Europe in Winter: 10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Europe during Winter
Do you want to go to Europe but are skeptical about visiting in winter? Here are the top reasons to travel to Europe in winter for an amazing vacation!
Are you thinking of traveling to Europe this winter but the intense cold temperatures scare you to the bone?
Perhaps you sometimes wonder why people pack their backpacks and walk straight into the snow!
Well, there are so many reasons to travel to Europe in winter and if you couldn’t get any, I hope this post convinces you that Europe is not just perfect in summer but also in winter.
But before you go, make sure that you have these Europe in winter accessories below!
What to Wear in Europe in Winter
- Full set thermal base layer for women and here’s is the men’s version
- Fleece for women and here’s the men’s version
- Winter jackets for women and this one for the men.
- Woolen socks -To keep your feet warm and dry at all times
- Gloves – these ones are actually touch screen sensitive, so you can use your phone without taking them off.
- Scarves – buy this long and thick one for extra warmth.
- Knitted cap – this is the one I recommend to keep the snow off your hair and to stay warm.
- Earmuffs – protect your ears from cold Europe by buying these cool earmuffs.
- Waterproof Winter boots for women and these ones for the guys
You can also read this comprehensive winter packing list to find out everything you will need to pack for your winter vacation in Europe.
Reasons to travel to Europe in Winter
Now that you know what to wear in Europe in the winter, here are the 10 reasons to convince you to pack your bags already!
1. Reduced prices on air tickets
The advantage of traveling to Europe in winter is that everything is way cheaper than in the peak season.
Flight fares reduce by a big percentage since not so many people are booking air tickets. Don’t believe it? Try checking for flights on Skyscanner now and you’ll be surprised by the incredible bargain.
So, if you had put off traveling to Europe because of the high air ticket prices, traveling in winter is your ticket to affording a flight to Europe.
2. Cheap accommodation and generally low cost of living
Most hostels and hotels in Europe offer discounts in winter and the general costs of living reduce.
From transportation, restaurants, activities to entry fees to tourist attractions, everything becomes cheaper.
This means that you can even prolong your stay in Europe because you have extra money to spend which wouldn’t otherwise be enough in the peak season when everything is priced highly.
3. Fewer crowds and tourists
The truth is that not many people make the decision to travel to the cold destinations of Europe.
This means that you won’t haggle with other tourists just to take a photo at the famous European landmarks and you will not spend hours in queues just to get access to famous tourist attractions.
And another win is that you’ll get a closer look at sites and spend more time there without the need to rush through because a thousand other people are waiting behind you.
Related post: Biggest mistakes to avoid while traveling in Europe
4. Visit the various Christmas markets
Europe is known for going overboard when it comes to Christmas markets.
If you travel to Europe in the months of November and December, you’ll be able to experience the Christmas traditions in Europe, shop souvenirs in the markets, treat yourself to a hot chocolate while enjoying the views of the dazzling Christmas lights.
In almost all the big cities of Europe, you’ll be able to find a Christmas market to wander about as you get the feel of Christmas in Europe.
5. See the Northern lights
Though there is no guarantee that you’ll be able to see the Northern lights regardless of where you go, but during winter, especially from the months of September to April, you’ll have a great chance of seeing the Northern lights if you head to Scandinavian countries.
Even though the Scandinavian countries have some of the coldest winters in Europe, traveling there in winter will enable you to see Aurora Borealis – a natural phenomenon that paints the night sky with beautiful colors.
Now that’s a winter bucket list item that should inspire you to travel to Europe in winter.
And if you’re not sure about where to go to see this magical beauty, here are the best places to see the Northern lights in Europe.
6. Enjoy the countless winter sports
With Europe having some of the best ski resorts in the world, it is a haven for winter sports that adventurous travelers should try out at least once.
Whether it is traveling to Zermatt in Switzerland to enjoy the Swiss Alps while skiing or Borovets in Bulgaria to participate in skiing and snowboarding, or to Jasna in Slovakia so that even your nonskier friends can participate in winter sports like sledding, snow bike and snow scoot, Europe is the perfect winter destination to enjoy countless winter sports.
But before you head up to the mountains for a ski holiday, make sure you have all these skiing essentials.
You can also read this comprehensive winter packing list to find out everything you will need to pack for your winter vacation in Europe.
7. Experience a white Christmas
There is nowhere else in the world to experience a white Christmas like in Europe.
With snowcapped houses, trees covered in white, and Christmas lights so bright, Europe creates a magical and fairytale Christmas that you see in movies – except that you’ll now be part of that dreamy Christmas movie.
Whether it is experiencing Christmas in Paris, London, or Venice, your trip to Europe in winter will be very much worth it as you enjoy the high holiday spirit in these beautiful cities of Europe.
But if you don’t know where to go, then you can check out these Christmas destinations in Europe or these warm places in Europe in December if you prefer a sunny Christmas.
8. See Europe through different lenses
If you’re not yet convinced that it is actually a good idea to travel to Europe in winter, then I hope this does.
Traveling to Europe in just summer all the time means that you only know one side of Europe and that you’ve not seen how famous attractions like the Eiffel tower look with a backdrop of falling snow or how the Schonbrunn Palace in Vienna glares while covered in snow.
And for photographers, winter is the prime season to capture the best magical and Instagram-worthy shots that truly bring out how magical and beautiful Europe is!
9. Major Tourist attractions are still exciting to visit in winter
The main reason why millions of tourists flock to Europe is to visit the grandest of its attractions.
Winter doesn’t make them less exciting but rather much more enjoyable since they won’t be crowded with tourists.
And the best part is that most attractions in Europe are indoor so you will still be able to enjoy them and also tick them off your bucket list without freezing from outside.
10. There are still some warm places in Europe during winter
If your greatest worry about traveling to Europe in winter is the coldness and snow, then worry not as there are some winter sun places in Europe where you can still enjoy the cool and warm temperatures.
You might not be able to hit the beach right away but with temperatures around 15 ° C – 24 ° C in places like Cyprus, Malta, Malaga in Spain, or Sicily in Italy, you can expect to walk outside without 5 layers of clothes as you enjoy the winter sun.
Final Thought on the best Reasons why you should visit Europe in winter
If you were still skeptical about traveling to Europe in winter, I hope this post has given you enough reasons to start planning your European winter getaway.
Have you been to Europe in winter before? What was your experience walking on cobblestone pathways covered in snow?
Share with me in the comment section. And if you haven’t, tell me what’s holding you back from experiencing the magical and snowy Europe.
More European posts for further reading
- Most fairytale cities to visit in Europe
- The biggest mistakes to avoid while traveling in Europe
- Paris bucket list places to visit
- Dreamy castles to visit in France
- What to pack for Europe in winter
- The cheapest Ski resorts in Europe
- Best places to see the Northern lights in Europe
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