Summer temperatures can’t compete with mulled wine and snow-dusted canal houses in these charming cities
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If there’s one thing that can make me fall in love with winter, it’s the thought of wandering around a European city with snow under my boots, twinkling lights overhead, and somewhere cosy to duck into when the temperature dips too low. I’m always chasing snow, whether that means clipping into my snowboard for a few days on a mountain or venturing somewhere that feels especially magical in the colder months – and Europe in particular has a way of making winter feel like something to celebrate.
From Austria to Norway, winter transforms medieval streets into living storybooks beneath a fresh dusting of snow. Christmas markets turn historic squares into glittering wonderlands, and cosy cafés become an excellent excuse to linger over a rich hot chocolate or mulled wine while the world passes by. It's like stepping straight into your own magical snow globe.
The appeal of these 15 cities extends well beyond December. Throughout the chilly season, head to Alpine towns framed by dramatic mountain peaks, indulge your adventurous side on a lesser-known arctic escape, or visit a grand European capital that feels more intimate after the summer crowds have dispersed. If you do visit after the holiday rush, you'll likely find more room to explore at your own pace. Consider this your invitation to trade the winter blues for European enchantment – snow-dusted rooftops, candlelit dinners, the Northern Lights and more.
Europe in winter: the best cities to visit
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Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Best for: Fairytale fortifications and festive Christmas markets
Luxembourg City makes a compelling case for a winter getaway, with its UNESCO-listed Old Town, centuries-old fortifications, and dramatic valleys that feel even more magical in the colder months. From late November through early January, the annual Winterlights festival transforms the capital with Christmas markets, illuminated streets, live performances and an ice-skating rink.
Browse the chalets for local specialities like gromperekichelcher (Luxembourgish potato fritters), before warming up with hot chocolate or mulled wine. Between festive stops, explore the historic Bock Casemates or admire the views across the Pétrusse Valley. Getting around is easy, too: all public transportation in Luxembourg is free year-round.
Where to stay in and around Luxembourg City:
- Best for staying right in the town's main square: Le Place D'Armes
- Best for warming up in the spa: Le Royal Hotel Luxembourg
- Best for a cosy art-focused base: Hotel Simoncini
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Lucerne, Switzerland
Best for: Lakeside Christmas magic and Alpine panoramas
Lucerne is a little slice of Swiss winter magic, where colourful historic buildings meet a lake backed by snow-covered mountains. Come December, festive lights illuminate the Old Town, and decorated Christmas trees add to the seasonal cheer along the waterfront and in the city’s squares. For a memorable excursion beyond the cobblestone streets, take the world's steepest cogwheel railway up Mount Pilatus during its operating season, or plan a winter trip to Mount Rigi, known as the “Queen of the Mountains,” for snowy hiking trails and panoramic views of the Alps.
At Rigi Kaltbad, a mountain village accessible by cable car or cogwheel train, the mineral baths offer a wonderfully cosy contrast to the crisp mountain air, with warm outdoor pools overlooking the surrounding peaks.
Where to stay in and around Lucerne:
- Best grand dame in the heart of the city: Renaissance Lucerne Hotel
- Best for a Belle Epoque palace fit for a king: Mandarin Oriental Palace
- Best for a wellness-centric stay: Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern
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Bruges, Belgium
Best for: Chocolate-fuelled winter strolls
Bruges looks like it belongs on a Christmas card, with its medieval gabled houses, arched stone bridges, and canals winding past centuries-old buildings. Winter brings an extra sprinkle of magic, thanks to Winter Glow, the city’s seasonal festival running from 20 November 2026 through 14 February 2027. Expect festive markets in Market Square and Simon Stevinplein, streets dressed in thousands of lights, and an ice-skating rink beside a cosy winter bar in King Albert I Park. Or, warm up with mugs of Belgian hot chocolate in the historic Craenenburg Cafe.
Between browsing artisan stalls and admiring the illuminated canals after dark, duck into a local café for a Belgian toasty treat – or sample the city’s famous pralines before heading back out into this dreamy winter wonderland.
