9 great winter city breaks in Europe

Last Updated on 18th September 2020 by Sarah and Justin

The weather is getting cooler, and while fall is a wonderful time to travel, we actually do most of our exploring in winter. Based on our experience traveling in Europe, we’re sharing nine ideas for winter city breaks. These European destinations are awesome any time of year, but if you visit during the colder months you’ll see fewer tourists and cheaper prices.

Our favorite winter city breaks

We are recommending cities that we ourselves have visited in winter. We selected places we know you could cover in a weekend without feeling like you missed something huge. For each destination, we’re telling you why we like the place, places to eat and drink, where to stay, transportation, and other tips for how to make the most of your winter city break.

Frankfurt city break

We have visited Frankfurt a few times, both in winter and summer. The warmer months are indeed lovely there, but we always prefer visiting Germany in winter. Our most recent winter weekend in Frankfurt was during Christmas Market season in December and we of course loved it. It’s actually like one big Christmas Market that stretches from the main square, through other squares, all the way to the river. That river, the Main (a tributary of the Rhine), is one of our favorite places to stroll. Even in winter it’s a treat.

Our Frankfurt restaurant picks

• Go to Gaststätte Atschel for the best schnitzel with Frankfurter groene saus and Apfelwein.
• Warm up with a bowl of Pho at Góc Phố.
• Slurp some of the best Chinese noodles you’ll eat at Mian Nudelhaus.
• Get a Döner Kebab at Köylü-Döner.

Getting into and around Frankfurt

Frankfurt is a main hub and a transfer point, or a good stopping point, on many a longer train journey through Europe. Frankfurt Airport is also a major destination. It’s incredibly easy to get from the Frankfurt Airport to the city center. Just take the train and you’ll be there in about a half hour. As with most German cities, public transportation in Frankfurt is great. If you’re going to be doing a lot of moving around, consider buying a day pass.

Where to stay in Frankfurt

Our current favorite hotel in Frankfurt is the Premier Inn Frankfurt Messe. It’s a bit outside the more touristic city center, but the rooms are cheap and way bigger and nicer than you’d imagine for the money.

Sofia city break

Our trip to Sofia was in December, and we were greeted with a blanket of snow. It was incredibly romantic. Sofia is a really easy city to get around and has some of the most beautiful buildings we’ve seen. The food is also fantastic. If you ski (we don’t), you can also head to nearby mountains. And last, but most certainly not least, if you visit in December there’s a Christmas Market. What more could you ask for?

Our Sofia food picks

• Balkan Bites is a two-hour food and walking tour of Sofia. It’s delicious and informative and a must-do on any trip to the city. Though it’s free to join, tour guides work hard and deserve your tips.
• Go to Механа Избата (Mehana Izbata) for traditional Bulgarian food in a cellar.
• Go to Ресторантът Стария Чинар (Restaurant Old Chinar) for traditional Bulgarian food in an old, villa-like house.
• Go to Raketa Rakia Bar for something a bit more modern, and to try the local drink rakia.

Getting into and around Sofia

The airport is located just a half hour outside the city center by Metro. The city is otherwise small enough to get around on foot, although there are trams as well.

Where to stay in Sofia

We stayed in an apartment with a view of Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. If you’d prefer a hotel, there are good options at different budget ranges throughout the city.

<< Search for hotels in Sofia now >>

Cologne city break

Cologne is our favorite place on this list and we have visited many times. We love visiting in December when the Christmas Markets are in high gear. But there’s enough to do in the city during the other winter months to keep you busy.

Explore the perfectly picturesque old town. Admire the imposing cathedral from seemingly anywhere in the city or climb up its tower for incredible views. See a hockey game. Or just hole up in a kneipe and drink Kölsch. You won’t want to leave.

Our Cologne food and drink picks

• Go to Bei Oma Kleinmann for the best schnitzel in Cologne. It’s a cozy spot where you sit at tiny tables huddled together with other schnitzel eaters and Kölsch drinkers.
• Ristorante Etrusca is our favorite Italian restaurant outside Italy. Their specialty is linguini with parmesan and truffles, which is assembled dramatically table-side.
• Go to Zulpicher Döner for a Döner Kebab.
• Go anywhere for Kölsch. It’s all tasty and refreshing and prices don’t vary widely. Just don’t forget to top your glass with your coaster when you’re done or need a break otherwise it’ll keep coming.

Getting into and around Cologne

The closest airport to Cologne is the Cologne-Bonn Airport, but the Dusseldorf Airport serves more routes. You can also get to Cologne by train, and the Hauptbahnhof is right in the city center. Look for saver deals on the Deutsche Bahn website if you can plan a little bit in advance.

Public transportation in Cologne consisting of trams, buses, and U-Bahns is great (not surprising since you’re in Germany). Look into discounts on weekend or group passes if you’re traveling with others. You may also consider the KölnCard, which gives you free transportation and discounts on major attractions.

