I’m looking at taking a trip to Europe with my girlfriend. We’re going in late January (moving the dates is not an option) and we only have a week. Ignoring skiing in the alps, what are good countries to visit in the dead of winter? I figure Spain and Italy aren’t particularly good ideas – they seem more like spring or summer locales – and we’re strongly considering splitting the time between London and Paris.
But before we commit to those two lovely (if obvious) destinations, have any of you dopers visited Europe in the dead of winter, and if so, do you have some good recommendations?
Can you tell us a little more about what you expect from your holidays?
Do you want to go shopping in cities as big as possible?
Do you expect to see some usual (mainstream?) tourist sites, or can you imagine going to a town you never heard about before?
Do any of your interests/hobbies influence your decision (history, art, nature…) ?
Do you favor any particular country?
The biggest draws for me would be history and art. I’m sure we’ll be doing nonstop sightseeing, and while I do want to see some of the classics, I also like seeing the more bizarre, cool places.
But other than shopping (don’t care in the slightest), we’re open for just about anything.
You got it all wrong. For big city visits, with art, history and culture, Italy and Spain is best in winter. Summer temps in madrid often rech a whopping 100F. January can get chilly, with some frost in early mornings and occasionally (every 10 years) some snow. Going from the US, I’d go for Madrid, which is a wonderful city - great restaurants, good night life, good shopping (for your GF, if she cares for it) and lots and lots of culture.
Then again, you get the same in Rome, which is a city with the same attractions and even more history and sights. Then again, Rome is touristy all year around, while Madrid is not.
I was in Madrid in early December a couple of years ago. Temps in the high 60’s, low 70’s, clear sky, no wind. Perfect for sitting on the outdoor cafes having a cafe con leche and taking in the street life.
Anything north of the Med will be gray, wet, windy and dreary in January. Anything North of Paris will be that and cold. Anything north of Hamburg will be Alaska.
If you don’t rule out spending part of your time in a smaller and not that widely known town I’ll use this as an opportunity to advertise my former hometown Augsburg.
In January the town will probably be covered in snow and of course much colder than the more or less mediterranean locations the Gaspode suggested.
Perhaps it doesn’t offer that much compared to the much larger cities, but it is absolutely worth a visit.
It is a town of 250 000 residents in southern Germany, about 50km west of Munich.
it was founded in 15 BC by the romans under the reign of Augustus (that is were the name comes from) . This makes it one of the oldest towns Germany. Throughout the middle ages it was one of the most important cities in the Holy Roman Empire. In the 16th century Augsburg became a center of trade and was for some time the wealthiest city in the western world and an important center of early protestantism. Because of it’s status Augsburg attracted many great artists and architects over the centuries whose works can still be seen.
Even today the city is full of beautiful buildings from all periods, especially some of the earliest and most important examples of renaissance architecture north of the Alps. In addition to that you can find several churches (including a cathedral), museums covering different periods (e.g. the Roman museum that show traces of the town’s early history), large parts of the medieval city wall and the first social settlement of the world (founded in 1516).
I can continue my collection of Augsburg trivia I was taught in school for a long time, but I think this will be enough for now.
I know that this is a somewhat random (obscure?) pick but perhaps this shows that there are many possibilities besides the most obvious destinations.
Portugal is one of the most inexpensive and fascinating destinations in Europe. It has a rich seafaring past, superb beach resorts, wistful towns and cities, and a landscape wreathed in olive groves, vineyards and wheat fields. Four decades of dictatorship sidelined the country from modern progress and Europe’s power centres, but like its neighbour, Spain, it has spent much of the last 20 years trying to move in from the periphery, forging new ties with the rest of Europe, restructuring its economy, and struggling to maintain what is best in its national culture despite the sudden onslaught of international influences. The struggle between the traditional and the modern continues, and as Portugal flows towards the economic mainstream of the European Union, it still seems to gaze nostalgically over its shoulder and out to sea.
Great suggestions, and thanks for the fodors link. I’m considering them all. What a tough choice! Sigh. (I hope I have to make the same choice for many years to come.)
Well if you want something a little cooler and a little off the beaten path, you might consider the Ice Hotel
NO everyone can say they spent a night on a block of ice covered in Reindeer hides. :eek:
I second (or third) The Gaspode, at least if what you want is mild weather. Rome is better for a first visit than Madrid (has more culture and sights), I guess, and at this time of year is not as touristy as at other times.
OTOH the more northern cities (Paris and Amsterdam for example) may have their own special charm in January, depending on the weather. If you’re lucky it is chilly but clear, possibly with snow which makes the city look cozy. If you’re unlucky, however, it may be nothing but rain. Maybe you could try combining a northern and a sourthern city? There are lots of rather cheap inter-europe flights available.
Enjoyed the virtual tour. The buildings remind me a bit of Cesky Krumlov, in the Czech Repub.
For a week in winter, with the interests in history/art, I’d go with London and Paris, especially if you have not visited those cities. Do take the Paris sewers tour and visit the catacombs. You can get a museum pass at the tourist office, and it includes the Versailles chateau. Bon voyage!
Prague is wonderful. If it’s heat you’re after, go to Vegas instead. Copenhagen is also one of my favorite cities. Don’t be scared of the cold. Just wrap up like everyone else. A couple of people have recommended Portugal. I can only say yes, yes and yes.
But I think my advice would be to pick ONE nice place and really get to know it. Find a sympathetic pub and go there several days in a row. Get to know the bartender, chat with the locals. Find out where THEY like to go. It’s just SO much nicer than trying to cover all the art/culture sights of Europe at once. This probably won’t be the last time you go, and Europe isn’t going anywhere. Chill out, lay back and enjoy.
One place I would desperately visit again is the Salzburg valley of Austria. Never been there in winter, which is why I would love to go back - my wife and I did a bicycle tour during the summer there.
Sure, there’s skiing - but my god, what a beautiful area. You must like Mozart, weiner schnitzel, and chocolate though
Really, a lot of your choice depends on how much time you have and what you like to do.
Good luck, I doubt you can go wrong no matter where you go.
I keep getting the same advice that Palewriter gave: to go to just one city if we’ve only got a week. Makes the choice that much harder, but we may have to listen to all those travel experts after all.
Amsterdam. It’s Amsterdam all year round. Still a bit Calvinistic in terms of opening hours so you’d better do your own thing on Sundays (and don’t expect the zenith of international cuisine), but it’s enjoyable without being pushy.
If you’re art afficionados though, be aware, most of the Rijksmuseum closed last week for a multi-year refurbishment.
Oh sh*t, I’m not a major ambassador for the city am I…
