Updated March 2  /  Marisol Ferrante

Shoulder season

Late March, early May, October. Places where the forecast says 16°C and means anything from 7 to 24.

Shoulder season is the best time to travel and the hardest to pack for. Everything is cheaper, nothing is crowded, and you have no idea what to wear. The answer is not "bring both". The answer is three thin layers that all work alone.

The three layers

• Base: merino or synthetic long-sleeveWorks alone at 22°C. Does not smell on day three, which is the whole argument for merino.
• Mid: a light knit or fleeceMust look acceptable indoors on its own, because you will take the jacket off in every cafe.
• Shell: hooded, windproof, not insulatedInsulated jackets are useless in shoulder season. You need wind and rain stopped, not warmth added.

The rest of the clothes

• Two more tops, one warm one light
• One pair of trousers that dry fastNot jeans. Wet jeans in a hotel room stay wet for two days.
• A second pair of trousers you like being seen in
• Shoes that handle a wet pavementNot waterproof boots. Just not smooth-soled.
• A second pair of shoes only if the first pair is the wet pair
• Thin gloves22 grams. The difference between an enjoyable and a miserable morning.
• A hat that packs flat
• SunglassesLow autumn sun on a wet road is worse than summer glare.

Because the weather will turn

• Dry bag or a strong plastic bag for the electronics
• One spare pair of socks in the day bag, not the main bagThe single best shoulder-season line on this site.
• Small pack of tissues
• Something to do indoors for three hoursA book. A real rainy afternoon happens on roughly one trip in three.

Booking, because the season changes that too

• Check what closesHalf the coastal places I like shut on the last Sunday in October and do not advertise it.
• Check the actual sunset time, not the seasonIn late October in northern Europe it is dark at half four. Plans have to change shape.
• Heating in the accommodation, confirmedShoulder-season lets often turn the heating off for the season, not for the weather.
• Free cancellation on at least one nightWeather-dependent trips need one flexible night to be enjoyable.