The best month to visit almost anywhere is rarely the one everyone else picks.
Shoulder season sits in the gap between a destination's peak crowds and its harshest weather — often April-May and September-October in the northern hemisphere — when prices soften, queues shrink and locals have time to talk. The trade-off is real: some boat trips stop running, some restaurants close for a break, and daylight hours are shorter.
Check what actually closes before you book, not just what the calendar suggests. A Greek island in early May can be gloriously quiet with half the tavernas still shuttered, so a quick look at opening dates saves a wasted afternoon of walking past locked doors.
Pack for both ends of the weather, since shoulder season swings harder than midsummer — layers earn their keep here more than anywhere. What you get in return is the version of the postcard view without a hundred people in front of it, which is usually worth the gamble.