Disclaimer: KölnTourismus provided us with KölnCards on our most recent visit to the city. All opinions and gushing over their Christmas Markets are our own.

Where to stay in Cologne

Motel One is our hotel chain of choice in Germany these days and as of publication they have three locations in Cologne.

Porto city break

We visited Porto in February and were graced with blue skies and only a touch of rain. Even then the city seemed a bit crowded to us, but we know it was significantly less busy than during high season.

Porto is one of the most beautiful cities we’ve visited. If you want to escape the often grey skies of winter, you couldn’t pick a better destination. Of course there are specific sights to see, but the biggest draw are the colorful buildings all around you. If you’re a lover of city wandering and taking pictures, Porto is the place for you.

Our Porto food and drink picks

• If you want to try the city’s famous sandwich, the francesinha, go to Cafe Santiago. Get there right when they open otherwise, you will have to wait on a long line (you still might). And be prepared, it makes for a big (incredibly heavy) lunch.
• For dinner, dig into some delicious food at homey, cozy Tapabento. Save room for their popular peanut dessert.
• If you’re vegetarian, head to all-you-can-eat Da Terra for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
• Try some Portuguese craft beer at Catraio or As 7 Maravilhas (which also looks like it has some tasty food).

Getting into and around Porto

It’s easy to get to the Porto city center from the Porto Airport via Metro or bus. We took the Metro since it went to a station a few minutes from where we were staying. You likely won’t need to use public transportation to get around Porto’s relatively small city center, but be prepared to climb some hills. A nice way to get up one of the biggest hills is the Funicular dos Guindais. It goes up from the Ribeira to Batalha, with incredible views along the way. At time of publication, a one-way ticket costs 2.50 EUR.

Where to stay in Porto

We stayed in an apartment in Porto, right on Rua de Flores, which was a great location. Two good hotel options are:

• Porto A.S. 1829 Hotel is relatively close to where we stayed.
• As its name implies, The House Ribeira Porto Hotel is right on the Ribeira. You’ll have early morning access to the Douro River before the crowds arrive.

Athens city break

Greece is more typically a summer holiday destination, but the high temperatures and huge crowds are intimidating. So we went to Athens in January and couldn’t have been happier. The city was still bustling, but of course quieter than it would be during high season.

If you love archaeology and history then Athens is the city for you. The Acropolis is of course the big draw, but there are so many other ruins strewn throughout the city and museums to visit. Winter is the perfect time to explore since you won’t get too hot and won’t be too bothered by other tourists.

Our Athens restaurant picks

• You could spend your entire time in Athens eating souvlaki and gyros. For all the best places to do so, we recommend this comprehensive souvlaki guide by the 2FoodTrippers.
• For a nice, neighborhood restaurant, book a table for dinner at Kouvelos.
• If you need a break from Greek food, Tuk Tuk Thai Street Food is a good bet.
• For a casual spot with quirky decor and tasty food, try Sphika.

Getting into and around Athens

You can take the Metro into the city center from the airport. It isn’t the most efficient (we had to wait quite a bit for a delayed train), but it’ll save you some money. The Metro is good to get around on in the city itself but the main center of the city is small enough to cover on foot.

Where to stay in Athens

We stayed in an apartment in the Koukaki neighborhood. It made a great base, but we saw a ton of signs protesting Airbnb papering the streets of the neighborhood. So next time we would stay in one of the city’s many hotels.

<< Search for hotels in Athens now >>

Madrid city break

Madrid is great anytime of year so why not have more of it to yourself and visit in winter. In Madrid, you’ll find world-class museums and interesting attractions, but for us it’s all about the food. Whether it’s at the city’s numerous markets or plethora of tapas bars, Madrid is a city to enjoy good food and plenty of it.

Our Madrid food picks

• Eat your way along the Calle de la Cava Baja, a street known for tapas in La Latina. Be sure to stop at our favorite, Lamiak.
• Join the other tourists indulging in churros con chocolate at La Chocolatería San Ginés.
• Sample any food your heart desires at the gourmet markets El Mercado de San Miguel and Mercado de San Antón.

Getting into and around Madrid

We love using the Metro to get around Madrid. And you can take it to get into the city from the airport in less than an hour. Passes are available if you’re spending a few days.

Where to stay in Madrid

If it’s your first trip to Madrid, we’d recommend staying pretty central. That’s what we did and it was nice to be able to get to all the main attractions on foot.

<< Search hotels in Madrid now >>

Wroclaw city break

We visited Wroclaw in January. It was cold, but the beauty of the city and the heartiness of the food kept us warm. Wroclaw is the perfect place for outdoor sightseeing. It has one of the most beautiful main squares in Europe with striking, brightly colored buildings. The city is also home to reportedly over 400 tiny sculptures of these enchanting creatures. You could spend your entire time in Wroclaw hunting for them.

