With cheaper flights and accommodation, fewer crowds, warmer climes and an opportunity to escape the bleak weather on a cheeky little winter mini-break, it’s all a bit of a no-brainer!

But where are the best places in Europe in winter?

We’ve put together a list of our favourites. A collection of some of the best places to go in Europe in winter, whether that be a great city break, or simply for a bit of winter sun.

The Best Places To Visit In Europe In Winter

Our top 10 best places to go in Europe in the winter, with something for everybody…

1. LA LAGUNA, TENERIFE

Achieving anything up to a balmy 24 degrees, the winters in Tenerife are a frost-dodgers dream, and one of the most reliable choices for some winter sun in Europe. Book yourself into the Gran Hotel in La Laguna, Tenerife’s oldest colonial city, to take advantage of this architecturally stunning town for a few days.

You’re also conveniently placed for some day trips into the nearby Anaga Park for some of the islands’ prettiest hikes. Plus there’s the ancient volcano Teidi to explore. Or you can just chill out at Gran Hotel’s rooftop pool!

Tenerife is often the obvious choice as one of the warmest European winter destinations and a chance to get some sun. However, its rich cultural heritage and more traditional towns are often not spoken of, and a weekend getaway can be the perfect way to take advantage of them.

READ MORE : La Laguna – Highlights From Tenerife’s Historical City

For the best deals at Gran Hotel, La Laguna, click here.

2. ALICANTE, SPAIN

Another one of our favourite Europe winter destinations is the Costa Blancan city of Alicante. Often lumped in with the notoriety of nearby Benidorm (Alicante is the airport you would fly to for that resort), Alicante is nothing like its noisy neighbour. Instead, you’ll be hanging with the locals from the off and immersing yourself in an old Spanish city with a fascinating back story.

We’ve always pitched Alicante as a bit of a hidden gem, and one that we wish more had experienced. It really is a great city and one of the warmest European cities in January and February. The evenings can be fairly cool sometimes but the days can reach 24 degrees.

Check in to Hotel La Milagrosa in Alicante Old Town and enjoy some views of the city below and the Santa Barbara Castle above from the hotel’s rooftop bar. Spend a weekend of tapas-tasting in the local bars, lazy walks through the harbour and on to the beach promenade, and day trips on the tram to nearby rainbow towns like Villajoyosa.

READ MORE : Planning The Perfect Alicante City Break

Visit Villajoyosa – Spains Prettiest Rainbow Town

For the best deals at Hotel La Milagrosa, click here.

3. COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Definitely not a Europe winter sun holiday but absolutely one of the best European cities in winter, Copenhagen warms your heart from within.

As the inventors of Hygge and all things cosiness, I promise you don’t even notice the baltic temperatures. Think twinkly lights, outdoor heat lamps, cosy interiors and warm smiley people and you catch some idea of why the temperatures don’t matter in Copenhagen. Add to that all of the excitement of ‘Winter at Tivoli’ – one of the worlds oldest theme parks – and you have the most magical places in winter.

Check into Motel One, which is just a stones throw from Tivoli, and soak up the snug 60’s interiors that immediately make you feel warm and cosy.

READ MORE : How To Have The Best 2 Days In Copenhagen

For the best deals at Motel One, Click Here.

4. LONDON, UK

London is an amazing city any time of year, but as a winter city break in Europe, it pulls its weight too. Dozens of free museums, cosy pubs to hunker down in and a maelstrom of indoor entertainment from escape rooms and crazy golf, to theatre trips and winter igloos on the river.

Plus, on the lead up to Christmas twinkly lights are EVERYWHERE and there are dozens of opportunities for ice-skating, winter wonderland markets and pop-up winter rooftop bars.

Our trusty favourite, The Hoxton in Shoreditch, is the perfect hotel for London in winter. The exposed brick, roaring fires and dark inviting interiors complement the uber-cool neighbourhood of Shoreditch and nearby Spitalfields. Additionally, the pay-per-view film options in the bedrooms give that extra ‘cuddled-up’ vibe.

