"Don't visit Europe in August" - Is this really true?

SoCalRugger · #1 01-03-2007, 08:01 AM

So now that I'm done with grad school, I'm going to take a long trip to Europe. Originally I was going to go from mid-March to mid-July. But now I've decided I want to catch a couple Rugby World Cup matches that are at the beginning of Sept., which would put me there mid-May to mid-September. I've been told this is a bad idea by a couple people because apparently all of Europe goes on vacation in August and all the cities are dead and services are reduced or shut down. But the websites I've seen only say that this applies mainly to Western and Southern countries.

So for anyone that either lives in Europe or has been there during the summer, will I be alright if I stick to Eastern Europe, and maybe Egypt, during that month? Or do I need to rethink the timing of this thing?

ColdDecker333 · #2 01-03-2007, 08:06 AM

It´s freaking hot in Egypt in August, no other than locals can live there that time.

There are much people in Eastern Europe at August. Good vacation time to hang out there and in Scandinavia and Central Europe in June-August (nice warm climate).

Lazy Meatball · #3 01-03-2007, 08:12 AM

So where does all of Europe go on vacation? Do they leave the continent entirely?

matt85 · #4 01-03-2007, 08:21 AM

You go to any big city in Europe and it will be heaving mid summer, especially if its somewhere warm.

frede89 · #5 01-03-2007, 08:23 AM

Not at all. Many central europeans and svandinavians go south to Italy, Spain and that kinda countries.

Sciolist · #6 01-03-2007, 08:39 AM

France kind of dies out in early August. UK doesn't though, and obviously all the tourists have to go somewhere anyway, so services etc are still running fine.

dlorc · #7 01-03-2007, 08:42 AM

Only france slacks in summer, the rest of europe is working as usual.

evil twin · #8 01-03-2007, 08:53 AM

The main issue that you might run into is having all the school children off school. If you're going around the normal London touristy places I really doubt this matters, they'll be busy with tourists as usual, but if you're planning to tour the beaches in the Southwest (as an example) then they will be jam packed with British kids and their parents.

Vavavoom · #9 01-03-2007, 09:23 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Only france slacks all year round, the rest of europe is working as usual.

[/ QUOTE ]

Couldn't resist...

Valerio · #10 01-03-2007, 09:28 AM

In greece, the cities are dead in August, but the islands are packed.