This Awesome Map Summarizes the Best Time to Visit Every Country in the World

Every destination has its season. Bad weather, monsoon, hurricanes, searing hot and freezing cold days can ruin a vacation. But worry no more, you can now use this cheat sheet for a hassle-free vacation.

This map is intended for a quick reference to decide which country you can go next, bearing in mind the climate in its key attractions. Micro-climate in different parts of each country may have variations.

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1. Nordic

(Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Finland, Denmark including Greenland & Faroe Islands)

• October-March: Northern Lights visible in some parts of Nordic
• June-August: Good for summer activities and cruising the Arctic

Also Read: Your Complete Guide to Northern Lights: Where, When, How

Here are some excellent Northern Lights tour in Iceland, Finland and Norway.

2. Europe & Russia

(Greece, Croatia, Malta, Italy, Portugal, Spain, France, United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Poland, Albania, Russia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova)

• April-June: Pleasant spring temperature
• September-October: Cool temperature and autumn colours
• May-September: Best for sightseeing and hiking in the Alps
• December-March: For ski enthusiasts
• Late November-December: If you love Christmas markets

Also Read: 31 Days, 11 Countries, 43 Cities: How to Travel Europe + Scandinavia for S$4.8K / €3K

One of the easiest way to explore Europe attractions is to jump onboard hop-on-hop-off buses. Check out the bus passes for Paris, Rome, Barcelona and Amsterdam.

3. Central Asia & Caucasus

(Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan including Chinese Xinjiang)

• April-June/September-October: Neither too hot nor too cold (except Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan)
• June-September: Sightseeing and hiking in the mountains; best time to visit Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan

Also Read: 10 Days Caucasus Itinerary: Linking Asia & Europe

4. East Asia

(China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Mongolia including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau)

• March-May: Pleasant spring and cherry blossom seasons
• September-October: Cool autumn with burst of colours
• October-March: Best time to visit Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau to avoid the monsoon season
• June-September: The only time Mongolia is warm enough to visit
• December-February: For skiing or visiting Hokkaido and Harbin

Also Read: The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Cherry Blossom: When & Where

Train passes make it easy to explore East Asia. We recommend JR Pass for Japan, KR Pass for Korea and 5D Train Pass for Taiwan.

Special Promotion: $36 Off Spring in Japan Tours (valid til 30 April 2018 for Singaporeans).

5. South East Asia

(Area 1: Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Philippines)
(Area 2: Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor)

• November-February: Dry and cool weather in Area 1 + Malaysian West Coast (Langkawi, Penang, Pangkor) + Eastern Indonesia (Maluku, Papua).
• June-September: Dry season in Area 2, except Malaysian West Coast and Eastern Indonesia.

Also Read: 10 Holiday Ideas for 2018 Singapore Long Weekends

Travelling to Southeast Asia? Make sure you pick up WiFi to ensure you’re always connected whether you are in Bangkok, Bali or Hanoi,

6. Oceania

(Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati, Tonga, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Nauru)

• September-March: Dry summer in New Zealand
• March-April/September-November: Mild temperature in Australia
• May-August: Exception for some parts of Northern and Western Australia, where the temperature is much cooler than usual (Uluru and Kakadu) or the tidal current is gentler (Greet Barrier Reef)
• June-September: Dry, sunny days in Papua New Guinea and the South Pacific Islands
• October-December: For red crab migration in Christmas Islands, click here for the spawning dates

Also Read: 2 Weeks in New Zealand for $2.7K? You Must Be Joking!

Get an unlimited attraction pass for Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, and Tasmania.

7. South Asia

(India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh including Tibet)

• December-February: Dry and cool for sightseeing in most places
• February-March/June-August: Exception for dry season in Northern and Eastern part of Sri Lanka (e.g. the Cultural Triangle)
• March-April/October-November: Best time for trekking the Himalayas in Bhutan and Nepal
• May-October: Best time to visit the mountains of Tibet, Northern Pakistan and Northern India (although July-September may get a little rainy in some parts of Northern India)

Also Read: 40 Countries to Visit Next [Travel Bucket List Ideas]

Here are some interesting tours: fly over the Everest from Kathmandu, visit one of the world’s happiest country in Bhutan, walk through the romantic pink city of Jaipur.

