Five Things You’ll Love & Hate About Visiting Europe in Winter
Greetings from Copenhagen, Denmark! Today we’re sharing the things you’re going to love, and hate, about visiting Europe in winter.
Europe in Winter Travel Hate #1: Weather
Winter weather in Europe can be gloomy, dark and wet. Some cities, like Copenhagen, are made to be explored outdoors, but that’s not as much fun in the cold snow or rain. The weather doesn’t get bone-chilling cold, like in Minnesota, but even 30-degree weather can be pretty cold if you are out exploring all day. Colder weather means bringing more clothes, so traveling light becomes more challenging.
Europe in Winter Travel Hate #2: Seasonal Closures
Some places will just close during the winter, while others will have shorter winter hours. In Copenhagen, the Tivoli Gardens are one of the best things to do, but aside from the Christmas holiday, they are closed in winter. Santorini, Greece practically becomes a ghost town in the winter. Make sure you check before you book, that enough places will be open to make it worth the trip.
Europe in Winter Travel Hate #3: Packing Extra “Stuff”
As I mentioned above, winter weather requires winter clothing. We like to travel light, and buy clothes while we travel. Packing winter coats, gloves, hats and warm layers doesn’t leave much room for shopping upon arrival. You may have to bring a larger suitcase, or more suitcases for the family, which makes it harder to get around as you travel from city to city.
Europe in Winter Travel Hate #4: Rain and Drizzle
The beauty of exploring European cities is doing so much walking and being outdoors as you go from place to place. While it may not be freezing or snowing in all of Europe, it’s very wet. You will get wet, and so will your things. Cobblestones can be very slippery, too, so you have to be extra careful. Good (waterproof) walking shoes are a must when visiting Europe in winter.
Europe in Winter Travel Hate #5: Limited Daylight
It gets dark very early in winter, so your sightseeing hours are reduced. In some cities, you may not want to be out after dark, walking around. You’ll need to get up early and take advantage of every minute of daylight that you have.
Europe in Winter Travel Love #1: Off Season Pricing
One of the best reasons to visit Europe in winter are the prices. You won’t find great discounts during Christmas and New Year’s, but January and February and November have really great deals on flights and hotels. This is the time to use your frequent flier miles for a low-tier ticket to Europe. One of the reasons we are able to travel so much is that we travel to Europe in the off-season and save a ton of money that way.
Europe in Winter Travel Love #2: Fewer Tourists
Fewer people travel to Europe in winter, so there are fewer crowds to contend with. Fewer tourists means shorter queues to get into popular attractions. The Louvre in December vs the Louvre in July can be as much as hour difference, just to get in! With less time spent waiting in line, you’ll have time to visit more attractions each day.
Europe in Winter Travel Love #3: Better Service
With fewer tourists and crowds, we will often get better service in the winter. In the busy season, they are focused on getting you in and out as quickly as possible. In the off season, the servers are more attentive, and have more time to slow down and chat with you. It’s much easier to get to know the locals when there are fewer tourists, too.
Europe in Winter Travel Love #4: Christmas Markets
The best part of winter in Europe are the Christmas markets. Germany, the Czech Republic, Copenhagen and many more countries throw fabulous Christmas markets. The shopping, the Christmas market foods and mulled wine, plus the decorations, make Europe in winter a very special experience.
Europe in Winter Travel Love #5: Cultural Experience
With fewer tourists, more attentive service and a slower pace, you get a much better chance to experience the local culture than you would in the summertime. People have much more time to get to know you, and explain their local traditions. It’s a great time to visit and see how the locals live day to day.
For more travel tips about visiting Europe in the winter, or Europe travel, check out these blog posts and videos: