Things To Do in Europe in Winter

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Things To Do in Europe in Winter

5 Things To Do in Europe in Winter 

Winter, the arrival of shorter days and frosty mornings brings on the Christmas countdown, yearly reflection and some social media meme trends. What better way to escape the cold of your home town than going to a European city that’s a little bit colder but has a lot more to offer you. Visiting Europe is not just for the summertime, lots of us flock to mainland Europe around this time of year and you should consider doing it too! Here are 5 things to do in Europe this winter (or next if it’s too late to book a trip!) if you’re ready to embrace the magic of Christmas somewhere new.

1. Take a dip in a thermal bath

ideas for what to do in europe in the cold, winter activities in europe

If winter has got you feeling chilly, head to Budapest and experience the Széchenyi Thermal Baths. Széchenyi is the largest medicinal bath in Europe with 15 indoor spas and three outdoor pools fed by two thermal hot springs. Budapest is known as the City of Spas and Széchenyi offers the ultimate opportunity to completely relax either in the baths or with spa treatments. If you don’t fancy visiting Budapest, you could try your luck in the Blue Lagoon, Iceland and Therme Vals in Switzerland, but it won’t be as budget-friendly as Budapest! If you’re not a fan of the cold and want to forget all about it, thermal baths are one of the best things to do in Europe this winter.

2. Amsterdam Light Festival

Things to Do in Europe - Amsterdam Light Festival

While this city is famous for its red lights all year round, if you decide to visit Amsterdam during these colder months, you will find the skies lit up by seriously impressive light installations at the city’s open-air light festival. It runs for two months and boasts displays from some of the best Dutch and international light artists. It kicked off 29th November 2019 running until January 2020 putting the city centre and canals in the spotlight!

3. Christmas Markets 

people walking on street with Christmas decor store

If you’re in any European city from the end of November to the start of January, you will not be able to walk down the streets without feeling like you’ve stepped into a winter wonderland. Almost every city in Europe will have one massive Christmas tree and most of the bigger cities have amazing Christmas markets. Click here to see where you can find the best Christmas markets in Europe. One of many things to do in Europe that isn’t short of options.

4. Get involved in local traditions

people near Christmas tree at night

Like anywhere in the world, Europe’s cities and countries take their winter celebrations and traditions very seriously. Each region has its own traditions waiting to be explored and experienced by you. England has its pantos, Reykjavik has the Winter Lights Festival and the Czech Republic has St Mikuláš DayWinter in Europe can offer up some pretty cool things to do and experience. Be aware, most of it’s outdoors so remember your winter warmers.

5. Skiing!

person riding on skis during winter surrounded by mountains

Saving the best thing to do in Europe this Winter to last, if you’re a ski enthusiast then you cannot pass up the opportunity to ski some of the most famous peaks in the world. If you’re a novice, there’s no better time to pick up a new hobby than on The Alps in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, France and Italy who play host to some of the most popular ski destinations. There are cheaper options in Eastern Europe, but do your research on the resorts you’re interested in to find out who has the best ratings and best deals.

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