Europe in the Winter: The 8 Best Places to Visit

Visiting Europe in the winter could look like touring European Christmas markets in France, hitting the slopes in Switzerland, going to a sauna in Sweden, or escaping the cold on the Canary Islands.

Whether you’re after a cozy holiday, a snow sport vacation or a warm getaway, you can find the perfect place in Europe to visit this winter.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Europe in the winter many times and have actually lived in Amsterdam, Prague and the UK during European winters. I’ve travelled through wintry Europe solo, with friends, with my husband, with family, and even with my baby and dog!

Winter is one of my favourite times to travel through Europe. I love the holiday magic of Christmas markets, gluhwein and decorated shop windows. And I love the off-season deals you’ll find in January and February!

Below I’ve picked eight of my favourite places to visit in Europe in the winter, catering to all types of holidaymakers. I’ll let you know why each place made my list, what you can do there in winter and convince you to book your flight!

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Why travel to Europe in the winter?

There are lots of great reasons to travel to Europe in the winter. For starters, a lot of people have winter holidays from school and work, meaning they have more time for a vacation.

A big draw to Europe in wintertime are the legendary Christmas markets. These are seen all over Europe, though the most famous ones are in France and Germany.

There’s lots of other Christmas traditions too, like pantomime musicals in the UK and krampus runs in Austria. And after Christmas, you’ve got winter holidays like Hogmanay in Scotland and Carnival in places like Venice and Nice.

If winter sports are your thing, there are plenty of places in Europe where you can ski, snowboard, tube or snowshoe. I can’t say these are my hobbies, but even I wouldn’t say no to a mountain holiday in Switzerland!

Or you can go south and escape the wintry cold with a European vacation to spots like Cyprus, Madeira, Malta or Andalusia. My mom enjoyed t-shirt weather in the Canary Islands in November on her Spain/Portugal trip.

While touring Christmas markets during the peak holiday season can be expensive, you can also find some good deals in Europe in the winter. We’ve scored big discounts on transportation and accommodation in Europe in January and February.

As a bonus, a lot of Europe’s most crowded cities are much quieter in January and February, so you don’t have to wait in lines or book everything in advance. Yay for off-season travel!

Here are 8 of my favourite European winter destinations:

1) Salzburg, Austria

Salzburg is my favourite city in Austria and one I’ve visited three times. My husband, Colin, and I visited Salzburg as part of our European Christmas market road trip through Czechia, Austria and Germany. And Salzburg was my favourite stop!

I loved the Christmas markets in Salzburg. They had a large one with an ice rink in the centre of the old town, but lots of cute little ones hidden down alleyways. It felt like stumbling into a fairytale!

We missed it on our trip, but Salzburg is also famous for the Krampus Run, when devil-like characters roam the streets and swat people behaving badly. So if you’re looking for a spooky Christmas, Salzburg has you covered.

If you’re a fan of the Sound of Music, you can go on a bus tour from Salzburg to see where the iconic movie was filmed. We did this when we were in Salzburg with our moms and yes, it was cheesy, but so much fun!

And you don’t want to miss the gorgeous Salzburg views, such as those from the top of Hohensalzburg Fortress. They even have a Christmas market up at the fortress!

From Salzburg, you can also visit Vienna and Hallstatt, which are both awesome winter destinations. In Vienna you can browse their many Christmas markets, see the famous Lipizzaner horses or Vienna Boys Choir, and check out the city palaces (Schonbrunn is my favourite).

Hallstatt is a charming little Austrian town on a lake. And I think it looks particularly magical blanketed in snow!

2) Andalusia, Spain

I’ve visited Andalusia twice in the winter and firmly believe it’s the best time to go to this area of Southern Spain.

I first visited Seville in February 2020 and completely fell in love. The city was beautiful with the stunning architecture of the Seville Cathedral, Plaza de Espana and Alhambra. We also took in a flamenco show.

Because we were visiting in February, we didn’t have to deal with the high season crowds or oppressive summer heat. We enjoyed low crowds and comfortable t-shirt weather every day in Seville.

We experienced similar weather in Malaga when we visited in January 2026 for our daughter’s first birthday. We were flying in from the UK – and our family was flying in from Canada – so Malaga’s warm temperature was a nice break from our cold winters!

Like Seville, Malaga has ton to do on a winter city break. We loved exploring the Alcazaba, going on a walking tour of the old town, hitting the beach and visiting the Picasso Museum.

Andalusia has a beautiful culture of living life outside, whether that’s on strolls around the city, long tapas lunches or people watching with a drink on a rooftop.

It was such a treat to enjoy life outside, with all of the music, good food and bustle of people, in middle of winter when other cities are stuck inside!

PS: You could also head over to Morocco from Andalusia, like we did in February 2020. It’s not in Europe but it is an easy add-on and winter is the perfect time of year to visit!

3) Nice, France

I’ve visited Nice twice – once in the summer and once in the winter. And despite being a beach resort city on the French Riviera, I firmly believe Nice in winter is the winner!

