Look up the weather forecast before you pack. As in many parts of the United States, the weather can be somewhat unpredictable in Europe in the spring. If you plan on backpacking, pack your rubber boots, raincoats and umbrellas. Be sure to pack socks, jeans and good walking shoes because you will want to be comfortable while viewing the many tourist attractions.
Look for deals in airfare and lodging either on the Internet or through a travel company. The summer is generally one of the busiest times to visit Europe, so you will be ahead of the curve if you go in the spring. Because there are fewer guests traveling in the spring, you should be able to find more affordable rates for most hotels and airlines and will therefore have more options to choose from as the flights may not fill up as quickly. Depending on the location, you may be able to stop by a hotel and get a room on demand. However, if you are unfamiliar with the area, it's always a good idea to book rooms in advance to avoid capacity problems.
Check the spring hours of the tourist attractions that you plan to visit. The spring schedule will likely be less flexible than in the busier seasons, such as holidays and summertime. Look into yearly spring festivals such as the Budapest Spring Festival. The Budapest Spring Festival takes place from the middle of March through the beginning of April and is known for music, dance, poetry and art exhibitions for all ages. Italy also is host to a plethora of spring celebrations such as The Feast of Saint Benedict, which takes place in Norcia every March 20th and 21st. The feast is characterized by the visitation of European ambassadors and a medieval celebration.
Purchase a Eurail pass if you plan to travel between countries. For one low price you can buy a pass that lasts days or even months and offers you access to all countries that contain the Eurail lines. These passes range from $50 to $500, depending on the amount of time and access that you are alloted. The Eurail travel times and rates are consistent between seasons. Therefore, if the Eurail rate rises for summer, it will stay this amount for the fall, winter and spring months as well.
