Mexico (Country Guide)

Table of Contents

Mexico Dry Season

Luxury resort pool in the Maya Riviera Mexico

The dry season is the best time to visit Mexico, and it falls between November and April.

This is peak season, so you can expect things to be busy, especially over Christmas, but Mexico is such a vast country that you can always find a way to escape the crowds.

Here’s our month by month breakdown for Mexico’s dry season.

Novem b er in Mexico

Swimming with the Whale Sharks in Mexico

November is the start of the dry season, and for travelers, this could be the best time to visit Mexico.

Prices are still low and tourist numbers are still small compared to what’s going to hit the top destinations in December. This is a good time to visit popular destinations like Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Puerto Vallarta, as you’ll find some great deals on flights and accommodation.

As the rainy season has only just ended, it’s not the best time for diving yet, but head to Baja California and you’ll catch the start of the Whale Shark season.

Tropical Yucatan is getting much cooler and a lot less humid, so now is the time to explore the jungles and to visit those lost Mayan Ruins without working up too much of a sweat.

December in Mexico

Luxury Resort in the Maya Riviera Mexico

Weather-wise, December is easily the best time to visit Mexico. However, everyone else has the same idea too, and December is the worst time to visit Mexico if you’re looking for a quiet vacation away from the crowds!

In December, especially over Christmas and New Year, the resorts of Cancun and the Maya Riviera are packed out and prices are at their peak. It’s no different in other popular tourist spots either, such as Puerto Vallarta or Baja California.

The weather is crisp, sunny and dry though, and you’re not likely to have a single rainy day. If you’re not having a beach holiday though, then take a trip to explore the indigenous culture of Oaxaca or Chiapas where you can find beautiful weather.

January in Mexico

January is just as busy as December, at least for the first two weeks. This is peak season across Mexico, especially in Cancun and along the Pacific Coast.

Travel to Mexico towards the end of January though and you can start to get a few good deals again, as the crowds start to thin out.

Weather-wise this is a great time to explore the south, so enjoy the dry weather along the coast, and visit Mayan archeological sites like Palenque or Chichen Itza.

Mexico City is lovely in January, as are the central highlands, although it can get chilly at night.

February in Mexico

Lina Stock of Divergent Travelers Adventure Travel blog on Isla San Francisco in Baja

In February the weather starts to get hotter, especially in the tropical south. Up north and in the mountains it’s still very cool, however.

You can expect the odd rain shower across the country but for the most part, this is still a beautiful time to travel around Mexico .

You’ll get lower prices in Cancun while the diving and snorkeling off the coast of Cozumel Island is glorious, with sparkling clear water.

This is the perfect time to visit Baja California, on the Pacific Coast, where you’ll be right in the middle of the whale watching season, and you’ll have the chance to swim with Whale Sharks.

March in Mexico

March brings a mixed bag when it comes to crowds and the weather. This can be the middle of Spring Break, so it’s a good idea to avoid the big tourist hotspots if this isn’t your scene. If you’re looking to party though, then head straight to Cancun or Tijuana.

Equally, if Easter falls in March then it can be busy everywhere, although this is a great time to soak up the local culture during Semana Santa, the holy week.

Weatherwise, it can be a little more unpredictable. The south sees more rain while the north is heating up and seeing a few thunderstorms too.

April in Mexico

David Stock Jr of Divergent Travelers Adventure Travel blog exploring cenotes in Mexico

Like March, it can be a little unpredictable in April too, so plan your trip in advance to avoid spring break dates or Easter holidays, which can both fall this time of the year.

April is the last month of the dry season, although you will see the weather starting to turn. The colder winter months are over and summer is on the way, which means that along with the rain it’s getting much hotter, everywhere.

This is your last chance to see the whales and Whale Sharks in Baja California before they move on for the summer, and it’s the last chance to get really good visibility and diving conditions around Cozumel Island and along the Maya Riviera.

As the weather heats up, this is a great time to start exploring those high altitude destinations in Central Mexico, such as Guanajuato or San Miguel de Allende, where you can escape the heat.

Mexico Wet Season

Mexico’s wet season runs from May through to October, however, this varies across the country. The south sees the most rain, and hurricanes can lash the coastlines.

It’s cooler and drier in the north this time of the year, where the climate isn’t tropical. The wet season is not the best time to visit the south of Mexico, but there are still plenty of great deals and places to explore outside of this traditional tourist hotspot.

May in Mexico

May is officially the start of the wet season, and you can guarantee that it’s going to be hot and it’s probably going to be rainy.

This is a good month for shoulder season travel though because you can avoid the high season crowds in places like Cancun or the Pacific Coast.

It’s fine if you don’t mind a little humidity and have a swimming pool to cool off in because you’ll only get a few hours of rain a day at most.

It’s even better in Baja California, where you can enjoy dry weather for most of May, while temperatures soar into the 30s. Mexico City has cooler weather, and it feels like it’s summer, making the capital a great option in May.

June in Mexico

June is not the best time to visit Mexico, although you can get some cheap deals on flights and hotels.

The reason it’s cheap though is because it’s the start of hurricane season. While hurricanes are rare, it’s definitely going to rain, although if you don’t mind risking that for a few hours a day it might be worth it

Instead of going to the coast though, stick to the central highlands, where it’s much cooler and there’s much less rain.

July in Mexico

July is just as hot and rainy, and while you can get cheap deals at the resorts and great value flights across the country, it’s really not the best time to visit Mexico.

Hurricanes can hit the Caribbean and Pacific Coast, while everywhere is hot, stuffy and humid.

You get the best weather in Baja California, but make sure you have a swimming pool where you can cool off.

The other option is to stay at altitude, as you’ll find that while Central Mexico is hot, it’s not quite as hot as the coast – especially at night time.

August in Mexico

In August, it’s still going to be uncomfortably hot across Mexico, although temperatures will start to cool off slightly, especially in the higher altitude areas of the country around Mexico City.

This is still very much hurricane season, so be prepared for this if you’re traveling to Cancun or the Pacific Coast in August.

On the plus side, there are few other vacationers around in August and the prices can be very low, on both flights and hotels!

September in Mexico

The view from the Pyramid of the Sun - best time to visit Mexico

In September, things are starting to look up again when it comes to the weather. This is still the rainy season, but the worst is behind you, and September can be a great time to escape the crowds and score some good deals.

It’s a good time to be in Mexico City, where the rain is slack anyway and the high altitude means cooler climes.

It’s also Independence day in September, so you can expect plenty of parades and fiestas.

October in Mexico

October is the best time to visit Mexico because of the Day of the Dead.

In October, it’s the last month of the rainy season and the hurricane season, and actually this can be the best time to visit Mexico.

Rainfall will be minimal, but prices are still low, so head to the beaches and make the most of the deals before the high season crowds arrive in November and December.

As a bonus, the end of October is also when you’ll be able to celebrate Day of the Dead across Mexico.

Our Top Recommended Mexico Tours

Mayan Adventure with G Adventures – 22 days
Yucatan Discovery: Cenotes & Seasides with G Adventures – 7 days
Classic Mexico Adventure with G Adventures – 14 days
Mayan Highlights with G Adventures – 9 days
Cultural Wonders of Mexico with National Geographic Journeys – 9 days

Did you like this story? Share it!

Travel planning resources, about david stock.

I have always been an outdoorsman so becoming an adventure traveler was just the next natural step. I love nature, I love to get off the beaten path and I like to explore. I enjoy scuba diving and cars. And yes, Lina and I have a naked dog.

1 thought on “Best Time to Visit Mexico: Month by Month Breakdown”

Such a beautiful place! Mexico’s dry season is the best for me. Thanks for sharing this Anna

When is Peak Travel Season in Japan?

People often ask me about the ideal time to travel to Japan . While there are many things you should consider, one of them is certainly the peak travel seasons in Japan.

High travel season means that prices for flights and accommodation will skyrocket and everything is booked out far in advance. However, some of these seasons you just don’t want to miss, so after reading this article it’s up to you whether you want to avoid them or not.

1. Cherry Blossom Season / Spring Vacation (late March – early April)

Needless to say that cherry blossom season in spring is one of the most favorite travel seasons in Japan. Additionally, schools close for spring vacation, so it does get crowded, especially at the most popular tourist attraction (e.g. Kyoto, Miyajima, Tokyo).

Cherry blossoms usually only last for about a week . But there’s something called the “ cherry blossom front ” wandering from southwest to northeast. If you follow that and travel around, you can enjoy the sakura for much longer. It’s one of the most beautiful sights, so you shouldn’t avoid it . Definitely plan ahead of time. Especially in and around Kyoto it’s almost impossible to find rooms if you don’t book far in advance.

Consider less known cherry blossom spots instead. You can enjoy sakura everywhere in Japan. It’s impressive no matter where you go.

Here are just a few examples to avoid the massive crowds and yet enjoy cherry blossoms:

Hyogo Prefecture: Izushi (castle town and soba noodles)
Shiga Prefecture: Miidera Temple , Ishiyamadera
Shizuoka Prefecture: Hamamatsu , Kakegawa , Atami (nice castles)
Kyoto: Shoryuji Castle
Chiba Prefecture: Tateyama Castle

2. Golden Week (late April – early May)

If you can, please try to avoid Golden Week at all costs.

It’s the most crowded time of the year in Japan. There are four different national holidays (April 29, May 3-5) and most companies let the people take off the days in between as well – resulting in one of the very few occasions to take a longer vacation in Japan.

Below you’ll find the exact dates for the upcoming years.

Golden Week 2018 : April 28-30 + May 3-6
Golden Week 2019 : April 27-29 + May 3-6

That being said, it’s a nice season to visit, because you can still catch cherry blossoms in Tohoku and Hokkaido or enjoy other flower such as azaleas, wisteria or “ shibazakura ”. Simply go a few days before or after Golden Week and you’ll be fine.

Especially the well-known spots will be insanely crowded. There are less crowded, hidden gems, but those might not be the first choice for first-time visitors. Also, prices tend to be much higher during high season in Japan, so simply just avoid it if you can.

As I used to live in Japan, I had no other choice but to travel during Golden Week. That’s when we all get our time off. If you’re interested, you can read about my Golden Week 2013 and Golden Week 2014 .

3. Obon and Summer Vacation (middle of August)

Summer is extremely hot and humid in Japan and comes with a lot of monster insects . It might not sound like it, but it’s still a good time to visit. Only then can you climb Mt. Fuji and a lot of great summer festivals take place – including fireworks !

There’s a short time span in August called “ obon ” where people usually travel back home. It can also become crowded, but in my experience it’s not as bad as during other seasons.

In 2018 the peak is to be expected during Aug 11 – 19 .

There are certain destinations that are extremely popular among Japanese people in summer such as Hokkaido or Okinawa . It will be crowded there and prices will also skyrocket during that time, so you might want to avoid these destinations from late July to mid August.

4. Silver Week (end of September)

“Silver Week” is a rather new term in Japan and is derived from the more popular “Golden Week”. The term became popular in 2009 when 3 national holidays followed a weekend, resulting in a really long vacation for many people.

Unless such a rare occurrence happens again, “Silver Week” is usually not a big deal at all.

In 2018, the only national holidays in September are both on a Monday, namely Sep 17 and 24 . So, some people will certainly travel during those extended weekends, but it’s nothing to worry about if you consider visiting Japan during that time.

The reason I mention “Silver Week” here is because the term has gained popularity and some people are worried if they should come to Japan during that time.

5. Autumn Foliage Season (esp. end of November)

Almost as popular as cherry blossom season is autumn when the leaves change colors. For the main tourist regions (Hiroshima, Kyoto or Tokyo ) that peak is usually from the end of November to the beginning of December . Other parts of Japan get autumn colors as early as September. Tohoku, for example, is thus quite popular in October.

You also don’t want to miss the peak of the foliage, so make sure to check the status, e.g. by following the japan-guide autumn color reports .

Certain spots can be crowded, hotels might be booked out way in advance and prices might be higher than usually.

Don’t avoid this season! It’s the most beautiful time of the year. But try to at least avoid visiting popular sights during the weekend. Don’t even think about going to Kyoto during that season on a weekend! Be aware that because of a public holiday in November , there’s sometimes an extended weekend at the end of November – which you should avoid at all costs! In 2018 that’s Nov 23 – 25 .

Again you can avoid the crowds by going to less known places.

6. Nenmatsu (= time around New Year’s Eve / Day)

Most Japanese get days off from Dec 29 to Jan 4 . That’s another travel peak time. The majority of people spend their time with their families, but some also use that time to travel within the country.

It’s usually not that crowded, but be aware of “ Hatsumode ” (the first visit of a shrine in the new year on the first few days of January). Shrines might be insanely crowded. It’s a nice experience, but not if you wanted to enjoy the shrine itself and take photos there.

If you decide to come to Japan during that time, it’s a good chance to experience Japanese New Year’s Eve . Just don’t expect loud parties and fireworks.

It’s also a great time for discount shopping ! In the first few days of January many department stores will sell “ lucky bags ” (fukubukuro). People will line up to grab these from early in the morning. So it does get very crowded in many department stores and shops.

Also, keep in mind that a lot of sightseeing spots , especially museums, will be closed during that time (~ Dec 29 – Jan 4), so plan your trip accordingly.

How to Survive Peak Travel Season in Japan?

One of the most important things to keep in mind is that you have to book everything you need far in advance (accommodation, rental car, domestic flights etc.). This is especially true if you want to visit the most popular tourist regions (e.g. Kyoto, Hiroshima).

For Kyoto in particular travel experts suggest to book up to 6 months in advance for cherry blossom and autumn foliage season! Otherwise you’ll only find hotels far, far away. You’ll only lose money and time that way.

As for train reservations (Shinkansen), I wouldn’t worry too much. Usually you always get a seat. I’ve rarely experienced any issues – and I never reserved a seat.

Please consider that post offices and banks will be closed during public holidays, so you won’t be able to withdraw money at ATMs . Especially during Golden Week with so many consecutive public holidays, this could become a problem. So make sure to plan accordingly.

This is all I can think of based on my personal experience.

Don’t be shy and share your experience with travelling during high season in Japan!

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12 comments.

