Favorite European destinations in the winter

My favorite destinations in the Winter are in South America and Australia.

Abisko, for the northern lights, skiiing, and other winter activities.

London.

Not as miserable weather wise as some would assume.

Various neighborhoods to experience. Countless museums, parks to explore, the Thames river path, shopping, stellar public transport, evensong, countless cafes, restaurants and theatre.

Never boring in London.

Perhaps a winter destination many Americans don't consider... but for me it's Granada, where you can visit la Alhambra and then go skiing in the same day. The Sierra Nevada is really breathtaking in the winter.

Also if you want to just escape the cold and snow, then las Islas Canarias might be what you are look'n for, as well many other Northern Europeans around this time of year lol. Think of them as the Hawaii of Europe.

We went to Austria and Northern Italy once on a ski trip. We found the ski facilities no where as good as California or Colorado, and the slopes were steep and icy.

We also found Venice to be pretty dismal the end of January.

We most often go March-May or October-Nov. I thought your Minnesota Spring starts in May and the Fall ends in October?

In the Mid South, we get cabin fever in Winter as there's no where in the U.S. we wish to visit either.

Here is my suggestion.

https://visithungary.com/articles/busojaras-festival-in-mohacs

David for the past few years, we have gone to Europe twice a year. April into May and September into October. Those time periods are generally beautiful in Minnesota, but we have been striving for "shoulder season" in Europe. I've decided shoulder season is disappearing and often has become "peak". I've lived in Minnesota all my life so there is some bias, Haha. But for me the most disagreeable months are November and February and March. Lately, we've been going to Hawaii in March since my daughter is there for grad school. March is gray slush season. We don't go in November due to Thanksgiving/holiday season.

This winter we are fortunate and going to New Zealand. Thank you Delta Airlines for the flash sale.

People have interesting ideas of what the weather is like in Minnesota. Yesterday, it was 93 and somewhat humid. It is quite often cooler where my daughter lives in Honolulu than our weather in the metro in Minnesota. Also, we do not always have snow for Christmas. Nothing worse than a brown Christmas.

For a couple years, I took my parents to Gulf Shores for March. I was always surprised how chilly it could be.

David, we skied Steamboat for years. I have heard that ski conditions in Europe are not nice as Colorado, especially Steamboat known for its "champagne powder"

Even though I live in Canada I hate the prolonged cold. So we opt for somewhere warmer. Preferably near or on the other side of the equator. South or Southeast Asia, New Zealand or Australia. In a pinch, the southern Caribbean Islands.

When we lived in Germany, we only did city vacations in the winter months. London, Paris, Rome, even Venice.

We spent one February break in Rome. NYC school system. Even though the Vatican museum was still crowded, everywhere else wasn’t. We just stayed in Rome for 8 nights. We got a great airfare and the hotel was cheaper too. There was a taxi strike but we just walked or took the bus or the train everywhere. We had cool weather, a medium weight jacket, no gloves needed and just one morning of light rain.
I was always sorry we didn’t do more one week-one city trips in February. We did think about Lisbon but it never came to be. Spain would be a great winter getaway.

For winter for the past several years our destination has been Hawaii. There have also been a good number of Palm Springs trips. With my job as a teacher, there was a series of student group February trips to Costa Rica. We are now beginning to look at Mexico as our dollar goes further there than Hawaii, though I will miss the aloha spirit. I have actually never been to Europe in the winter--all my Europe trips have been spring and summer.

My favorite destinations in winter are:
- Venice in November/December
- City Tours
- Lake Garda
- German Coast
- Foothills of the Bavarian Alps
- Franconia
- Lake Constance
- A nice spa hotel near a lake

While we haven’t been to Europe YET in February, we’ve been in other colder, dark months. Being a museum, cozy cafe and concert lover (no unheated churches though), I wouldn’t hesitate to go to any European capital during the month of February. Love them and all they have to offer.

A tour to India is best done in winter. It could be combined with a stop in Europe for a longer trip.

