Enter shoulder season — the golden travel window that falls between the high-flying summer crowds and the darker, colder off-season. Think spring (April to early June) and fall (September to mid-November). It’s Europe, but less sweaty, less spendy, and way more satisfying.

Here are five reasons why shoulder season is the smart traveler’s secret weapon:

1. More affordable rates

Let’s talk money. Peak summer rates in Europe can make you question your life choices. But in shoulder season? Hotel prices drop. Flights are more reasonable. Even restaurant menus (especially away from tourist traps) are a little more down-to-earth.

According to recent data from booking sites, airfare to major European hubs like Paris, Barcelona, and Rome can be 20-40% cheaper in spring and fall than in peak summer. Hotels? Sometimes even half the price. That charming Parisian boutique hotel you saw for $400 a night in July? Probably closer to $200 in May.

That’s better for your budget and experience.

2. Fewer crowds, happier locals

Europe is wonderful. Europe with 5,000 other tourists in the same plaza trying to take the same selfie? Less so.

In shoulder season, you’ll experience something magical: space. You can actually walk around Florence without playing bumper bodies. You can hear yourself think in the Louvre. And the locals? They’re no longer overwhelmed and overworked. They actually have time to chat, smile, and give you directions without that 10,000-yard summer server stare.

They’re still reserved Europeans, mind you. But a lot more at ease. And a lot funner to interact with.

3. Better weather

Not too hot, not too cold. Shoulder season is perfect. You get spring blooms or autumn leaves, crisp mornings and mild afternoons. Perfect for walking cities, hiking vineyards, and avoiding sweat-soaked shirts before noon.

In southern Europe, September often means beach weather without the summer crowds. In central and northern regions, April and May are lush, green, and ideal for sightseeing. Pack a light jacket, and you’re golden.

Plus, let’s be honest: summer heat in cities like Rome, Madrid, or Athens can feel like walking through a convection oven. But shoulder season keeps it breezy.

4. More access to top attractions

Want to see the Sistine Chapel without the crush? Or actually spend more than 12 seconds in front of a Van Gogh painting in Amsterdam? Shoulder season gives you the breathing room to do just that.

Lines are shorter. Tickets are easier to snag. Dinner reservations are easy peasy. Batter yet, many local festivals and open-air markets thrive in spring and fall, something you won’t get during peak tourist season. In that way you get a more everyday, less touristy taste of local culture.

5. Feel like a genius

There’s something deeply satisfying about outsmarting the system. While the rest of the world crowds into overpriced hostels and overheated tour buses in July, you’re enjoying a peaceful Venetian square in May, basking in your own brilliance.

Although savvy travelers have known this for years, shoulder season is a bonafide travel hack. It saves a ton of time, money, and many of the frustrations associated with peak travel season. When that happens, you’ll be in a much better position to make lasting memories and deeper connections to the places you visit.

In short: shoulder season is Europe’s — nay, the world’s — best open secret. Now that you know, don’t wait. Your smarter, better, less sweaty European adventure is calling.

Blake Snow contributes to fancy publications and Fortune 500 companies as a bodacious writer-for-hire and seasoned travel journalist to all seven continents. He lives in Provo, Utah with his wife, five children, and one ferocious chihuahua.