Thank you for this great article. However, even on peak season you can get money from ATMs at 7-Eleven stores. ;) Best Wishes from Tokyo Tessa

Yes, of course. :) It’s difficult during public holidays, especially if there are consecutive public holidays like during Golden Week.

In spring 2016, I travelled Japan from March to late May, so of course the Golden Week was included. As a fan of matsuri, I wouldn’t want to miss Golden Week, because it features a large number of spectacular events all over the country, and this allows the masses to spread out somewhat. However, due to travel plans, I spent the earlier park of Golden Week in a remote spot of Hokkaido (Shiretoko-Shari) and hardly noticed anything unusual up there. The night from 2nd to 3rd May, which is probably oine of the most busy nights,I didn’t spend in a regular hotel but in a 24h sauna/spa named “Aomori Kenkô Land” in Shin-Aomori which is – or was – a rather remote location (I write “or was” – in 2016, with the extension of the Shinkansen to Hakodate-Hokuto, Shin-Aomori became a through station instead of a terminal, and a lot of building activity was in progress so I guess that sparked development of this area). For Golden Week, the sauna doubled the overnight surcharge but it was still quite affordable at 2740 Yen total. On May 3rd, I went to the Uesugi Kenshin samurai battle re-enactment in Yonezawa, and it was a fabulous experience. Actually, on May 3rd I would have liked the ability to split myself and attend multiple events, this is the day when the highlight of many Golden Week festivals takes place all over Japan. In a future trip in spring, I would deliberately include Golden Week to witness some other matsuri. As a single traveller I consider it fairly easy to find some sort of accomodation, but I totally understand that a tour group will avoid that week like the plague.

That’s exactly my experience. I’ve been to more remote places during Golden Week and it wasn’t crowded at all. However, first-time visitors don’t know about Golden Week and usually head to Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima where it can get very crowded indeed.

The festivals during that time are nice indded. Good point. :)

Thanks for sharing your experience.

hokkaido is never crowded except for getting convenient hotel rooms for June “dancing in the street” and February snow festival. it is not hot in summer and offers beer festivals and so many other festivals. peak seasons there are normally not an issue

I remember Lake Kussharo was quite crowded. The tour to Rishiri and Rebun was crowded as well. When a typhoon hit Hokkaido and the streets where closed down and the trains weren’t running up to Wakkanai, I was forced to re-schedule and couldn’t find a hotel in Asahikawa. I had to call over 30 different accommodations. All of that was in August. Lake Toya also was kind of busy and Mt. Hakodate at night as well. :) (August and Golden Week)

It doesn’t get at crowded as other places, but that’s mainly because it’s luckily so spacious. :)

going to Furano during lavender season is busy as are other places during high season-crowded is Sapporo Ramen Festival, Sapporo Bier Festival in Odori Park but the term crowded means longer lines or wait for a yable to open up–i was recently in a typhoon in Hakodate. we got on the last bus leaving for Sapporo at 11:30 at night- the bus was full (does not mean it was crowded)—i’m sure the ski areas are “crowded” in peak season—-you don’t build extra hotels to take care of a few times a year the demand exceeds the supply

That’s true. The only thing I didn’t like about my vacation in Hokkaido during peak season were the expensive prices. The rental car and the domestic flights were really pricey.

there are many, many complaints on the cost of domestic flights within Japan. this has been going on for years. there are some discounts (10,000 yen) flights that are offered. the super railroad is not any cheaper. i am not familiar with rental companies. two considerations– the route corridor between Chitose and Tokyo is the busiest in the world and the cost of Hokkaido hotels is not expensive at all

I have a question. Everyone says that Kyoto is more expensive in peak season. I’m still thinking of going in early November. How much more expensive is accommodation then 30% more? Or higher? I need to do a budget for my friends. thanks.

Actually I don’t think early November will be too expensive, but why don’t you just have a look at hotel prices right now? A lot of hotels allow reservations up to 6 months in advance. I’d recommend to also look outside of Kyoto (e.g. Otsu) because it tends to be cheaper there and yet you’re at Kyoto Station in just a few minutes.

I also enjoyed spring season in japan lots of times and every time get great experience there.

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Home » Europe » Moscow

EPIC MOSCOW Itinerary! (2024)

Moscow is the heart of Mother Russia. Just the mention of this city conjures images of colorful bulbous pointed domes, crisp temperatures, and a uniquely original spirit!

Moscow has an incredibly turbulent history, a seemingly resilient culture, and a unique enchantment that pulls countless tourists to the city each year! Although the warmer months make exploring Moscow’s attractions more favorable, there’s just something about a fresh snowfall that only enhances the appearance of the city’s iconic sites!

If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or simply wanting to see as much of the city as possible, this Moscow itinerary will help you do just that!

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Best Time To Visit Moscow

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Here is a quick look at the seasons so you can decide when to visit Moscow!

The summer months (June-August) are a great time to travel to Moscow to take advantage of the enjoyable mild temperatures. This is considered peak travel season. Bear in mind that hotel prices rise along with the temperatures!

If you’re planning a trip to Moscow during fall (September-November) try to plan for early fall. This way the temperatures will still be pleasant and winter won’t be threatening.

Russian winters (December-February) are not for the faint of heart as Napoleon learned to his peril. Some days the sun will be out for less than an hour, and snow is guaranteed. Although winters are exceptionally cold, this is when you’ll get a true glimpse of the Moscow experience!

The best time to visit Moscow is during spring (March-May). The temperatures will begin to creep up and the sun begins to shine for significant portions of the day. Hotel rates will also have yet to skyrocket into peak ranges!

With a Moscow City Pass , you can experience the best of Moscow at the CHEAPEST prices. Discounts, attractions, tickets, and even public transport are all standards in any good city pass – be sure invest now and save them $$$ when you arrive!

Moscow is a large city with many accommodation options to choose from. Staying in a location that fits with your travel plans will only enhance your Moscow itinerary. Here is a brief introduction to a few great areas of the city we recommend checking out!

The best place to stay in Moscow to be close to all the action is Kitay-Gorod. This charming neighborhood will put you within walking distance to Moscow’s famous Red Square, thus cutting down on travel time. This will allow you to see more of the city in a shorter amount of time!

It’s surrounded by restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops. If you’re a first-time visitor to Moscow, or just planning a quick weekend in Moscow, then this area is perfect for you!

Another great area to consider is the Zamoskvorechye district. This area of the city offers a blend of new and old Moscow. It has an artsy vibe and there are plenty of fun sites you can explore outside of the main touristy areas of Moscow.

Of course, as in all areas of Moscow, it’s close to public transportation that will quickly connect you with the rest of the city and make your Moscow itinerary super accessible!

Best Airbnb in Moscow – Exclusive Apartment in Old Moscow

Modern and cozy, this apartment is in the heart of Old Moscow. Bordering the Basmanny and Kitay-Gorod districts, this two-bedroom flat is walking distance to the Kremlin and Red Square. Safe, quiet, and comfortable, this is the best Airbnb in Moscow, no question!

Best Budget Hotel in Moscow – Izmailovo Alfa Hotel

The Izmailovo Alfa Hotel is a very highly rated accommodation that provides all the components necessary for a comfortable trip to Moscow. There is an on-site restaurant, bar, fitness center, and an airport shuttle service. The rooms are modern and spacious and are equipped with a TV, heating/air conditioning, minibar, and more!

Best Luxury Hotel in Moscow – Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre

If you’re touring Moscow in luxury, the Crowne Plaza Moscow World Trade Centre is the hotel for you! Elegantly furnished rooms are equipped with a minibar, flat-screen TV, in-room safes, as well as tea and coffee making facilities! Bathrooms come with bathrobes, slippers, and free toiletries. There is also an onsite restaurant, bar, and fitness center.

Best Hostel in Moscow – Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station. Guests will enjoy all the usual hostel perks such as self-catering facilities, 24-hour reception, Free Wi-Fi, and security lockers. This is one of the best hostels in Moscow and its wonderful social atmosphere and will make your vacation in Moscow extra special!

Godzillas Hostel is one of our favourites in Moscow but they’re not taking guests right now. We’re not sure if they’re closed for good but we hope they’ll come back soon.

An important aspect of planning any trip is figuring out the transportation situation. You’re probably wondering how you’re going to get to all of your Moscow points of interest right? Luckily, this sprawling city has an excellent network of public transportation that will make traveling a breeze!

The underground metro system is the quickest and most efficient way to travel around Moscow. Most visitors rely exclusively on this super-efficient transportation system, which allows you to get to pretty much anywhere in the city! It’s also a great option if you’re planning a Moscow itinerary during the colder months, as you’ll be sheltered from the snow and freezing temperatures!

If you prefer above-ground transportation, buses, trams, and trolleybuses, run throughout the city and provide a rather comfortable alternative to the metro.

Moscow’s metro, buses, trams, and trolleybuses are all accessible with a ‘Troika’ card. This card can be topped up with any sum of money at a metro cash desk. The ticket is simple, convenient, and even refundable upon return to a cashier!

No matter which method you choose, you’ll never find yourself without an easy means of getting from point A to point B!

Red Square | Moscow Kremlin | Lenin’s Mausoleum | St. Basil’s Cathedral | GUM Department Store

Spend the first day of your itinerary taking your own self guided Moscow walking tour around the historic Red Square! This is Moscow’s compact city center and every stop on this list is within easy walking distance to the next! Get ready to see all of the top Moscow landmarks!

Day 1 / Stop 1 – The Red Square

Why it’s awesome: The Red Square is the most recognizable area in Moscow, it has mesmerizing architecture and centuries worth of history attached to its name.
Cost: Free to walk around, individual attractions in the square have separate fees.
Food nearby: Check out Bar BQ Cafe for friendly service and good food in a great location! The atmosphere is upbeat and they’re open 24/7!

The Red Square is Moscow’s historic fortress and the center of the Russian government. The origins of the square date back to the late 15th century, when Ivan the Great decided to expand the Kremlin to reflect Moscow’s growing power and prestige!

During the 20th century, the square became famous as the site for demonstrations designed to showcase Soviet strength. Visiting the Red Square today, you’ll find it teeming with tourists, who come to witness its magical architecture up close!

The square is the picture postcard of Russian tourism, so make sure to bring your camera when you visit! No matter the season, or the time of day, it’s delightfully photogenic!

It’s also home to some of Russia’s most distinguishing and important landmarks, which we’ve made sure to include further down in this itinerary. It’s an important center of Russia’s cultural life and one of the top places to visit in Moscow!

In 1990, UNESCO designated Russia’s Red Square as a World Heritage site. Visiting this historic site is a true bucket-list event and essential addition to your itinerary for Moscow!

Day 1 / Stop 2 – The Moscow Kremlin

Why it’s awesome: The Moscow Kremlin complex includes several palaces and cathedrals and is surrounded by the Kremlin wall. It also houses the principal museum of Russia (the Kremlin Armory).
Cost: USD $15.00
Food nearby: Bosco Cafe is a charming place to grat a casual bite to eat. They have excellent coffee and wonderful views of the Red Square and the Moscow Kremlin!

The iconic Moscow Kremlin , also known as the Kremlin museum complex, sits on Borovitsky Hill, rising above the Moscow River. It is a fortified complex in the center of the city, overlooking several iconic buildings in the Red Square!

It’s the best known of the Russian Kremlins – citadels or fortress’ protecting and dominating a city. During the early decades of the Soviet era, the Kremlin was a private enclave where the state’s governing elite lived and worked.

The Kremlin is outlined by an irregularly shaped triangular wall that encloses an area of 68 acres! The existing walls and towers were built from 1485 to 1495. Inside the Kremlin museum complex, there are five palaces, four cathedrals, and the enclosing Kremlin Wall with Kremlin towers.

The Armoury Chamber is a part of the Grand Kremlin Palace’s complex and is one of the oldest museums of Moscow, established in 1851. It showcases Russian history and displays many cherished relics. Definitely make sure to check out this museum while you’re here!

The churches inside the Moscow Kremlin are the Cathedral of the Dormition, Church of the Archangel, Church of the Annunciation, and the bell tower of Ivan Veliki (a church tower).

The five-domed Cathedral of the Dormition is considered the most famous. It was built from 1475–1479 by an Italian architect and has served as a wedding and coronation place for great princes, tsars, and emperors of Russia. Church services are given in the Kremlin’s numerous cathedrals on a regular basis.

The Grand Kremlin Palace was the former Tsar’s Moscow residence and today it serves as the official workplace of the President of the Russian Federation (Vladimir Putin seems to have bagged that title for life) .

Insider Tip: The Kremlin is closed every Thursday! Make sure to plan this stop on your Moscow itinerary for any other day of the week!

Day 1 / Stop 3 – Lenin’s Mausoleum

Why it’s awesome: The mausoleum displays the preserved body of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin .
Cost: Free!
Food nearby: Khinkal’naya is a charming Georgian restaurant with vaulted ceilings and exposed brick. It’s a popular place with locals and right next to the Red Square!

Lenin’s Mausoleum, also known as Lenin’s Tomb, is the modernist mausoleum for the revolutionary leader Vladimir Lenin. It’s located within the Red Square and serves as the resting place for the Soviet leader! His preserved body has been on public display since shortly after his death in 1924.

It’s located just a few steps away from the Kremlin Wall and is one of the most controversial yet popular Moscow attractions!

Admission is free for everyone, you’ll only need to pay if you need to check a bag. Before visitors are allowed to enter the mausoleum, they have to go through a metal detector first. No metal objects, liquids, or large bags are allowed in the mausoleum!

Expect a line to enter the building, and while you’re inside the building, you’ll be constantly moving in line with other visitors. This means you won’t be able to spend as long as you’d like viewing the mausoleum, but you’ll still be able to get a good look. Pictures and filming while inside the building are strictly prohibited, and security guards will stop you if they see you breaking this rule.

The mausoleum is only open on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday – unless it’s a public holiday or a day scheduled for maintenance. The hours it’s open for each day are limited, make sure to check online before you visit to make sure you can fit this into your Moscow itinerary for that day!

Insider Tip: The Lenin’s Museum is there for people to pay their respect; remember to keep silent and move along quickly, it’s not intended for people to congregate around. Also, men are not allowed to wear hats and everyone must take their hands out of their pockets when inside the building.

