Updated: 9 November, 2024
Tips for traveling to Europe in winter with fun, unusual and beautiful indoor activities, plus clothes and where to buy them.
Sometimes the cold weather can be a little scary and more so in a continent like Europe than with some regions that reach very low temperatures.
However, I can tell you that Europe in winter is charming with its snowy winter landscapes or the beautiful northern lights.
In addition, you can enjoy the Christmas markets, doing winter sports and of course saving.
In this article you will find several tips for traveling to Europe in winter to Don't be cold, do fun indoor activities, take beautiful photos and have unique experiences. which you could not enjoy at other times of the year.
When is winter in Europe?
European winter runs from December 21 to March 20; However, temperatures and weather conditions can vary greatly from one region to another.
For example, in the Nordic countries temperatures can be below -20°C.
On the other hand, Mediterranean countries have milder winters, with temperatures that do not usually drop too much below 0 °C.
Broadly speaking, it can be said that the order from most to least cold would be:
- Nordic countries: Sweden, Finland, Norway, etc.
- Western Europe: Poland, Estonia, Latvia, etc.
- Central Europe: Belgium, France, Holland, England, etc.
- Mediterranean Europe: Portugal, southern Italy, Spain, etc.
In addition, mountainous regions are very cold places, such as northern Italy, which is mountainous, the Pyrenees area, which includes Spain, France and Andorra, as well as Switzerland.
Then, in winter you have to take into account other climatic factors:
- Precipitation: Some European countries are characterized by having very rainy winters with few sunny days, such as northern France, including Paris, Belgium, Holland, England and Germany.
- hours of sunlight: during the European winter the days get much shorter, in some destinations like London and Berlin it gets dark at 4 p.m., the further south the day lasts a little longer, for example in Paris and Brussels it gets dark at 4:30 p.m. .
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14 Tips for traveling to Europe in winter
1. Wear warm clothes
The most important thing when traveling to Europe in winter is that you choose the right clothes so you don't get cold, because this will make the difference so that you enjoy yourself and don't get sick.
– Outfit to travel to Europe in winter
Some of the winter clothes for Europe that I recommend you wear are:
- Thermal underwear such as t-shirts and leggingsIf you are a man and don't want to wear leggings, you can buy some long underwear.
- Wool sweaters and socks which are warmer than synthetic fabrics.
- Fleece coat sweatshirt type They retain heat very well and are ideal for dressing in layers.
- Warm jacket that is windproof and waterproof.
- Light down coat to wear under the main coat.
By the way, if where you live you can't find the clothes I mentioned or you want to stop buying them in Europe, at the end of the article I recommend some stores.
– Shoes for traveling to Europe in winter
When it comes to footwear, it is very important that you choose them very well according to the countries and places you are going to visit.
If you want it to work anywhere, the best thing is some boots or ankle boots that should be waterproof for rain and snow, non-slip for icy places, to prevent falls and well covered, if possible with some interior lining.
– Essential accessories
When it comes to accessories, it has some small umbrella that you can carry in your hand luggage, in addition to scarf, cap and gloves.
Then another essential is a travel fanny pack. This has nothing to do with winter, but it is an accessory that will come in handy to keep your money, cards and your passport safe from pickpockets. In addition, you can put it under your clothes and in winter with so many clothes you won't notice it.
2. Dress in layers
One of the best tips for traveling to Europe in winter that I can give you is to dress in layers and even more so if You are going to visit countries or areas with very different temperatures.
Additionally, when you go inside restaurants, stores, and museums, the heat will be high and You will need to take off clothes.
For this reason, there are winter clothes that I recommended before that are very practical, such as the down coat, which if it is very cold, you can wear under the main coat.
On the other hand, when you don't need it, you roll it up and put it in your backpack because it weighs little and takes up little space. In the photo below you can see how small my down is rolled up.
3. Plan visits
The best way to take advantage of a trip to Europe in winter is to Plan well according to the time of darkness and weather conditions.
Therefore, it is important that you watch the weather and reserve sunny days for outside visits, such as climbing the Eiffel Tower, which on cloudy days you may not see the landscape.
You will also need to have some flexibility with the activities you are going to do, in case of unforeseen weather such as snow storms.
4. Be careful if you are going to drive
Some of the biggest dangers of winter driving are the ice that makes the roads very slippery and the lack of visibility due to fog.
Therefore, if you do not have experience driving in these conditions, it is better to use public transport, which works very well, or to join excursions.
5. Enjoy the Shows and Gastronomic Activities
The main European cities are full of indoor activities with many shows such as concerts, plays or operas.
Also gastronomic activities are a good option to learn about the local culture and taste the local food and drinks.
