Winter in Europe can be pretty balmy, mild, or downright bitter cold. From the Spanish Canary Islands to the Portuguese Madeira, warm Apulia in Italy, cold Budapest or icy Greenland, there are plenty places to enjoy the beauty of this season.

But, we aren’t exactly fans of winter. We both could easily hibernate until March (which by the way, is still, technically, winter) and then continue with my life. Since that’s not an option, nor is always flying to warmer places (although we’ve done it several times already!), we are left with planning vacations and escaping our town even when the weather is not so…friendly.

We are not fans of any winter sport, especially since we took up tango, so it goes without saying that skiing, skating or whatever else is out of the question and so is going to a winter resort (skiing in Austria, anyone? certainly not us!).

But where to go this winter? Here are our favorite European places to visit in winter (from December to March):

European Winter Destination: Budapest, Hungary

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It’s my all-time favorite city and I even dared to go to the Christmas Market many times. Guess what? Each year I want to go back and I am still contemplating to return almost every year.

When you get cold, there are quite a lot of things to do indoors, too. IF you fancy a soak, the famous Gallert Baths should be on your itinerary. Else, there are plenty of museums dotting the city, from history to arts, and even quirky ones.

Price-wise, in early December 2023, you’ll pay from USD 27 in a double room if you plan to travel when the Christmas Market are already open. Another option is Dominik Panzio, and for Valentine’s or any romantic escape, there’s Central Hotel 21 and Apartments.

European Winter Destinations: Vienna, Austria

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I’ve been to Vienna during the summer and I also made it for the Christmas Markets for my birthday (in 2013). If you want a different kind of feel for the Christmas Market – the one in Budapest is more casual-, Vienna is a good choice. It’s certainly the most popular market in Europe.

If you get too cold, there are plenty of museums to check out. The personal favorites include the Globe Museum and the Technical Museum. But art lovers also have plenty of choices.

Price-wise, in December 2023, prepare to part with more money, though. Accommodation is always more expensive in Vienna than in Budapest. Expect to pay from USD 63 in a double per night if you plan to travel while the Christmas Market is open.

European Winter Destinations: Athens, Greece

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I’ve fallen in love with Athens each time I was there, whether in March or May. If you decided to travel during the cold season, you’ll be delighted to find excellent prices. For Valentine’s, it costs from 23 USD in a double room per night. A bargain, honestly.

The best part of visiting Athens in the winter is not having to deal with too many visitors. You can visit the sites at your own pace, take photos, and visit the historical sites without having to deal with other tourists. I high recommend visiting the Acropolis of Athens, the Greek Agora, and the Roman Agora during the cold season…all three are huge and you are likely to spend a lot of time exploring them – but without the scorching heat of summer, it’s quite a pleasure to soak up so much history!

While Athens is a pretty warm place, it can snow. So pack layers and bring a waterproof jacket, too.

Expect to pay from 21 USD per night in a double room two persons (with private bathroom) if you travel in December.

>>Read more: Top Athens Tours, Excursions, & Experiences

European Winter Destinations: London, UK

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I’ve said before that London is romantic and we visited the city in March (2011). So it was still winter…but it wasn’t that bad. It didn’t even rain. The fog, however, can be an unpleasant companion.

A double room costs from 73 USD in an apartment (for 2 adults) per night if you plan to travel during the Christmas Markets.

There is a lot to do in London but I certainly recommend not rushing and not making a tight schedule. Use the tube (underground) to travel to the city center. Then cover everything on foot as the sites are located in a pretty compact area. From Westminster Abby to the Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, you’ll be mesmerized by city’s beauty at every step.

And no matter when you visit London, dress in layers and bring a waterproof jacket.

European Winter Destination: Bari & Apulia, Italy

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The warmest European winter destination I’ve visited was Apulia (Ita: Puglia). Bari is an amazing base to explore the rest of the region. While the city is pretty small, you’ll have quite a few things to do. If you show up in December, of course there’s a Christmas Market to check out (albeit very small).

From Bari, you can set out on day trip to places like Alberobello, Matera, Monopoli, Vieste, and more.

While the weather is quite warm – when we visit, it was up to 24C in December – it can still snow (about every 50 years or so) and can be really windy! A windbreaker is a must and so are layers.

Expect to pay from 51 USD per night in a family room (for 2 adults) in Bari, if you visit in December when the Christmas Market is open.

Note: the article has been written in 2012 and updated in 2015, Nov 2018, Nov 2019, and Nov 2023.
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