Where to stay in and around Bruges, Belgium:
- Best for first-timers looking to stay in the historic city centre: Hotel Jan Brito
- Best for a less touristy base: La Clé Brugge
- Best for a romantic and central stay: Dukes' Academie Brugg
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Vienna, Austria
Best for: Imperial architecture, coffeehouse culture and classical Christmas concerts
Vienna knows how to make winter feel wonderfully grand: The Austrian capital’s imperial palaces, ornate Baroque churches, and elegant boulevards look especially enchanting beneath a dusting of snow, while Christmas markets fill historic squares with glowing stalls, handmade ornaments, and mugs of steaming Punsch. Between browsing the market outside Schönbrunn Palace and admiring the illuminated façade of St. Charles Church, hit up a traditional Viennese coffee house for thick hot chocolate and a slice of Sachertorte, the city’s famed chocolate cake.
Music lovers can plan an evening around a classical concert, with performances taking place throughout the winter season. And when temperatures dip even more, there’s always the Vienna State Opera, where you can experience one of the world’s great opera houses in all its lavish, gilded glory.
Where to stay in and around Vienna:
- Best for an ultra-luxury stay: Hotel Imperial
- Best for a buzzy winter location: Park Hyatt Vienna
- Best for festive family vacations: The Hoxton, Vienna
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Tallinn, Estonia
Best for: Medieval fairytale charm and snow-dusted rooftops
Tallinn feels tailor-made for a winter escape, with its medieval towers, winding cobblestone lanes and terra-cotta rooftops overlooking the Baltic Sea. The Estonian capital’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, celebrated for its remarkably preserved medieval street plan and historic merchant houses. In December, Town Hall Square becomes the setting for a beloved Christmas market, where wooden stalls sell Estonian handicrafts and seasonal treats beneath the towering Christmas tree.
When snow settles over the city, climb up to Toompea Hill for sweeping views of church spires and red-roofed buildings, with the sea stretching beyond. Then duck into a cosy café to warm up with a cup of glögi, the locals' take on mulled wine, before wandering back into the wintry maze of the Old Town.
Where to stay in and around Tallinn:
- Best for a five-star resort near Town Hall Square: Hotel Telegraaf, Autograph Collection
- Best for a grand city centre stay: Radisson Collection Hotel, Tallinn
- Best for a base away from the Christmas crowds: Hestia Hotel Europa
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Zagreb, Croatia
Best for: Festive street parties and fun, local, seasonal dishes
Zagreb brings plenty of personality to the colder months, pairing its historic Upper Town, cobblestone lanes and colourful Austro-Hungarian architecture with one of Europe’s best-known festive seasons. During Advent in Zagreb, the Croatian capital comes alive with Christmas markets, twinkling light installations, seasonal food stalls and outdoor skating at King Tomislav Square.
Come hungry: Traditional sausages, fritule (fried dough balls dusted with powdered sugar), and warming cups of mulled wine make browsing the stalls a treat in itself. For a change of scenery, plan a day trip to Plitvice Lakes National Park, about two hours away by car. Its cascading waterfalls and turquoise lakes are spectacular in winter, when freezing temperatures can create icy formations along the wooden walkways.
Where to stay in and around Zagreb:
- Best for winter amenities galore: Esplanade Zagreb Hotel
- Best for a stylish hub in Lower Town: Hotel Jägerhorn
- Best for walkable to the Mestrovic pavilion: Hotel Le Premier
Uwe Niklas/Nuremberg Convention and Tourist Office
Nuremberg, Germany
Best for: Old-world Christmas markets and traditional German treats
Few cities do Christmas quite like Nuremberg, where the centuries-old Christkindlesmarkt transforms the medieval Old Town into a festive wonderland each winter. Set against the Gothic façade of the Church of Our Lady on the Hauptmarkt, the market is famous for its red-and-white-striped stalls, handmade wooden ornaments, traditional Zwetschgenmännle figurines made from dried plums, and the mouthwatering scent of gingerbread drifting through the air.
Warm up with a mug of spiced Glühwein and try the city’s signature Nürnberger Rostbratwürste, petite grilled sausages (traditionally served three at a time). Beyond the holiday season, Nuremberg’s imperial castle, half-timbered houses, and atmospheric lanes make for a rewarding winter wander, while museums and cosy Franconian restaurants offer inviting places to escape the chill.
Where to stay in and around Nuremberg:
- Best for a sleek base near Hauptmarkt: Karl August
- Best for a fun-filled hotel in the historic square: Hotel Central
- Best for a stylish stay across from the Neues Museum: Hotel Drei Raben
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Prague, Czech Republic
Best for: Gothic architecture and enchanting Christmas markets
Prague has a knack for looking straight out of a storybook, and winter only heightens the effect. Snow settles over the red rooftops, Gothic church spires, and medieval lanes of the Czech capital, while the Vltava River winds beneath the arches of Charles Bridge. During the holiday season, Christmas markets bring even more magic to Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, where wooden stalls brim with handcrafted ornaments, traditional Czech gifts, and warming seasonal treats.
