The Best Cities To Visit In Winter

Holidays are just as much fun in winter as they are in summer. We particularly love a winter city break, filling your days with everything from fascinating exhibitions and evening river cruises to Christmas markets and endless sight-seeing. Sound like your kind of vibe? Feast your eyes on the seven best places to enjoy a city break in winter…

Vienna

Oh, Vienna! This Austrian city is simply stunning, oozing grace and class with plenty to explore. Your winter city break could be spent marveling at pristine palaces one day and fine dining with breathtaking views of the Danube the next. If you’re the kind of person who likes a touch of elegance on their city break, you can count on Vienna to be your perfect fit.

Vienna is known to be the ‘City of Music’, owing to its never-ending love story with all things classical. Some legendary composers with links to the city include Mozart and Beethoven, and it’s now home to one of the most prestigious orchestras in the world: The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Whether you opt to see a classical performance or you simply sip on a few drinks in a local jazz club, we’d recommend weaving some music into your Vienna city break this winter.

Budapest

Budapest is without a doubt one of the prettiest, coolest and most interesting places to visit in winter. There’s something extra magical about the famous parliament buildings and the many iconic landmarks dotted around the city when there’s a sprinkling of snow or a touch of ice upon them. From browsing fabulous festive markets to keeping warm in thermal spas, you’ll have a trip to remember in the Hungarian capital.

You won’t find yourself struggling for things to do in Budapest. You could explore Buda Castle and take a bike ride around Margaret Island by day, and get lost in the weird and wonderful ‘ruin bars’ by night. These famous bars built in old, abandoned buildings are a mish-mash of colour, random items and disco balls, all topped off with refreshingly cheap drinks. Those looking for vibrant nightlife on their winter city break should put Budapest at the top of their list!

Berlin

Art, beer, history and great food are just some of the many things that attract us to Berlin. It’s especially atmospheric in the lead-up to Christmas, with plenty of gorgeous markets, mulled wine almost everywhere you go and warmly-lit trees around every corner. On a winter visit, you’ll never tire of the diverse bars and restaurants in the city, not to mention the comprehensive list of sights to see.

Obviously, history and culture are both big players in Berlin and key reasons why so many people visit each year. Germany’s capital dates back to the 13th century, and some significant historical points in the city include the chilling Holocaust memorial and the graffitied remains of the Berlin Wall. Many combine visits to these sites with the likes of museums, galleries, statues and seasonal festivals on their Berlin city break.

Prague

Czech out one of our favourite winter city break destinations – Prague! This beautiful spot by the river is a total winter wonderland during the colder months. The grand towers, unique landmarks and intricate castles make it one of the prettiest places to wander, and there are plenty of ways to get into the festive spirit. Whether you take a walk over the famous Charles Bridge to the Christmas markets or you visit the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square, you’ll be greeted with stunning sights and friendly locals.

In recent years, Prague has become more popular than ever. It’s a hotspot for those who like a drink or two, owing to its status as one of the best places for beer in the world. There are so many unique places to grab a pint or two in Prague, from quirky local bars with sweeping river views to underground clubs where you can dance all night long. There’s truly something for everyone!

Reykjavik

Most people who visit Iceland choose to stay in the magical capital city of Reykjavik. It’s the perfect base for exploring both the bright city sights and Iceland’s mystical countryside and its mind-boggling natural wonders. Everything in the city is sleek, clean and radiant, from the striking Hallgrimskirkja church to the twinkling glass concert hall, Harpa. There’s nowhere in the world like it!

No trip to Iceland is complete without an excursion or two. It’s one of the most fascinating places to visit, and there are hundreds of trips and beauty spots to choose from. You could hunt for sightings of the Northern Lights over rugged, mountainous landscapes, spy shimmering rainbows hanging over tumbling waterfalls or swim in misty thermal lagoons before marvelling at catapulting geysers. You get the picture – it’s a whole other world over there!

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is one of the most charming and beautiful cities you could opt for this winter. Think rows of tall, colorful terraced buildings adorned with glowing fairy lights, cosy evenings in candle-lit restaurants and winter market browsing by pretty canals. Simply walking the city streets is exciting, and if it gets a little chilly, there are endless fabulous places to take shelter, from art museums to coffee bars.

Some of our favourite things to do in Amsterdam in the winter months include visiting a colourful flower market, warming up in museums (notably the Van Gogh Museum and the Ann Frank House) and taking a canal boat ride around the city. On top of this, the streets are lit up with bold, fabulous sculptures and light installations during December and January for the Amsterdam Light Festival. It’s really beautiful and a great bonus if you visit whilst it’s on!

Barcelona

While a seemingly unlikely candidate, Barcelona has so much to offer travellers in winter. Though the city will be missing glorious temperatures that you can expect in summer, you can also expect fewer visitors than summer months too, so you can explore this city’s fascinating culture with little interruption. And, with the streets illuminated with thousands of lights during Christmas, you can enjoy the Placa de Catalunya square which is turned into a skating rink.

One of the best things to enjoy in Barcelona in Winter is the delicious food scene. What could be better than a steaming cup of hot chocolate to beat the cold blues? Another way to heat up during the colder months is by heading to Aire de Barcelona, a resort Roman bath in the Gothic Quarters. Here you can choose between a normal bath, a red wine bath, and a scented room,  and they offer a few treatments with luxurious oils and organic cosmetics as well.

New York

Last but certainly not least, we have the most iconic destination for a Christmas shopping trip: New York City. Not only can you fill your boots with unique gifts for your loved ones (and a few cheeky treats for yourself) in some of the biggest, most spectacular department stores in the world, but you can see a range of Broadway shows, ice skate in front of the Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree and take long, crisp walks through Central Park. It’s a total winter wonderland!

Sight-seeing is taken to whole new levels in the Big Apple. We could go on for hours telling you about must-see spots! From midtown gems like Times Square, the Empire State Building, The High Line and Grand Central Station to famous sights in Lower Manhattan like the Statue of Liberty and the One World Trade Center, your days will be jam-packed on your NYC trip. Plan your trip in advance and prepare for an adventure you’ll remember forever.

Feeling Hyped For A Winter City Break?

We are too! Take a look at some of our best city break deals and make this winter your most exciting one yet.