The Top 10 European Cities Ideal for Winter Visits

Often, the allure of summer travel dominates our perceptions, likely due to the warm sun and extended daylight hours ingrained in our minds from a young age. However, a compelling argument can be made for winter being an equally enticing time for a vacation. While summer may be associated with popular music and cultural references, the colder months offer a different kind of beauty and appeal. From Seville to Helsinki, these cities showcase their charm during the winter season. Especially in city settings, the winter season can transform bustling metropolises into captivating destinations, drawing visitors into their museums, galleries, and churches.

Empowering Winning Solutions creates this short video to excite your interest in these 10 Winter Wonder European cities that stands out for their winter appeal. They are: Seville, Birmingham, Berlin, Thessaloniki, Helsinki, Venice, Vienna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Nice and Valencia.

1. Seville

Best Time to Visit Seville is in November to March.

The Andalusian capital enjoys pleasantly warm weather during winter, with daytime temperatures around 20°C in November and March and little variation in between. Some argue that Seville feels more enjoyable at the beginning of the year, after escaping the scorching mid-thirties heat of the summer months. In February, the striking "Setas de Sevilla", the giant wooden "mushrooms" structure towering over Plaza de la Encarnación becomes an art installation offering panoramic views of the city, rather than just a sunshade.

Must see Attractions: The Alcazar, a royal palace exemplifying the city's Moorish heritage, retains its elegant charm even during the winter months.

How to Experience It: Go for short or weekend Holidays. The average cost of booking three-night stays at a four-star hotel starts from £738 per person, including flights and transfers.

2. Birmingham

Best Time to Visit is around November and December

Birmingham, United Kingdom has enhanced its reputation over the years, offering a delightful weekend getaway where visitors can stroll along its famous canal network and explore the Jewellery Quarter in the city. The city comes alive during the winter months, particularly during the much-celebrated Frankfurt Christmas Market, which takes place in Victoria Square and New Street. Despite the name, the event has grown into the largest festive market outside Germany and Austria, attracting over five million visitors annually and featuring traditional delights such as gluhwein, bratwurst, and iced biscuits until Christmas Eve.

Must-see Attractions: The market's iconic singing moose head, often displayed at one of the stalls in Victoria Square, offers a unique and whimsical touch to the festive atmosphere.

How to Experience It: The Grand Hotel offers rooms starting from £107.

3. Berlin

Best Time to Visit: December

Berlin truly shines during the winter months, offering a different but equally captivating experience compared to other seasons.

Berlin

Best Time to Visit: Winter

If you can recall the days when the Wall divided Berlin, the city likely feels like a winter destination, embodying the spirit of the Cold War and mirroring its geopolitical situation through its weather. While it's logical that Berlin experiences summer, when the Tiergarten flourishes in front of the Reichstag, the city truly beckons during the colder months. It's during this time that you feel compelled to bundle up, wander through streets that were once divided by barbed wire, and draw inspiration from the same places that influenced Bowie.

Nevertheless, a long weekend in Berlin need not be a journey into retro-gloom. Particularly in December, the city is teeming with the scent of cinnamon and the charm of Christmas markets, such as those found at Potsdamer Platz and Breitscheidplatz.

Must-see: Visit Tempelhof, the former Berlin airport, now transformed into an urban park, as it commemorates its centenary in 2023, 15 years after its final flight departed.

How to do it: Consider a three-night stay at the Hotel am Steinplatz, with flights from Newcastle from mid-December, starting at £500 per person through.

4. Thessaloniki

Best Time to Visit: December

If you are rethinking a Greek summer vacation after last year’s wildfires and scorching temperatures, Thessaloniki, the country's second largest city, might pique your interest. While Athens thrives in warm weather, with the Parthenon shining in the heat, Thessaloniki offers a more complex experience. Its prominent landmarks, such as the White Tower and the Roman Forum, engage the curiosity of interested travelers rather than serving as mere Instagram attractions. With trendy warehouse district Ladadika hosting inviting bars, Thessaloniki is an excellent choice for an off-season getaway, particularly in December when Aristotelous Square is adorned with a Christmas tree.

Must-see: Explore Kapani Market, an essential food hub that provides a genuine taste of Greece.

How to do it: For a three-night stay at the four-stars hotels including flights from Heathrow Airport mid-December, prices £400 per person.

5. Helsinki

Best Time to Visit: December-January

Helsinki experiences extreme seasonal variations, not in temperature but in daylight. In June and July, the sun barely sets, while in December and January, it hardly rises. Despite this, Helsinki presents its most alluring side during the scant hours of "sunshine" in the depths of winter. When snow blankets the city, the streets gain a reflective quality that enhances the limited natural light, creating a mesmerizing effect complemented by artificial illuminations. The main harbours, which has undergone significant revitalization in the past decade, is especially captivating, offering views that can be savoured from the hot saunas and cold shocks of the Allas Sea Pool complex, or from the adjacent Sky Wheel for those less inclined toward such adventures.