Day 1 / Stop 4 – St. Basil’s Cathedral

Why it’s awesome: A dazzling designed cathedral that showcases Russia’s unique architecture. This cathedral is one of the most recognizable symbols of the country!
Cost: USD $8.00
Food nearby: Moskovskiy Chaynyy Klub is a cozy cafe serving food items and pipping hot tea; it’s the perfect place to go if you’re visiting Moscow during the winter months!

Located in the Red Square, the ornate 16th-century St. Basil’s Cathedral is probably the building you picture when you think of Moscow’s unique architecture. Its colorful onion-shaped domes tower over the Moscow skyline!

The cathedral was built from 1555-1561 by order of Tsar Ivan the Terrible. It was designed with an iconic onion dome facade and enchanting colors that captivate all who see it. Fun fact: If you’re wondering why Russian churches have onion domes, they are popularly believed to symbolize burning candles!

This iconic cathedral has become a symbol of Russia due to its distinguishing architecture and prominent position inside the Red Square. It’s one of the most beautiful, wonderful, and mesmerizing historical cathedrals in the world!

The interior of the church surprises most people when they visit. In contrast to the large exterior, the inside is not so much one large area, but rather a collection of smaller areas, with many corridors and small rooms. There are 9 small chapels and one mausoleum grouped around a central tower.

Visiting the inside is like walking through a maze, there are even small signs all around the cathedral tracing where to walk, and pointing you in the right direction! The walls are meticulously decorated and painted with intricate floral designs and religious themes.

The church rarely holds service and is instead a museum open for the public to visit.

Insider Tip: During the summer months the line to go inside the cathedral can get quite long! Make sure to arrive early or reserve your tickets online to guarantee quick access into the cathedral!

Day 1 / Stop 5 – GUM Department Store

Why it’s awesome: This is Russia’s most famous shopping mall! It’s designed with elegant and opulent architecture and provides a real sense of nostalgia!
Cost: Free to enter
Food nearby: Stolovaya 57 is a cafeteria-style restaurant with a variety of inexpensive Russian cuisine menu items including soups, salads, meat dishes, and desserts. It’s also located inside the GUM department store, making it very easily accessible when you’re shopping!

The enormous GUM Department Store is located within the historic Red Square. It has a whimsical enchantment to it that sets it apart from your typical department store.

A massive domed glass ceiling lines the top of the building and fills the interior with natural sunlight. There are live plants and flowers placed throughout the mall that give the shopping complex a lively and cheerful feel! A playful fountain sits in the center, further adding to the malls inviting a sense of wonder and amusement!

The GUM department store opened on December 2, 1893. Today, it includes local and luxury stores, including Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and many more! There are numerous cafes, restaurants, and even a movie theater inside!

For a special treat, head into Gastronom 1. This 1950s-style shop sells gourmet food items, like wine, freshly-baked pastries, cheese, Russian chocolate, and of course, vodka! Also, be on the lookout for a bicycle pedaling ice cream truck with an employing selling ice cream!

The ambiance is simply amazing, a trip to this idyllic shopping mall is an absolute must on any Moscow itinerary!

Insider Tip: Make sure to carry some small change on you in case you need to use the restroom, you’ll need to pay 50 rubles – or about USD $0.80 to use the bathroom in GUM.

Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear….

These are packing cubes for the globetrotters and compression sacks for the real adventurers – these babies are a traveller’s best kept secret. They organise yo’ packing and minimise volume too so you can pack MORE.

Or, y’know… you can stick to just chucking it all in your backpack…

Novodevichy Convent | Gorky Park | State Tretyakov Gallery | All-Russian Exhibition Center | Bolshoi Theater

On your 2 day itinerary in Moscow, you’ll have a chance to use the city’s excellent public transportation service! You’ll explore a few more of Moscow’s historic highlight as well as some modern attractions. These sites are a little more spread out, but still very easily accessible thanks to the metro!

Day 2 / Stop 1 – Novodevichy Convent

Why it’s awesome: The Novodevichy Convent is rich in imperial Russian history and contains some of Russia’s best examples of classical architecture!
Cost: USD $5.00
Food nearby: Culinary Shop Karavaevs Brothers is a cozy and simple place to have a quick bite, they also have vegetarian options!

The Novodevichy Convent is the best-known and most popular cloister of Moscow. The convent complex is contained within high walls, and there are many attractions this site is known for!

The six-pillared five-domed Smolensk Cathedral is the main attraction. It was built to resemble the Kremlin’s Assumption Cathedral and its facade boasts beautiful snowy white walls and a pristine golden onion dome as its centerpiece. It’s the oldest structure in the convent, built from 1524 -1525, and is situated in the center of the complex between the two entrance gates.

There are other churches inside the convent as well, all dating back from many centuries past. The convent is filled with an abundance of 16th and 17th-century religious artworks, including numerous large and extravagant frescos!

Just outside the convent’s grounds lies the Novodevichy Cemetery. Here, you can visit the graves of famous Russians, including esteemed authors, composers, and politicians. Probably the most intriguing gravestone belongs to Russian politician Nikita Khruschev!

The Novodevichy Convent is located near the Moscow River and offers a peaceful retreat from the busy city. In 2004, it was proclaimed a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The convent remains remarkably well-preserved and is an outstanding example of Moscow Baroque architecture!

Insider Tip: To enter the cathedrals inside the complex, women are advised to cover their heads and shoulders, while men should wear long pants.

Day 2 / Stop 2 – Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure

Why it’s awesome: A large amusement area in the heart of the city offering many attractions!
Cost: Free!
Food nearby: Check out Mepkato, located inside Gorky Central Park for a casual meal in a cozy setting. There are indoor and outdoor seating options and the restaurant is child-friendly!

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure is a large green space in the heart of Moscow. The park opened in 1928, and it stretches along the scenic embankment of the Moskva River. It covers an area of 300-acres and offers a lovely contrast from the compact city center.

You’ll find all sorts of wonderful attractions, from boat rides to bike rentals to tennis courts and ping-pong tables, and much more! there are an open-air cinema and festive events and concerts scheduled in the summer months. A wide selection of free fitness classes is also offered on a regular basis, including jogging, roller skating, and dancing!

Although many of the options you’ll find here are more suited for outdoor leisure during the summer, you’ll also a selection of winter attractions, including one of Europe’s largest ice rinks for ice-skating!

Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure

If you’re trying to decide what to do in Moscow with kids, the park also offers several venues designed specifically for kids. Check out the year-round Green School which offers hands-on classes in gardening and art! You can also feed the squirrels and birds at the Golitsinsky Ponds!

The park is very well maintained and kept clean and the entrance is free of charge, although most individual attractions cost money. There is also Wi-Fi available throughout the park.

With so many attractions, you could easily spend all day here! If you’re only planning a 2 day itinerary in Moscow, make sure to plan your time accordingly and map out all the areas you want to see beforehand!

Day 2 / Stop 3 – The State Tretyakov Gallery

Why it’s awesome: The gallery’s collection consists entirely of Russian art made by Russian artists!
Food nearby : Brothers Tretyakovs is located right across the street from the gallery. It’s a wonderfully atmospheric restaurant serving top quality food and drinks!

The State Tretyakov Gallery was founded in 1856 by influential merchant and collector Pavel Tretyakov. The gallery is a national treasury of Russian fine art and one of the most important museums in Russia!

It houses the world’s best collection of Russian art and contains more than 130, 000 paintings, sculptures, and graphics! These works have been created throughout the centuries by generations of Russia’s most talented artists!

The exhibits range from mysterious 12th-century images to politically charged canvases. The collection is rich and revealing and offers great insight into the history and attitudes of this long-suffering yet inspired people!

All pictures are also labeled in English. If you plan to take your time and see everything inside the museum it will take a good 3-4 hours, so make sure to plan your Moscow trip itinerary accordingly! This gallery is a must-see stop for art lovers, or anyone wanting to explore the local culture and history of Russia in a creative and insightful manner!

Insider Tip: When planning your 2 days in Moscow itinerary, keep in mind that most museums in Moscow are closed on Mondays, this includes The State Tretyakov Gallery!

Day 2 / Stop 4 – All-Russian Exhibition Center

Why it’s awesome: This large exhibition center showcases the achievements of the Soviet Union in several different spheres.
Food nearby: Varenichnaya No. 1 serves authentic and homestyle Russian cuisine in an intimate and casual setting.

The All-Russian Exhibition Center is a massive park that presents the glory of the Soviet era! It pays homage to the achievements of Soviet Russia with its many different sites found on the property.

The center was officially opened in 1939 to exhibit the achievements of the Soviet Union. It’s a huge complex of buildings and the largest exhibition center in Moscow. There are several exhibition halls dedicated to different achievements and every year there are more than one hundred and fifty specialized exhibitions!

The Peoples Friendship Fountain was constructed in 1954 and is a highlight of the park. The stunning gold fountain features 16 gilded statues of girls, each representing the former Soviet Union republics.

The Stone Flower Fountain was also built in 1954 and is worth checking out. The centerpiece of this large fountain is a flower carved from stones from the Ural Mountains! Along the side of the fountain are various bronze sculptures.

You will find many people zipping around on rollerblades and bicycles across the large area that the venue covers. It’s also home to amusement rides and carousels, making it the perfect place to stop with kids on your Moscow itinerary! Make sure to wear comfortable shoes and allow a few hours to explore all the areas that interest you!

Day 2 / Stop 5 – Bolshoi Theater

Why it’s awesome: The Bolshoi Theater is a historic venue that hosts world-class ballet and opera performances!
Cost: Prices vary largely between USD $2.00 – USD $228.00 based on seat location.
Food nearby: Head to the Russian restaurant, Bolshoi for high-quality food and drinks and excellent service!

The Bolshoi Theater is among the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world! It also boasts the world’s biggest ballet company, with more than 200 dancers!

The theater has been rebuilt and renovated several times during its long history. In 2011 it finished its most recent renovation after an extensive six-year restoration that started in 2005. The renovation included an improvement in acoustics and the restoration of the original Imperial decor.

The Bolshoi Theater has put on many of the world’s most famous ballet acts! Tchaikovsky’s ballet Swan Lake premiered at the theater in 1877 and other notable performances of the Bolshoi repertoire include Tchaikovsky’s The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker!

Today, when you visit the theater, you can expect a magical performance from skilled singers, dancers, and musicians with the highest level of technique!

If you don’t have time to see a show, the theater also provides guided tours on select days of the week. Tours are given in both Russian and English and will provide visitors with a more intimate look at the different areas of the theater!

The stage of this iconic Russian theater has seen many outstanding performances. If you’re a fan of the performing arts, the Bolshoi Theater is one of the greatest and oldest ballet and opera companies in the world, making it a must-see attraction on your Moscow itinerary!

Godzillas Hostel

Godzillas Hostel is located in the center of Moscow, just a short walk from all the major tourist attractions and the metro station.

Towels Included

Cosmonautics Museum | Alexander Garden | Ostankino Tower | Izmaylovo District | Soviet Arcade Museum

Now that we’ve covered what to do in Moscow in 2 days, if you’re able to spend more time in the city you’re going to need more attractions to fill your time. Here are a few more really cool things to do in Moscow we recommend!

Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics

Hear the timeline of the ‘space race’ from the Russian perspective
This museum is fun for both adults and children!
Admission is USD $4.00

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a museum dedicated to space exploration! The museum explores the history of flight, astronomy, space exploration, space technology, and space in the arts. It houses a large assortment of Soviet and Russian space-related exhibits, and the museum’s collection holds approximately 85,000 different items!

The museum does an excellent job of telling the full story of the exciting space race between the USSR and the US! It highlights the brightest moments in Russian history and humanity and is very interesting and fun for all ages!

If you’re a fan of space or just curious about gaining insight into Russia’s fascinating history of space exploration, make sure to add this to your 3 day itinerary in Moscow!

The Alexander Garden

A tranquil place to relax near the Red Square
Green lawns dotted with sculptures and lovely water features
The park is open every day and has no entrance fee

The Alexander Garden was one of the first urban public parks in Moscow! The garden premiered in 1821 and was built to celebrate Russia’s victory over Napoleon’s forces in 1812!

The park is beautiful and well maintained with paths to walk on and benches to rest on. The park contains three separate gardens: the upper garden, middle garden, and lower garden.

Located in the upper garden, towards the main entrance to the park is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier with its eternal flame. This monument was created in 1967 and contains the body of a soldier who fell during the Great Patriotic War!

The park stretches along all the length of the western Kremlin wall for about half a mile. Due to its central location in the city, it’ll be easily accessible when you’re out exploring The Red Square.

It provides a bit of relief from the city’s high-energy city streets. Bring a picnic lunch, go for a walk, or just sit and people watch, this is one of the best Moscow sites to wind-down and relax!

Ostankino Television Tower

Television and radio tower in Moscow
Currently the tallest free-standing structure in Europe
Make sure you bring your passport when you visit, you can’t go up without it!

For spectacular views of the city, make sure to add the Ostankino Television Tower to your itinerary for Moscow! This impressive free-standing structure provides stunning views of the city in every direction. The glass floor at the top also provides great alternative views of the city!

It takes just 58 seconds for visitors to reach the Tower’s observation deck by super fast elevator. The tower is open every day for long hours and is a great site in Moscow to check out! There is even a restaurant at the top where you can enjoy rotating views of the city while you dine on traditional Russian cuisine or European cuisine!

The tower is somewhat of an architectural surprise in a city that is not known for skyscrapers! To see the city from a new perspective, make sure to add this stop to your Moscow itinerary!

Izmaylovo District

The most popular attractions in this district are the kremlin and the flea market
Outside of the city center and easy to reach via metro
Most popular during the summer and on weekends

Travel outside the city center and discover a unique area of the city! The Izmaylovo District is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike, and one of the coolest places to see in Moscow! The two main attractions we recommend checking out are the Kremlin and the flea market.

The Izmailovo Kremlin was established as a cultural center and molded after traditional Russian architecture. This colorful complex is home to several single-subject museums, including a Russian folk art museum and a vodka museum!

