Hey there, fellow travelers! Today, we visit the countries of Southern Europe, also known as the Mediterranean! Southern Europe countries include Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece and the South of France: some pretty great countries! As you know, here at Wolters World, we like to prepare travelers with the good, and the bad, of visiting a new travel destination. So these are the five things you’ll love, and the five things you’ll hate about a Mediterranean vacation.
Hate #1: Labor Strikes
Strikes are all too common in Mediterranean Europe and unfortunately, it can affect your trip if you don’t plan ahead or if you are caught off guard. Sometimes it’s farmers on strike and the roads are blocked, other times it’s the trains or airport staff. If you hear that there are some strikes scheduled, you can be prepared and avoid them. You can always ask at your hotel about any strikes that might affect your trip.
Hate #2: Mediterranean Tourists
Yes, you and I are both a part of the problem, but tourists can be super annoying when you visit the Mediterranean. This is a beautiful part of the world, so it’s popular with everyone. Fellow Europeans, Americans, Asians; people come from all over to visit the countries of the Mediterranean. Mediterranean cruises are super popular now, so a small port city can be totally overrun by thousands of cruise ship passengers for an afternoon. If crowds bother you, try not to come during the busy season.
Hate #3: Afternoon Siesta
An afternoon siesta is a strong custom, especially in Spain. You might find a lot of businesses closed from 1-3 or from 2-7, so getting things done during siesta can be kind of a pain. If you have shopping you need to do, make sure you plan ahead and know the local shop hours.
Hate #4: August in Southern Europe
The best advice I can give for a Mediterranean trip is to avoid coming in August. August is a big vacation month for Europeans, and this can affect you in two ways. The cities empty out as everyone flocks to the beaches, so you won’t find much going on unless you are also in the beach towns. And if you are at the beach, be prepared for crowds. August is also extremely hot in Southern Europe; sightseeing can be miserable at that time of year. The best time to visit the Mediterranean countries is spring and fall; weather will still be nice and you won’t have as many tourists to deal with.
Hate #5: Touts & Beggars
Sure, every city in Europe has touts and beggars, but they seem to be especially aggressive around the Mediterranean. They often won’t take no for an answer and will continue to harass you until they find an easier target. It can be scary if you don’t know what to expect. Watch out for pickpockets and scammers in some of the larger cities, too.
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Love #1: Mediterranean Weather
Mediterranean Europe is such a popular travel destination because the weather is generally pretty amazing. Aside from the scorching month of August, you can enjoy Southern Europe in shorts and short sleeves from spring through fall, with mild winters. Unlike Central Europe, rain is pretty rare here, so you don’t have to worry about the weather ruining any of your plans.
Love #2: Mediterranean Cuisine
This region is famous for food and wine and it does not take long to see why. These are the cuisines that people try to replicate around the world. I like to joke that you never see a Finnish restaurant in an American city, but how many French, Spanish, Greek and Italian restaurants do you have in your hometown? Now, imagine it ten times more fresh and authentic than what you get at home. And then there’s the port wine, sangria, Aperol spritz and all the great wine throughout the region. The Mediterranean is a definite foodie destination.
Love #3: Mediterranean People
Imagine how happy you would be to live in the Mediterranean region? It’s obvious when you meet the locals that they love life and are happy to be here. They are super friendly, and you really absorb all that positivity in the atmosphere while you’re here. They are so helpful and open, it really adds to the experience of visiting Southern Europe.
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Love #4: Ancient History
The quantity and quality of history in this region are astounding. The historic sights in southern Europe are not hundreds of years old, but thousands of years. It’s almost hard to comprehend just how old places like the Colosseum and the Roman Forum are. Taking a tour of the Mediterranean region is like a living history lesson. It’s also really cool to see these places in person after learning about them in school.
Love #5: Soaking up the Atmosphere
In addition to all the amazing sights and museums of the Mediterranean, one of the best things to do in the Mediterranean is to find a spot in a cafe on a piazza and just enjoy the atmosphere. Nothing will make you feel more like a local than ordering a local drink, maybe some tapas and just kicking back to people watch.
We have visited the Mediterranean countries of Southern Europe many times, and will return again in the future. It’s really a wonderful region for family travel. The “hates” are really just a few things to keep a head’s up on rather than a reason not to take a Southern Europe trip. Want more tips on Mediterranean travel? Check out these other blog posts: