During the winter months, a European holiday means postcard-perfect snowy landscapes, storybook towns cloaked in twinkling lights, and an irrepressibly festive atmosphere. It’s your perfect opportunity to bundle up in cosy layers to explore Christmas markets, sample hearty local cuisine and generally lean into the winter wonderland aesthetic. From charming cities to unreal fairytale towns that you have to see to believe, these are our top ten magical European winter destinations.
The medieval Old Town of Estonia’s capital city is a UNESCO World Heritage wonderland of cobblestone lanes, Gothic spires and pastel-coloured buildings. As you wander through its snow-dusted streets, the enticing aromas of mulled wine and roasted almonds will lure you towards the famous Christmas markets in the Town Hall Square.
If you’re looking for a romantic winter getaway in Europe, you can explore the tree-lined snowy paths through Snelli Park, overlooked by the ancient stone walls of Toompea Castle. Evenings are best spent ice skating in the outdoor rink that is an annual pop-up feature next to the historic St Nicholas Church before heading to a cosy café for a warming bowl of elk soup.
Nestled on the banks of the Neckar River and framed by forested hills, this university town is impossibly picturesque under a light dusting of snow, and we think it’s one of the best places to visit in Europe with family. At night, the illuminated walls of Heidelberg Castle overlook the Old Town (Altstadt), which glows with twinkling lights. The cobblestone streets are filled with boutique shops, historic taverns, and cafés where you can enjoy a steaming mug of Glühwein or a slice of Black Forest cake.
A highlight of Heidelberg’s festive calendar is the city’s Christmas market, where you can browse the rustic wooden huts for handmade gifts and ornaments, and ride the century-old carousel.
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to breathtaking winter scenery in the Czech Republic, but if you’re looking to venture beyond beloved highlights like Prague and Český Krumlov, we recommend a visit to Karlovy Vary. Set in a forested valley on the banks of the Ohře River near the Czech Republic’s border with Germany, it’s an easy a day trip from Prague. The cobbled streets and elegant colonnades provide a magical setting for you to sample the town’s famous, mineral-rich spa waters while soaking up the elegant Neo-Classical architecture. For the best views of the surrounding Ore Mountains, you can ride the funicular railway to the Diana Observation Tower and enjoy the sweeping vistas of snow-covered natural beauty.
Located on the Arctic Circle, this real-life Christmas wonderland in Finnish Lapland is famously known as the “official hometown of Santa Claus”. You can embrace your inner child (and create lifelong memories with your kids or grandkids) by meeting the big man himself, then send yourself a postcard from Santa Claus Post Office so you’ll always have something to remind you of your time in Finland’s snowy northern wilderness.
It’s one of the most snowy places in Europe, and a fabulous choice if you have always dreamed of seeing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), especially if you visit between December and February. To complete your iconic Finnish winter experience, take a traditional sauna followed by an icy dip in a frozen lake.
The Danish capital is another wonderful destination where you can fulfil some of your childhood fantasies of a European winter holiday. Tivoli Gardens, which is the world’s second-oldest operating amusement park, has been enchanting visitors since it first opened in 1843. Thousands of twinkling fairy lights illuminate the mid-winter darkness during the park’s winter season (mid-November to early January), and the air is filled with the scent of Christmas fir trees and the music of fairground rides.
If you’re not up to the thrill of the Rutschebanen, which is one of the world’s oldest wooden roller coasters still in operation, you can enjoy the magic of the park’s most iconic rides, which include the Animal Carousel, the Swing Carousel and the classic 1920s bumper cars.
Bratislava is one of Europe’s most underrated capital cities at any time of year, with an enticing blend of history, culture and laid-back style. Its picturesque Old Town is a maze of cobblestone lanes and medieval towers that has similar vibes to Vienna or Prague, but with fewer crowds. When winter arrives to sprinkle the rooftops of the Old Town with snow, the city becomes a gingerbread fantasyland of pastel buildings lit with twinkling lights.
The snow-clad grounds of Bratislava Castle, which overlook the breathtaking Danube River, are the perfect spot to capture some truly magical family photos. From late November to early December, you can browse the Christmas markets in the city’s Main Square (Hlavné námestie) for traditional Slovak handcrafts, treat yourself to a warm cup of ríbezlák (a sweet currant wine), and then explore the enchanted forest in nearby Primate Square.
The Rhine River curves through Strasbourg, forming a natural border between the northern French region of Alsace and neighbouring Germany. As a result, the city’s UNESCO World Heritage listed Old Town (Grand Île) blends the best of both cultures into a storybook setting of cobblestone lanes, half-timbered houses and tranquil canals. Whether you’re strolling along the tranquil waterways of La Petite France, or soaking up the scenery from a cosy canal boat, you’ll soon realise why Strasbourg is referred to as the “Capital of Christmas”.
Tucked away in the Swiss Alps at the foot of the iconic Matterhorn, Zermatt is one of our favourite destinations in Europe for a magical mountain retreat. The town’s car-free status means the pace is always unhurried – plenty of time for you to wander its pretty streets while admiring the classic alpine architecture.
The sweeping trails and slopes of nearby Matterhorn Paradise are virtually on your doorstep: a world-class ski resort that offers a playground of more than 360 kilometres of world-class pistes. However, you don’t have to be a skier or snowboarder to enjoy the epic views as you ride a series of increasingly spectacular cable cars to reach the snow-capped summit of the Matterhorn, 3883 metres above sea level.
If you’re looking to venture off the beaten path when you’re visiting the Netherlands, Maastricht has plenty to offer. Straddling the Meuse River and surrounded by the rolling hills and farmland of the Limburg province, the city is nestled against the Dutch border with Belgium. During the winter months, the self-styled “Magical Maastricht” is wrapped in twinkling lights, with an endless calendar of festive events and activities to keep you enthralled.
If you love a good Christmas market, there’s a lovely option in the city’s main square (Vrijthof), or you can visit nearby Valkenburg, where ancient caves beneath the ruins of Valkenburg Castle provide an ethereal setting for the largest underground Christmas market in Europe.
It’s easy to forget about the cold when you’re surrounded by the twinkling lights of London in winter, especially if you’ve timed your stay to celebrate Christmas and New Year in true Northern Hemisphere style. Snuggled into your cosiest winter coat, you could easily lose entire days as you window-shop the length of Oxford Street, explore the elegant arcades of Covent Garden and browse for festive treats in Fortnum and Mason’s famous food hall. From there, it’s a short walk to get to Hyde Park’s Winter Wonderland, where you’ll find every imaginable winter-inspired entertainment, from reindeer-shaped doughnuts and ice sculptures to themed bars and thrill rides.
You can take a twirl on the pop-up ice-skating rink next to the Tower of London, go for an evening stroll through the cobbled riverside streets of Richmond, and explore the winter light installations at Kew Gardens.
Once you’ve experienced the magic of Europe during the colder months, you may decide that December and January are your favourite months to visit. If you’re ready to start planning an unforgettable European winter escape, your personal travel manager can help you to design a tailor-made itinerary full of seasonal wonder.
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
