The highlands and Islands of Scotland, the Lake District, the mountains of Wales, London, Paris, Amsterdam, the costas of Spain and such like places all get jam packed full of people during the summer. Where are all the temporarily empty places these people left behind and are any worth visiting for the purpose of photography?
That's an interesting question! Firstly of course it depends what you want or like to photograph. All the places you mention in tyhe Summer are ideal if you are a people photographer. I'm never happier than if I'm in a crowd with a camera.
Since most of those places that you mention are packed with people, one assumes that they have deserted towns and cities to be there, so try a bit of urban landscape in the Summer and scenic landscapes in the winter.
The city of London at about 5a.m. in the summer is quite a fertile ground for photography and a much pleasanter place to be.
I think people just swap places. I know quite a few (different) Amsterdammers who go to the Highlands, London, the Far East or the Costas. And the only empty places left behind are their homes, not their cities, as they are filled up by tourists and travellers.
As ABERS says, most cities are quiet in the early morning, so you'll have to do your photography before breakfast.
Love walking around traditional seaside resorts out of season, lots of opportunities. :tup:
When I was employed and working shifts, I used to love my runs out after a night shift with my camera gear.
Country villages, the coast, towns and also "normal" touristy places like Whitby. The tranquility was bliss.
I like to visit Scotland and the Isles at least 3 times a year but would never go up there between April and September.
Far too many people and Chelsea tractors towing caravans getting in the view finder :P