Our Wroclaw food and drink picks

• For the best pierogis, go to Pierogarnia Stary Młyn. Yes, it’s a chain, yes it’s a bit touristy, and yes it’s a bit pricier than some other places. But it is absolutely, positively worth it. Make sure to try both boiled and baked varieties.
• For craft beer and some pretty serviceable pizza, head to Marynka Beer Aperitivo.
• Go to Kontynuacja for more craft beer. This was our favorite bar in Wroclaw (possibly in Poland).

Getting into and around Wroclaw

The bus from Wroclaw Airport to the city center takes about 45 minutes. If you are staying a little outside the center (as we did) we recommend buying a pass for your stay (eg, 24, 48, or 72 hours). These passes are valid on the airport bus as well.

If you want to extend your trip, you can also take the bus from Wroclaw to Prague in about 4 1/2 hours.

Where to stay in Wroclaw

The most affordable hotels in Wroclaw are a tiny bit outside the tourist center. We stayed at an Ibis, which was about a 20-minute walk or a 7 minute tram ride to the main square. It was perfectly fine. It’s connected to the slightly more upscale Novotel. It felt a little odd to us to pay more to stay in the same building, though. Both are part of the Accor Hotel chain.

Prague city break

Prague is one of our favorite cities in Europe. But it’s way too crowded with tourists these days. We’re not sure that will ever change, so we’ll stick to only visiting during the most off-season time possible: the dead of winter.

The city looks gorgeous in winter light, with the red roofs bringing brightness to any view. The castle is remarkable, Charles Bridge is a must-see, and so is the old town. But once you hit the major sights, it’s worth getting lost exploring the neighborhoods a bit further afield. And of course partaking in a crisp, always delicious Czech beer.

Our Prague restaurant picks

• Lokal is the perfect place to try different Czech dishes. We especially love their Prague ham and potato dumplings (which you can refill for free endlessly).
• For a higher end meal accompanied by breathtaking views of the city, head to Ginger & Fred Restaurant in the Dancing House. After dinner, head up to the outdoor terrace for even better views.
• If you like duck, try U modré kachničky. There are two locations, one in the old town.
• If you get sick of Czech food, get some Thai food at Modrý zub Anděl in the Smíchov neighborhood.
• Go anywhere that has crisp Czech beer from the tank. Pilsner Urquell is the most well-known, but there are others to try as well including Staropramen and Budvar which comes in both light and dark varieties.

Getting into and around Prague

Take a bus to a Metro to get from the Prague Airport to the city center. It’ll take you about an hour. Once in the city, you’ll have to rely on public transportation if you want to travel much beyond the old town (which, you should). You can buy tickets from machines in Metro stations or outside tram and bus stops.

Where to stay in Prague

Prague is a popular place, so it might be tricky to find good, reasonably priced accommodations. Book early no matter when you’re going. We recommend two hotels:

• Aparthotel City 5 has big rooms for reasonable prices. It’s located in the Smichov neighborhood right next to the bus you’d catch to explore the rest of the country.
• If you’d prefer to stay on the other side of the river, you can’t go wrong at the Park Inn Prague.

Bergamo city break

As has often been the case these past two years, we decided to go to Bergamo because we saw a cheap flight. So we didn’t have really any expectations at all for the place. But it blew us away. It was stunning, and looked and felt different from other places in Italy we’d visited. Seeing Bergamo’s Città Alta at sunset was one of the most magical sights we’ve seen. And of course you’re surrounded by the tastiest food. So we loved it and would gladly return.

Our Bergamo food and drink tips

• In Città Bassa, indulge in tasty pizza at Da Nasti.
• Bergamo’s local specialty pasta is called casoncelli, a filled pasta served with butter sage sauce. We tried to go to the most popular place for the dish in Città Alta, Circolino, but it was closed. So we ate it at a spot close to our hotel.
• If you’re hungry for a snack in Città Alta, grab an arancini or a cannoli at Is Sole In Bocca.
• Get aperitivo anywhere you see locals gathered enjoying a spritz and accompanying appetizers.

Getting into and around Bergamo

Bergamo has its own airport, from which the city is only about 20 minutes. It’s also about an hour from Milan. Buy a 72-hour transport pass when you get to the Bergamo Airport. It covers the bus trip to and from the airport and all transportation in the city. That includes both funiculars, making it an incredibly good deal and super convenient.

Where to stay in Bergamo

You’ll see a recurring theme in this post, we’ve become frequent Accor Hotels customers. We stayed at the Mercure Bergamo Palazzo Dolci in Città Bassa. We thought the location was convenient (it’s right across from a bus stop) and breakfast was tasty and filling.

What’s your favorite winter city break? Tell us in the comments!

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