# Guided tour shoulder season: is it actually better or just cheaper?

**URL:** <https://community.tourradar.com/t/guided-tour-shoulder-season-is-it-actually-better-or-just-cheaper/46459>\
**Category:** Trip Planning Tips\
**Created:** [May 26, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://community.tourradar.com/t/guided-tour-shoulder-season-is-it-actually-better-or-just-cheaper/46459 "2026-05-26T22:57:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![erica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9dc877/32.png) [@erica](https://community.tourradar.com/u/erica)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2026, 10:57pm UTC](https://community.tourradar.com/t/guided-tour-shoulder-season-is-it-actually-better-or-just-cheaper/46459/1 "2026-05-26T22:57:45Z")

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I keep reading that traveling in “shoulder season” (spring/fall) is the best time for guided tours. Less crowded and cheaper, apparently. But is that actually true or does it just mean you get worse weather and some attractions are closed?

Specifically thinking about doing an Italy tour in November vs the typical June/July. Will museums have shorter hours? Will some restaurants be closed for the season? I don’t mind cooler weather but I don’t want to show up and find out half the good stuff is shut down.

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**Author:** ![WhisperingPines](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.tourradar.com/whisperingpines/32/9663_2.png) [@WhisperingPines](https://community.tourradar.com/u/WhisperingPines)\
**Post date:** [May 29, 2026, 7:17pm UTC](https://community.tourradar.com/t/guided-tour-shoulder-season-is-it-actually-better-or-just-cheaper/46459/2 "2026-05-29T19:17:45Z")

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Definitely less crowded, and I did find it cheaper. I was in Italy in October, and the weather was great, but not sure how that compares to November. And I went to Greece after and a lot of the islands are essentially shut down for the season by the middle of November.

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**Author:** ![TravelNotes](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.tourradar.com/travelnotes/32/4492_2.png) [@TravelNotes](https://community.tourradar.com/u/TravelNotes)\
**Post date:** [May 30, 2026, 3:50am UTC](https://community.tourradar.com/t/guided-tour-shoulder-season-is-it-actually-better-or-just-cheaper/46459/3 "2026-05-30T03:50:00Z")

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> [@WhisperingPines](#):
>
> I was in Italy in October, and the weather was great, but not sure how that compares to November.

It’s never the same every year. I was in Rome one December and it was 17 degrees Celcius.

🌍 [Michel](https://tnot.es/Visit).