READ MORE: Hidden Gems In London

The 6 Coolest Neighbourhoods in London

Exploring Spitalfields And Brick Lane In London

For the best deals at The Hoxton in Shoreditch, Click Here.

5. ATHENS, GREECE

One could argue that visiting Athens in winter is way better than tackling the uncomfortable heat and heavy crowds during the warmer months of Greece. Therefore it absolutely deserves a place on our winter weekend getaway list. And, as the capital city of Greece, flights run all of the time and prices are often quite cheap! Hotels aren’t extortionate either so Athens could definitely be a budget choice for winter in Europe.

Don’t expect temperature highs like some of our other choices for winter breaks in Europe, it rarely gets above 14 degrees from December – February. But whilst Athens isn’t the warmest place in Europe over winter, it still gets plenty of blue skies and sunshine, making the 14 feel like 20 – which is always nice when you’re battling with the bleak winters back home.

You will almost have The Acropolis to yourselves; a leisurely walk through the city’s ancient ruins is a dream without the large crowds. And this is the season to indulge in some warm hearty Greek dishes like moussaka and spanakopita, finishing off with a spicy glass of rakomelo. The neighbourhoods of Plaka and Monastiraki are especially magical in winter, especially the evenings with locals in a cosy taverna somewhere.

We love The Residence Aiolou Hotel & Spa on the edge of the Monastiraki neighbourhood. You get great views of the Acropolis from the hotel and there are some fantastic restaurants on your doorstep. The best winter getaways come with sauna’s and steam rooms and Hotel Aiolou doesn’t let you down here – great to come back to and unwind after a day exploring this ancient city. Plus, they often offer great last minute prices, especially during the winter months.

For the best deals at The Residence Aiolou Hotel & Spa click here.

6. BRUGES AND GHENT, BELGIUM

Two for one here with our next suggestion for winter weekend breaks in Europe! And that’s because it’s so easy to do them both in one trip. They’re only half and hour away from each other via train, and it really is hard to decide which one is nicer.

My favourite is Ghent, for its younger vibe and more diverse architecture, but for a winter trip I would definitely recommend staying in the centre of Bruges. The neo-gothic, fairytale style of Bruges old town fits in perfectly with all of the winter markets, famous hot chocolates and twinkly lights. Plus in winter, when there is more chance you will need to shelter from the weather, where better to spend an afternoon than in a Medieval Trappist bar sampling some Belgian ales. Bruges in December is beautiful!

For cosiness book yourself into The Pand in the centre of Bruges, a charming boutique hotel with all the comforting extras. Champagne at breakfast, complimentary chocolates, open fires, beautiful lounge areas, umbrellas to borrow, an amazing breakfast, beautiful rooms and all at a very reasonable rate. We really can’t recommend this hotel enough. For the best deals at The Pand, click here.

READ MORE: Which Is Nicer – Bruges Or Ghent?

The Pand, Bruges

7. VALLETTA, MALTA

As one of the warmest places in Europe in December and January, Valletta is perfect for some winter sun. But it’s so much more than beach bars and sun loungers – Valletta was named the European Capital of Culture and has very much managed to hang on to its status. Aside from the Valletta Baroque Festival held in January it’s so easy to experience art, theatre and music in the stunning capital city of Malta.

There’s so much outdoor dining to take advantage of, and perched on a rock between two natural harbours there are so many dramatic views to admire from your dinner table too. In fact, Valletta is quite an appealing destination for food lovers. Maltese are proud of their traditional dishes but equally there are dozens of fusion restaurants and Michelin-rated places to try as well. You are not going to go hungry in Valletta.

We love The Embassy Hotel for its rooftop pool and bar, plus epic city views from some of the rooms with balconies. You’re also just a stone’s throw from our favourite restaurant, Rubino, for authentic Maltese dishes finished off with their signature Sicilian cassata.

For the best deals at The Embassy Hotel, click here.

8. MALAGA, SPAIN

Another one of the hottest places in Europe in January and February is the Andalusian capital, Malaga. Almost unbearably hot in summer, the winter lows of 17-21 degrees mean that it’s pretty perfect temperatures for exploring. But what is there to do in Malaga?