Below I leave you a selection with some very popular activities:
- London: visit to Madame Tussauds
- Madrid: Flamenco Show with Food and Drinks
- Paris: Moulin Rouge Cabaret with Champagne
- Dublin: Guinness Brewery Tour
7. Visit the Museums
European cities are full of museums and other indoor places that are ideal to visit in the winter months and take advantage of their heating.
Among the best known and that you cannot miss are the Louvre in Paris, El Prado in Madrid and the British Museum in London.
Also, I have good news for you, In winter, many of the large museums usually have free admission on some days.
8. Have fun in the most unusual museums
If classic museums with art and history are not your thing, I tell you that in Europe there are other museums with more unusual themes such as:
- Brussels Cocoa and Chocolate Museum, the perfect place if you are a chocolate lover, where you will find history, pieces made of chocolate and a delicious tasting.
- Paris Sewer Museum It is one of the most curious on the list and very interesting about the story and its role in literature and cinema. Also, since it is underground, it stays at about 15°C during the winter.
- Brussels Comic Museum, known as the Center Belge de la Bande Dessinée, an essential visit if you love comics, since the Belgians have been the creators of such famous characters as Tintin, the Smurfs and Asterix.
- Barcelona Museum of Erotics, with more than 800 very spicy pieces that begin the journey in antiquity with Egyptian, Roman and Greek pieces.
- Spy Museum in Berlin which collects the history of intelligence services, wars and conspiracies.
- Torture Museum in Amsterdam, where they exhibit torture instruments that were used in periods such as the Middle Ages, the Spanish Inquisition and the French Revolution.
- Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb It is filled with memories of relationships that have left a broken heart.
9. Take coffee breaks
Something that will help you keep your body warm on your trip to Europe in winter is to drink delicious coffees, teas or chocolates, so you can rest.
If you want to save I recommend fast food restaurants, especially McDonald's has good quality coffees and teas at a very good price.
For example, now in London the price of a coffee can be between 2 and 5 pounds and at McDonald's it costs 1.19 pounds.
In other countries, such as Spain, Portugal and Italy, it is easier to find cafes where locals go with good prices.
9. Enjoy the Historic Cafes
Furthermore, in almost every city you will find beautiful old cafes, which are usually expensive, but are worth it to take beautiful photos.
Some of my favorites are:
- Caffè Florian in Venice, founded in 1720, is the oldest in Europe.
- Cafe Central in Vienna It was a meeting place for intellectuals and artists.
- Café de la Paix in Paris, famous among the Parisian upper class.
- Commercial Coffee in Madrid, a meeting place for the bourgeoisie during Romanticism.
- Caffè Gambrinus in Naples with an exquisite decoration with vaulted ceilings and marble columns where famous people such as Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway and Audrey Hepburn have passed through.
- New York Cafe in Budapest It is one of the most beautiful cafes in the world frequented by intellectuals and politicians.
- Els Quatre Gats in Barcelona, a meeting place for Catalan artists where Picasso was frequent.
10. Visit the Christmas Markets
If you are traveling to Europe in winter, one of the best things to visit are the Christmas markets with beautiful decorations and lights.
Some of the most famous are those in Strasbourg, Vienna, Prague, Cologne and Tallinn, although you will find them in almost any city.
These markets are the meeting place of local people where you can buy crafts and souvenirs, delicious food and drink a delicious mulled wine.
Mulled wine, also known as mulled wine or glühwein depending on the country, where each place has its own recipe with ingredients that may include spices such as cinnamon, star anise and orange.
At first it may sound strange to drink mulled wine, but it is delicious and warm. 😋
11. Winter Sports
Another of the best things you can do is enjoy doing snow sports like skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing.
The best destinations in Europe are:
- Swiss Alps with slopes for all levels and spectacular landscapes.
- Pyrenees, one of the most popular destinations, which can be either on the French or Spanish side, if you cannot visit Andorra.
- Carpathians located in central Europe that covers countries such as Romania, Ukraine and Slovakia.
- Greater Caucasus where the highest mountains in Europe are located and you can visit them from Georgia, one of the most unknown and cheapest European countries.
⭐ This may also interest you Travel guide to Georgia, with the main articles I wrote about the country.
12. Enjoy the Northern Lights
The northern lights are one of the most beautiful spectacles in nature and if you are traveling to Europe in winter it is the ideal time to see them.
Some of the best destinations to see them are Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland, here you can see all the tours to see the northern lights with guide in Spanish that includes special thermal clothing and hot drinks. 😍
13. Warm up in the Thermal Baths
Visiting the thermal baths is another of the best recommendations for traveling to Europe in winter that I can give you, so that you can warm up with very comforting baths.
These below are some of the most beautiful and famous thermal centers in Europe and I leave you a link to the visit:
- Széchenyi Baths in Budapest They are the largest medicinal thermal baths in Europe with pools that reach between 38 and 40 °C.
