The dramatic scenery, the buzzing city streets and the wafting smells of roasted nuts and mulling wine: these are the sensory pleasures of a winter in Europe. As the weather gets chillier, the tourists tend to dwindle, even in the continent’s hottest spots, leaving behind a more distilled cultural and natural experience.
While summers in Europe might get all the attention from travelers, winter is where it really shines. Plan a holiday backpacking trip through Europe this year, and take advantage of the leisurely pace, evocative scenery, and the stupefying Christmas markets.
To start the ball rolling on your holiday itinerary, here are four of the best travel ideas for a winter in Europe.
Hike in the Italian Alps
This could have just as easily recommended the Swiss Alps – the more popular big sibling, if you will – but the Italian Alps have them beat in a couple regards. For one, the Italian Alps are a little (a little) less visited in the winter, with the Swiss side playing host to skiers from across the continent. The other reason, this one slightly more subjective, is that the food you’ll find on the Italian side is more delicious: a hearty mix of wild forest ingredients, polenta and risotto, and other treats from around the country.
The only catch here – and it’s not a big deal – is that the Alps get cold in the winter. If you’re planning of trekking the Alps, dress both warm and fashionable – after all, the worlds greatest hiking locations deserves great socks and a sleek, warm base layer.
Visit the Nuremberg Christmas Market
One the biggest – if not the biggest – Christmas market in Europe is tucked away in the medium-sized Bavarian city of Nuremberg. What a feast for the senses it can be! Vendors hawk everything from homemade cuckoo clocks, advent calendars and toys, to small Nuremberger sausages, stewed sauerkraut and mulled wine.
Get in the Scandinavian Frame of Mind
The Scandinavians are all about staying cozy in the winter. The Danes even have a word for it, hygge, meaning the feeling of conviviality and comfort that everyone strives for in the winter. This might mean hunkering down at one of the many, cozy Copenhagen pubs for a couple pints and some conversation, or relaxing by the fireplace of a Stockholm hostel in your pyjamas. Whatever your personal hygge is, you’ll find it in Scandinavia.
Czech Out the Picturesque Streets of Prague
Prague is a city best experienced in winter. That might be a controversial opinion, but unless you’ve been around the snow-covered church spires and brisk blue skies, you won’t understand. With a Christmas market to rival Nuremberg’s, Prague is also a lively city over the holidays. And its nightlife never stops: if you’re the kind of backpacker who feels at home in a multi-story nightclub, Prague is your kind of city.
Don’t follow the crowds in summer. March to the beat of your own little drummer boy and head to Europe for the holidays. You won’t be disappointed!