Let It Snow: The Best Places to Visit in Europe in Winter

With so many options, planning a European winter holiday might seem intimidating. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly Christmas getaway or an action-packed snow experience, we've done all the research so you can build the European getaway of your dreams.

Rovaniemi is a true winter wonderland that's home to the REAL Santa Claus. Yep, this place is a real-life fairytale setting. This charming city is open year-round but is especially magical during the winter months. As well as Santa, Rovaniemi is also home to beautiful Christmas markets, complete with handmade crafts, traditional foods, and plenty of activities for the kids. Lapland is regarded as the best place in the world to see the northern lights, which can be experienced from a few villages throughout the arctic circle. If you're feeling extra brave, we recommend you really lean into the freezing cold weather and eat cloudberry ice cream, one of Scandinavia's chilliest specialties.

From December to January, Amsterdam lights up its darkest months with the Amsterdam Light Festival. With a new and innovative theme each year, you're sure to be dazzled by its amazing beauty. You can even enjoy the stunning view of snow dusted canal houses lit up with Christmas lights from the city's iconic canal boats.

While Santorini might not be the first place you'd think to go in the winter season, it's a hugely underrated destination that provides a real bang for your buck in the winter months. Oia is much quieter during the holiday season so you can enjoy those famous cobbled streets with fewer crowds. We know a Santorini summer is probably on your bucket list, but we really think Greece has a lot to offer during the off season. With still relatively warm weather, it's the perfect place to break up your snowy Euro Winter.

The Pentland Hills Regional Park is Edinburgh's hidden gem. It houses endless hiking trails through snow-capped mountains and rolling fields. The park is also only a few hours away from the nearby area of the Scottish Highlands and the Cairngorms National Park where you can enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of dog sledding in the falling snow, making it an unofficial adventure capital.

Reykjavík is the northernmost country capital city in the world. The city is famous for its magical view of the northern lights and unique northern lights safaris. Other popular attractions include whale watching and snowmobiling. While you spend endless chilly hours exploring, keep yourself warm with a world-famous traditional wool Icelandic sweater.

Cologne is known for some of the best Christmas markets in the world. Cologne's biggest annual Christmas market is held at the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cologne Cathedral. Other cold weather activities include visiting Cologne's world-famous ice-skating rinks. They even offer horse-drawn carriage rides, enjoyed best with a mulled wine at the finish line. Cologne's beautiful Christmas market features a hand-made nativity scene, Christmas Ferris wheel, and Chocolate Museum, so it's sure to keep the whole family busy.

We know you know that Venice is a perfect European destination year-round, but we really think it's worth a winter visit. Imagine drinking a mulled wine or a hot chocolate on the Venetian cobbled streets, taking in all the beautiful Christmas decorations. Not something you could do in the summer months, right? And, unlike most major European cities, Venice is almost entirely car-free, making the pedestrian-only old town a winter walk enjoyer's dream.

The central European capital of Vienna is regarded as one of Europe's best winter holiday destinations. You may have seen pictures of the iconic town's church spires covered in snow. St. Stevens Cathedral and St. Charles Church are breathtakingly beautiful and full of history ready to be understood thanks to guided tours hosted by experts. Situated in Vienna's old town, St. Peters Cathedral is also famous for its classical holiday concerts. With performances ranging from modern rock to opera, the attraction should not be missed.

Calling all winter sports enthusiasts! Enjoy cross country skiing in the Swiss Alps region's capital city, famous for its snowy mountains and impeccable ski slopes. The snow-blanketed forests are best enjoyed without the summer crowds, so avoiding peak season has its positives. Interlaken is less crowded during the winter months, meaning there's less ski traffic on the slopes. Enjoy winter hiking through the thick snowy terrain and finish your afternoon with an iconic Swiss hot chocolate.

Denmark is perfect for winter travel, with a vast range of activities to suit everyone. Copenhagen's old town is home to the beautiful Tivoli Gardens Christmas Markets, as featured in CNN's list of the best Christmas markets. Embrace Viking culture by swimming the freezing cold Danes harbour, which should be followed by a traditional guided sauna experience to warm back up. This is basically the Danish concept of reducing blood pressure and increasing cardiovascular strength. If cold plunging the river isn't your style, try a winter kayaking tour through the harbour instead. Copenhagen also has many great day trip options, including Viking heritage tours, world-class museums, natural ice-skating rinks, and even a 'Disco on Ice'.

If you don't mind a bit of cold weather, then Budapest could be the bang for your buck winter holiday destination you've been waiting for. It has all the usual offerings, including a Christmas market, an ice-skating rink, and a gorgeous State Opera House. Budapest is sometimes referred to as the 'city of spas', due to its 118 natural thermal springs. The world-famous baths are well-worth the visit, and are a nice way to warm up after a few chilly hours outside exploring.

Tromso is known as the arctic capital, and has become a cultural hub. Famously, Tromso is home to the glass facade Arctic Cathedral, which features an elaborate mosaic window designed by famous Norwegian artist, Victor Sparre. One of the most impactful day trips we recommend is the reindeer sledding and cultural tours through the artic led by the native Sami people. We recommend you stay on the lookout for some of Norway's truly amazing winter flowering plants which grow straight out of the snow.

Europe has a lot to offer, ESPECIALLY in winter! So, if you're looking for even more ideas, here are some other cities we think are worth checking out:

• Prague, Czech Republic
• Strasbourg, France
• London, England
• Lake Como, Italy
• Canary Islands, Spain
• Bratislava, Slovakia
• Tallinn, Estonia
• Madrid, Spain
• Helsinki, Finland
• Dublin, Ireland

The snow is calling you! Are you craving a Euro Winter? Make your European winter wonderland fantasies a reality with Your Centre for Travel.