Europe in mid Jan

Hi Joyce-I haven't been to any of those place in January, except for the first week of January 2013 in Sorrento, Italy, but there it was pleasant (sometimes rainy) and just a light-to-medium jacket was needed. Later last year, in northern Spain in November, it was still rainy sometimes, but often windy and colder, and dressing in an extra layer was helpful.

Winter travel means more, and bulkier, clothing than summer travel requires, but with an adquate jacket, boots or good shoes with socks, gloves/mitten, and a hat, cap, and/or scarf, you can be comfortable in colder weather. You don't have to dress like a skier, but some winter outerwear can let you get outside and enjoy it! Either plan sounds fun.

I would stick with your plan for Vienna and Prague and dress in layers to handle the weather. Vienna especially has a wealth of indoor sites - rich palaces, art museums, café/conditorei, music, etc, and Prague also has it's share. A tram ride around either city is a nice way to see the architecture without being out in the cold.

Vienna and Prague are great cities (so is Budapest, but I wouldn't try all three in just a week). For midwinter sightseeing without skiing, big cities are your best bet. Bring layers, focus on museums, palaces, etc., and plan on plenty of coffee/cocoa stops. Don't miss the old Jewish cemetery in Prague or the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

Hard to believe that Lucerne and Zurich would be less cold than Vienna and Prague. And winter weather could certainly interfere with alpine vistas and outdoor activities. But I haven't been to Switzerland so I'll defer to others.

I was in Kitzbuhel last December (20th-27th), friends who live there told me the weather doesn't get snowy until late January. December was very pleasant, I was out walking every day. There's a lake very nearby.

I put this together when asked about what to do in Budapest over the holidays. You might see something that interests you. We spend about every 3rd year in Budapest. One year we made a side trip to Israel for Hanukah, one year a side trip to Moscow for Orthodox Christmas Mass. Both were about $350 RT. This year we will spend a full two weeks there with the three kids.

I like central Europe during the winter because the theaters and concerts and celebrations are in full swing and we have always been fortunate to have good snow to set the mood. Dress for it and it doesn't matter if it is Budapest or Prague or Vienna you will enjoy the city. What? You think the locals hibernate for three months?

We generally stay in an apartment when in Budapest but this is a good hotel choice. http://www.kkhotels.com/en/hotels/budapest/k-k-hotel-opera/welcome/ nice 19th century building next door to the Opera House and Andrassy ut.

Budapest at Christmas: http://ppcdn.500px.org/4932259/468b7473e2387eb183fd6b5c5c4cf53a91f968d2/5.jpg

Ice Skating at Városligeti Műjégpálya. http://budapest-card.com/files/partners/109.jpg

Bath Houses outside (note the snow) http://guidepal.blob.core.windows.net/inspireimage/inspire103057.jpg or inside a 14th century bath house http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__hpVNPe3HNw/TMMu88ToBfI/AAAAAAAABKI/qiWLg2I5AA4/s1600/WEB+rudas+0.jpg or maybe you prefer classical: http://www.thevandallist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Gellert-Baths-@-Budapest.jpeg with the dubious history of having been visited by Himmler and Schindler. Even bathhouse party night http://attractions.topbudapest.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Design-Szechenyi-Bath-Sparty-Budapest-Spa-July-27-2013.jpg The Bath house New Year Eve part is strangely on the 30th of December http://szechenyispabaths.com/szechenyi-baths-new-year-bath-party/

Concerts New Year’s Eve, Before and After
Opera New Year’s Eve Gala Performance; http://www.worldwideticketing.com/images/opera-ballet/hungarian-state-opera/hall.jpg and http://www.opera.hu/en
“Tourist” Concerts http://budapestchristmas.com/budapest-new-years-eve-classical-music-concerts
Liszt Academy (fantastic venue) http://zeneakademia.hu/en/home and http://zeneakademia.hu/en/lisztery/video/-/asset_publisher/fCa86eGLCFdM/content/a-2013-oktober-22-i-unnepelyes-megnyito-gala