We did a trip to London, Scotland and France in February and loved it. We have also been to Iceland in February and loved that as well. Iceland doesn't get that much snow, but there are so many great things to do in the winter such as ice caves, glacier hikes, etc. Also, soaking in a lagoon/pool at sunset in a storm is actually really nice;)

We visited Spain last December and it was wonderful. Malaga, Seville, Cordoba, and Granada are great winter spots.

jules, I've been laughing about the Minnesota winters and spring talk. I'm doing the same thing next year. I have been taking trips in May to Europe and enjoying nice weather, but then come back to summer and mosquitoes and miss the best month here. So I'm going earlier next year (I'm thinking end of March through early May.

And I'm definitely with you on getting out of the state in February - I usually hit Florida as my brother has a condo there, and I can stay there for a few weeks. But I like the idea of going someplace nice (and preferably warmer) in Europe. Thanks for the idea!

Jules, we have the same problem, but worse. Long, cold, dark winters! I have to have a break in our long winters for my mental health. Sometimes it’s Hawaii, sometimes we go to our place in Palm Springs. This January we are taking our first Road Scholar trip to Mexico and I’m super excited about it.

@Carol Now Retired-are most restaurants etc open in the winter in Spain?

I also prefer city vacations during the cold months, so far I’ve done Rome, Paris and London. This February I’ll be doing my first Mediterranean cruise starting in Barcelona and will spend time in Italy after.

I agree that non-Minnesotans tend to have some misconceptions about our weather. I’m not going to complain about a high of 78 F today though.

are most restaurants etc open in the winter in Spain?

Of course, things don't just shut down like a resort, think of Spain just as any country in Europe. In fact winter is popular time to visit southern Spain for both locals and Europeans. Christmas parades and festivals, holiday decorations and markets, shops and restaurants bustling with locals.

Dec/Jan is probably the best time to visit Barcelona. I've also had great experiences in Rome and Krakow during the holidays and new year's.

@Kathleen, one thing that I think is really unique in Minnesota, especially in the fall and spring, is the variability. We can have temperature swings of 30 degrees from one day to the next. Actually, we've been experiencing that the least couple weeks. I agree 78 degrees today is lovely. A day for transplanting! I agree on concentrating on cities when its colder or when the weather is less favorable. I've been to Europe twice in January. On the one trip we did Vienna, Budapest, Prague, and Munich. Prague was sunny and 45F while the other 3 were typical winter weather. Another trip, was a month long. We did Barcelona/Girona, Vienna, Salzburg/Munich, Luzern, Berner Oberland, Montreau/Geneva and Paris. That was a month long trip. Barcelona was lovely and spring like, Austria and Switzerland were definite winter, Paris was sunny and 40-50F. Cities are so much more "forgiving" in terms of weather since the day can be spent indoors. Those trips were with my kids, the 1st with my sons and the 2nd with my daughters. All the kids would say that they might have preferred traveling at a different time of year, but that time framed worked with college schedules and we had a great time.

I agree with and echo Claudia - always London!

It's just cozy. Similar enough to the midwest in terms of daylight and slightly warmer (usually) but with so many great indoor activities and easy transport.

Amsterdam, Paris or London. Very few tourists in the museums. Restaurants are uncrowded.

It's England

I am humored by and get a good laugh at the "dreary" descriptions of the weather and melancholy at how early the sun sets as though winter is not experienced anywhere else.

Work life has me outside in all manner of weather at all seasons of the year, plus cycling to work, or hiking/camping on the AT regardless of the weather or season. Season and weather just isn't much of a thought and I'm content to travel anytime of the year.

@Jules On previous trips in December and January, I only encountered one day where the temperatures were similar to winter temperatures at home in Minnesota. London was experiencing a rare snow followed by a cold snap. We made the best of it, and spent the day museum hopping. When my kids were still in school, I agree January often worked well with college breaks.

@VAP I don’t find the weather in Europe particularly dreary in winter at all. I like touring in the cooler, even cold temps. Are attractions open shorter hours? Yes, but there are also fewer crowds. Are some things closed? Yes, but I have always found plenty to see and do. For someone who likes to tour at a slower pace anyway, the offseason suits me.

