Weather help! Europe in April/May
 

Hey everyone. I'm starting to think about a backpacking trip to some of my "wishlist" countries starting early April and ending 2nd or 3rd week in May. I'm used to colder weathers (Canadian) but as I most enjoy scenery, architecture and culture in a trip (with some art and major sites thrown in here and there), I don't want to be forced inside because of rain/shoddy weather. I was thinking of visiting the following countries in the order they're written. Any thoughts?? Suggestions on must sees/ where to focus super welcome as well:

Portugal
Spain
SOUTHERN France
?Germany
Switzerland
Austria
Greece (thinking the Islands)
Turkey (thinking Istanbul)

Start in the south and work north to get not hellishly hot weather in the south and avoid chilly in the north.

Southern Spain is much hotter than others and as soon as you reach the Alps (and north) it will be cooler and rainier.

Greek islands you need to save until the end - off season they are dead.

Oh - and it will rain - maybe a lot, maybe a little - but I have never been to europe for more than 2 or 3 days without rain (except southern Spain)

April in Germany and Switzerland will likely be cool and possibly wet. In fact we were in Wengen one july and the locals said the trails hadn't dried up till mid June that year.. so ... I would skip both those countries in April ,, you already have so many awesome choices. I do not beleive any of the those places ( including Spain etc) will be hot in april or may, they will just be nice.
I think people sometimes mistakenly think that the mediterraen countries are tropical weather wise, they are not, they get cool and rainy in winter ( heck places like Barcelona and Rome have even gotten freak snow ) and dont' warm up till late spring( late march thru April)

Well, it won't be "hellishly hot" anywhere in Europe in April to mid-May, so you can set aside that worry. I certainly wouldn't start my trip in the Greek Islands in April, because the season hasn't yet started, and most hotels and restaurants will still be closed. One of the major hiking attractions on the islands, Crete's Samaria Gorge, doesn't open until May. In early April there may even still be skiing in the Greek mountains: http://www.snowcam.gr.

If you can plan your trip for a month later it would be much better on virtually all accounts. May is the start of the season on the Greek Islands, but it will still be cool enough in the evenings for even Canadians to need a jacket. By June it will be getting hot in the Mediterranean countries, but very pleasant in the Alpine regions.

:-)

May is probably the best time of year to go to Andalucía in the South of Spain. Full spring blossom, the summer heat is some weeks away and there are plenty of local festivals that will give you an excellent opportunity to get under the skin of things and experience the food, the wine and the rich, old and diverse culture and history of the region.

In May, Andalucian towns - especially Granada and Córdoba - celebrate the "Cruces de Mayo": http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/spani...es-de-mayo.htm

Córdoba in May is something special, the "cruces" celebration is followed by the patio competition leading on to the flamenco inspired Feria by the end of the month.
Córdoba patio exposition and competition: http://www.andalucia.com/cities/cordoba/patios.htm
The Feria in late May: http://www.andalucia.com/festival/co...pring-fair.htm

May is also the month of the Jerez horse fair, Feria de Caballo de Jerez: http://www.andalucia.com/festival/jerez-horse-fair.htm

You could also consider the famous Feria de Abril (April fair) in Sevilla a bit earlier: http://www.exploreseville.com/events/feriadeabril.htm

WEATHER:
Past 16 years statistics for mid May in inland Sevilla (the hottest) says daily highs 75-89F. Cooler temperatues in for example Málaga by the Mediterranean where the high temperatures statistics for mid May says 73-80F. Expect predominantly sunny weather.
http://www.wetteronline.de/Spanien.htm