Nice is the largest city on the Cote d’Azur, so there’s lots to do in the off-season. We enjoyed a food tour around Nice’s old town, going up to Castle Hill and strolling along the Promenade des Anglais. There are also tons of museums and markets in Nice.

Every February, Nice hosts Carnaval, an incredible celebration of colour, music and masks. Colin and I went to the Carnaval de Nice opening night parade in February 2024 and had the best time!

You can also attend Fete du Citron – a festival dedicated to the Menton lemon – in the city of Menton, just 30 minutes from Nice by train. They make huge sculptures out of citrus fruit which are so impressive to see in person.

Nice is also a very convenient base for visiting other cities on the French Riviera. We visited Antibes, Eze, Monaco, Menton and Villefranche-sur-Mer all via train from Nice.

Like Andalusia, the French Riviera gets lots of sun and is a nice, comfortable temperature in the winter. It’s not quite warm enough for a swim in the Med, but you definitely won’t need your parka!

4) Iceland

Iceland is one of those destinations that offers something different in every season. In the winter, it’s all about the Northern Lights.

The best time to try and catch the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in Iceland is September to April, with late February and early March having the statistically highest geomagnetic activity.

Seeing the Northern Lights is never guaranteed. I’ve been to Iceland twice, once in October and once in January, and was not lucky enough to see them. We did, however, see them on the flight home!

But your odds are better in the winter when there are more hours of darkness and the lights are more active. It’s a little chillier, but it’s worth it.

Be warned: it is quite dark in Iceland in the winter. When I visited in January, there were only six hours of daylight each day! While this is great for Northern Lights viewing, it can condense your other sightseeing.

But there’s lots of sightseeing in Iceland that you can only do in the winter. Ice cave tours, glacier hiking and snowmobiling are often only available in the winter months.

And many of Iceland’s popular sights, like the Golden Circle and Southern Coast, are still accessible in winter on the main roads.

Winter is also the perfect time to warm up in one of Iceland’s legendary geothermal pools, like the Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon or Secret Lagoon. You can also cafe hop in Reykjavik or take a break from the elements in one of the city’s cool museums.

5) London, UK

We spent nine weeks in London during the 2025/2026 winter, five weeks in Brixton and four weeks in Spitalfields. I’ve also visited London over a dozen times and in all seasons; it’s my favourite city in the world so I know it well!

London is a magical place to be a Christmastime! There are Christmas markets, carol concerts, pantomime musicals, and decor just about everywhere. The glammed up storefronts and lights along the shopping streets are my favourite.

If you’re looking to visit London when it’s slightly less crowded, winter (besides the Christmas holiday) is the time to do it. I’ve been to London in January and February and while the city is never empty, it’s much nicer to sightsee in winter than in summer.

You may be worried about winter weather in London but really, it’s not that bad. I’ve never found it to be frigid cold and have even experienced many sunny winter days in London (rare but not impossible!).

And the great thing is that London is the perfect place to be on a dreary winter day. There are so many incredible free museums in London and indoor attractions for all ages – including special things to do with a baby in London.

And after a day of museums, galleries and shopping, you can warm up with a pint and a roast dinner in a cozy London pub!

Some of my favourite memories of our time living in London were the delicious meals out we had in Brixton. Forget what anyone has told you, the London food scene is incredible!

6) Barcelona, Spain

Barcelona has been in the headlines in recent years as locals push back against overtourism. But if visiting this city is still on your bucket list, there are thoughtful ways to do it.

One of the best times to visit Barcelona is in winter when crowds are low. By visiting in the off-season, you’re not adding to the strain that huge mobs of summer tourists put on the city.

I’ve visited Barcelona twice, in February and in July. February was a much better time of year to visit, both in terms of crowds and weather. While not as warm as Andalusia, Barcelona is still a very comfortable temperature in the winter.

There’s lots to do in Barcelona to keep you busy – from exploring Gaudi’s famous architecture, to walking along the beach, touring art galleries and eating the best food.

We always want to make sure we’re on our best behaviour when we’re visiting someone’s home city, but that’s even more important in a popular place like Barcelona.

Make sure you’re obeying all the laws (such as not staying in Airbnbs) and that you’re not doing anything that makes life harder for locals.

From Barcelona, you can easily visit other places in Spain by train, such as Madrid and Valencia. You could even add on destinations in France if you’d like to visit another nearby country.

7) Lake Bohinj, Slovenia

Slovenia is still an underrated country for people travelling to Europe. When most people think of Slovenia they only think of postcard perfect Lake Bled or the capital city, Ljubljana.

But I’m going to recommend a different winter vacation in Slovenia: Lake Bohinj.

Lake Bohinj is Lake Bled’s lesser-known cousin; they’re only a 30 minute drive from one another. It’s also the largest permanent lake in Slovenia!

If you’re looking for a winter vacation that is off the tourist trail and allows you to escape into nature, Lake Bohinj is the perfect spot. Colin and I stayed here in March 2020, just before the world shut down, and it was the perfect getaway.

We stayed at Aparthotel Triglav, which had an alpine cabin feel with minimalist wooden interiors and soft faux fur linens. We had beautiful views from our balcony and the on-site restaurant was delicious!