Next to the Kremlin is the Izmailovo open-air market, which dates back to the 17th century! The market is connected to the Izmailovo Kremlin by a wooden bridge. Pick up all your Russian souvenirs here, including traditional handicrafts, paintings, books, retro toys, and Soviet memorabilia!

You will find many hand-made and hand-painted options available at higher prices, as well as mass-produced souvenir options at lower prices!

Museum of Soviet Arcade Games

Closed on Mondays
Filled with old arcade games that visitors get to try out!
The museum also includes a small cafe and burger shop

For something a little different, check out the Museum of Soviet Arcade Games! The museum features roughly 60 machines from the Soviet era, including video games, pinball machines, and collaborative hockey foosball! The machines inside the museum were produced in the USSR in the mid-1970s.

The best part is, most of the games are still playable! Purchase tickets and try the games out for yourself! The museum also has a neat little screening room that plays old Soviet cartoons and an area with Soviet magazines! This unique attraction is a fun addition to a 3 day itinerary in Moscow, and an attraction that all ages will enjoy!

Whether you’re spending one day in Moscow, or more, safety is an important thing to keep in mind when traveling to a big city! Overall, Moscow is a very safe place to visit. However, it is always recommended that tourists take certain precautions when traveling to a new destination!

The police in Moscow is extremely effective at making the city a safe place to visit and do their best to patrol all of the top Moscow, Russia tourist attractions. However, tourists can still be a target for pickpockets and scammers.

Moscow has a huge flow of tourists, therefore there is a risk for pickpocketing. Simple precautions will help eliminate your chances of being robbed. Stay vigilant, keep your items close to you at all times, and don’t flash your valuables!

If you’re planning a solo Moscow itinerary, you should have no need to worry, as the city is also considered safe for solo travelers, even women. Stay in the populated areas, try and not travel alone late at night, and never accept rides from strangers or taxis without a meter and correct signage.

The threat of natural disasters in Moscow is low, with the exception of severe winters when the temperature can dip below freezing! Bring a good, warm jacket if you visit in Winter.

However, please note that Russian views on homsexuality are far less accepting than those in Western Europe. Likewise, Non-Caucasian travellers may sadly encounter racism in Russia .

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Moscow

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing .

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Now that we’ve covered all the top things to see in Moscow, we thought we’d include some exciting day trips to other areas of the country!

Sergiev Posad (Golden Ring)

On this 7-hour guided tour, you’ll visit several scenic and historic areas of Russia. Start your day with hotel pick-up as you’re transferred by a comfortable car or minivan to Sergiev Posad. Admire the charming Russian countryside on your drive and enjoy a quick stop to visit the Russian village, Rudonezh!

You’ll see the majestic Saint Spring and the Church of Sergiev Radonezh. You’ll also visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, one of the most famous Orthodox sites in Russia!

Lastly, you’ll swing by the local Matreshka market and enjoy a break in a nice Russian restaurant before returning to Moscow!

Day Trip to Vladimir and Suzdal

On this 13-hour trip, you’ll discover old Russia, with its picturesque landscapes and white-stoned beautiful churches! You’ll visit the main towns of the famous Golden Ring of Russia – the name for several cities and smaller towns north-east of Moscow.

Your first stop will be in the town of Vladimir, the ancient capital of all Russian principalities. The city dates back to the 11th century and is one of the oldest and the most important towns along the Ring! Next, you’ll visit Suzdal, a calm ancient Russian town north of Vladimir with only 13,000 inhabitants!

The old-style architecture and buildings of Suzdal are kept wonderfully intact. If you’re spending three days in Moscow, or more, this is a great option for exploring the charming areas outside the city!

Zvenigorod Day Trip and Russian Countryside

On this 9-hour private tour, you’ll explore the ancient town of Zvenigorod, one of the oldest towns in the Moscow region! As you leave Moscow you’ll enjoy the stunning scenery along the Moscow River, and make a few stops at old churches along the way to Zvenigorod.

Upon arrival, you’ll explore the medieval center, including the 14th-century Savvino-Storozhevsky Monastery. Next, you’ll take a break for lunch (own expense) where you’ll have the chance to try out the Russian cuisine! Next, you’ll visit the Museum of Russian Dessert and sip on tea at a Russian tea ceremony.

The final stop of the day is at the Ershovo Estate, a gorgeous place to walk around and enjoy nature!

Day Trip to St Petersburg by Train visiting Hermitage & Faberge

Day Trip to St Petersburg by Train visiting Hermitage and Faberge

On this full-day tour, you’ll enjoy a a full round trip to St Petersburg where you’ll spend an exciting day exploring another popular Russian city! You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Moscow and be transferred to the train station where you’ll ride the high-speed train ‘Sapsan’ to St Petersburg.

Upon arrival, you’ll start the day by touring the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace. Next, you’ll visit the Faberge Museum, where you’ll explore the impressive collection of rare Faberge Eggs! In the afternoon, enjoy a sightseeing boat ride and a traditional 3-course Russian lunch.

If you’re spending 3 days in Moscow, or more, this is an excellent trip to take!

Trip to Kolomna – Authentic Cultural Experience from Moscow

On this 10-hour tour, you’ll escape the city and travel to the historic town of Kolomna! First, you’ll visit the 14th-century Kolomna Kremlin, home to the Assumption Cathedral and an abundance of museums!

Next, enjoy lunch at a local cafe (own expense) before embarking on a tour of the Marshmallow Museum – of course, a marshmallow tasting is provided! Your final stop is the Museum of Forging Settlements, where displays include armor and accessories for fishing and hunting.

Discover this beautiful Russian fairytale city on a private trip, where all of the planning is taken care of for you!

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Find out what people want to know when planning their Moscow itinerary.

How many days you need in Moscow?

We recommend that you spend at least two or three days in Moscow to take it all in.

What’s the best month to visit Moscow?

The best time to visit Moscow is over the spring, from March to May as temperatures are mild, crowds are thin and prices are reasonable.

What are some unusual things to do in Moscow?

I mean, queuing up to see an almost 100 year old corpse is pretty unsual! Check out Lenin’s Mausoleum if you fancy it!

What are some fun things to do in Moscow?

The Memorial Museum of Cosmonautics is a fun place to explore the famous space race from the perspective of the ‘other side’!

We hope you enjoyed our Moscow itinerary! We’ve made sure to cover all the Moscow must-sees as well as some unique attractions in the city! Our addition of insider tips, favorite food stops, and day trips from Moscow is an added bonus and will guarantee you make the most out of your exciting Russian vacation!

Immerse yourself in the modern and traditional Russian lifestyle! Get lost in museums, witness awe-inspiring architecture, and indulge in Russian cuisine! Spend the day strolling through all of the charming sites of Moscow, admiring the beautiful scenery and discovering the city’s fairytale-like enchantment!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Alya and Campbell

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How To Find Off-Peak And Peak Dates For Marriott Hotels

Post author: Andrew D'Amours
Post published: April 7, 2021
Post category: Rewards programs / Travel rewards Canada
Post comments: 0 Comments

With Marriott Bonvoy, by far the best hotel rewards program for Canadians, each one of the 8,000 hotels only has 3 possible prices. The majority of dates are considered “Standard” so that’s the price we use for all our examples. There are also “Peak” and “Off-Peak” dates that require a bit more or a bit fewer points (there are as many “Off-Peak” dates as there are “Peak” dates) and they are dynamic, not on a set calendar. But it’s very easy to see the Peak and Off-Peak dates.

Every Canadian traveler should have the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card : the Welcome Bonus will give you 10 free nights in many amazing destinations .

That is for the vast majority of dates if you simply avoid Peak dates, but you’ll get a minimum of 7 free nights even if you have absolutely no flexibility and you choose 7 peak dates (see our 2 other best tips to maximize the value of Marriott Bonvoy points ).

How to find Off-Peak and Peak dates

Here is how you can see the price for a hotel for a full month at a time.

1. Sign in to your Marriott account

Head to the Marriott website and sign in (we strongly recommend LastPass to remember your login info for all your travel rewards accounts and be more efficient).

How To Find Off-Peak And Peak Dates For Marriott Hotels

2. Choose a destination

I’ll use my 2019 trip to Zambia for the example (Southern Africa is one of the best spots to use your points, along with Spain, Indonesia, Malaysia, India, and China).

If you have a specific hotel in mind, you can enter the hotel name directly too.

3. Select “Flexible Dates”

This is the key to viewing prices for an entire month at once.

A one night search will show you the nightly price for the whole month and that’s what I’ll do for this example, but you can also search for 5 nights to see which dates are the best for a 5-night stay. That’s the ideal length to choose, since it allows you to get one free night (it’s always ” Stay for 5, Pay for 4″ with Marriott points).

4. Select “Use Points”

Obviously, you can also use this tool for cash bookings, which is very useful if you want to make sure you minimize your costs. Remember that the whole key to using variable-value rewards is that sometimes you are way better off paying cash and keeping your points for better redemptions, depending on the hotel’s category and the cash price.

5. See the cheapest dates

That’s it. You get a nice calendar with the price of each night for an entire month. Marriott also makes it easy to spot the lower-priced nights with an orange banner.

For my own needs in September, the pricing was the same every day, so let’s check another month by using the arrows at the top right corner of the calendar.

Here’s December, where you can see the full spectrum of prices for a Marriott category 1 hotel: Off-Peak nights at 5,000 points, Standard nights at 7,500 points, and Peak nights at 10,000 points (again: those are the only 3 possible nightly prices).

And that’s it! You can easily spot the cheapest dates for any hotel.

Bonus pro tip: keep in mind that when you book with points, you can always book any dates and have the option to get free refunds (with a certain deadline: usually 2 days before check-in but sometimes 7, 14, or even 31 days).

What does that mean? Since Peak/Off-Peak pricing is dynamic, you can check back regularly and if your Peak date becomes a Standard date (or if your Standard date becomes Off-Peak date)… you can simply rebook at the lower price and then cancel the initial booking!

For more great tips, become an insider and join our free travel rewards-specific newsletter today.

Off-Peak pricing examples

To give a few examples, here are some key hotels with month-long views for 5-night stays or 1 night stays to show the nightly price.

Fairfield by Marriott Bali Legian

In beautiful Bali, you can see that most 5-night stays cost 30,000 points (Standard dates). If not, it’s just slightly more at 32,500 which is just 500 extra points per night on average for a 5-night stay… so nothing dramatic.

Protea Hotel Johannesburg Parktonian All-Suite

In this beautiful South African all-suite hotel, you can see that there is roughly the same amount of Off-Peak and Peak dates, but that the majority is at the Standard price, as Marriott promises overall.

Fairfield By Marriott Belitung

Some hotels and months will be even better, with stretches of consecutive Off-Peak dates that can give you even more free nights than our math with Standard dates only!

Want to get more content to discover awesome destinations?

Finding Off-Peak and Peak dates for Marriott hotels is very easy when you know how to navigate the Marriott website . Investing a bit of time to learn how the Marriott program works will help you get even more value out of your points!

Do you have any questions about Marriott Peak and Off-Peak prices? Leave us a comment!

Explore awesome destinations : travel inspiration

Learn pro tricks : travel tips

Discover free travel: travel rewards

Featured image: Fairfield Belitung (photo credit: Marriott)

Advertiser Disclosure: In the interest of transparency, Flytrippers may receive a commission on links featured in this post, at no cost to you. Thank you for using our links to support us for free, we appreciate it! You allow us to keep finding the best travel deals for free and to keep offering interesting content for free. Since we care deeply about our mission to help travelers and our reputation and credibility prevail over everything, we will NEVER recommend a product or service that we do not believe in or that we do not use ourselves, and we will never give any third-party any control whatsoever on our content. For more information on our advertiser disclosure, click here.

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Andrew D'Amours

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When is the best time to visit Moscow? | Weather, budget, events by month

July 14, 2023

Discover when is the best time to visit Moscow. In this blog post, I will talk about weather, budget and other things to know to choose the best time when to go to Moscow for you. I cannot account the times when we went in Moscow. Here are the pros and the cons of each month taking all main criteria into account!

I will first describe the main criteria that will help you choose when to go to Moscow:

Climate in Moscow: temperatures and weather

Special events in Moscow

Budget and visa

Then I will talk about each season (go directly to this party if you already have an idea of the desired departure date):

Advantages and disadvantages month by month

The weather cannot be the only criterion to decide when is the best time to visit Moscow for you. Even if the temperatures drop low, Moscow in December is just magical! This is why I advise to take into account several criteria at the same time. Also remember that it takes at least a month to get the Russian visa.

When to go to Moscow: climate and weather

The seasons are well marked. The mid-season months are not necessarily the best for the weather. However, they are not necessarily to be avoided, because, as we will see later, Moscow is a city that changes all the time and the prices can be more attractive. For example, for a lot of people winter is the best time to visit Moscow.

Weather in Moscow. Moscow is inland, making the city “more protected” from changing weather. For example, the weather is much more changeable in St. Petersburg. On the other hand, the weather in Moscow is more and more scorching in summer, we can then easily reach 30 degrees (for the Russians, it’s already the heat wave).

Moscow temperatures

As soon as you think of Russia, you want to do “Brrrr”. Let’s prepare our down jackets! Indeed, the Russian climate is not the mildest on the planet. However, it all depends on the region, because the country is very large. Moscow is almost at the same latitude as Copenhagen. As Moscow is relatively far from the coast, there is a pronounced continental climate. It is hot in summer and cold in winter.

In addition, global warming is there. For several decades, annual average temperatures have always been recorded above the past. I suggest you look at the averages over the past five years to be as close as possible to reality:

Sunshine and precipitation

Sunshine. This is surprising, but there is more sunshine in Moscow than in Paris or even in Berlin: 1,731 hours in Moscow, compared to 1661 in Paris and 1626 in Berlin.

Duration of the day in winter. We had questions about the length of the day in winter. So, here are a few things. As in Europe, the shortest days are in December. In Moscow, at the end of December, the sun rises around 9 a.m. and sets around 4 p.m. Then the day gets bigger until the end of June, when the day is the longest.

Precipitation. There is more precipitation in Moscow than in Paris (705mm against 637mm).