Whilst you can absolutely make easy day trips from Malaga to the nearby pretty whitewashed villages and towns that Andalusia is so famous for, the city has a lot to offer too. As the birthplace of Pablo Picasso, expect to find lots of art galleries and museums across the whole city. Then there are the gardens and ramparts of the old Moorish Alcazaba Castle with spectacular views. Or settle in for a few days at the beach – there’ll still be a few brave souls swimming at this time of year! And the traditional Chiringuitos (beachfront restaurants) will always be serving up traditional fare and the catch of the day.

Flights are often very cheap to Malaga from the UK and hotels are excellent value too, meaning you can probably afford something pretty special! We love the swanky Palacio Solecio in the Alcazaba neighbourhood for the level of quality at very reasonable prices – if you’re looking for a romantic weekend in Europe in winter then this is the hotel for you. Set in a beautiful old building, at a great location, you’ll be made to feel so welcome and pampered here. And we also recommend trying the tasting menu in the hotel, plus our regular readers will know how much we love a rooftop bar with views!

For the best deals at Palacio Solecio, click here.

9. SEVILLE, SPAIN

Sticking with the hottest European country in January and February, Seville in Spain is also a great place for a lovely winter weekend getaway. With temperature highs in the low 20s and up to 7 hours of sunshine, you will be saying goodbye to the winter blues. But you’ll also be visiting a fascinating place with loads to see and do, where the crowds get a little unbearable during the summer months. Win, win.

Just one of the places that is especially beautiful in Seville is the Plaza de Espana. It’s turned up in quite a few movies it’s so picturesque (Star Wars, Mission Impossible and Lawrence of Arabia to name a few) so how lovely that you’ll almost have it to yourself!

Winter is also the perfect time to indulge in Seville’s renowned tapas culture. You can enjoy cosy meals in local taverns while sampling dishes like jamon iberico, fried fish, and flavourful stews.

The Hotel Casa Palacio Don Ramon is a beautiful 5-star hotel that perfectly incorporates all of the traditional interior trends that make Seville such a stunning city. Azullejos tiles, decorative inner courtyards, wooden shutters and carvings, and warm earthy tones aesthetically please the guests.

For the best deals at the Hotel Casa Palacio Don Ramon, Click Here.

10. CARCASSONNE

Last year our winter travel in Europe took us to Carcassonne. We weren’t expecting much in terms of heat but actually the weather was a pleasant surprise and occasionally we were down to just t-shirts when we’d been sat in the sun for a while. Plus, much like Copenhagen, Carcassonne seems ready for the winter months with soft twinkly lights everywhere and pavement heaters so that punters can carry on enjoying the lively squares well into the evenings. And be sure to partake of the local comfort dish, Cassoulet, Carcassonne’s speciality – it’s the perfect winter meal!

Carcassonne also has a couple of worthy indoor pursuits you can take advantage of too, in case of inclement weather. It’s well worth touring the Chateau Comtal and also the Basilique Saint Nazaire with guides, as this town has a lot of fascinating history. And nearby Chateau de Luc, Carcassonne’s most popular vineyard for tours, is open all year round and much nicer to visit when there are less crowds anyway.

Stay inside the Medieval city at Hotel de la Cite for the most incredible fortress surroundings. Book yourself in for an evening tasting menu with wine pairings at Michelin-starred restaurant La Barbacane attached to the hotel. Carcassonne is a real contender for a romantic break in Europe in the winter and this hotel is the cherry on the top!

READ MORE: Unlocking The Charms Of Carcassonne

For the best deals at Hotel de la Cite, click here.

---

So there you have it – our Top 10 best places in Europe in winter. We hope you’ll take advantage of the quieter season, lower prices and warmer climes this winter. Do let us know if you have any favourite winter weekend break destinations!

We’d also like to take this opportunity to thank our readers. Every time you make a booking through one of our links we make a small commission at no extra cost to you. This all adds up and contributes to the expenses of the upkeep of this blog. We’re so grateful!

pin for later…