We had an incredible time walking around the lake with our dog, Ellie. The weather was crisp, yet sunny, and we could see the snow-capped Julian Alps all around us. We even hiked up to a waterfall!

From Lake Bohinj, it was an easy day trip to Lake Bled and Ljubljana, so you could add onto your trip and see more of Slovenia. But I highly recommend a few relaxing, nature-filled days at Lake Bohinj!

8) Brighton, UK

After our time in London, we spent two months living in Brighton from Dec 2025 to Feb 2026. And I firmly believe it’s the best place to spend a winter in the UK!

Brighton is 90 minutes south of London by train, right on the coast of the English Channel. So it’s one of the sunniest and warmest places in England, while also being very accessible from the capital.

While Brighton is known as a beach vacation town in the summer, it’s actually an amazing place to visit in the winter. It’s much less crowded, giving you more space to enjoy the city.

Brighton has an amazing cafe culture. And winter is the perfect time to cozy up with a pastry and a warm beverage. They have tons of incredible restaurants too, serving winter classics like Sunday roast and holiday afternoon tea.

I loved living in Brighton for two months. It’s such a creative city with tons of independent shops and artists. Winter was a great time to pop into shops and galleries and enjoy the street art (the best is found in North Laine) without huge crowds of people.

And you can still enjoy the beach in the winter! We went on many sunny winter walks by the water, went up the Brighton i360, saw the murmuration of starlings, and even did a family photo shoot on Brighton Beach!

Other places on my European winter bucket list

While I can’t wait to revisit the above eight places on a future winter trip to Europe, there are some other places on my European winter bucket list that I also want to tick off.

So if you need more inspiration, here are some other European destinations to visit in winter:

• Finnish Lapland: Reindeer, Northern Lights and Santa’s village? Yes, please!
• Christmas markets in France: I loved the ones in Austria and Germany so would love to visit the ones in France too. Maybe on a river cruise!
• Switzerland: I don’t ski but I would love to look out at the mountains and feast on fondue and Swiss chocolate.
• Algarve, Portugal: There’s something about quiet beach towns in the off-season that really intrigues me.

5 tips for visiting Europe in winter

1. Book accommodation in advance

Especially if you’ll be travelling to Europe around Christmas – and definitely if you’re going to a popular Christmas market city – you want to have your accommodation booked well in advance.

You’re not the only one who wants to see the fairytale town of Colmar all decked out for the holidays!

After a full day of Christmas shopping andvc sightseeing in the cold, you want to come back to an accommodation that is comfortable and convenient. So don’t put off booking yours or else you’ll get stuck with something overpriced, far away or poor quality.

2. Check opening dates and hours

In some areas, attractions will close down or reduce their hours in the winter, particularly after the Christmas holidays.

When we were living in the Loire Valley, we noticed many of the chateaux were closed for a few weeks in January and February. The same thing happened when we visited Provence in February, meaning we missed out on a few things we wanted to see.

The good news is that sometimes the winter hours work out in your favour. Did you know that many Central European countries keep their Christmas markets open until Epiphany on Jan 6?

That means you can enjoy the markets without the pre-Christmas crowds!

3. Pack layers

I’m always an advocate of packing layers, but this is crucial for packing for a European winter vacation. I’ve gone from t-shirt to rain jacket to heavy winter coat with a hat and scarf all in the same day on past Euro trips!

I love my packable down coat that squishes up tiny and is very light-weight. I also like to pack tank tops and thin long sleeve shirts, a warm scarf and hat, and waterproof shoes.

If you’re planning to visit multiple European countries, then layers are going to be your best friend. I packed for a January trip to London, Spain and Morocco all in one small backpack, thanks to the magic of layers!

4. Leave a buffer around weather-dependent activities

Winter weather in Europe can be very unpredictable (hence the layers I told you to pack in the last tip), but the last thing you’d want to do is miss out on a big experience because of bad weather.

Certain things, like seeing the Northern Lights, require ideal weather conditions. So rather than force Mother Nature to fit into your schedule, leave her some room to breathe.

If you have the flexibility, give yourself a buffer around any weather-dependent activities. For example, plan to go on a Northern Lights tour on night one of your trip, but leave nights two and three open just in case you need to reschedule.

5. Embrace slow travel

While I truly don’t think slow travel is better than fast travel, I think there’s something about travelling around Europe in the winter that encourages you to slow down, sip a warm drink and get cozy.

Some of my favourite wintry European memories include tucking into a Sunday roast dinner at a pub in Brighton, sitting by the sea in Nice with a bowl of mussels, and curling up with a book in our cute cabin in Slovenia.

Winter is a time of rest and just because you’re on vacation, doesn’t mean you can’t spend a little extra time sitting by the fire or enjoying a long lunch.

Embrace the Danish concept of hygge (coziness and comfort that lead to contentment) – which is exactly the attitude you need for winter in Europe!

I’d love to know: Where in Europe are you most excited to visit on your winter holidays? Let me know which of my eight spots sounds the most appealing or inspire me with one of your own picks!

PS: Visiting Europe in the fall instead? Check out my picks for the best places to travel in Europe in the fall!