29 European Cities That Are Even More Charming in Winter
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There’s no place quite as charming as Europe in winter. As some travelers start planning for their days in the winter sun at tropical beaches and faraway islands from the second temperatures start to fall at home, it's hard to resist daydreaming about snow-dusted cobblestones and Christmas markets filled with holiday spirit.
Save for the holiday surge, most major European cities are refreshingly crowd-free, and therefore more affordable, during the winter months—while offering both outdoor adventures and cozy experiences well worth traveling for. How good does a warm mug of Belgian hot chocolate in a riverside café sound?
Whether you're researching a vacation for this year, or are already looking ahead to 2025, these cities that conjure the magic of Europe in winter will have you booking your next trip in no time. Read on for 29 European cities—and a few villages, if we’re getting technical—that make the most out of winter.
This gallery has been updated with new information since its original publish date.
- Tibor Bognar/Getty
Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Luxembourg City seems plucked from fairy tale with its snowcapped castles, jolly Christmas markets, and hills perfect for sledding and bringing snowmen to life. On top of being a bona-fide winter wonderland, the city is extremely easy to get around, as all networks of public transit are completely free. Admire views of the valley and Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge while saving a couple euros for a rich hot chocolate.
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Oia, Santorini
While Santorini is better known as a beachy Mediterranean escape for the summer, the island takes on a whole new life come the colder months when you'll get magical village of Oia all to yourself. The sweater weather ranges from 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can still sample some of Europe's best wines on private vineyard tasting tours, or hike to the winding paths of Fira via the stunning caldera walking route. The airbrushed-seeming sunsets over Oia's hillside domes seem even more idyllic without the bustling crowds.
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Berlin, Germany
December through February make up the German capital's off-season, so winter is one of the best times to visit popular attractions like the Reichstag or any of the big five on Museum Island. If you're feeling festive, the city hosts over 70 Christmas markets throughout the season—and visiting pedestrians would be hard-pressed to not bump into at least one while in town.
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Dubrovnik, Croatia
Visiting Dubrovnik feels like taking a step back in time: Renaissance and Baroque architecture stack the small peninsula and give the town a moody, medieval appearance—so much so, that it served as a filming location for King's Landing in Game of Thrones. But there's still plenty of holiday cheer to be found, too, like at the Dubrovnik Winter Festival, and in the caroling tradition of Kolenda that rings throughout the city around Christmas.
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- Didier Marti/Getty
Lucerne, Switzerland
For a taste of what it's like to experience winter in Switzerland, see Lucerne's streets bedecked with glittery lights and ornamented trees. Adventure seekers don't necessarily need to strap on their skis to see the city, because Lucerne is also home to the Pilatus Railway; the steepest cogwheel route in the world. And travelers looking to unwind can do so at what feels like the top of the world at the steamy Rigi Kaltbad Mineral Baths & Spa.
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Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul gets chilly in the colder months—making it even better that so many of the best things to do in the city are largely indoors. Visitors can bet that there won't be a queue to visit Hagia Sophia in winter, and that vendors at the Grand Bazaar will be happy to pay you their undivided attention (maybe even to cut you a deal on that Persian rug you've been eyeing). The bracing temperature outdoors also make kettles brimming with Turkish tea and steamy hammams all the more comforting.
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- KavalenkavaVolha/Getty
Bruges, Belgium
Europe’s best-preserved medieval city is also one of its most bewitching, especially during the holiday season. Let’s start with its light displays, when every tree and storefront seems ablaze with twinkle lights (just look up as you wander the cobbled streets). When your fingers start going numb, warm up with mugs of Belgian hot chocolate in the historic Craenenburg Cafe.
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Vienna, Austria
Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and that’s a fact no matter the season. But we’re particularly fond of the Austrian capital in the winter, when you can double down on hot chocolate and sachertorte, watch free outdoor simulcasts of the opera (loads of people attend, even when it’s freezing), listen to classical holiday concerts, and snap photos of Schönbrunn Palace and St. Charles Church covered in snow.
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- Robert Breitpaul/Getty
Venice, Italy
Venice has become notoriously overrun during peak season—just see its frequent attempts to limit tourist numbers for proof. But come wintertime, the city actually lives up to its La Serenissima (“The Serene”) nickname. The canals are quiet and shrouded in mist, hotels give discounted rates, and you can actually visit St. Mark’s Basilica without a stranger’s selfie stick poking you in the eye.
