European travel is most often associated with the warm summer months. June through August is Europe’s peak travel season as students have a break from school, and the weather is at its most inviting. After all, Europe is known across the world for its lovely beaches.
That said, summer is not necessarily the best time to travel to Europe. A strong case can be made for the winter months being Europe’s most ideal travel season. There are several reasons why Europe is perfect for an off-season getaway with smaller crowds, holiday festivities, and winter sports.
Here are the eight best European countries to visit in December.
Germany
There is no bad time to visit Germany. Berlin, Germany’s capital and most popular city, rarely surpasses 75°F, making it a perfect destination for some summertime urban exploration. On the other hand, the German state of Bavaria is at its best during the winter holidays.
Bavaria offers the most traditional German experience due to its quaint villages, old towns, medieval castles, and mountainous landscape. This scenery becomes more stunning when draped with blankets of snow.
Throughout the holiday season, Bavarian villages ignite with festive Christmas lights, traditional food vendors, local cafes, and winter activities like ice skating and Ferris wheels.
Neuschwanstein Castle
One of Europe’s most famous castles, Neuschwanstein, was constructed in the 19th century for King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Due to its massive scale and dramatic alpine setting, Neuschwanstein is visited by as many as 6,000 people daily in the summer.
Winter travelers will enjoy far fewer crowds. On top of that, Neuschwanstein’s snowy winter landscape makes it seem out of a fairytale.
Norway
The Northern Lights should be near the top of everyone’s bucket list. Luckily, Finland is one of the best places to see this natural world wonder.
Travelers seeking the lights should head to the northern city of Tromso, which is in the heart of the Aurora zone. Known to locals as the “gateway to the Arctic,” this city also offers whale watching, fjord tours, and the most bars per capita of any city in Norway.
December is firmly in Norway’s peak season for the Northern Lights. This is largely due to the phenomena of Polar Night.
During the height of winter around the new year, cities close to the arctic circle, such as Tromso, can go up to six weeks without daylight, bringing deeper meaning to the term “nightlife.” While this may scare some away, it is a unique experience that no traveler will forget.
Finland
While it's often lumped in with Norway and its other Scandinavian neighbors, Finland is a winter wonderland worthy of a visit. December is decidedly the best time of the year to visit Finland due to its nationwide festivities.
Rovaniemi is one of Finland’s most popular destinations, thanks to its iconic Santa Claus Village. Visitors meet Santa, take reindeer rides, make igloos, sip hot chocolate in the cold weather, and witness elves working away. Rovaniemi is another top location to watch the Northern Lights.
Switzerland
Luxury travelers and alpine adventurers alike will love everything Switzerland offers in the wintertime. Switzerland’s most popular cities, such as Geneva and Zurich, are stunning year-round.
The fine dining, high-end shopping, mountainous backdrops, and nostalgic architecture make Switzerland a supremely romantic winter destination. The winter only heightens the romance, draping cobblestone streets with fresh blankets of snow.
While the temperatures are freezing, it's a unique and romantic experience. Who wouldn’t want to watch snow fall upon the alps while sitting beside a fire?
World-Class Skiing
Zermatt is a Swiss mountain town that hosts one of the most celebrated ski resorts in the world. With a peak altitude of nearly 13,000 feet, over 200 miles of skiable terrain, and unbeatable views of the Matterhorn, it is a mecca for skiers and boarders alike.
Even non-skiers can enjoy Zermatt. This quaint mountain town at the bottom of a remarkable alpine landscape offers some of Europe’s best apres-ski eateries and spas.
Spain
December in Europe does not always have to be a cold affair. There are plenty of European destinations looking for some sun in the winter. Spain is at the top of the list, and for a good reason.
Located along Spain’s southern tip is the renowned Costa del Sol. This sun-soaked region rarely sees a cloudy day, and temperatures often surpass 70°F in December.
Marbella, located in the Spanish province of Malaga, is one of the best beach destinations in all of Europe. Spain is the place to go if you want tapas and warmth on your winter vacation.
Italy
For travelers who want the snow and the sun, Italy is a country where they can have it all. Italy is best known for its food and warm Mediterranean sun–two things visitors can find during the Italian winter.
The Amalfi coast is a paradise year-round. Visitors can find inviting weather, white sand beaches, and jagged cliffs shooting above bright blue water.