Waving at the other Minnesota forum posters!

We are having the same problem! Spring or fall would seem to be the best choices for Europe but of 4 MN seasons, those are the two that we don't mind staying put (I LOVE Sept./Oct. here.) We also deal with enough snow, ice and cold already that I don't want to go somewhere else and PAY to 'enjoy' snow, ice and cold. I do not ski, BTW; not many places to do that where I grew up in Iowa!

My husband likes to leave Seattle in winter to escape the rain and grey skies. So last winter we spent two weeks in California visiting family and friends, then 3 weeks in February/early March in Italy, mostly in Puglia, in the far south. We had sunshine every day but one, even when we moved to northern Italy (Bologna, Ferrara, and Venice).

@Kathleen

The reason why I love for example Lake Garda in winter is that many places/restaurants are closed. Only places where the locals go are open and it is not crowded. What more could one want :-)

@ Lola, I'm interested in doing southern Italy. Good to know February/March is a good time to do it. I'm always slightly torn. We are not big beach people, but I would like to some day swim in the Mediterranean. I'd also like to go to Greece and at least take a dip. I have been swimming in Lakes Superior and Michigan so I probably can take water that is a bit colder.

A few years ago, we visited Andalusia in November. It was near perfect, for us. We only got rain in Grazelema. Temperatures just perfect for wandering around Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada. Madrid required a sweater in the evening. Segovia and Toledo were glorious.

No one has mentioned Azores? Also Sardinia? I think if I wanted to swim in Sardinia it would need to be at least May?

I'm reminiscing about our last month's return from London, Florence, Rome and Athens. We've been to all those cities many times, but we were wanting to show our 11 year old granddaughter the sights.

I'll have somewhat of a change of heart about winter travel. The popular tourist stops in all those cities are now so busy that maybe a February trip would actually allow one to see the sights that are so difficult to get into. I read where Athens closed the Parthenon this week due to excessive temperatures and 2+ hour ques to get in..

But I imagine the best European travel for winter is in the Algarve region of Portugal, Barcelona and Greece--in the south..

Paris.

I’ve spent many Februarys in Paris, the last one in 2017. It was in the mid 50s to mid 60s every day, no rain, blue skies and puffy white clouds. It was perfect walking and exploring weather.

Best of all, we saw very few tourists. We walked right into Versailles, there was no one in the Hall of Mirrors, and we walked right into the Orsay.

Airfares and hotels are also less expensive in February. We thought it was the perfect time of year to be there.

Actually, I am good with Europe in the Winter.

But it gets dark so early that the days are short.

Go to a city like Paris or Budapest that can be nothing short of stunning all lit up at night. Do you believe that the locals go to bed at sunset? No, they have adapted and developed a winter culture that thrives aftrer sunset.

Its too Cold

Tough to argue that. But I have noticed that when I am in a beautiful place, all of the locals are out and enjoying the day, and I am among them, that the cold seems to be among the last things on my mind; in the same way the locals dont stand and complain.

There is nothing to do

I am always amazed that people will go to a great beach destination in November because its 10 degrees warmer; but still to cold to do the beach. Go where it is cold, and where the cold is a long season, and you will find there is more to do than you could imagine. Arts, Music, Theater, Festivals ..... the longer the winter in a location, the more they work through it and make the season enjoyable.

My favorite destination? No. 1 would be Budapest; but a close second can be anyplace in Eastern Europe where the winters are long and cold.

Szczecin, with the mild winter as in Polish circumstances :)

I think if I wanted to swim in Sardinia it would need to be at least May?

Well I swam at the beach in Amalfi May 1st and a few Italians waited on the beach to chide me, didn't I know I would catch a cold? It was chilly, not deadly so, but I didn't hang out to float or swim for any length of time, just figured I had to swim in the Med. Sardinia would be even chillier. If it's really on your bucket list, maybe you could rent a wetsuit if you want to go swimming earlier in the season?

Any major city with museums and indoor attractions. Vienna comes to mind, particularly as February is ball season.