The top 10 winter destinations in Europe
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Loading... - Logan Carter
- 20 Jan 2022
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It's an inspiring time to visit grand cities and charming villages: with fewer queues you can fit more into your itinerary, and off-season accommodation prices make European travel wallet-friendly in November, December, January and February. Using Europe’s train network you can explore countries at your leisure, meeting locals going about their daily business away from the often-frenetic summer tourist season.
Here are the 10 best winter destinations in Europe.
Drink glühwein at Christmas markets in Germany or Austria
December sees these romantic historic markets pop up all over Germany, Austria and other Central European nations. Expect cute stalls selling everything from gingerbread to sleigh bells and plenty of good cheer, toasted with a glass of warming glühwein.
Top tip: Famous markets in Cologne, Vienna and Munich draw the tourist crowds, but seeking out ones in smaller towns is rewarding.
Warm yourself up at one of Budapest's famous thermal bath houses
Couples skating hand-in-hand, breath cloudy in the frosty air – there’s nowhere better for it than the Hungarian capital’s picturesque central park Városligeti Műjégpálya, with its enormous outdoor rink. Feeling chilly afterward? Budapest is famous for its ornate thermal baths.
Top tip: At night seek out a “ruin pub”– an atmospheric drinking venue artfully created in a once-abandoned building.
Witness the Northern Lights at Abisko, Sweden
Almost as far north as you can get in Europe on a train, Abisko in Lapland is for lovers of serious winter. The sun doesn't rise for several weeks in December and January but that darkness makes it one of the world's best places to view the majestic aurora borealis (Northern Lights). Other attractions include cross-country skiing along national park trails and husky mushing.
Top tip: Stop off at nearby Kiruna to see the famous Swedish Icehotel.
Steel-grey skies set the mood in Transylvania, Romania
You can’t visit Dracula’s lair on a sunny day with lambs bleating in the fields, right? Try steel-grey skies, bare trees and a smattering of snow. BraÅŸov and SighiÅŸoara, two hours apart by rail, are gorgeous medieval towns with various connections to Vlad Å¢epeÅŸ, the historical Dracula, though it’s doubtful that he ever set foot in his so-called castle.
Top tip: Bram Stoker never visited Romania, so don’t expect many parallels with the book or films.
Bask in the sunshine in Andalucía, Spain
Parts of Andalucía are further south than the African coast so expect mild temperatures in winter. Accommodation is cheap, and crowds are smaller at standout attractions like Granada's Alhambra or Seville's cathedral. Plus, tapas and nightlife in the cities are as enticing as ever.
Top tip: Head to the Sierra Nevada near Granada if you want snowsport action.
Have the best sites in Athens (almost) to yourself
It's a real downer trying to Photoshop 500 people out of your would-be-prizewinning Parthenon photo, but during the winter in Athens it's not an issue. All summer stresses – crowding, tourist pricing, intense heat, queues, air pollution – more or less disappear. The average temperature in Athens during the winter is around 13C (55F). It's the best time to explore the country's ancient heritage and get to experience local culture.
Top tip: By all means do some island-hopping, but most accommodations close in winter.