When is the best time to visit Moscow: interesting events

Moscow is a city that moves a lot. It is even said that this city never sleeps. So there are a lot of events, forums, exhibitions, conferences. Here I’m going to talk about the main recurring events that punctuate the year and that may help you decide when to go to Moscow.

End of year celebrations in Moscow

December 31 rather than Christmas. The Russians are eagerly awaiting the holiday season. Here on December 31 is like Christmas with us. Religion, “opium of the people” according to Marx, and, above all, its official absence marked the country during the Soviet years. This then reinforced the celebration of December 31, while Orthodox Christmas is January 7.

Russian calendar. In addition, it should be known that the first week of January is a bank holiday. Many Russians therefore do not work during this period. Europe also greatly influences the habits of Muscovites. Consequently, the Christmas markets start in early December and, for some, continue until early February!

Fairytale atmosphere. If you are wondering when to go to Moscow and you love the holiday mood, then the end of December – early January, and even February, is for you! There are many things to do during this time: for example, Christmas markets, decorations, winter games, skating rinks. In 2016, Moscow opened the largest ice rink in Europe. In short, the city is doing a lot of entertainment during this period and the general atmosphere is at the top! However, everything comes at a cost. You can see more detail below in the article, month by month.

Find our more in this blog post: Christmas and New Year in Moscow .

Visit Moscow in May

May 1 and 9 are two big festivals in Russia. Both dates are known worldwide. May 9 in Russia is May 8 with us in France. The signature that marks the end of the Second World War. The shift day is explained by … the difference in time zone.

The May 9 holiday is a very important holiday for the Russians. The Soviet human losses amounted to millions. So there are many families who have been directly affected by the war. The first big parade was organized by Stalin on June 24, 1945 in Red Square in Moscow. Later each year the USSR and then Russia organized a parade on May 9. Here is the video of the first parade dating from 1945 in color, then the last – that of 2016.

A disadvantage of the beginning of May. For the planned events, Red Square will not be completely empty. There are always installations for May 9, but also rehearsals. So, to the question “when is the best time to visit Moscow”, I would not say that May is the best one. You can find out more in the article “Moscow in autumn” below.

Throughout the year, the Moscow City Hall organizes free events (festivals, small markets, concerts, etc.) in the Red Square and in the streets of the city center. For example, there are two major interesting events:

Festival of Lights “Around the World”: in 2019, it was from September 28 to October 4.
Anniversary of the city of Moscow always celebrated the first weekend of September.

When is the best time to visit Moscow: budget, price seasonality, visa

Most touristy periods. Many travelers come to Moscow from May to October. This is the period when we see the most tourists in Moscow. In addition, many are also those who come at the end of December and at the beginning of January for the New Year. The beginning of May and the first week of January are also strongly requested, in particular by the Russians (school holidays, public holidays).

Accommodation. Hotel rates therefore necessarily increase during these periods of the year. But they do not go so far as to triple. To give an idea, count at least 80 euros in the city center for a double room with breakfast. You can read more about the districts of Moscow in my article: Where to stay in Moscow?

Guides and tours. Also take into account that during these periods it will be more difficult to find a guide at the last moment. It’s best to do it 2-3 months in advance. There will be more waiting or difficulty obtaining tickets during the months of high tourist influx: late December, early January, May, June, July, August.

Visa for Russia. The cost of the visa does not change depending on the month of the year. On the other hand, the deadlines can be longer if you make the request for the high tourist season (from May to October). Allow about a month. Getting the Russian visa is not complicated, there is a procedure to follow.

In Russia, the seasons are divided as follows:

Fall: September, October, November.
Winter: December, January, February.
Spring: March, April, May.
Summer: June, July, August.

Discover Moscow in autumn: when is the best time to visit Moscow in autumn?

From the beginning of September, we feel that the temperatures begin to drop gradually, especially at night.

Moscow in September

More and more travelers are choosing the month of September to go to Moscow. Because it is not cold yet and there are fewer tourists than in summer. Prices drop slightly, but remain higher than in the lean months of the year. There is also the city’s birthday on the first weekend in September, but also the “Around the World” festival towards the end of the month.

Moscow in October

You are likely to come across the colors of autumn from the beginning of October. The accommodation prices are starting to drop gradually. There is less waiting in the places to visit. Temperatures are not very low: during the day they are generally around +6 degrees. On the other hand, the only negative point can be the cost of plane tickets, if you leave during the French school holidays.

Moscow in November

It’s one of the least calm! Temperatures drop and can approach zero during the day in mid-November. Hotel rates are low, there are few tourists, and therefore less waiting in museums. It’s easier to get tickets for the Kremlin Palace of Armor, which can be very difficult in the summer. Guides also have more availability. So why not go to Moscow in November?

Discover Moscow in winter: when is the best time to visit Moscow in winter?

Winter is a very nice time to go to Moscow, because the Christmas and New Year decorations are installed from the beginning of December and are not removed until the end of February. To learn more about the different activities in winter, read this article: What to do in Moscow in winter? If winter temperatures scare you, check out Moscow in the spring (see below).

Moscow in december

Normally, negative daytime temperatures set in, although the weather can vary significantly from year to year. In general, from mid-December the snow is durable. It is from December 20 that more and more travelers come to Moscow. December 31st is celebrated like Christmas in France. Accommodation rates are higher from mid-December. It’s also more complicated to find a guide at the last moment. Furthermore, as in Europe, the days of December are the shortest of the year. But if you want to mark New Years Day, you will have lots of memories!

Moscow in january

January is also a very festive month. The first week of January is a public holiday in Russia. Besides, it’s also a week of Russian school holidays. There are more people in the streets, museums and everywhere in the city. To find out more about this time of year (Christmas markets, itineraries, etc.), read: Christmas and New Years in Moscow . Prices remain high during this week, but drop from mid-January.

Moscow in February

It’s the second quietest month of the year. In February, winter clearly takes its ease. The temperatures are the lowest, it’s a real winter! The days are longer in February than in December. So we’re enjoying the day more, and with the snow it’s really nice, because the weather in Moscow in February is pretty sunny. Accommodation rates are at their lowest, and the decorations are still there. So, if you are looking for when to go to Moscow, if the cold does not scare you and you appreciate the snowy landscapes, why not consider the month of February?

Discover Moscow in spring: when is the best time to visit Moscow in spring?

Spring is a contrasting period between March, which is still quite cold, and May, when we really feel the arrival of summer.

Moscow in March

The ice and snow begin to melt around mid-March. Winter is coming in March, but spring is not quite there yet. It’s the third quietest month of the year. It is therefore possible to visit the city more quietly. Accommodation prices are low, guides are available. The weather in Moscow in March is milder than in February. In addition, the days are longer, so you can take many walks.

Moscow in April

It is only from mid-April that we begin to feel the beginnings of sunny days. The weather in Moscow in spring and April in particular is getting milder and colder: we can expect +7 during the day. In addition, there are not many travelers yet and we fear to enjoy the places more quietly, but we feel that the start of the tourist season is approaching. Accommodation rates are lower than in May.

Moscow in May

The early May holidays attract many travelers to Moscow. There are also many Russians who come to the capital on public holidays. It is therefore advisable to plan visits in advance to avoid queuing once there. Red Square can be closed or partially closed for rehearsals for the May 9 parade, the same day and one or two days after. More info in: Moscow in May: events, budget, what to do?

Discover Moscow in summer: when is the best time to visit Moscow in summer?

All summer months are great, if you take temperatures into account. The weather in Moscow in summer is quite pleasant. However, in recent years, there have been great heat peaks or heat waves in July (30 degrees during the day).

Moscow in June

From June, you can take long walks in the city’s parks, very numerous and much appreciated by the locals. Boat trips are more enjoyable from June. On the other hand, the prices of accommodation in Moscow are higher than in the lean months. There are also more tourists. Book your hotel, tours and activities in advance.

Moscow in july

July is the hottest month, but we’re not on +40. Moscow is a city inland and therefore there is little fresh air, if it is very hot. We can do lots of walks to discover the city. We have written several complete itineraries so as not to miss anything of Moscow in our special Moscow travel guide. It also contains tips to save time and enjoy the city off the beaten track, as there are so many tourists during this time of year.

Moscow in August

Temperatures are starting to drop gradually, but there are still so many people. In order to be sure of the choice of accommodation, I advise you to book in advance. The same goes for guided tours or entrance tickets to the Kremlin. It’s also a good time to discover the city differently by going to places that are less touristy and more frequented by locals.

When is the best time to go to Moscow? In summary!

The best time to discover Moscow depends on the criteria you want to favor: the weather, the budget, the tranquility of the visits, the special events to be experienced on site.

In summary:

The peak tourist season in Moscow begins in early May and ends in late September.
Late December and early January is the best time to experience the holiday mood, but it comes at a cost.
End of January, February, March, beginning of April, November are the quietest months of the year, when you can visit the city more calmly and on a reduced budget.

So, have you decided when to go to Moscow? 🙂 Do you plan to visit Moscow in spring, summer, autumn or winter?

Travel idea! As in all cases you will get a visa and there is only 4 hours by train between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, why not visit both cities? Read an example of a route here: Moscow to Saint Petersburg in one week.

If you still have doubts, take a look at what you can visit in Moscow in order to choose the best period: Things to do in Moscow in 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days.

For a great trip to Moscow:

Visit Moscow and St Petersburg in one week: itinerary
Where to stay in Moscow?
Tourist voucher for Russian visa

Moscow Kremlin: skip-the-line tickets and 8 things not to miss

Bolshoi theatre moscow: how to buy tickets for bolshoi theatre ballet, you may also like.

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Visit Moscow and St Petersburg in one week | Itinerary, cost, tips

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Things to do in Moscow: how to visit Moscow | Unmissable, cool & unusual

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Where to stay in Moscow: best districts & hotels in Moscow, what to avoid

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Engineer Your Finances

Fly, But Make It Frugal, 15 Ways to Find Cheap Flights Online

Posted: March 20, 2024 | Last updated: March 20, 2024

<p>Getting a good deal on your flight feels like hitting a jackpot. But let’s be honest, finding a cheaper flight isn’t always black and white, especially when your travel dates are peak season. Fortunately, you can still use some tips and tricks to get a good deal. Here are 15 ways you can use to find cheap flights online.</p> <p>Finding cheaper flights can help you save money on your next trip that you could use for your accommodation, excursions, and more. By starting your search early, comparing flight fares on different sites, being flexible with your travel dates, and using other tips listed above, you can get a good deal on your next flight.</p>

Getting a good deal on your flight feels like hitting a jackpot. But let’s be honest, finding a cheaper flight isn’t always black and white, especially when your travel dates are peak season. Fortunately, you can still use some tips and tricks to get a good deal. Here are 15 ways you can use to find cheap flights online.

Finding cheaper flights can help you save money on your next trip that you could use for your accommodation, excursions, and more. By starting your search early, comparing flight fares on different sites, being flexible with your travel dates, and using other tips listed above, you can get a good deal on your next flight.

<p>Depending on where you’re going and how you get there, choosing specific dates can help you majorly save on your flight or hotel.</p>

Look for Flights During Off-Peak Seasons

Flight prices are high during seasons like Summer or Christmas. You can land a massive discount by booking your fights during the low season, especially during winter. For example, November and March are low-season travel months where you can snag a good deal in Europe.

Spring and fall are also great times to travel to Latin America, while in Asia, June through October is the off-season. Traveling off-season guarantees low hotel fees, entry fees, tours, and more.

<p>It’s easier than you think to call yourself a “financial advisor,” so you should only hire those with a strong finance background and ideally recognized standards like a CFP or CFA.</p>

Sign Up on Websites for Price Drops Alerts

Sign up on different airline pages on social media and websites to get airfare notifications. That gives you access to premium offers that aren’t available to the masses. Emails and newsletters are also excellent sources for getting updates on travel deals and fare sales.

<p>There actually are people who do this. It doesn’t keep bill collectors from coming after you. Plus, you could be at risk of prosecution for creating fraudulent accounts.</p>

Use Flight Comparison Apps

Apps like Kiwi and Hopper use historical data to predict flight prices. Hopper gives you an estimate and sends an alert when the price drops. Additionally, it shows you the cheapest days to book your flights.

<p>There’s some merit in getting news information from social media. People share links to official news sources and talk about the stories. However, it’s also full of deep fakes and other misinformation that can look real and convince many people that they’re true.</p>

Use Social Media Platforms to Track Airlines

Airlines offer multiple promotional deals on social media platforms. You could land on a great deal at the last minute. Some airlines also offer subscription options where you get alerts on the best flash sales and airfare discounts once you subscribe.

<p>Research companies always need people to voluntarily fill out surveys. At the kitchen table or even all cozy in bed, you can complete online surveys and get paid for it.</p>

Check Sites for Airline Fare Errors

Airlines occasionally slip up and post erroneous fares, and you might land a good deal. Secret Flying is a great place to check for airline fare errors. One thing to note is that some airlines don’t accept the mistake fare and will cancel it at their discretion.

<p>It is okay not to engage in small talk with fellow passengers during a flight. Some might view it as unfriendly or standoffish. But people have different comfort levels with social interactions, and sometimes silence can be golden, especially on long flights.</p>

Opt For Smaller Airlines to Snug the Best Deals

Most places only include big airlines in their search engines, especially in remote areas. If you’re flying to a less popular route, ask the locals about other airlines available. For example, Hawk Air in Western Canada has exclusive weekly deals on specific days.

When booking a budget airline, check that they don’t have hidden fees like extra luggage fees, service fees, and other costs that may be more expensive than a regular airline.

<p>Has anyone ever liked getting pop-up ads? Today’s pop-ups are getting smarter, but they’re not getting less annoying. There should be a federal law against them.</p>

Use the Airline Direct Website and Clear Your Cookies

Getting cheap flights by booking from the airline’s direct website is possible. However, remember to clear all the cookies as they store all information related to your history and preferences. Some travel companies and airlines use this information to determine the airfare prices they offer you.

<p>Having good time management skills can make you far more productive. Many people are trying in 2024 to improve this skill so they can get more done in less time for a better work-life balance.</p>

Be Flexible With the Dates You Book the Flights

Most travel-related sites list Tuesdays and Wednesdays as the best days to get cheaper flights, but this isn’t always true. You can better understand the fares by tracking the flight tickets for a month. Use different flight-checking platforms to check fares for the entire month. That will give you an idea of the cost-effective dates.