Must-see: Don't miss Helsinki’s Lutheran cathedral, the Tuomiokirkko, resembling an iced Christmas cake, especially with the city’s main festive market on Senaatintori square from early December to just before Christmas.

How to do it: Book a four-day Holiday, budget from £700 per person, covering flights and transfers.

6. Venice

Best Time to Visit: December-March

While Venice certainly dazzles in the summer sun, with its golden facade of St Mark’s Basilica and the deep blue Adriatic, the city becomes overwhelmingly crowded during this period, attracting five million visitors annually, the majority during the peak season.

For a quieter experience, consider a visit in the off-season from December to March. Although the weather may be colder, the absence of crowds presents its own advantages.

Venice sees a decrease in visitors during December with the number of nights spent in the city plummeting to 610,000 from 1.3 million between June and October. Though the weather is colder, the lowered tourist numbers mean shorter queues, offering a more authentic experience of the city's medieval charm rather than the crowded Renaissance-themed atmosphere.

Top Attraction: La Fenice, Venice’s esteemed opera house, will kick off its 2023–2024 season on the weekend of December 9–10 with a series of Mahler concerts.

How to Experience It: Citalia offers a four-night stay at the five-star such as Ca’ Sagredo hotel, including flights from Gatwick Airport, starting from £804 per person.

7. Vienna

Best Time to Visit: January–March

Vienna comes to life as a winter fairytale during January to March with enchanting ice rinks scattered around the city center, providing a much-needed festive ambiance during the early months of the year.

Top Attraction: Vienna Ice World, the expansive ice rink on Rathausplatz, unfolds from January 19 to March 3 in 2024.

How to Experience It: Abercrombie & Kent presents a four-night trip to Vienna starting from £2,000 per person, inclusive of flights and transfers.

8. Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Best Time to Visit: February

The vibrant Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife offers a rich pre-Lenten celebration, rivaling those of Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans. Featuring elaborate parades and a plethora of festivities, the carnival brings the island's capital to life from second week to mid-February, with the ceremonial burning of a fish sculpture on Ash Wednesday.

Top Attraction: While in Tenerife, don't miss the beautiful Playa de las Teresitas beach, located just north of Santa Cruz.

How to Experience It: Expedia offers a five-night stay at the five-star Iberostar Heritage Grand Mencey, including flights from Manchester on February 10, starting from £770 per person.

9. Nice

Best Time to Visit: February–March

The Carnaval de Nice is a grand two-week celebration that dates back to 1294, adding a touch of Mardi Gras festivity to the Cote D’Azur. Emulating the spirit of Ipanema and Louisiana, the 2024 edition is planned to span from mid-February to first week in March.

How to Experience It: For full details of the events and schedule.

To gauge Nice's appeal in winter, one's fondness for a summer-evening stroll along the Promenade des Anglais is likely a determining factor. However, the presence of the carnival serves as evidence that this French destination offers more than just expensive drinks and skimpy beach attire.

Top Attraction: The Colline du Château. Despite the absence of its promised castle (destroyed in 1706 by Louis XIV), the view from Nice's prominent hill remains majestic.

Travel Tip: A four-night stay at the Splendid Hotel and Spa, departing from Gatwick Airport end of February, cost from £360 per person via British Airways.

10. Valencia

Valencia's Las Fallas festival signifies a transition from winter to spring.

Best Time to Visit: March

Spain's third-largest city is not lacking in beauty during the summer months, resembling a more peaceful version of Barcelona and serving as the focal point of the stunning Costa del Azahar (Orange Blossom Coast). While the lovely Playa de la Malvarrosa satisfies beachgoers in warmer seasons, the city truly shines during the boisterous near-three-week celebration at the end of winter. Unlike Mardi Gras, Las Fallas commemorates the arrival of spring and bids adieu to the preceding season. Originating from medieval traditions of carpenters cleaning their workshops as daylight and warmth returned, the festival now features elaborate papier-mâché sculptures — sometimes depicting unpopular public figures or celebrities, but often simple works of art — displayed throughout the city until the festival's fiery conclusion on the chaotic final night (March 1–19).

Key Attraction: Plaza del Ayuntamiento and its mascletà — a daily from 2pm, throughout the festival) symphony of firecrackers and explosives that resonates across the square.

Travel Tip: A four-night stay at the Petit Palace Plaza de la Reina, departing from Gatwick in middle of March costs just over £800.