🌍 When is the best time to see Rome? Inspiration Postcard #6

Useful tips for the low season of popular travel destinations.

Hey you! Thanks for being here. Welcome to Itchy Feet, a Travel-Inspired Newsletter. I’m happy you’re here. Buckle up. 💺

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Last week, I wrote about the best resources to learn a new language. You can read it here.

This week, let's talk about…..lines. 😐

Long lines and crowds are painful.

Whether it’s at a bank (if you still go in person) or a famous landmark, you can expect to catch up to them at some point. 

I remember waiting over an hour to get inside La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

With travel more popular than ever, lines are often unavoidable. 

Travelers and tourists share a common interest in the new, curious, and historical. For this reason, the world’s most popular destinations will often have lines. 

You have three options:

• You can bite the bullet and go during shoulder season.

• You can avoid over-tourism and find off-the-beaten-track destinations, or

• You can travel to popular places during the low season. 
  

The “low season” means a time during the year when fewer folks visit these places. Conversely, “shoulder season” is the peak time when everyone and their cat are traveling. 

Alternative cities to the more popular ones will be in a different article.

For now, let’s dive into the low season (and some useful tips) for some quintessential travel destinations: Rome, Tokyo, Istanbul, London, Rio, Syndey, & Cairo.

Rome:

Photo by Chris Czermak on Unsplash

Rome’s off-season is between January and March. During these months the weather is often chilly and wet.

Tip: According to Full Suitcase, try to visit the famous Trevi Foundation before 7:30 am. Museums are best visited one or two hours before closing.

Airport buses are the cheapest way to get to the Rome city center from the Fiumicino Airport. They cost around $8 for a one-way ticket.

Tokyo:

Photo by TOKYOLUV on Unsplash

The low season for Japan’s capital is from January to early March. Each year, the Sakura season starts sometime in March.

This will draw thousands of flower enthusiasts to the country. If you’re looking to skip the crowds, then be privy to the Sakura season.

Tip: If you want to take your enjoyment of the low season to the next level, then visit an onsen. Onsens are traditional hot springs located all around the country.

They are Japanese bathhouses. Here, people can visit saunas, get massages, and soak in healing hot spring baths.

Please note: These bathhouses can be natural “tennen onsen” and manmade “jinko onsen.” You can decide which is best for you.

Istanbul:

Photo by David Monje on Unsplash

According to Rick Steves, November, January, and February are the best months to visit Istanbul to avoid crowds. You can experience rain or snow during these months, so dress accordingly.

Tip: Always have a photo of your passport ready. Random police searches in popular tourist areas are known to happen from time to time.

The Hagia Irine is an ancient church dating to the Byzantine era.

It’s less visited than the famous Hagia Sophia and could be a nice break from the crowds.