<p>Flight search engines are convenient if you’d rather avoid the long search process on flight websites. Google Flights is an excellent tool to compare flight dates. JetRadar lists budget airlines, Skiplagged has a hidden city ticketing search engine, and Airfarewarchdog lists top sale areas from your city. Skyscanner is also a great choice, but if you want to broaden your search, you can switch to Momondo.</p>

Do Your Research on Flight Price Search Engines

Flight search engines are convenient if you’d rather avoid the long search process on flight websites. Google Flights is an excellent tool to compare flight dates. JetRadar lists budget airlines, Skiplagged has a hidden city ticketing search engine, and Airfarewarchdog lists top sale areas from your city. Skyscanner is also a great choice, but if you want to broaden your search, you can switch to Momondo.

<p>It may seem like everyone is always on their phone, but there are a lot of hours being logged on computers as well. These five countries are at the top for hours spent on computers.</p>

Contrary to widespread assumption, flight fares don’t get cheap as your travel date approaches. While it’s possible to find low rates on budget airlines, the remaining tickets become expensive as more people continue booking. Avoid waiting until the last minute to book your flights—book early, especially if traveling to Europe and Australia.

<p>When you can’t leave home for work or simply don’t want to, there is a wealth of jobs you can do from home.</p> <p>Some of them require specific types of experience, while others you can learn as you do them. Here are 18 jobs you can do without leaving home.</p>

Go Incognito When Booking Flights

Have you ever checked a flight price twice or thrice, and the price kept changing? You’re not crazy. Flight prices keep increasing if many people search for that specific route, as they want you to believe you’ll miss out.

Avoid booking flights in regular browsing mode; switch to private or incognito browsing mode. You’ll be able to find better prices. When using Safari or Chrome, you can enable incognito mode by pressing Control, Shift, and N.

<p>Credit doesn’t have to be so mysterious; here are fifteen things everyone should know about how credit works.</p>

Pay For Your Flights Using a Credit Card

Paying for your flight using a credit card may provide you with air miles for every amount you spend. That means the more you spend, the more you save on your flight tickets. Some companies also provide a specific amount as cash back when you purchase a ticket.

<p>The United States has thousands of miles of coastline, including hundreds of beaches along the Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, and Gulf of Mexico. With all that to choose from, no one could ever definitively say what the 15 best ones are or even what the criteria would have to be.</p> <p>That said, here are 15 you’ll love, all selected for their scenic beauty.</p>

Opt For Package Holiday Deals to Find Cheap Flight Tickets

Booking a travel package holiday could get you massive discounts on flights. That works, especially when using a travel agent or companies who book tickets in large numbers. You might get a holiday package that is more affordable than the price of a regular round-trip flight.

<p>Some airports cost much more to do business with than others. It’s generally true that the busier an airport is, the less it costs because of the volume of passengers.</p> <p>When you want to save money, it can be helpful to look at the price that each airport in the area costs.</p> <p>According to <a href="https://www.netcredit.com/blog/domestic-flight-cost-index/">NetCredit</a>, these are the highest and lowest averages for domestic fares in U.S. airports.</p>

Consider Multi-City Flights Instead of Booking a Round-Trip Ticket

If you have a long-haul flight, consider booking a flight with a connection. With major search engines, you can check for connecting flights to compare flight fares. Alternatively, search by country to find budget flights, especially in smaller airports.

<p>Lost in a busy airport or shopping mall? Step to the side to gather your bearings. This small act of consideration keeps the flow uninterrupted for others and gives you space to figure things out.</p>

Look Out for Frequent-Flier Programs

Airlines have frequent-flier or airline loyalty programs that reward you for each flight you take. These programs are ideal if you travel frequently on the same airline. You can use the points earned to get a cheaper flight.

7 Frugal Habits of Millionaires

Most people think millionaires aren’t all frugal, but did they ever stop to wonder how millionaires got so rich in the first place?

Maybe, just maybe, they started out with modest, frugal lifestyles to get to their millionaire status. Here are some ways in which millionaires lead their lives to live up to their millionaire rankings.

I’m Frugal: Here Are My Top 30 Frugal Living Tips to Save Money

I’m super frugal, and one of my passions is sharing my frugal living tips with everyone.

Here are some of my absolute favorite frugal tips to help you get started on your journey to frugal living.

<p>Everything comes with a hefty price tag these days. From indulgences to essentials, the cost of living keeps rising. We used to consider certain items affordable options, but now they’ve become so expensive that they’re no longer worth it. Here are 15 things that have lost their affordability and make us wonder if they are worth it!</p>

15 Things That Are No Longer Worth It Because of How Expensive They Have Become

Everything comes with a hefty price tag these days. From indulgences to essentials, the cost of living keeps rising. We used to consider certain items affordable options, but now they’ve become so expensive that they’re no longer worth it. Here are 15 things that have lost their affordability and make us wonder if they are worth it!

<p>Saving money doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to life’s little indulgences. With a few smart tweaks, you can stash away cash for that dream vacation, rainy day fund, or splurge-worthy purchase without feeling like you’re on a constant budget patrol.</p> <p>Think of it as a side hustle that pays off without the extra hours. Whether you’re looking to conquer debt or simply boost your bank account, these tips are guaranteed to put more money in your pocket, painlessly.</p>

28 Practical Ways Frugal People Save Lots of Money

Saving money doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to life’s little indulgences. With a few smart tweaks, you can stash away cash for that dream vacation, rainy day fund, or splurge-worthy purchase without feeling like you’re on a constant budget patrol.

Think of it as a side hustle that pays off without the extra hours. Whether you’re looking to conquer debt or simply boost your bank account, these tips are guaranteed to put more money in your pocket, painlessly.

14 Ridiculously Random Tips That Could Save You Lots Money

Want to save some money? There are so many ways to save money that are published in articles all day, every day.

It can be tiring to sort through them and find the ones that work for you, so we decided to scour the internet and find some of the best ones to share with you. But we couldn’t decide which ones to share with you, so we just decided to share the ones we liked, which means that these are pretty random!

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Where you should (and shouldn't) use points and miles for spring break travel

As the omicron wave of coronavirus is on the decline, spring break travel is entering the minds of Americans looking for a long-awaited escape to somewhere new.

In 2022, spring break — which ranges between March and April depending on your school — is expected to be one of the busiest travel periods since the start of the pandemic. And with that, we're seeing expensive flights too.

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If you're looking to save cash by redeeming frequent flyer miles or credit card points for flights, you may be surprised at how many miles it costs to fly to some of the most popular spring break hot spots such as Cancun , Mexico, and Miami . Since many loyalty programs have switched to a dynamic pricing model, the number of points and miles required for redemption often correlates to the price of cash fares.

During busy travel periods, such as spring break, this translates into low-value redemptions to certain destinations, considering you could book the same trip with far fewer points for travel another time of year.

However, depending on where you want to travel, it's possible to use your points and miles to get a great deal on your spring break trip. You might just need to be a little more flexible than when booking flights at other times in the year.

Use points for spring break travel to these destinations

Have you considered trading the typical spring break beach vacation for a European adventure? Or how about hitting the slopes in the Colorado Rockies? Let's look at a few examples to show why spring break might be one of the best times of the year to use your points and miles for such trips.

Book a business-class flight to Europe

If you've ever fancied flying JetBlue's luxurious Mint business-class cabin , there are plenty of award travel seats available in March.

Rather than using JetBlue's TrueBlue points for these flights, which usually cost at least 80,000 points each way, it's best to book JetBlue's Mint seats using Emirates Skywards for just 64,000 miles each way.

Taxes and fees add up to around $347 round-trip thanks to some hefty United Kingdom departure taxes, but it still works out to a decent value overall compared to business-class redemptions on British Airways. As a reminder, the British flag carrier adds fuel surcharges which, when combined with taxes and fees, equal up to $1,786 round-trip per person on business-class award tickets.

Plus, you can easily acquire Emirates Skywards miles since it is a transfer partner with all major transferable points programs .

Related: Sweet Spot Sunday: Save on JetBlue Mint awards by booking with Emirates miles

See more with multicity trips

One strategy to avoid the U.K.'s high departure taxes is to book your return ticket from another European city. This not only allows you to pay slightly lower taxes, but it's also an opportunity to see another city on the same trip.

For instance, you could book a one-way flight from New York to London in JetBlue's Mint cabin for 64,000 Emirates Skywards miles plus just $10.10 in taxes/fees.

Then, hop over to Amsterdam on a cheap economy flight and fly back from Amsterdam to New York in KLM business class for only 43,125 Flying Blue miles plus $295.87 in taxes and fees.

Flying Blue does have carrier-imposed surcharges, which means you won't save a whole lot on overall taxes and fees in this example, but the current Flying Blue Promo Rewards make up for it. Long-haul flights to and from select cities including New York, Miami, Chicago and Denver receive a 25% discount on mileage redemptions if you book by Feb. 28. Flying Blue is also a transfer partner with all major credit card points programs, making it easy to acquire Flying Blue miles for redemption.

If you want to get even more creative, it's possible to string together a multicity European trip on one itinerary for only 88,000 ANA Mileage Club miles in business class.

I was able to find availability for this European adventure from San Francisco (SFO) to Athens, Greece (ATH); Venice, Italy (VCE); and Rome (FCO) for a two-week trip over spring break dates in late March to early April, flying mostly Air Canada business class (except for the final leg in economy). It's just 88,000 ANA miles plus $156 in taxes and fees.

It would be necessary to make your own way from Venice to Rome on this trip, but that's easy enough to do with a cheap domestic flight or by train.

Note that ANA does pass along fuel surcharges on carriers that charge them so you'll want to avoid flights operated by Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian and Turkish Airlines when redeeming ANA miles for flights to Europe. If you're only finding availability on these carriers, it may be best to book with another Star Alliance loyalty program that doesn't pass along fuel surcharges such as Air Canada's Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles or United MileagePlus.

Don't have any ANA miles? If you have American Express Membership Rewards , you'll be able to transfer points to ANA at a 1:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer to ANA at a 3:1 ratio, with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Bonvoy points transferred.

If you're looking to stay closer to home, a spring break trip to Colorado can also be a great way to use points and miles.

There are some incredibly cheap Delta SkyMiles deals between Seattle (SEA) and Denver (DEN). If you're flexible enough to travel on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, it's as low as 2,000 miles each way for March and April travel dates in basic economy.

And if you don't want to deal with basic economy restrictions , it's only 1,500 more miles each way for the cheapest Main Cabin tickets. Weekend travel requires more miles, but nearly every date is a pretty decent deal. Taxes and fees for domestic flights are just $5.60 each way.

From Minneapolis (MSP), you can book nonstop Southwest flights to Denver for 13,030 Rapid Rewards points round-trip over spring break. Best of all, this includes two free checked bags, so you won't have to pay any extra to bring your ski equipment along.

Avoid using points for peak travel dates to these destinations

On the other hand, if you have your heart set on visiting the popular beach resorts for spring break, you may want to think twice about using points and miles for your flights.

Mexico beaches

Cancun is busy any time of the year — but spring break is another level.

And the cost of an award ticket for peak spring break travel shows that demand is high. Nonstop flights from New York-JFK to Cancun (CUN) on American Airlines can cost up to 65,000 AAdvantage miles one-way, in economy, over peak spring break travel dates.

Remember that, as in my example above, you could fly JetBlue's Mint business class — with lie-flat seats — nonstop from New York to London for just 64,000 Emirates Skywards miles.

To put it in perspective, the same flight to Cancun can be booked for just 11,000 British Airways Avios when saver-level award seats are available, such as just a little over a week later on March 22.

And you could fly Delta for just 6,000 SkyMiles on this date or other midweek dates in late March.

So, what should you do if you don't have flexible dates and want to travel to Cancun for spring break? I suggest paying for a cash ticket and being flexible on routings and airlines to get the best deal.

For instance, you can fly Avianca via Bogota, Colombia (BOG), overnight for a decent deal. Likewise, if you're willing to fly Spirit, you'll save hundreds compared to what JetBlue and American are charging for nonstop flights on some of the busiest spring break travel dates, March 12 to 19.

Similar trends exist for many domestic flights. If you're looking to visit Disney World for spring break, and can only travel on peak travel dates, I wouldn't plan on using points or miles for your flights.

United is charging between 45,000 and 65,000 miles for one-way economy flights from Houston (IAH) to Orlando (MCO) on the busiest spring break travel day, March 12.

With similar pricing on return flights the following week, you could end up redeeming 130,000 miles for a round-trip domestic flight in economy that is just over two hours in duration. I can think of much better ways to use those miles — such as round-trip flights to Europe in business class.

Flexible travel dates can save big during spring break

To highlight the absurdity, the flexible calendar search reveals that you can book the same United flights from Houston to Orlando for just 5,200 miles one-way if you wait three days and fly on March 15. And you can even fly on the following two Sundays for the same rate.

Return flights can be booked for 6,400 and 7,800 miles, which means round-trip flights are as low as 11,600 miles simply by shifting travel dates slightly. That's over 90% less than what it costs for peak spring break travel dates and times.

Bottom line

If remote learning is a possibility or you're able to miss a few days of school, you may want to adjust your travel dates for spring break travel in order to avoid the busiest travel days and save thousands of miles.

Otherwise, look for alternative destinations or consider paying for cash tickets on discount airlines if you don't want to shell out a fortune for spring break.

Moscow Travel Guide

Why Go To Moscow

Moscow's opulence and high culture is a sight to be seen. Forget what you learned about Russia in grade school. This lavish capital of a formerly communist nation has fully embraced the luxuries, excesses and decadence of Western capitalism. Like many former Soviet countries, Mother Russia struggles to successfully confront issues of widespread poverty, alcoholism, failing healthcare, and environmental protection. But Moscow has burgeoned into one of the most expensive, exclusive and largest travel destinations in the world. It comes complete with world-class museums, magnificent palaces, $1,000-a-night hotels, "face-control" nightclubs and internationally-renowned restaurants. Don't think you can afford Moscow? Don't be afraid. You can still find affordable deals if you are vigilant. This metropolis has a big and bold character and grandiose setting that's definitely worth getting to know.

