What are the 15 cities to visit in winter? Our list includes cities in Europe, charming cities that shine with their own light in winter. If it is about walking and getting to know a new place, unless the cold is extreme and very unfriendly, the truth is that winter is much better than the suffocating summer.
I invite you to the tour we propose: 15 cities to visit in winter:
Budapest
Budapest It is a city to visit in winter, there is no doubt. Could be A little cold, but it has a lot of charm and is one of the best winter destinations in Europe. We can start by saying that their thermal baths They are wonderful and you can choose from 123 natural springs.
And there is nothing like winter to immerse yourself in those hot, steamy and therapeutic waters. It is best to avoid the weekends, since there are always more people. There is usually a ticket that includes the use of pools, saunas and steam rooms, but you can pay for other services such as podiatry, massages and meals.
Also Christmas in Budapest is wonderful: between November and December is the Budape Christmas Marketst, and is one of the longest in Europe as it lasts until January 1. A ice rink, the largest on the continent: that of the Budapest City Parl, near Hero's Square, in front of the Vajdahunyad Castle. Open until February. Another thing that is unique to Christmas is the typical christmas decorations from the Central Market Hall, near the Gellert Baths.
Lastly, Winter in Budapest is usually cheaper and quieter because it is not high season.
Illulisat
Ilulissat It is one of the three largest cities in Greenland and appears on our list of 15 cities to visit in winter. It rests on the western coast of the country, on Disko Bay, about 350 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle.
Illulissat is one of the easiest cities to visit in Greenland since tourism is in mind. It offers contrasts depending on the season in which you visit, but in winter the Northern Lights, dog sledding, whales and icebergs They get all the applause.
Summer may appeal to you to see Greenland, but winter is a well-kept secret. There is much less tourism, there are no mosquitoes or weird bugs and everything we said about winter and its activities makes sense.
When? Well between February and the end of April, but for more special experiences the ideal is between December and January. It is the darkest time of the year, but it is worth it because you can celebrate the New Year looking at an ice fjord, see the return of the sun at the beginning of January, a great cultural event, take a boat ride around huge blocks of ice, and the beautiful Northern Lights.
You can get here by plane via Air Greenland.
Prague
As in many cities in Europe, Prague offers better prices in winter. Low prices and fewer tourists. Of course, the skies are always gray, especially from December to January, so if your mood depends on the sun shining, then Prague is much more melancholic.
The old town of Prague is UNESCO World Heritage and exploring it, stopping to eat and drink, is a good activity in winter. The narrow streets block the wind and there is always a cafe or bar nearby to shelter from the temperatures.
Winter here is synonymous with christmas, between the end of November and the beginning of January. There are decorations, markets and a lot of tourism in the Plaza del Casco Viejo. Then, between January and March, there are much fewer people and that is when there are better prices. And if you have to choose a month, well January is the calmest of winter.
Better hotel rates, easy entry to museums, no wait at restaurants, free ice rinks for skating, and winter cuisine that is the best in the country with local beer as the undisputed queen of all evenings.
Reykjavik
La capital of iceland It has to be on our list of the 15 cities to visit in winter. It was founded in 1786 and even when it is very cold it has a busy schedule of activities. If you don't mind gray days and a super early nightfall, then Reykjavík is for you.
As in the rest of the cities that make up our list, winter here includes Christmas. Even though it's cold, people celebrate well, that's what they call Christmas, and it is the biggest celebration of the year in Icelandic culture. There are Christmas decorations in the streets and the occasional fall of snow makes the city a good place to go for a walk.
Here Christmas lasts 26 days, there are 13 Santa Clauses, it always snows so "white Christmas" is more than guaranteed, the Northern Lights appear, you can seeVisit frozen caves, climb glaciers or slide in the snow, steal the local Christmas cuisine or enjoy the great New Year's fireworks.
It must be said that December is the darkest month of the year, but then the Christmas lights shine. And if not, there is the northern lights with its pinks, greens, whites and purples moving through the skies... And we don't forget the thermal baths, the local beer and the typical markets, the Harpa Concert Hall, the Hallsgrimskirkja Church, the Plaza Austurvolllur, the Old Port from where the whale watching cruises and more.
Remember that the city offers tourist cards for 24, 48 and 72 hours.
Lapland
Lapland is a region that includes northern Finland and Sweden. So, There are two Laplands, the Swedish and the Finnish.. The truth is Lapland It is a great destination in winteror, a treasure of natural wonders.
What can you do in Lapland in winter? Well, contemplate the Northern Lights Well, it is one of the best areas in Europe to do it, and in the entire northern hemisphere. If you go between October and March, the almost total darkness ensures that you will see them several times.
Winter offers many activities here: sliding in the snow with a dog or deer sled, walk through frozen forests, skate on frozen lakess, do ecross-country skiing, swimming in icy waters, visiting museums, relaxing in a sauna.