Christmas Markets
They run through 31 December in Budapest http://cdn-wac.emirates247.com/polopoly_fs/1.434344.1324785528!/image/744982653.jpg

Shopping in the three story 19th century market hall http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a171/danperry/Hungary/Budapest/The%20market/1-IMG_3889.jpg

A couple of classic Budapest restaurants for before, during or after:
http://halaszbastya.eu/
http://www.rezkakasbistro.hu/en/

And the holiday lights http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--tIpbcA5HcM/TvDqWvaYXsI/AAAAAAAAAcg/n1SsL9mejgE/s1600/1828771-Christmas_lights_on_Andrassy_Avenue_Budapest.jpg and even the trams http://blog.utazol.hu/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Budapest-KAr%C3%A1csonyi-vasar-2013-Zsolt-Andrasi.png and http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f6/0f/ff/f60ffff302046f46a437f676f64b2f4b.jpg

Here is the long list: http://www.budapestbylocals.com/new-years-in-budapest.html#free

Wait... I have to ask. Why are you going to Kitzbühl in the winter if you don't ski? That's like going to the beach in the summer and not liking the water or sand. Kitzbühl at least is large enough that you can find other things to do there besides skiing, but winter sports are still the main focus. The old center is quite attractive, although it doesn't take long to see.

No problems walking around Vienna or Prague if you dress appropriately. Except for the Alps, most of the locations a traveler from North America is likely to visit in Europe in Decemeber, even Scandinavia, usually aren't as cold as you might think.

"But others say that if you go up the mountains in Switzerland during winter, you won't be able to see much if it's not clear." That's equally true at any time of year. But if you're staying in the Tyrolian Alps in Austria, why even consider going all the way to Switzerland for more of the same? Especially given that you don't ski.

At the very least, pick a clear day and ride the Hahnenkammbahn to the Hochkitzbuhel restaurant for the views and a nice lunch.

Coming from Singapore anything less than 20 deg C is likely to feel cold. From my neck of the woods, the average of about 0 deg C feels quite mild. Just a matter of perspective. Vienna, Prague, and Zurich will be even milder (typically).

Vienna is 5 hours on the train, Zurich closer to 6.

Budapest Averages mid January: -2C to 1C
Prague: -5C to -1C

That's freaking cold where I come from. Dress for it and have fun.

Hello Joyce. I recommend : go to Vienna and Salzburg. Prague is cold and miserable in the winter. If you travel to Vienna & Prague and Munich in seven days, you would be travelling frequently, I think you would not be at each city long enough to enjoy it.

Differences in Precipitation averages between the four are somewhat minimal. The temperatures (below) don’t differ enough for me choose one over the other; especially since these are averages and you would be fair to expect some pretty good deviations from the averages. I would go to the city that is most interesting to you.

Prague
The month of January is characterized by essentially constant daily high temperatures, with daily highs around 34°F throughout the month, exceeding 46°F or dropping below 21°F only one day in ten.
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32335/1/Prague-Central-Bohemia-Czech-Republic

Vienna
The month of January is characterized by essentially constant daily high temperatures, with daily highs around 37°F throughout the month, exceeding 50°F or dropping below 24°F only one day in ten.
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32356/1/Vienna-Niederosterreich-Austria

Budapest
The month of January is characterized by gradually rising daily high temperatures, with daily highs around 37°F throughout the month, exceeding 48°F or dropping below 24°F only one day in ten.
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32212/1/Budapest-Pest-Hungary

Salzburg
The month of January is characterized by essentially constant daily high temperatures, with daily highs around 38°F throughout the month, exceeding 50°F or dropping below 25°F only one day in ten
https://weatherspark.com/averages/32355/1/Salzburg-Austria

I've been to Salzburg in February and had (almost) as much fun as when I've gone in the summer. I did the SOM tour with snow everywhere and still had a blast! The only thing I couldn't do was bike ride:) I like the idea of splitting your time between Vienna and Salzburg.

Tom, I'm going to Kitzbühl because it's a 5-day company event. The next week, my colleague and I are taking extra time for a vacation :)