Find Flight and Hotel Deals

Navigate forward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Navigate backward to interact with the calendar and select a date. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates.

Best of Moscow

Best hotels in moscow.

# 1 in Hotel Metropol Moscow
# 2 in Radisson Collection Hotel, Moscow
# 3 in Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow

Best Things to Do in Moscow

# 1 in Red Square
# 2 in Tretyakov Gallery
# 3 in St. Basil's Cathedral

Moscow Travel Tips

Best months to visit.

The best time to visit Moscow is April and May, when the temperature creeps into the 50s and 60s, the sun begins to shine for significant portions of the day, and hotel rates have yet to skyrocket into peak ranges. Of course, the golden period is summer, when the city is warm and bustling. But if you want to (slightly) spare yourself from the perpetually expensive rates, try the shoulder seasons in the spring and early fall. Preferably spring, since fall experiences more rainfall and less sunlight. Winters are brutally cold, but this is when you'll get a true glimpse into the Moscow experience (A frost-bitten walk through Red Square seems to intensify the historical significance of this great capital city).

Weather in Moscow

Data sourced from the National Climatic Data Center

What You Need to Know

A little Russian English is spoken only in major hotels and restaurants, and you'll find mostly Russian speakers in the less tourist-heavy areas. American visitors also struggle with the Cyrillic spellings and pronunciations. Practice some key Russian phrases on the long flight over.

A little tipping Unlike most other European cities, tipping (five to 10 percent) in restaurants is the custom.

A lot of vodka This Russian drink of choice (yes, they usually consume it straight) is found at any bar. But if you wish to taste it and learn about its origins, the Moscow Distillery Cristall is your best bet.

How to Save Money in Moscow

If it seems too good to be true It probably is. Take that proverb to heart in Moscow, and don't expect the Czarist medal you purchased off a street vendor to be worth anything more than a good memory.

If you're oblivious on the subway You'll probably leave several rubles lighter. Pickpockets prey on unsuspecting foreigners in crowded places, particularly metro cars. Beware!

If you're not scared of the dark You may be able to handle Moscow's long nights in fall, winter and spring, when hotels offer the lowest rates. December sees an average of 18 hours of sunlight … in total.

Culture & Customs

English is spoken in major hotels and restaurants, but you'll find mostly Russian speakers in the less tourist-heavy areas, such as at the market or in small inns. Some helpful Russian greetings include the informal hello (pronounced, pri-VET ); the formal hello ( Zdravst-vwee-tye ); the informal goodbye ( pah-KAH ); and the formal goodbye ( Dah svih-DA-nee-ye ). To thank someone, say " Spas-EE-ba ."

What to Eat

Traditional Russian fare focuses on hearty meat dishes and cold soup, a particularly Russian specialty. But don't arrive in Moscow thinking you'll experience only the old cuisine. Russia's new personality has been accompanied by a lavish taste for international cuisine, especially Asian food. Sushi and Asian fusion restaurants are among the most popular in the city, and other dining options include American and Italian cuisine. Eating out, like everything in Moscow, can be very expensive, but you can find cheaper restaurants in shopping centers and areas outside the city center.

Stay alert for pickpockets when using public transport and when visiting the main tourist sites. Many an unsuspecting traveler has been relieved of some rubles on the Moscow Metro and near Red Square. Also, make sure to exercise extra caution when leaving bars and clubs at night.

There have been cases of corrupt police asking for random fines -- if this occurs, get the officer's number and name and ask to go to the police station with him or her.

Getting Around Moscow

The best way to get around Moscow is the metro. Faster and more efficient than the trolley buses and trams, this extensive system has stations that contain beautiful ornamentation, sculptures and mosaics. You could rent a car, but it's best to use public transportation to avoid the city's perpetually congested roads. Plus, street signs are all in Russian. In fact, English signs are nonexistent in the public transit system as well, so it's best to quickly get familiar with a map. Most travelers arrive through Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO), but there are several other airports that serve the metro area. Several buses and a metro line shuttle airport travelers to and from downtown.

Entry & Exit Requirements

Acquiring a visa to travel in Russia is a bit more complicated and expensive than visiting other countries. Every foreign traveler entering Russia must have a Russian-based sponsor (like a hotel, tour company, university or relative). In addition to a valid U.S. passport, you must also obtain a travel visa from a Russian embassy or consulate prior to arriving in Russia. If you plan to stay in Russia for more than seven days, you have to register your visa and migration card (the white paper document given by the border police on first entry to Russia) with the Federal Migration Service. Visas can cost anywhere from $160 to $250 per person, depending on the length of your stay. For more information on entry and exit requirements, visit the U.S. State Department website .

Red Square is one of the most famous squares in the world.

Explore More of Moscow

Things To Do

Best hotels.

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During any season, at any hour of the day, Moscow thrills visitors with its artistry, history and majesty.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

The crown of Tsar Mikhail Fyodorovich in the Armoury in the Kremlin, Moscow. 21/06/2003. (Photo by Jeff Overs/BBC News & Current Affairs via Getty Images)

The Armoury dates to 1511, when it was founded under Vasily III to manufacture and store weapons, imperial arms and regalia for the royal court. Later it…

Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts

Arbat & Khamovniki

This is Moscow’s premier foreign-art museum, split over three branches and showing off a broad selection of European works, including masterpieces from…

St Basil's Cathedral

At the southern end of Red Square stands the icon of Russia: St Basil’s Cathedral. This crazy confusion of colours, patterns and shapes is the culmination…

Moscow Kremlin

The apex of Russian political power and once the centre of the Orthodox Church, the Kremlin is the kernel of not only Moscow, but of the whole country…

Mausoleum on Red Square, Moscow, Russia; Shutterstock ID 64158388; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; Project no. or GL code: 56530; Network activity no. or Cost Centre: Online-Design; Product or Project: 65050/7529/Josh Vogel/LP.com Destination Galleries

Lenin's Mausoleum

Although Vladimir Ilych requested that he be buried beside his mum in St Petersburg, he still lies in state at the foot of the Kremlin wall, receiving…

Bridge Over River Against Sky During Sunset

Zamoskvorechie

Moscow's main city escape isn't your conventional expanse of nature preserved inside an urban jungle. It's not a fun fair either, though it used to be one…

Immediately outside the Kremlin’s northeastern wall is the celebrated Red Square, the 400m-by-150m area of cobblestones that is at the very heart of…

State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia; Shutterstock ID 192471953; Your name (First / Last): Josh Vogel; GL account no.: 56530; Netsuite department name: Online Design; Full Product or Project name including edition: Digital Content/Sights

State Tretyakov Gallery Main Branch

The exotic boyar (high-ranking noble) castle on a little lane in Zamoskvorechie contains the main branch of the State Tretyakov Gallery, housing the world…

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What to Know Before Booking a National Park Trip This Summer

Additional routes in popular parks now require reservations, the annual pass gets a big change, Juneteenth is now a new free entrance day and more changes for 2024.

A deep-blue mountain creek with evergreen trees and brown grasses along its shores is in front of a towering gray mountain peak scattered with snow.

By Lauren Matison

In 2023, the seashores, lakeshores, battlefields, historic sites, monuments and more that make up the National Park Service had 325.5 million visits , an increase of 4 percent from the year before.

The National Park Service director, Charles F. Sams III, praised the surge of interest in “learning our shared American story throughout the hidden gems of the National Parks System.”

Expecting an even greater turnout in 2024, the Park Service and Recreation.gov , the booking platform for federal land reservations, have implemented new measures to streamline the park experience, manage overcrowding and safeguard the environment.

More parks are requiring reservations

To better avoid congested trails, packed parking lots and overflowing trash cans, additional parks are joining Rocky Mountain , Arches and Glacier National Parks this year in requiring day-use permits, timed entries and other reservations for travelers who wish to visit, particularly during peak hours, holidays and the parks’ high seasons. Yosemite National Park is reinstating a timed-entry system it instituted in 2020, but paused in 2022.

Many park enthusiasts expressed mixed feelings about the reservation policies, with some lamenting a lack of first-come, first-served campsites while others find comfort in knowing they have a confirmed booking. As nearly 75 percent of visitors each year descend on national parks from May to October (and often on weekends), park officials stand by the system.

“In some parks, the level of demand is exceeding the capacity for which infrastructure was designed or is outpacing the National Park Service’s ability to sustainably support visitation,” said Kathy Kupper, a public affairs specialist for the service. “This trend is resulting in the need to explore new strategies to protect natural and cultural resources and provide opportunities for safe and meaningful visitor experiences.”

It can be confusing.

New to implementing timed-entry reservations for vehicles is Mount Rainier National Park , in Washington, for its popular Paradise and Sunrise Corridors during certain times in the summer season. Reservations cost $2, are valid for one day and must be purchased along with the park ticket, but do not apply for visitors with wilderness permits or camping or lodge reservations. Similar vehicle reservations are now required for certain periods for viewing the sunrise at Haleakalā National Park in Maui, Hawaii , and driving the Cadillac Summit Road in Maine’s Acadia National Park .

Visitors wishing to hike Old Rag Mountain in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park must obtain a day-use ticket between March 1 and Nov. 30, and in Zion National Park, in Utah, hikers wishing to visit Angels Landing , the dramatic 1,488-foot-tall rock formation, also need to purchase a permit. Fees range from $1 to $6, in addition to the parks’ entrance fees.

As each destination is managed differently, check the park’s webpage for the type of reservation required. Although most bookings can be made through Recreation.gov, some sites, such as Muir Woods National Monument, use a different system.

New features on Recreation.gov

In 2023, Recreation.gov reported that more than 4 million camping reservations and 2 million timed-entry reservations were booked online, and 1.5 million permits were issued. Some 2.9 million new users signed up for the site. With its expanding user base, the booking platform has added 58 reservable national park locations — including 17 campgrounds — such as Central Avenue Walk-in Sites at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and Bluff Hike In Camping in South Carolina’s Congaree National Park.

Recreation.gov has also improved an alerts feature, piloted in July 2023, that can notify users through email or mobile push notifications when a sold-out campsite becomes available. After Recreation.gov notifies you of availability, you must book the campsite yourself online — and quickly, as you’ll be shown how many other people (possibly hundreds) have received the same alert.

While its customer support center and mobile app are still only available in English, Recreation.gov recently introduced a Spanish language translation option. The Park Service partners with Latino Conservation Week , which hosts nationwide hikes and events on environmental education and in-park stewardship, and will celebrate its 10th year in September.

A limit to the annual America the Beautiful pass

The 2024 America the Beautiful pass no longer allows two owners. The annual interagency pass, which costs $80 and covers the entrance fees for more than 2,000 federal recreation sites (of which roughly 100 do not charge for admission year-round), is now marked by a single signature line on the back of the card. The pass owner must show I.D. and be present with any accompanying travelers wishing to access the park with the pass. (Annual passes issued in 2023 will still be valid until their expiration date.) The pass covers all passengers in a vehicle — up to four adults, and children under 16 are admitted free — or up to four cyclists riding together. Active military or veterans and people with permanent disabilities are eligible for a free lifetime pass; 4th grade students may receive a free annual pass; and senior citizens may purchase a $20 annual pass or pay $80 for a lifetime pass.

At the parks, more accessible features, E.V. chargers and new lodging

To better protect against global warming, the Park Service is putting more than $65 million from the Inflation Reduction Act and Great American Outdoors Act into climate mitigation and ecosystem restoration.

Using $15.9 million budgeted for zero-emission vehicle deployment, charging capacity and infrastructure, the Park Service is prioritizing a reduction in carbon emissions, said Mr. Sams, by installing new electric-vehicle charging stations and running electric buses.

An interactive online locator tool created in 2023 shows E.V. charging stations throughout 27 national parks and the type of chargers available. In addition to the tool, every national park page displays alerts on road closures, parking lot capacities, construction work and other incidents.

Mr. Sams also said the Park Service is investing $1.3 billion from the Great American Outdoors Act to improve accessibility features, ranging from a new A.D.A.-compliant visitor center at Morristown National Historic Park in New Jersey to new beach wheelchairs at Sleeping Bear Dunes , Channel Islands and Virgin Islands National Parks . Each destination’s website has an accessibility tab to help visitors plan their trip, and Recreation.gov now has a search filter on its homepage to make it easier to locate accessible accommodations.

New lodging options now available across the country include the Flamingo Lodge , which opened inside Everglades National Park last fall with 24 guest rooms built from repurposed shipping containers. In March, along the southeastern border of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the Cataloochee Ranch reopened with 11 renovated cabins and a new restaurant. This spring, the Clubhouse Hotel & Suites will welcome its first guests in Rapid City, S.D., the closest major town to Badlands National Park , and opening in May in Idaho is the Yellowstone Peaks Hotel , a 30-minute-drive from Yellowstone National Park. This fall, California-bound travelers planning a visit to General Sherman, the largest known tree on Earth, might book at AutoCamp Sequoia , just outside Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park .

Also in California: Those who don’t score a highly coveted (and contentious) spot at the newly reopened High Sierra Camps in Yosemite could book Wildhaven Yosemite in Mariposa, which offers more affordable rates, hiking trails and views of the Sierra Nevadas. Reservations for its first season are available beginning May 1.

Celebrating milestones and a new free entrance day

On the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, visitors can pay tribute to African American heritage at over 100 parks , including the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site in Washington, D.C., Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument , and the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail . This year also marks 100 years since Indigenous people were recognized as United States citizens. Although many parks have Indigenous programming , Mr. Sams, who is the first Native American to serve as N.P.S. director , suggested visiting Hopewell Cultural Historical Park in Ohio and Whitman Mission Historic National Historic Site in Washington, where he recently brought his daughter.

“In order to celebrate the diversity that makes our country great, we must share the complete story of America, which includes both the successes and challenges encountered on the way to form a more perfect union,” Mr. Sams said.

Juneteenth National Independence Day is the National Park Service’s newest free entrance day . Visitors can also take advantage of free admission on April 20, the first day of National Park Week; Aug. 4, the four-year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act ; Sept. 28 on National Public Lands Day ; and Nov. 11 for Veterans Day .