Grab a cup of svařák (Czech mulled wine) and sample trdelník, a sweet, spiral-shaped pastry cooked over an open flame, as you wander beneath the sparkling lights. Between market visits, climb toward Prague Castle for panoramic views across the city’s rooftops, which are darling lovely in the soft winter light.
Where to stay in and around Prague:
- Best for a charming, central stay: Cosmopolitan Hotel Prague
- Best for a bucket-list winter holiday: Four Seasons Hotel Prague
- Best for a sleek city centre stay: Origin Prague
Courtesy Arctic TreeHouse Hotel
Rovaniemi, Finland
Best for: Otherworldly, arctic adventures and a real-life winter wonderland
Finnish Lapland feels like another world in winter, and Rovaniemi, its capital, is an ideal place to experience it. Set on the Arctic Circle, the city is known as the official hometown of Santa Claus, whose village welcomes visitors year-round – but the colder months bring snow-covered pine forests, reindeer encounters, and the chance to explore the Arctic landscape by husky sledge.
When night falls, guided excursions venture beyond the city lights in search of the Northern Lights, which often illuminate the sky in shades of green and violet when conditions cooperate. Between outdoor adventures, warm up with glögi, or sample local Lappish specialities such as sautéed reindeer and wild cloudberries.
Where to stay in and around Rovaniemi:
- Best for forest views: Arctic TreeHouse Hotel
- Best for stargazing glamping huts: Apukka Resort
- Best for a ski-in/ski-out resort: Lapland Hotels Sky Ounasvaara
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Edinburgh, Scotland
Best for: A lively New Year celebration and windswept winter scenery
Edinburgh offers a different kind of winter magic, trading Alpine peaks for a dramatic skyline of Gothic spires, winding medieval streets and a castle perched high above the city. The Scottish capital is especially spirited around Hogmanay, the Scots word for New Year’s Eve and its surrounding celebrations, when outdoor concerts, torchlight processions, traditional ceilidhs (lively Scottish group dances), and fireworks bring the streets to life.
The festivities are worth planning a trip around, but there’s plenty to enjoy after the confetti settles: Browse the city’s boutiques for Scottish cashmere, settle into a candlelit whisky bar, or escape the bustle for a walk through the Pentland Hills, a range of rolling hills just beyond the city. At the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, winter-flowering plants offer another reason to venture outdoors, even when the days are short.
Where to stay in and around Edinburgh:
- Best for a legendary members’ club that functions as a chic boutique hotel: Gleneagles Townhouse
- Best for a classic, luxurious hotel feel: The Balmoral, A Rocco Forte Hotel
- Best for a design-led home base in the heart of Haymarket: The Hoxton, Edinburgh
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Ilulissat, Greenland
Best for: Towering icebergs and an extraordinary Arctic escape
For a winter trip that feels truly far-flung, head to Ilulissat, a small town on Greenland’s west coast where enormous icebergs drift through the icy waters of Disko Bay. Just beyond town, the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord is fed by the Sermeq Kujalleq glacier, one of the world's fastest-moving glaciers, which discharges vast quantities of ice into the sea. Winter brings a dreamy, snow-covered landscape best explored on foot, by guided dog sledge, or on excursions across the frozen terrain when conditions allow. With long nights and limited light, it’s also a splendid place to look for the Northern Lights.
Ilulissat is reachable by air via Greenland’s domestic network, with connections from Copenhagen and other Greenlandic towns; routes and schedules vary by season. Come prepared for serious cold, and you’ll find a side of winter that feels worlds away from Europe’s festive city squares.
Where to stay in and around Ilulissat:
- Best for an icy waterfront rental: Seaside Ilulissat Airbnb
- Best for a stay on the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord: Hotel Arctic
- Best for a more affordable but still central option: Hotel Icefiord
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Budapest, Hungary
Best for: Steaming thermal baths and grand café culture
Budapest makes a stellar case for embracing the cold, with grand neo-Gothic architecture, bridges spanning the Danube, and the Hungarian Parliament’s intricate façade lighting up the riverfront after dark. Winter is an especially rewarding time to experience the city’s famous thermal baths, where naturally heated mineral-rich waters offer a blissfully warm escape from the chill. At Széchenyi Baths, you can soak in steaming outdoor pools beneath the open sky, surrounded by the complex’s ornate yellow Neo-Baroque buildings.