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Zermatt, Switzerland
This quaint, towering resort town in the Swiss Alps isn't simply a place to watch the snow fall; it's where you go to play in it. The ski slopes in Zermatt sit at the base of Matterhorn, one of the most majestic peaks in Europe—and as a totally car-free zone, getting around all of Zermatt by train or horse-drawn carriage adds a slower, romantic tone to winter travel.
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- Guido Cozzi/Atlantide Phototravel/Getty
Bath, England
It's easy to fall in love with Bath, the city Jane Austen herself called home for five years—especially in the winter. Visit the cozy center dedicated to the author and role play a day in Regency Era England, or warm up by breaking a sweat at the recently opened gym at the ancient Roman Baths.
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Tallinn, Estonia
Tallinn practically overflows with charm, thanks to its turreted castles and a lovely location on the Baltic Sea. The city has one of the best-preserved historical centers in Europe, with many of its medieval churches and merchant houses falling under UNESCO protection. The views of the city center from Toompea Castle are beautiful no matter the season, but they pop even more under a layer of snow—in fact, they make those cold, Baltic winters downright bearable.
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- Alamy
Zagreb, Croatia
With its cobbled streets, old city quarter, and baroque architecture, Zagreb has everything you would expect from a Central European capital—plus a few extra-special perks come wintertime. The city erupts with yuletide cheer during its annual Advent in Zagreb festival, complete with 25 Christmas markets, ice skating rinks, and glittering lights galore. Fill up on homemade sausages and brandy, then schedule a day trip to nearby Plitvice Lakes National Park to see the 16 terraced lakes and waterfalls completely frozen over—an imagination-defying landscape that simply must be seen in person.
- Courtesy Interlaken Tourismus
Interlaken, Switzerland
Interlaken is the unofficial adventure capital of Switzerland, and its winter activities are much more varied and unique than in other major cities. Sure, you can go skiing and snowshoeing here. But you can also go paragliding (or skydiving) down snowy mountains, book an hour at a curling rink, or take a winter kayaking tour on Lake Brienz.
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- Uwe Niklas/Nuremberg Convention and Tourist Office
Nuremberg, Germany
Germany is known around the world for its Christmas markets—but few compare to Nuremberg’s centuries-old Christkindlesmarkt, complete with gingerbread, handmade gifts, and horse-drawn carriage rides. But don’t think that Nuremberg’s wintry appeal starts and ends with the holidays. Travelers can enjoy grand-dame hotels and dozens of Michelin-starred restaurants well into the new year.
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Prague, Czech Republic
When a dusting of snow coats St. Charles Bridge and Old Town’s church spires, the whole of Prague transforms. But the city also has some of Europe’s best Christmas markets—outside of Germany, at least—where even the most jaded traveler will succumb to the trdelník (fried dough) and mulled wine sold in festive stalls.
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- Courtesy Arctic TreeHouse Hotel
Rovaniemi, Finland
Finnish Lapland is a winter wonderland like no other, perhaps best exemplified in the region’s capital city of Rovaniemi. Aside from being perhaps the best place to spend Christmas (the town claims to be the official hometown of Santa Claus, after all), Rovaniemi is packed with reindeer farms, husky sledding, ice skating rinks, and Northern Lights safaris that make it a must-visit for adventurous families. If you’d prefer something a little less festive and a little more pensive, book a few nights at the Arctic TreeHouse Hotel. Here you can sip glogg by the fire, eat cloudberry ice cream and smoked salmon, and take in views of the snow-blanketed forests from your warm bed.
- Courtesy Janus van den Eijnden
Amsterdam
Every late November/early December through January, the Amsterdam Light Festival brings some illumination to the Dutch capital, courtesy of light installations from all over the world. The 12th edition of the festival will launch on November 30, with the theme “LOADING…Revealing Art, AI and Tech” promising more creative pieces of art than ever. While the city does draw considerable crowds during the holiday season, the tourist numbers tend to drop with the temperatures, so the later winter months are prime for enjoying snow-shrouded canal views and bolthole restaurants in peace. And we swear: Dutch food, hearty with lots of bread and potatoes, is even more satisfying on cold days.
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- Heartland-Arts/Getty
Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival—a three-day bacchanal celebrating the New Year, with outdoor concerts, fireworks, and dancing Scots—is reason enough to book a trip to the city. Not much of a partier? Shop for some cashmere, then curl up with your new scarf and some whisky at the speakeasy-style Panda and Sons. You can also work up a sweat skiing in Pentland Hills Regional Park or walking among the winter-flowering plants at the Royal Botanic Garden.