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of this article misstated the location of the Flamingo Lodge. It is inside Everglades National Park, not outside the park.

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Outdoors | White knuckle relief: New shuttle service…

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Outdoors | white knuckle relief: new shuttle service opening to the top of pikes peak.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - JULY 29 : View from Pikes Peak summit (14,115 ft) photographed at the summit visitor center in Colorado Springs, Colorado on Friday, July 29, 2022. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

A new travel option for the 2024 summer season could bring the total number of people going through the gates of the Pikes Peak Highway to more than half a million people.

“We get so many people coming in and out of the office or at the gateway saying I am too scared to drive through those switchbacks above timberline, like that’s not for me, do you have a shuttle?” Pike Peak America’s Mountain Manager Skler Rorabaugh said.

This summer there is a new option for a $30 package deals that includes the entrance fee and a shuttle service up the mountain.

“We’re able to tell them that yeah, drive up to mile seven, which is a pretty easy, pretty comfortable drive for most people, you can get out, hop on the shuttle, and then take that shot all the way to the summit,” Rorabaugh said.

On May 1, the North Slope Recreation Area at the base of Pikes Peak opens for the season.

Read the full story from our partner at Denver7.com .

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter, The Adventurist, to get outdoors news sent straight to your inbox.

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Money latest: Morrisons shoppers are going to notice two changes in stores

Morrisons has launched two major changes for shoppers – with stores offering travel money and trolleys now featuring advertisements. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance news below - and leave your thoughts in the box.

Thursday 25 April 2024 17:36, UK

Halifax hikes mortgage rates - as entire market moves upwards
Renters' Reform Bill signed off - but with indefinite delay to no-fault evictions ban
Morrisons rolls out bureau de change and trolley adverts

Essential reads

The world of dark tourism - what is it, is it ethical, and where can you go?
Money Problem : I have a mortgage offer - will it change now rates are rising?
Savings Guide : Why locking into fixed-rate bond could be wise move
'More important than a will': What are lasting power of attorneys and how much do they cost?
Cheap Eats : Michelin chef's secret lasagne tip - and expensive ingredient you shouldn't use

Ask a question or make a comment

Halifax has become the latest major lender to up mortgage rates.

They are putting up a range of deals by 0.2%.

BM Solutions also announced increases today.

It follows similar moves by TSB, NatWest, Virgin, Barclays, Accord, Leeds Building Society, HSBC and Coventry last week.

Lenders are responding to swap rates - which dictate how much it costs to lend money - rising on the back of higher than expected US inflation data, and concerns this could delay interest rate cuts there.

US trends often materialise elsewhere - though many economists are still expecting a base rate cut from 5.25% to 5% in the UK in June.

This is what average mortgage rates look like as of today...

Justin Moy, managing director of EHF Mortgages, told Newspage: "Yet more bad news for mortgage borrowers, as two of the biggest lenders announce increases to their fixed-rate products.

"As mortgage rates creep up and past 5% even for those with the largest deposits, we seem to be lacking a clear strategy of the government or the Bank of England on how rates will eventually fall.

"Even 2% inflation may not be enough to reverse the recent trends in rates."

Morrisons has launched two major changes for shoppers – with stores now offering travel money and trolleys featuring advertisements.

Announcing their bureau de change service, Morrisons said customers could exchange currencies in select stores or could place their money orders online at Morrisonstravelmoney.com.

Using the online service means customers can either click and collect their cash in certain Morrisons stores or at any of Eurochange's 240 branches. Alternatively, they can go for home delivery.

Services director at Morrisons, Jamie Winter, said the service "will provide our customers with easy access to a wide range of currencies at competitive exchange rates".

So far, stores in the following areas have travel money kiosks:

Basingstoke

In other news, the supermarket chain rolled out a new trolley advertising across 300 stores in a partnership with Retail Media Group.

A sweetener used in drinks, sauces, savoury and sweet foods and chewing gum can cause serious damage to people's health, according to a new study.

Neotame, a "relatively new" sweetener, could damage the intestine by causing damage to healthy bacteria in the gut, according to the study, leading it to become diseased and attack the gut wall.

The study by Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition, found the negative effect of neotame "has the potential to influence a range of gut functions resulting in poor gut health", potentially impacting metabolic and inflammatory diseases, neuropathic pain, and neurological conditions.

The illnesses this could lead to include irritable bowel disease or insulin resistance.

Read the full story here ...

As we reported yesterday, a pilot programme is coming into force in Venice today that means visitors have to pay a €5 (£4.28) charge to enter the city.

Authorities say the pilot programme is designed to discourage tourists and thin the crowds that throng the canals during peak holiday season, making the city more liveable for residents.

Pictures have been emerging this morning of people queueing to register for a QR code that will allow them to enter after they have paid the charge - and officials carrying out checks on people inside the city.

People found to be contravening the rules can be fined up to €300 (£257).

As detailed in our story , the move has been met with anger among some in the city.

Venice is the first city in the world to introduce a payment system for tourists - but comments from its most senior tourist official suggested it may become a more common practice for major tourist hotspots in Europe.

Simone Venturini revealed the pilot programme was being closely watched by other places suffering from mass tourism - including other Italian art cities and hugely popular weekend-break destinations Barcelona and Amsterdam.

More than 160,000 people switched to Nationwide from other providers at the end of 2023, when the building society was offering a huge cash switching incentive.

According to figures from the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), Nationwide had a net gain of 163,363 account switchers between October and December, after leavers were taken into account.

It was the highest quarterly gain since the same period in 2022, when 111,941 switched to Nationwide.

The building society launched a £200 switching bonus for new joiners in September last year - the biggest giveaway on offer at the time. It withdrew the offer just before Christmas.

The latest CASS figures, which show Nationwide had 196,260 total gains before accounting for leavers, suggesting it could have spent up to £39m on nabbing customers from other providers in the last three months of the year.

Barclays and Lloyds Bank saw more modest net gains of 12,823 and 5,800 respectively, while the rest of the UK's big banks reported net losses.

NatWest and Halifax fared worst, losing over 40,000 more switchers each than they gained.

This week saw the last remaining switching offer on the market withdrawn.

Sainsbury's is having technical issues again - with shoppers taking to social media to say their deliveries have been delayed or cancelled.

The supermarket has been replying to customers saying: "I'm really sorry about the tech issues this morning.

"We're aware of the situation and are working to sort it as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we'd advise you place a new order for a future date."

Customer Andrew Savage wrote: "Order has not been delivered and no confirmation email this morning."

Another, John B Sheffield, said: "So angry! Just got through to your customer line after 40 min WAIT.

"Tells me NO DELIVERIES TODAY! tech problem? I've NO FOOD IN! ANGRY!"

In a statement to Sky News, a Sainsbury's spokesperson says: "A small technical issue affected some groceries online orders this morning.

"We have contacted these customers directly to apologise for the inconvenience."

In another update at 10am, the supermarket said that the issue has been resolved.

Responding to customers on X, Sainsbury's also offered those affected e-vouchers and details on how to rebook their orders.

It comes a month after the supermarket had to cancel almost all deliveries on a Saturday in mid-March due to another technical issue.

By Daniel Binns, business reporter

A potential $38.8bn (£31bn) takeover of UK-based mining company Anglo American has sent its shares soaring - and helped the FTSE 100 hit yet another record high this morning.

The attempted mega-merger, by larger Australian rival BHP, is currently being reviewed by Anglo American's board.

The deal, if it goes through, would create the world's biggest copper mining company - and comes as the price of the metal continues to climb amid soaring demand.

Anglo American's shares have surged as high as 13% this morning as news of the negotiations emerged.

The announcement also helped spur the FTSE 100 to a new intraday (during the day) high of 8,098 points.

The index, of the London Stock Exchange's 100 most valuable companies, has hit a string of records this week, including an all-time closing high of 8,044 points on Tuesday.

The score is based on a calculation of the total value of the shares on the index.

Also moving the markets are a string of company results which were published earlier on Thursday.

Among those issuing updates to investors was drugsmaker AstraZeneca. Its stock is up more than 5% after the firm reported quarterly profit and revenue above market estimates.

Unilever is also up 5% following similar better-than-expected quarterly figures.

Another good performer is Barclays - despite reporting a 12% fall in profits for the first three months of 2024. Its shares are up more than 4%.

That's because its quarterly figures are slightly better than expected, and the bank has said it expects its fortunes to improve later this year.

Meanwhile, as tensions in the Middle East continue, the price of a barrel of Brent crude oil continues to hover at a price of around $88 (£70).

This morning £1 buys $1.25 US or €1.16, similar to yesterday.

Every week we get experts to answer your Money Problems - usually on a Monday, but today we have a short, bonus addition in light of multiple lenders raising mortgage rates this week on fears an interest rate cut could be delayed to a little later this year (note: many economists still think it will come in summer).

A few readers have got in touch with questions similar to this one...

My remortgage is due to complete on 1 May. I already have an offer but with rates going up, is there any way at all my offer rate could increase? Saz681

We asked David Hollingworth, director at L&C Mortgages, to answer this one...

It's great news that you are already set up with a mortgage offer, Saz - ready to make a smooth switch to a new deal and/or lender, once the current one ends.

It does take time to set up a new mortgage so shopping around the market a good few months ahead will help you put everything in place and avoid slipping onto a high variable rate.

Fixed rates have been nudging up slightly but you have already got a formal offer in place so shouldn't worry.

Applying for a mortgage will generally secure that rate and the lender will then carry out any further checks to issue the mortgage offer.

The offer will be valid for a specified period, often for up to six months. Rates are always shifting for new customers but you can rest easy that your rate should be safe and sound for your switch in May.

This feature is not intended as financial advice - the aim is to give an overview of the things you should think about. Submit your dilemma or consumer dispute, leaving your name and where in the country you are, by emailing [email protected] with the subject line "Money blog". Alternatively, WhatsApp us here .

By Ollie Cooper , Money team

Interest in a phenomenon known as "dark tourism" has been steadily rising in recent years - but what is it?

To find out, we've spoken with tourism academic Dr Hayley Stainton and renowned dark tourist and author Dr Peter Hohenhaus, who runs a dark tourism website .

What is it?

In general, dark tourism involves travelling to sites connected to death or disaster.

"Dark tourism has been around for as long as we have been travelling to places associated with death," Dr Stainton says.

However, the term wasn't officially coined until 1996 by John Lennon, a professor of tourism at Glasgow Caledonian University, in Scotland.

"Not everyone is familiar with the term," says Dr Stainton, "[but] many people have been a dark tourist at some time or another, whether intentional or not."

Some examples of the most famous sites

Auschwitz concentration camp, Poland
9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York, US
Chernobyl, Ukraine
Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan
Choeung Ek "killing fields" and the Tuol Sleng genocide museum at the former S-21 prison in Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Areas with a degree of infamy, like Alcatraz, are extremely popular spots that also fall under the "dark tourism" umbrella.

How popular is it?

Dr Hohenhaus and Dr Stainton say they have noticed a rise in its popularity.

"Tourists are looking for more unique and unusual experiences," Dr Stainton says.

"This has seen a move away from the more traditional 'sun, sea and sand' type holidays to a variety of different tourism forms, which includes dark tourism."

Dr Hohenhaus adds: "Maybe people want to connect to more recent and hence more personally relevant history - that is definitely the case with myself."

He goes on: "I think I've learned more about the world through dark tourism than through all of my formal education or my previous academic career."

Is it ethical?

This is the big question associated with dark tourism.

Dr Stainton says that while problems do arise, the stigma around the practice is often misguided.

"People don't visit sites like the killing fields in Cambodia or the site of Chernobyl for 'fun' - they visit for the educational experience, as dark tourism is often also a form of educational tourism," she says.

Problems arise when tourists are not respectful to those who may have been impacted.

"For instance, taking inappropriate photos or laughing and joking when others may be in a state of mourning."

Notorious examples include people taking selfies outside Grenfell Tower and at Auschwitz.

"It is therefore imperative that dark tourists are considerate of those around them and respectful at all times," Dr Stainton says.

"As long as you are not just after a cheap sensationalist thrill - take dark tourism seriously and do it right, and it can be an immensely enriching thing to engage in." Dr Hohenhaus

Where could you go?

These are Dr Hohenhaus' recommendations:

Ijen crater in Indonesia - where at night you can see the fabled blue flames of the sulphur mines next to the volcano crater lake;
The Polygon, the former Semipalatinsk nuclear weapons test site of the USSR, now in Kazakhstan;
The Goli Otok former prison island off the coast of Croatia;
The Murambi memorial to the Rwandan genocide - which Dr Hohenhaus says is "certainly the very darkest place I have ever been";
Majdanek concentration camp memorial near Lublin, eastern Poland.

What do you think of dark tourism? Is it misunderstood, educational or abhorrent? Let us know in the comments section...

John Lewis will be sharing its job interview questions online in an attempt to find the "best talent".

The retail chain hopes that allowing candidates to view questions before an interview will allow prospective employees to "really demonstrate what they can do" and prepare, the Financial Times reports.

John Lewis talent acquisition lead Lorna Bullett told Sky News that interviews can feel daunting and "nerves can seriously impact performance".

She added the company want "the right people" from a variety of backgrounds and with "the best talent" to join.

"It makes absolute business sense to find ways of helping candidates to really demonstrate what they can do," she said.

Ms Bullett added that the process will be "no less rigorous".

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What to Know Before Booking a National Park Trip This Summer
April 22, 2024. In 2023, the seashores, lakeshores, battlefields, historic sites, monuments and more that make up the National Park Service had 325.5 million visits, an increase of 4 percent from ...
Pikes Peak offering new shuttle service to the top
A new travel option for the 2024 summer season could bring the total number of people going through the gates of the Pikes Peak Highway to more than half a million people. "We get so many people ...
3 Airline Stocks Set to Fly Higher as Peak Travel ...
These airline stocks trade at significant discounts to the market. United Airlines ( UAL): The 2024 guidance of $9 to $11 in EPS means its trading at 5 times earnings. Ryanair ( RYAAY): The ...
Money latest: Morrisons shoppers are going to notice two changes in
Morrisons has launched two major changes for shoppers - with stores offering travel money and trolleys now featuring advertisements. Read this and all the latest consumer and personal finance ...