In Swedish Lapland there are many natural parks, the Abisko, for example, where the Aurora Sky Station is located to contemplate the northern lights. You arrive on a chairlift and the little trip is wonderful. Christmas is also celebrated, remember that here is the Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi.
You can also know the sámi culture, meet the animals in the Finnish Lapland Wildlife Park, visit the Rauna zoo, stay in an ice hotel... Winter in Lapland lasts from October to April, and the best time to visit is between December and March. There may be temperatures of -30ºC. Snow begins to fall in November and lasts until May.
Bergen
In the list of 15 cities to visit in winter Bergen cannot be missed. It is a place that seems straight out of a fairy tale and the snow suits it wonderfully. Bergen It is the city of the fjords And although each season of the year has its charms, winter attracts fewer people and a different natural landscape.
In winter in Bergen you can walk with snow shoes. Although these shoes are not necessary in the city center, if you sign up for a tour the guides will take you outside the usual routes, and then they will be necessary. Tours like this can last about 5 hours.
Is explore Mount Floyen with shorter or longer excursions, but from there you have wonderful views of the city. You can also swim, although you have to like doing it in icy waters, and then jump into a sauna, you can enjoy the local cuisine based on seafood, make a Norwegian fjord cruises, skiing, walking and shopping in the Christmas market or in gingerbread town, take the cable rail to Mount Ulriken, the highest of the seven mountains in Bergen, visit the aquarium…
Dresden
Dresden is the capital of the state of Saxony, eastern Germany. It is an imposing city with a lot Baroque architecture and very active in the winter months. Obviously, their Christmas markets They are great, but beyond that there is more to do.
In winter in Dresden you can ice skating, enjoying concerts at the Konzerthaus, walk along the Elbe River, visit the Dresden Zwinger Palace or the Royal Palace, visit the Albertinum, with modern art, and the churches, the cathedral in particular, skiing in the forest, visit the Christmas markets, visit the Opera House, walk through the Loswitz neighborhood, tour the Saxon National Park and even the Japanese Palace.
Hallstatt
15 cities to visit in winter and Hallstatt is one of them. For some reason it is World Heritage according to UNESCO, and yes, it is a village typical of any story by the famous Brothers Grimm.
The village is located between the lake of the same name and the Dachstein mountain range. Winter is the white season and it is very cold, but never -10ºC and snow appears on the landscape for almost 18 days on average in the month of December.
When it starts to freeze, Lake Hallstatt starts to freeze on the sides, but it doesn't freeze completely and the ferry rides are still possible. The Traun River coming down from the mountains brings strong currents so that makes it almost impossible for the lake to freeze.
What can you do in winter? Well, walk through the town appreciating its architecture, the historic helmet It is beautiful, with the Evangelical Church open to the public and the markets in the square, especially at Christmas, visit the Welterbe Museum with the finds of the salt mines and the nearby cemeteries, visit the mine itself, obviously, and climb Salzburg Mountain with its World Heritage Skywalk and its Rudolfstrum restaurant to contemplate the charm of the town from above.
Obviously, you can also practice winter sports: skiing, snowboarding, cross country or relax in a sauna or spa.
Krakow
It is a Polish city very close to the border with the Czech Republic. It has an unforgettable medieval charm and in winter much more. Fresh snow falls on its buildings, it's Christmas... Christmas sums up winter here, and the city has won the title of Best European Christmas Market.
The market is installed in the main square of the old town, surrounded by the oldest buildings in the city. There are 100 stalls selling a little bit of everything and it is a good place to try Polish cuisine. Every year there is a crib competition, too, and it is a good time to visit the museums or take a day trip around the area. To Zakopane, for example, with the beautiful Tatra Mountains, or the Wieliczka Salt Mines.
If you don't want to move, a walk around the Casco Viejo It is great, with its colorful buildings, its cobblestones and the snow that decorates everything. You can cross the Saint Florian Gate through the medieval barbican, walk along Florianska Street, enter the Iglesia de Santa Maria, Wawel Hill or tour the historic campus of the Jagiellonian University.
Also visit its museums, ice skate in Henryk Jordan Park or taste a Casserolles hot on the street, a sandwich with grilled mushrooms and cheese, tomato sauce or ketchup.
Vienna
Vienna is a beautiful city in winter; ice skating rinks, Christmas markets, dances and museums. If you like being outdoors you should know that it can be a very cold city. If that doesn't scare you, then you can drink coffee, wine or beer in cafes, bundle up and skate on the huge and colorful City Hall rink from January to March or visit its many museums (some you can even dine in).
It is also season of dances, waltzes, opera…and of hot springs, swimming pools with hot water and relaxation. But, in what month of winter is it best to visit? From November to December you grab everything related to Christmas, in January the Christmas decorations continue but the markets have already closed and there is much less tourism, which lowers prices and the temperature too, since the wind turns the days into a freezer .
