Europe Holiday Locations - The Winter Edition

While winter is the off season in Europe and most people prefer traveling the continent during the summer, winter is not such a bad time to travel around Europe after all.

There are many benefits of traveling in low-season; the accommodation is cheaper, the crowds are gone and you get a different insight into what life is like outside of the big tourist season. Places like Barcelona and Rome, for example, are very different in low season.

 Here are a few great cities to escape to for a short weekend.

Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh is in our opinion one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and while the weather might not always be the best with the cold winds and rain – there are so many things to see and do there in any type of weather so it doesn’t really matter when you visit.

Some highlights on a trip to Edinburgh is to stroll around the narrow cobbled streets of the old town, visit Greyfriar’s Kirk, check out Mary King’s close and the Edinburgh castle.

But there are many more things to see and do, two good places to warm up in and escape the cold are the Camera Obscura and the Botanic Gardens – the first is both fun and interesting, with the oldest tourist attraction in the city.

The Botanic Gardens has a huge glass house area where you can explore flora and fauna from all over the world, from the desert in Australia to the Amazon jungle.

St Anton, Austria

Why not embrace the cold and go for a ski weekend trip somewhere in the Alps?

There are hundreds of destinations to choose from – over 350 ONLY in Austria – of course it all depends on your skills and likes which one suits you the best.

But one of the best is St Anton – it is a huge ski resort in Austria which is famous for its amazing ski slopes, relaxation and crazy night life.

Lanzarote, Canary Islands

If you want to go somewhere warm, Lanzarote is a good place to go – it’s an island which belongs to the Canary Islands, which are often referred to as the islands of eternal spring.

The weather there is always mild, with winter days at a comfortable 15 degrees.

People go on Lanzarote holidays all throughout the year, and while the climate is the one thing that attracts most tourists, there are many other reasons to go there – one especially being the beautiful black beaches contrasting the bright blue water.

Barcelona, Spain

The best time to visit Barcelona to get the best experience is when the tourist crowds have thinned out.

The clubs might not be as crazy as in the summer, but there are always a few local hangouts where you can experience a different pace of the city, and you will finally be able to enjoy the famous museums in peace and quiet.

Many people take Barcelona city breaks in summers, but I would say that the best time to do it is outside of the high-season.

During the summers the streets of Barcelona can get really hot, but now that winter is here you can walk around for a lot longer, and when your hands and nose get cold, pop into a cafe or tapas restaurant and warm up with some local food and hot beverage.

Budapest, Hungary

What better way to relax your shoulders from hunching in the cold outside than soaking into a hot pool with water full of natural healing properties?

Budapest has a lot of beautiful baths, both inside and outside with a long history and tradition.

By enjoying the baths in Budapest you’re also experiencing something very typical for the city, its history and culture.

Sit back, relax and take in the wonderful environment.

Where are a few of your favorite cities in Europe to take a short weekend beak?

(photo credits: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5)