Vienna, Austria
Bruges, Belgium
Europe’s best-preserved medieval city is also one of its most charming, especially during the holiday season. Split your time wandering the cobblestone streets, ice skating at the Christmas market, and warming up with mugs of Belgian hot chocolate in cafes.
Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Festival—a three-day bacchanal celebrating the New Year, with outdoor concerts, fireworks, and dancing Scots—is reason enough to book a trip.
Budapest, Hungary
Winter is hands down, the best time to visit Budapest. Seeing the Hungarian Parliament surrounded by ice drifts on the Danube could make even the strictest of beach bums embrace the cold.
Prague, Czech Republic
No city transforms into a winter wonderland quite like Prague when a dusting of snow coats St. Charles Bridge and Old Town’s church spires.
Bergen, Norway
Bergen has all the makings of an idyllic Nordic village: colorful wooden buildings, scenic harbor, and sweeping views of the surrounding fjords.
Paris, France
Paris is always a good idea. During the winter, it’s a great idea. The City of Light becomes, even more, dazzling with seasonal additions.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Slovenia’s capital city is a real-life fairytale setting, come sunshine or snow flurries. Visit during December to see the Baroque architecture…
Venice, Italy
Venice has become notoriously overrun during peak season—just see its recent attempts to limit tourist numbers for proof.
Berlin, Germany
Germany is known around the world for its Christmas markets—its capital city alone has more than 60 of them, including the incredibly WeihnachtsZauber.
Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy
The Dolomites are the cozy cousin to the Alps’ glitzy ski towns. The area’s powdery slopes can be accessed via the 86-mile Great Dolomites Road, one of the world’s most beautiful alpine drives—and a perfect day trip from Venice.
Central Park, New York City
There are several reasons to visit New York City during the holidays. But even after the Rockefeller Tree lights are unplugged and the 5th Avenue shop windows go back to normal, Central Park remains one of the city’s must-visit locations.
Neuschwanstein Castle, Germany
Built-in 1886, Neuschwanstein famously served as inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland. But unlike the royal home in Anaheim, this clifftop structure gets to transform into an ethereal snow castle during the Bavarian winters.
Lake Michigan, Chicago
The next time you’re braving the bitter freeze-fest that is Chicago during the winter, take a moment to marvel at how pretty Lake Michigan is when covered in ice.
Queens’ College, Cambridge, U.K.
Queens is one of the largest colleges of the University of Cambridge, spanning both sides of the River Cam. The college is famous for its gorgeous structures and buildings, including Cloister Court, the Friars Building, and the Mathematical Bridge.