It doesn't snow much in ViennaIt must be said, the usual thing is between three or five days per month, but yes, the ice is always present. You can walk along the Danube too, sometimes certain parts freeze and you can even swim, but if you want something safer there is the ice skating rink in front of the Rathaus, open between January and March.
You can also walk and shop along the pedestrian Graben Street, with its decorations and huge chandeliers, or enjoy New Year's Eve with a concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Rougemont
If you don't know her, I present her to you: Rougemont It is the most picturesque traditional village in the Pay’s d’Enhaut Valley, in Switzerland.to. Its name derives from the geological layers found in the heart of the Alps, near the border with the canton of Bern. For thousands of years people here have been dedicated to agricultural activities and the postcard is that of a village of wooden chalets, decorated and picturesque.
La iglesia It is charming, in its Romanesque architecture, its hexagonal tower, and built in the 11th century by monks of the Cluniac Order. In fact, it was this church that gave rise to the town itself, built around it, in the flat area of the valley between the River Saane and one side of the forested hill. Next to it is the castle and together are the architectural and protected treasures of the village. He castle It was built in 1572 and rebuilt in the XNUMXth century.
The most traditional houses in the town are from the 17th century and its facades are decorated with carvings. You can also still see the old barns, few today but in their time there were around 40. Today the town is dedicated to cheese production and grazing, but tourism has been added since the 1904th century. With the arrival of the train in XNUMX, even more so.
What can you visit or do in Rougemont? There are many areas to skiing and climbing, for example La Videmanette, or you can visit the village of Rossinière.
Niello
Niel is a Belgian city, in the Flemish community, at the southern end of the Antwerp metropolitan area. As of 2021 it had a total population of 10.493 inhabitants in an area of 5.27 square kilometers.
Niel used to belong to the House of Mechelen but in 1462 it became part of the Duchy of Brabant. For most of its existence it was a community dedicated to farming, but it was in the 19th century that it was industrialized, manufacturing cement, shoes and bricks.
Today you can visit the charming Town Hall building, the Church of Our Lady and the Church of San José.
Strasbourg
It is northwest of France and is the seat of the European Parliament, near the border with Germany. It is a wonderful city to visit in winter because it has Christmas markets, historical monuments, museums and many outdoor activities.
It may be a cold and gray city in winter, it is true, but it is also a magical destination because The snow decorates everything with a charming mantle. December is particularly beautiful, because of Christmas, its lights and markets. February is because of him Valentine's Day and Carnival, and at any time of winter the museums, shops, bars and restaurants are with their doors open.
In December there are a total of 12 Christmas marketss. For its part, the Strasbourg carnival is celebrated widely and is a great event that usually takes place in March, with costumes and floats included. To escape the cold you can visit the Botanical Gardens where the air is warm and the temperature is 25ºC all year round. You can also take a bath in the municipal baths, with warm waters outdoors.
The Strasbourg museums They are numerous and there are everything from art museums to museums with World War II themes. Are from free entry on the first Sunday of the month, even in winter. You can also take a boat and take a night tour along the river.
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital of denmark And although winter is not the most touristy season, it certainly has wonderful things to offer. It's cold but that won't stop you: you can ride a bike along the canal, visit museums, castles and Christmas marketsd, for example.
Between November and April the temperatures are low, from -5ºC to +5ºC, so you have to travel with good shelter. And write down these winter activities: take a tour along the canal to see the city from the water, visit Nyhavn, taste local flavors, photograph the Little Mermaid sculpture, wander around Stroget, the kilometer-long pedestrian street, visit the Tivoli Gardens, visit the Rosenborg Castle from the 106th century, explore the Norrebro district with its cafes and vintage shops, explore the markets, ride a bike through the city, climb the 1971 meter high Cristiansborg Tower, explore the community of Christiana founded in XNUMX by a group of hippies,…
Edinburgh
Capital of Scotland, Edinburgh is a charming medieval town. Many people escape it in winter because of the cold, but if you don't have a problem with low temperatures and gray skies you will discover a charming city.
Edinburgh in winter has markets, between the end of November and the beginning of January, for Christmas, and the most famous is the Edinburgh Castle Christmas Market. There are also special illuminations everywhere, you can visit the castle that is open all year round, walk the Royal Mile, a series of streets that lead from the castle itself to Holyrood Palace, which is the official residence of the British monarchs in Scotland, and is also full of attractions (museums, especially).
You can also climb Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano that is just a 15-minute walk from the center. From the top the views are great. There is the National Museum of Scotland, free entry, and the National Gallery of Modern Art. He Royal Yacht Britannia is open to the public, sign up for some activity related to Harry PotterThere are many, enjoy Scottish New Year celebrations or take a day trip to the charming surroundings, such as the Isle of Skye or the Cairngorms National Park.