December to February
Europe in winter: where to go
Cafés and concerts in Vienna, open-air thermal baths in Budapest, northern lights in the Arctic, snowy Alpine villages and southern cities with winter sunshine: Europe in the low season has something for every taste, and shorter queues.
Updated 20 October 2026 · How we make our guides
Cities with winter charm
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AustriaVienna
Historic cafés to warm up in, classical music concerts and, in December, Christmas markets all over the city.
What to see in Vienna -
Czech RepublicPrague
A medieval centre that looks like a fairy tale in the cold and the mist, cosy beer halls and fewer people than in spring.
What to see in Prague -
HungaryBudapest
Open-air thermal baths, such as Széchenyi, with hot water and icy air, and the Danube lit up at night.
What to see in Budapest
Snow and northern lights
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FinlandRovaniemi
Santa’s Lapland, with guaranteed snow, huskies and northern lights on clear nights.
What to see in Rovaniemi -
NorwayTromsø
The capital of the Norwegian Arctic, with fjords, northern lights and whales in the middle of winter.
What to see in Tromsø -
IcelandReykjavik
The base for going out at night to hunt for the northern lights and exploring frozen waterfalls and black-sand beaches.
What to see in Reykjavik -
SwitzerlandZermatt
A car-free Alpine village at the foot of the Matterhorn, with skiing and walks in the snow.
What to see in Zermatt
Winter sun
Southern Europe has mild winters and monuments without the crowds.
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PortugalLisbon
Viewpoints, trams and mild days with few tourists, in one of the sunniest capitals in Europe.
What to see in Lisbon -
PortugalMadeira
The island of eternal spring, with trails along the levadas and laurel forests, and famous New Year fireworks.
What to see in Madeira -
MaltaValletta
A walled Baroque capital with mild winters and the island almost to yourself.
What to see in Valletta -
ItalyRome
The great monuments with shorter queues and beautiful winter light at sunset.
What to see in Rome
Frequently asked questions
Where to travel in Europe in winter?
Vienna, Prague and Budapest for cities; Lapland, Tromsø, Iceland or the Alps for snow and northern lights; and Lisbon, Madeira, Malta or Rome for a mild winter.
Which European city has the best weather in winter?
Those in the south: Lisbon, Valletta, Rome and islands such as Madeira have the mildest winters.
Is it worth travelling to Europe in winter?
Yes: outside Christmas it is low season in many cities, there are shorter queues, and snowy landscapes and the northern lights can only be seen at this time of year.
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More travel ideas
- Where to travel at Christmas
- Where to see the northern lights
- Spain in winter: where to go
- Snow destinations in Spain and Europe
- All ideas
Reviewed 20 October 2026. Dates and seasonal warnings: the same data the Bagintravel app uses. Sources and method.
Cover photo: Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) (CC BY 3.0), Wikimedia Commons.