Why Tourists Heading To Europe In Summer 2024 Need To Expect Way More Crowds Than Usual
There's no doubt that summer is one of the best times to travel to Europe. In fact, a 2023 survey by Allianz noted that there was a 55% increase in American tourists traveling to Europe compared to the previous year. From London to Paris, Milan, and Rome, more and more cities are beckoning tourists looking for history, culture, food, and entertainment all in one place. And, let's be honest, what better place than Europe to indulge your wanderlust?
However, there's something special about summer 2024 that's bound to kick things up a notch in terms of the number of visitors heading over to the Old Continent: Taylor Swift is making her way there, too. Kicking off the European leg of her larger-than-life Eras Tour in Paris on May 9 and ending in London on August 20, the pop star is already forcing travelers to rethink their plans and itineraries — all to avoid the hordes of Swifties who are bound to take over each destination.
Combine that with this year's Summer Olympics also taking place in the French capital from July 26 until August 11 — as well as the UEFA European Football Championship in Germany from June 14 until July 14 — and you're bound to run into a little bit of trouble while trying to find accommodation or navigate the crowds during key dates.
Planning your 2024 European summer vacation accordingly
One of the easiest ways to make sure you don't run into any snags while enjoying your trip to Europe is to plan where and when you're going to be there. For starters, if you want to stay away from crowds, you're probably going to want to give Paris a miss during the two-ish weeks the city will be hosting the Olympics. After all, not only is the city expecting an influx of around 15 million visitors, but hotels and accommodations have also been quick to hike their prices. Per Reuters, there are even reports of some actually tripling their fees for a stay on opening night. Ouch!
The same goes for skipping or postponing your visit to Germany — specifically, cities like Munich, Cologne, Berlin, and Hamburg, among others — during the Euros. That is, unless you're up for some rowdy celebrations and booked-up accommodations at the hands of football fans eagerly cheering on their home teams.
Lastly, avoiding the Swiftie-mania takes a little more planning — especially considering she'll be hopping around major European cities for about three months. To do so, you'll want to head over to her official website for a breakdown of when and where she's going to be. As a tip, most dates typically fall in or around the weekend, so try and use that to plan if you can't skip out on a destination altogether.
Maximizing your summer adventure
With 2024 set to be an unusually busy year in Europe, you might find yourself a little dubious about whether or not navigating the crowds is worth the hassle. However, "more crowds" don't necessarily mean that your trip — especially one that's already booked — has to be any less enjoyable. Instead, this gives you a much greater opportunity to dive headfirst into a less traditional and more adventurous and intimate approach.
For starters, while Europe's most popular cities might be swarming with football fans, music lovers, and sports enthusiasts, there's always the option of veering off the beaten path to explore some of the continent's less-explored destinations for people who hate crowds. Whether that means exploring the lavender fields of Provence (France), savoring rich wines in Porto (Portugal), or catching some rays on the beach in Himara (Albania) — there's plenty more to do outside of the usual tourist hotspots.
And if you're still keen on your visit to places like Paris, Berlin, or Lisbon, there are plenty of tips that might help you skip the crowds at each city's most popular spot. For one, there's the option of hitting up the more popular tourist attractions either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. In fact, some museums and landmarks are even open way into the night — like the Eiffel Tower, for example, which stays open until 11:45 p.m. throughout the week. This won't necessarily help you save on accommodation, though — so happy hunting!