Between dips, duck into one of Budapest’s historic coffeehouses for a slice of Dobos torta, a layered sponge cake topped with caramel, or spend a chilly afternoon exploring the Hungarian National Gallery inside Buda Castle. If snow arrives, the city’s rooftops and riverside landmarks take on an extra dose of magic – but even without it, Budapest’s mix of warming rituals and architectural grandeur makes winter a lovely time to visit.
Where to stay in and around Budapest:
- Best for a historic, Wes Anderson-esque base: Corinthia Hotel Budapest
- Best for a full-service, five-star hotel: Kimpton Bem Budapest
- Best for luxurious yet laid-back vibe: Verno House
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Ljubljana, Slovenia
Best for: Riverside strolls, festive lights, and storybook day trips
Ljubljana may be one of Europe’s smaller capitals, but it packs plenty of charm into its winding riverside streets, pastel Baroque façades, and hilltop castle overlooking the city. In December, festive lights transform the pedestrian-friendly Old Town, while Christmas market stalls line the Ljubljanica River, giving you every excuse to linger over a warm drink beneath the bridges. Once the holiday crowds have gone, winter brings a quieter side of the Slovenian capital, with riverside cafés and cosy restaurants making for cosy stops between sightseeing.
Ljubljana is also an excellent jumping-off point for exploring the country beyond the city limits: Lake Bled, with its tiny island church and castle perched above the water, is roughly an hour away by car, while the Julian Alps offer a nice change of scenery for travellers hoping to venture into the snow.
Where to stay in and around Ljubljana:
- Best for a Japandi-inspired rental: Penthouse playground Airbnb
- Best for a walkable base with amenities: City Hotel Ljubljana
- Best for a historic hotel near the Triple Bridge and Pink Church: Grand Hotel Union Eurostars
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Reykjavik, Iceland
Best for: Geothermal soaks, Nordic woollens, and Northern Lights adventures
Iceland’s colourful capital makes a wonderful hub for embracing winter, with rainbow-painted streets, snow-capped rooftops, and the prospect of the Northern Lights dancing overhead on clear, dark nights. Spend an afternoon browsing the stalls at Kolaportið, Reykjavík’s weekend flea market, for secondhand treasures and traditional Icelandic wool sweaters known as lopapeysa – the sort of souvenir you’ll wear long after your trip. When the temperatures dip, follow the locals to a geothermal swimming pool, where naturally heated water makes an outdoor soak part of everyday Icelandic life.
You can also visit the Sun Voyager, a striking steel sculpture inspired by a Viking ship, along the waterfront, or venture outside the city to the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa surrounded by dark lava fields. Just remember that winter weather can affect excursions, so leave room in your itinerary for a little spontaneity.
Where to stay in and around Reykjavik:
- Best for a fresh, five-star hotel: The Edition Reykjavík
- Best for industrial-chic design by the Old Harbour: The Exeter Hotel
- Best for living space and a prime location: Kvosin Downtown Hotel
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Tromsø, Norway
Best for: Northern lights chasing
More than 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is one of Norway’s most exciting places to embrace the polar winter. From late September through early April, long, dark nights create opportunities to spot the Northern Lights, with guided excursions heading beyond the city in search of clear skies and those otherworldly ribbons of green. But there’s plenty to explore between aurora hunts: The Arctic Cathedral, a picture-perfect modern landmark with a tall peaked roof and striking glass mosaic, stands out against the surrounding mountains, while the Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden showcases hardy plants from polar and mountainous regions around the world.
Depending on when you visit, you can also experience the blue twilight of the polar night or join a whale-watching excursion during the winter herring season. Just bundle up: Tromsø’s coastal Arctic climate can bring wind, snow, and rapidly changing conditions.
Where to stay in and around Tromsø:
- Best for arctic views for days: Clarion Hotel The Edge
- Best for family-friendly fun: The Dock 69 39 by Scandic
- Best for an eco-friendly oasis: Radisson Blu Hotel, Tromsø, A Verified Net Zero Hotel
This article was first published by Condé Nast Traveler
Caitlin Morton has been writing about travel for nearly a decade, with bylines in Vogue, Travel + Leisure, AFAR, TripSavvy, Real Simple, and more. She enjoys baked goods, Ireland, orange nail polish, and horror movies. One time she held the door open for Ian McKellen, which is as close to ... Read More
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