Best time to visit every destination for events and culture

Festival month — Santos Populares transforms the city, but prices and crowds peak.

Peak tulip season and King's Day — Amsterdam at its most photogenic and festive, but very busy.

Songkran water festival (13–15 April) is one of Southeast Asia's great cultural experiences.

La Mercè festival (24 Sep) is Barcelona's most authentic celebration — city is warm and alive.

Cherry blossom peak — Seoul's most magical 2 weeks and its most visited.

The Parisian's favourite month — the city returns to itself, culturally alive and beautifully lit.

The intelligent choice — cultural season opens, prices ease, and Vienna reclaims its sophistication.

October equals spring for quality — warm, golden, and the best balance of everything.

Istanbul at its most beautiful — tulip festival, mild weather, the city in full colour.

The city re-energises after summer — cultural season opens, temperatures perfect.

Carnival — the most extraordinary cultural event in the Southern Hemisphere, wet and overwhelming.

Sweet spot: perfect spring weather with tourism still manageable.

Cherry blossom arrives late March — extraordinary, but the price and crowd surge begins simultaneously.

The dry season opens — reliable sun, lower prices than peak, beach conditions excellent.

Near-perfect: warm enough for everything, not yet overwhelmed.

Excellent timing: island open, prices reasonable, nearly no summer crowds yet.

End of peak season: still excellent conditions, prices beginning to ease slightly.