8. Middle East & North Africa

(Area 1: Iran, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia including Palestinian Territories)
(Area 2: Egypt, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Yemen)
(Area 3: Mali, Sudan, Chad, Mauritania, Djibouti, Niger, Somalia)

• November-February: Weather is not as hot as usual (Area 2) and it’s the best time to hit the desert (overall)
• December-January: Due to extreme desert temperature and possible sandstorm, the window period to visit Area 3 is even shorter
• March-May/October-November: Exceptions for Area 1 where you may want to dip into a warmer Mediterranean shores or some areas (e.g. Northern Iran/Eastern Turkey) where winter can get really cold

Also Read: 16 Days, 25 Places, 1 Country: The Ultimate Morocco Itinerary

Get an unlimited Dubai attraction pass or float in the Dead Sea!

9. Southern & East Africa

(Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Madagascar, Angola, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi, Congo, DRC, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Gabon, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros including Zanzibar and Réunion Island)

• June-September: Dry winter season means wildlife can be spotted more easily and rain-free beaches
• March-May/October-November: Exception for chimpanzee trekking activities, which can be spotted more easily during the rainier times
• June-November: For whale-watching in South Africa
• October-December/March-April: Exception for Lesotho and South Africa’s Garden Route, which is less rainy during this period
• March-May: Exception if you would like to see Victoria Falls in its maximum glory
• November-March: Rainy green season gives way to lush African landscape, arrival of migratory birds and young baby animals with less crowd
• October-May: Exception for Ethiopia where cultural attractions take priority over wildlife
• November-December: If Ethiopia’s Danakil Depression is a draw

Also Read: 10 Reasons Why Tanzania is Perfect for First-Time Safari

10. West Africa

(Nigeria, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leonne, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Benin, Togo, Liberia, Cape Verde, São Tomé and Príncipe)

• November-February: Dry weather gives way to less muddy road when commuting in this part of the world; some of the more arid areas are also more pleasant with cooler temperature

Also Read: The Beggars Dilemma: Does Giving Perpetuate More Harm than Good?

11. North America

(Canada, United States including Alaska and Hawaii)

• May-October: National Park activities are in full swing
• June-August: For cruising and activities in Alaska
• May-June/September-October: For cities or general sightseeing outside the National Parks (including Hawaii), spring and autumn is neither too hot nor cold
• November-January: For surfers, this is the best time to visit Hawaii
• November-May: If whale-watching is a draw in Hawaii

Also Read: 8 Travel Resolutions for 2018

DIY-ing a trip to USA? You can get a value-for-money attraction pass for New York, Los Angeles or San Francisco.

12. Central America & Caribbean

(Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, Honduras, Costa Rica, Belize, Cuba, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Haiti, Bahamas, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis including oversea territories of US, UK, France and Netherlands)

• December-April: Less rain and chance of hurricanes

Also Read: 1 Year, 11 Trips: My 2017 Travel in Review

13. Andean

(Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay)

• June-September: Weather is cool and dry in most places
• December-March: Exception for Colombia and Venezuela, which climate is more comparable to Central America
• July-August: Rainy in Venezuela, but good for more voluminous Angel Falls
• December-May: May be rainy in Galapagos Islands, but the waters is warmer and calmer so more suitable for marine wildlife sighting

Also Read: 50 Places Indonesian Passport Holders Can Travel to Without Visa Hassle

14. Brazil & Guianas

(Brazil, Guyana, Suriname including French Guiana)

• July-October: Generally less rain in most places
• January-June: Except Brazil’s northeastern coast cities

Also Read: Best Places to Visit for a Sabbatical Break

15. Southern Cone

(Argentina, Chile, Uruguay)

• November-March: Pleasant, dry summer

Also Read: What Nobody Tells You About Taking a Sabbatical Break

16. Antarctica

(including Antarctica and Falkland Islands)

• December-February: The only time the frozen continent is accessible

Also Read: 8 New Travel Destinations to Visit in 2018

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