Top 11 Cosy Destinations in Europe for a Winter Holiday

When the sun sets in Europe before the end of the day and temperatures start to drop at home, and most travellers start exploring tropical beaches and remote islands in search of a dose of vitamin D, we suggest you follow the fairy-tale dream of snow-covered cobblestones and visit the magical European Christmas markets.

Plan your winter holiday with the best places to travel in Europe in December: Tallinn, Zagreb, Lviv, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, the birthplace of Santa Claus or Dracula and more!

Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is practically overflowing with charm with its turreted castles and its great location on the Baltic Sea. The city has one of the best-preserved historic centres in Europe, with many of its medieval churches and merchant houses under UNESCO protection. The views of the city centre from Toompea Castle are beautiful no matter what time of year, but they are even more so when covered in snow - in fact, they make those cold Baltic winters quite bearable.

Zagreb, Croatia

With its cobbled streets, old town quarter and baroque architecture, Zagreb has everything you'd expect from a Central European capital, plus a few special perks in winter. The city bursts with festive cheer during the annual Advent in Zagreb festival, which includes 25 Christmas markets, ice rinks and plenty of glittering lights. Fill up on homemade sausages and brandy, then plan a day trip to the nearby Plitvice Lakes National Park to see 16 terraced lakes and waterfalls that are completely frozen over - a breathtaking landscape that simply must be seen in person.

Prague, Czech Republic

When the snow covers the Charles Bridge and the spires of the Old Town churches, the whole of Prague turns into a fairy tale. The city also has some of Europe's best Christmas markets, where even the most jaded traveller will succumb to the trdelník (fried dough) and mulled wine sold at festive stalls.

Lviv, Ukraine

A winter fairy tale in the city of Lions. Lviv in winter has a special charm of ancient streets, the eternal aroma of hot coffee and a festive atmosphere in the air. And the cold weather is a reason to visit Lviv museums or the Lviv Opera House - a real winter magic ritual. Here you can immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of a traditional Christmas market - the central square of the city comes to life with bright lights, souvenir stalls, aromas of hot mulled wine, gingerbread and freshly baked doughnuts. You can taste traditional Galician dishes, listen to carols and even see theatrical nativity scenes.

Rovaniemi, Finland

Finnish Lapland is a real winter wonderland. The best example of this is the capital of the region, Rovaniemi. In addition to being arguably the best place to spend Christmas and the official home of Santa Claus, Rovaniemi is filled with reindeer farms, husky sledding, ice skating and Northern Lights safaris. In addition to the festive activities, you can sip grog by the fire, eat cloudberry ice cream and smoked salmon, and admire the views of snow-covered forests from your warm bed in remote hotels.

Budapest, Hungary

Winter is, of course, the best time to visit Budapest: you can admire the majestic Hungarian Parliament surrounded by icebreakers on the Danube. You're also sure to find an incredible number of cafes, museums and thermal baths that will seem infinitely more welcoming after spending a few chilly hours exploring the old town.

Ljubljana, Slovenia

The capital of Slovenia is a true fairytale destination during snowfalls. Visit during December to see the baroque architecture surrounded by Christmas lights. Or avoid the crowds and book your trip after the holidays, when you'll have plenty of space to stroll through the pedestrian-only Old Town and grab a coffee by the river cafes. You can also add Lake Bled and the Julian Alps to your itinerary, as Ljubljana is the perfect base for day trips in Slovenia.

Sighisoara, Romania

Visit Transylvania in winter with its Carpathian Mountains, Gothic castles, Saxon villages and carts and harnessed horses. This is the land of Dracula, and the medieval city of Sighisoara is a must-see. It sits on top of a 200-foot-high cliff with majestic towers and fairy-tale turrets, adding to the winter vampire atmosphere. Try spending the night at the Hotel of Ice on Lake Balea and bring a bundle of garlic just in case.

Copenhagen, Denmark

When you visit the birthplace of hygge (Danish for cosiness), your winter holidays will be truly inviting. This wonderful feeling can be found all over Copenhagen, from pastry shops to cosy hotels. However, don't think you have to stay at home to enjoy the season. The Michelin-starred restaurants, Tivoli Gardens and canal views are definitely worth the price of admission - they look even more colourful against the snowy backdrop.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Every year from late November or early December to January, the Amsterdam Light Festival brings light to the Dutch capital with light installations from around the world. The next edition of the festival will start on 30 November. An opening of art, artificial intelligence and technology that promises more creative artworks than ever. Although the city attracts large crowds during the festive season, the number of tourists tends to drop with the temperature, so the late winter months are the best for enjoying snow-covered canal views and cosy restaurants where Dutch food, hearty with plenty of bread and potatoes, becomes even more delicious on cold days.

Vienna, Austria

Vienna is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, and this is a fact regardless of the season. But most people love the Austrian capital in winter, when you can double up on hot chocolate and Sachertorte, watch free open-air opera broadcasts, listen to classical holiday concerts, and take pictures of the snow-covered Schönbrunn Palace and St. Charles Church.