9 European Cities That Are Even More Beautiful in Winter
It’s no surprise that these European cities are beautiful—but what many don’t realize is that they’re even more stunning in the winter. Part of this can be chalked up to the festive mood of the holiday season, but even once December passes, the slower pace and the quiet air that settles over the streets during the cold leaves little to be desired. Below, AD highlights nine incredible European cities that embrace a more informal and cozy feeling in the winter, creating attractive results. Some are well-known capitals, and we offer suggestions for how to experience them to the fullest. Others may be unexpected but certainly worth the journey. Whichever city you choose to visit, you can expect to have an unforgettable stay—just remember to layer up before you head out.
Photo: gehringj/Getty Images1/9Budapest
Hungary’s capital is having a moment, with construction sites just about everywhere bringing contemporary additions to Pest—the part of the city to the east of the Danube. Among the most remarkable of the new offerings is the House of Music, designed by architect Sou Fujimoto and located in City Park. The striking building houses concert halls and performance venues.
Though Budapest is wonderful in every season, it’s in the winter that one of its most famous features—its many baths—become even more appealing. What better way to dispel the winter chill, even as a snowstorm blankets the city, than with a long soak in the warm waters of a natural hot spring? On the Buda side, the Fisherman’s Bastion, with its views of the iconic parliament building, is especially romantic on winter days. At the end of your days exploring the city, return to the evocative and atmospheric Belle Époque Matild Palace, which opened in 2021 after being transformed from a palace into a luxury hotel. It embodies the magic of Budapest in a building that has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Photo: Pawel Gaul/Getty Images2/9Krakow
The symbol of this historic Polish city is the Wawel Dragon, and just as that fire-breathing beast could dispel winter’s chill, the city’s inviting cafes and restaurants offer respite from the wind blowing off the Vistula river. When the wind calms down, the Dobra Atmosphere Hot Air Balloon offers panoramic views of Krakow. The balloon is not only a tourist attraction, it also doubles as a laboratory collecting data on air pollution. (Make sure to check the website first to make sure the balloon is flying before making your way to its riverfront location on Wołyński Boulevard.) After taking in a bird’s-eye view of the city, a stroll through the Jewish Quarter is especially atmospheric on gray or snowy days. When it comes to lodging, the Puro Hotel in Krakow’s historic heart is a stylish mix of old and new thanks to the intervention of local firm Paradowski Studio.
Photo: Heartland-Arts/Getty Images3/9Edinburgh
Exploring the lanes and alleys of Edinburgh’s Old Town and the city’s iconic castle is arguably more special in the winter with fewer tourists to dispel the magic of Scotland’s capital. Edinburgh is located just a few miles inland from the North Sea, though even in the summer only the hardiest will take a swim along Portobello Beach. In the winter, it’s a scene of both regal ships and tiny fishing boats, coming and going.
Photo: Damien Keating/Getty Images4/9London
If you plan to visit London this winter, The Lanesborough, part of the Oetker Collection, offers royal treatment to mere commoners. Every guest enjoys butler service available day and night, and if you check into the 4,800-square-foot Royal Suite, you won’t feel any envy for the residents of Buckingham Palace. All rooms have wonderful historic details and are warm and cozy. When you’re not living like royalty, enjoy Georgian row houses—which are often festively decorated and look particularly beautiful with a light cover of snow—or go ice skating in front of Somerset House, where a rink is open through mid-January.
Photo: Xantana/Getty Images5/9Lucerne
No list of winter destinations would be complete without representation from Switzerland. Lucerne’s relatively small size makes it an easy city to explore—and fall in love with. The attractions range from its stunning setting—a lunch overlooking the lake is a must—to a number of museums and landmarks. The Chapel Bridge is among the oldest covered bridges in Europe; the Rosengart Collection has more than 100 works by Picasso and other celebrated artists like Paul Klee; and the Swiss Museum of Transport offers the chance to explore the worlds of flight, road, and rail—it’s a journey within a journey. For a stay to match the setting, check into the new Mandarin Oriental Palace located in a Belle Époque palace overlooking the lake. It opened in September following an extensive renovation by local architects Iwan Bühler Architekten and London-based interior designers Jestico + Whiles, who created a contemporary ambience inspired by the beauty of Swiss landscapes while preserving the building’s history.
Photo: Rafael Bastante/Europa Press/Getty Images6/9Madrid
There is a misconception among some that Spain doesn’t experience winter. That’s not completely true, though there are days that are mild enough that you can go rowing on the artificial lake in Retiro Park before waiting on the steps of the Monument to Alfonso XII for the spectacle of a winter sunset. Even in the depths of winter, Spain’s capital never rests and its famous movida, or night life, continues even while in some other European cities residents are hibernating.
The San Miguel Market is an excellent gastronomic starting point where you can graze on tapas and try different Spanish wines. The city’s museums—including the Prado, the Reina Sofia, and the Thyssen-Bornemisza—are wonderful refuges from the cold. The Four Seasons Madrid is as well, with its 1,500 paintings, photographs, and sculptures curated by expert Paloma Fernández-Iriondo to match the architecture of the hotel. It is housed in a late 19th-century building that is among the most photographed landmarks in the city. Among its most popular features, with locals and travelers alike, is the spa that measures over 15,000 square feet where you can take a dip in its pool even on the grayest of winter days.
Photo: Lukassek/Getty Images7/9Munich
Berlin has its contemporary and alternative edge, Hamburg is vibrant and full of life, but for a weekend getaway, the capital of Bavaria is hard to beat. Some countries approach winter grumbling and complaining, but Germans embrace the season. Marienplatz is the city’s crossroads, with a number of church spires looking down upon it. Even when the Englischer Garten is dusted with snow, surfers ride the man-made waves of a stretch of river in the park—a contrast that makes for a stunning photo. In the heart of the city, the Charles Hotel is home to a Cosy Winter Village—an intimate and chic group of eight small glass houses where a traditional Alpine menu is served. You can also opt for seasonal snacks like steaming chestnuts, candied almonds, and Christmas punch made with the hotel’s historic and secret recipe.
Photo: SerrNovik/Getty Images8/9Paris
In the City of Light, winter window displays are true works of art. The natural starting point is the historic Galeries Lafayette, with its monumental Art Nouveau dome fresh from renovations, but from the Champs-Élysées to the Marais it’s all teeming with life as you wander from one boutique to the next. Just a few steps from landmarks like the Pont de la Concorde, Place Vendome, and the Musée d’Orsay, the luxury boutique hotel J.K. Place Paris offers a quiet and intimate retreat after wandering among the crowds of shoppers. The hotel has the feel of a private residence, with only 29 refined rooms and suites. In the spa with its pool, sauna, and steam room, treatments have an extra touch of warmth using products by beauty guru Dr. Barbara Sturm.
Photo: Ihor_Tailwind/Getty Images9/9Prague
The bad news is that in the winter high temperatures in Prague often hover around freezing. And that is also the good news, since the Charles Bridge under a layer of snow has a splendid beauty not true in other seasons. When you want relief from the cold, it’s easy to find it in one of the city’s beer halls where you can indulge in stews and hearty winter fare. A new hotel, The Julius, also offers a warm retreat in a neo-Renaissance building with interiors by Matteo Thun & Partners.
