π€³ Travel tip #110: How to take pictures without crowds in Europe
Published 18 days agoΒ β’Β 3 min read
Hi Reader,
It's Friday so a new travel tip comes to you!
Last week I was so exhausted from recent long haul travels that I did not have the energy to send a weekly travel tip, but I am back this week with one that is very timely if you are planning to visit Europe, or any other destination in the Northern hemisphere that is busiest during the summer months.
.π Got a friend who would benefit from knowing this? Forward her this email!
How to take pictures of popular landmarks without the crowds
St Mark's Square in Venice, at the beginning of September
The most obvious way to find a popular place empty, besides during COVID times, is to go during the low season.
If you visit Barcelona in January, you will find it all to yourself, but it will also be colder and the days will be shorter.
However, you don't have to sacrifice the weather and the other perks that come with seeing a place at its best time, in the name of enjoying some parts of it emptier. The trick is to wake up early.
Days are very long as soon as the summer approaches in Europe. Right now, in Barcelona, the sunrise is at 630am and the sun sets at 9pm.
If you are out and about in the Gothic Quarter at 730am the sun will be shinning already and you will have the streets to yourself until at least 9am when the first walking group tours may start to arrive. That is your cue to find a nice cafe and people watch for a while.
The same applies to Florence, Barcelona, Paris, London, Venice (pictured above when me and the photographer we had on tour went on a short photoshoot at 8am at the beginning of September, which is very much still the peak summer season), etc.
For a brief period, you will have the city to yourself, sharing it only with locals going to work.
Bonus points for that awesome photoshoot: This will also be golden hour and it will be less hot.
More tips to avoid peak season crowds, from my travel tips:
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