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Ilulissat, Greenland
Greenland’s western town of Ilulissat draws tourists for several reasons: the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, dog sledding, relative accessibility (you can fly there from Iceland or Denmark), and its proximity to iceberg-filled Disko Bay. The biggest crowds descend during summer—chasing that midnight sun, no doubt—but Visit Greenland strongly recommends coming in winter: “The stunning silence of a thick snowy terrain, speckled by a few howls of the Greenlandic dog, is an experience everyone should try at least once in their lives.” You’ll also avoid high hotel prices and swarms of mosquitoes, which are surprisingly populous in Greenland during the summer months.
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Budapest, Hungary
Winter is, hands down, the best time to visit Budapest. Seeing the Hungarian Parliament surrounded by ice drifts on the Danube could make even the strictest of beach bums embrace the cold. And you’re sure to find all of those grand cafés, museums, and thermal baths infinitely more welcoming after spending a few chilly hours exploring the city.
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Paris
Paris is always a good idea. During the winter, it's an even better idea—especially when you see how Parisians enjoy a snow day. The City of Light becomes especially dazzling with its twinkle lights on the Champs-Elysées and over-the-top Christmas displays at Galeries Lafayette. Most magical of all? The notorious lines to get into the Eiffel Tower and Louvre shrink to a fraction of their usual lengths. Just wear your chicest winter coat—it gets cold.
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- Tivoli/Lasse Salling
Copenhagen, Denmark
When you visit the birthplace of hygge (basically the Danish concept of “coziness”), you better believe your winter vacation is going to be inviting. That lovely feeling can be found throughout Copenhagen, from pastry shops to inviting hotels. Don’t feel like you have to stay indoors to enjoy the season, though. Those Michelin-starred restaurants, Tivoli Gardens, and canal views are certainly worth bundling up for. And is it just us, or do the buildings of Nyhavn look even more colorful against a snowy background?
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Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenia’s capital city is a real-life fairytale setting, come sunshine or snow flurries. Visit during December to see the Baroque architecture surrounded by Christmas lights; or dodge the crowds and book a trip after the holidays, when you’ll have tons of room to stroll the pedestrian-only Old Town and sip coffee by the riverside cafés. You can also add Lake Bled and the Julian Alps to your itinerary, as Ljubljana makes the perfect base for Slovenian day trips.
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- Courtesy Somerset House/Luke Dyson
London
Christmas in London has timeless appeal—chalk it up to the decorated Georgian townhouses, lively pubs, and a dash of Dickensian whimsy. But the winter months that bookend the holidays have their own appeal, as well. Visitors can go ice skating at Somerset House, then warm up with some museum visits and afternoon teas. Be sure to slot out a couple of day trips to nearby cities like Cambridge and Bath, where you can admire the impossibly cozy streets dusted in snow and hole up in even more warm and toasty pubs.
- Aiden Patrissi/Unsplash
Reykjavik, Iceland
Reykjavik is the northernmost country capital in the world—it doesn’t get much more wintry than that. A key souvenir, and the final reward of a must-do shopping experience, is a traditional wool Icelandic sweater (head to the Kolaportid Flea Market to snag one of your own). Other cold weather activities on offer include whale watching, bathing in geothermal pools (or traveling to the Instagrammable Blue Lagoon, a 40-minute drive away), and strolling by colorful houses and Viking sculptures, such as the notorious resemblance of Leif Erikson.
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- Bjorn Are With Andreassen/Unsplash
Tromsø, Norway
Located some 250 miles above the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is an idyllic home base for chasing the Northern Lights. (If you’re going to be freezing up in Scandinavia, you might as well get to cross an astronomical wonder off of your bucket list.) Even if you don’t get to peep the aurora, you can still enjoy the world’s northernmost botanical garden and the strikingly modern, glass-facade Arctic Cathedral.
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Salzburg, Austria
Classic Salzburg, the birthplace of Mozart, sits divided by the Salzach River: Its pedestrian Old City lines the left bank, and the (slightly) newer side is on the right. For a hotel stay involving gingerbread cookies, fluffy beds, and views of falling snow, look no further than Hotel Goldener Hirsch.
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- Jason Briscoe/Unsplash
Stockholm, Sweden
Northern Lights, check. Christmas markets in the heart of the Old Town, check. Cafés and fika? Double check. Stockholm may get more travelers in the summer, but we'd argue it’s made to be experienced in the winter. Christmastime is the best time for a visit, when local restaurants offer traditional Christmas buffets called julbord—smorgasbords of cured fish, liver paté, sausage, cabbage, and more. If you’re looking to photograph the city frosted in snow, though, plan your trip for January or February.