- Blue Lagoon in Iceland It is one of the most beautiful geothermal spas in the world, with natural treatments beneficial for the skin.
- Saturnia Baths in Tuscany They are natural pools with mineral-rich waters at 38 °C.
14. Get a Good Travel Insurance
Finally, in this compilation of tips for traveling to Europe in winter, I cannot help but recommend that you take out good international insurance, because in winter it is easier to get sick even if you dress well.
Besides, Travel insurance is mandatory to enter Europe for some countries, although they do not always ask for it and it will help you for anything that happens to you, because it has a lot of coverage, not just health.
I always use and recommend Heymondo, it is an international insurer specialized in travel insurance, with excellent coverage and 24-hour assistance, even if you take out the basic insurance and here you can get a 5% discount.
If you’re looking for an affordable option, IATI is perfect. It’s the insurance backpackers prefer, and you also get a 5% discount.
If you're planning to travel for several months, both insurance companies have long-term coverage options.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The cheapest months to travel to Europe are from the second week of January, February and the middle of March.
On the other hand, the beginning of winter is one of the most expensive times of the year to travel, which is when it coincides with Christmas, New Year and Epiphany in the first week of January, which is celebrated in some countries.
To travel to Europe, the ideal is that you take at most one cabin suitcase and a small backpack, even if you travel in winter.
These are some tips I can give you to save space in your suitcase:
– Make rolls with your clothes and use organizing cubes.
– Take the biggest coat in hand.
– Put on the most bulky clothes to fly.
– He is wearing his shoes that takes up more space.
– As far as possible do not carry more than 1 or 2 pairs of shoes, that is, the one you are wearing and 1 more at most.
– Avoid carrying things like hair dryers and straighteners or clothes, many accommodations have hair dryers and clothes irons or look for alternatives that take up little space.
– Wears few clothes and is versatile that serves for visits during the day and night.
– You just need clothes for 5 days Regardless of how long you travel, you can then wash.
Some of the best stores to buy winter clothes are Decathlon, which has cheap technical sportswear And good quality. There you will find thermal t-shirts and leggings, fleeces, wool socks, good coats and footwear.
Regarding long underwear, sweater, socks and accessories such as scarves, caps and gloves at H&M.
Another store that has wool clothing is BenettonAlthough the prices are a little more expensive, they are of good quality.
The fine down coat (plumoncillo) can be found in many stores, including those in Inditex (Zara, Stradivarius, Pull&Bear, etc), at Mango or at Uniqlo.
At Uniqlo they also sell a wide variety of thermal clothing, from t-shirts, leggings and jeggings.
All of these stores have websites where you can see in advance what they have and the prices.
👍 Take note that the winter sales start around January 7 and you can buy some clothes at a discount. 🤑
Final Thoughts
These are my tips for traveling to Europe in winter so that Don't be cold, have fun and enjoy authentic experiences that will leave you with an indelible memory.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment below and if you found the article useful, share it with other travelers. Have a nice winter trip! ⛄
More tips for traveling to Europe
- 31 Budget Travel Tips for Europe
- 22 cheapest destinations in Europe
- How to have internet in Europe: the expensive, the cheap and the unlimited
- 10 Cheapest Greek Islands (and somewhat unknown)
- Traveling with Pets by plane: a complete guide
Hello, I’m Andrea, the creator and writer of Viajeros Activos (Active Travelers). I’m a nomad, so I consider myself a full-time traveler. I’m passionate about good food and always looking for new adventures.
Hello, I'm traveling in December. I would like you to advise me on how I can go to the Saturnia hot springs from Rome or Florence. Thank you.
Hello Viviana
The thermal baths of Saturnia are spectacular!
To get to the Saturnia hot springs, it is best to drive or take the tour from Florence that I recommend in the article (I just updated it).
The problem is that there is no direct public transport to Saturnia from Rome or Florence, you have to make at least 2 transfers.
From Florence you have to go to Grosseto, search this website transportation options.
I can't tell you more, because I found it complicated and in the end I didn't use public transport.
Have a good trip!
Hello Andrea!
I'm planning my Eurotrip in winter and I was a little bit scared about the cold because I want to go to Switzerland. But your guide encourages me a lot!
Thank you for so many recommendations and especially everything about clothes, I didn't even know where to buy them.
By the way, my plan is to go to Spain, are those stores you mentioned there or will I have to wait until I go to Switzerland?
A hug from Colombia!
Hello Rosita
I'm glad the recommendations are useful to you.
Yes, you will find all these stores in both Madrid and Barcelona. If you change your destination, keep in mind that Uniqlo has only a few stores in Europe. You can check them on Google Maps.
Have a good trip!