Shoulder season still beats a peak-city checklist

Peak weeks sell the skyline. They also sell an hour in a security line and a restaurant that has already turned the neighborhood into a set.

Shoulder season is not a secret. It is a trade: you accept a grey afternoon in exchange for a city that still has spare tables.

If the trip is for walking and food, pick the quieter month. If the trip is for a specific festival, pay the peak and stop pretending it is a hidden gem.