Up north, though, Italy borders the Alps mountain range. There, travelers can find a quintessential winter experience. Skiing, Christmas villages, and hearty northern Italian food are just a few things travelers will find in the Dolomites.
Austria
Austria is another country that borders the Alps mountain range. This means there are endless winter activities during the Austrian winter.
Kitzbühel is an excellent resort for skiers of all skill levels, while St. Anton is geared towards experts who need a challenge. Other winter activities in Austria include snowshoeing, tobogganing, and exploring snow-covered palaces and castles.
Austria is also well known for its holiday festivities. Those after a traditional and opulent experience may try to score tickets to the Viennese Ball. This centuries-old tradition features waltzing, fine dining, and a particularly strict stress code.
Christmas Markets
One of Austria’s most renowned traditions is its Christmas markets, making it a perfect destination for a December vacation. Vienna includes many of them, the most popular at City Hall and Belvedere Palace.
These brightly-lit markets, surrounded by medieval architecture, feature choirs, food vendors, and crafts stalls. Tucked further away is Innsbruck, a town flanked by snow-capped mountains that features one of Austria’s best Christmas markets.
Why Visit Europe in December?
What makes Europe such a unique place is its wide range of cultural and geographical diversity. As a result, there is never a bad time to visit Europe.
While summer is Europe’s busiest season, the winter can be just as good, if not better, time to visit Europe. December especially is one of the best months to visit Europe.
Winter Festivities
Setting December apart from the rest of the months is the number of holiday festivities. Christmas is deeply rooted in European culture, going back to before the Christianization of Europe.
Germanic people in the 5th and 6th centuries celebrated a holiday called Yule, which featured now-ubiquitous traditions such as Yule Logs and a Santa Claus-like figure. As a result, December is an important month for many Europeans, and they show it with their various traditions.
Smaller Crowds
One of the most compelling reasons to visit Europe in the winter is the smaller crowds and lower prices. Due to warm weather and open schedules, families and students flock to Europe during the summer.
From June to August, Europe’s most popular destinations are packed with millions of tourists. For many, this is a major drawback.
During the winter, though, far fewer people come to visit Europe. This can make Europe’s most popular cities far less overwhelming and reduce the prices of just about everything — flights, hotels, attractions, food.
While the weather can be less inviting, many find winter to be the best time to visit Europe’s most popular cities:
- London, England
- Paris, France
- Istanbul, Turkey
- The Canary Islands, Spain
- Rome, Italy
- Copenhagen, Denmark
- Barcelona, Spain
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Vienna, Austria
- Budapest, Hungary
- Athens, Greece
- Venice, Italy
- Crete, Greece
- Strasbourg, France
- Tenerife, Spain
What Do I Need To Visit Europe?
Citizens of 62 countries, including the United States, do not need a visa to travel to Europe. There are no plans to change this; however, in 2025, the Schengen Area will introduce ETIAS, an electronic visa-waiver program.
This program will require citizens of most of the countries above to pre-register before entering Europe. While this is not a visa, it is an extra step that was not there before.
Does ETIAS Apply to Me?
ETIAS applies to citizens of 58 of the 62 countries previously able to travel visa-free to Europe. This means that in 2025, U.S. citizens who plan to travel to the Schengen Area will need to pre-register before entering.
What Is the Schengen Area?
The Schengen Area is a group of European countries that share open borders and a standard visa policy for international travel. While most of the countries in the Schengen Area are also in the European Union, it is different from the EU as it only focuses on movement and travel.
Countries in the Schengen Area include:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
All countries on this list, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania, will require ETIAS registration for international travelers.
Why Is ETIAS Necessary?
ETIAS’ scope mainly focuses on border security. When it was proposed in 2016, it addressed four primary concerns:
- Each year, around 200 million people cross EU borders, which continues to rise.
- As a result of several international crises, the number of refugees and people seeking asylum has risen sharply.
- Terrorist attacks have become disturbingly frequent, threatening the lives of citizens who call Europe home.
- Technological advancements have made electronic pre-travel authorization a realistic and practical way of maintaining border security.
How will ETIAS make European borders more secure? When travelers register for ETIAS, they are added to a digital database made accessible to EU customs agents.
Whereas previously, these customs agents had no prior knowledge of who they’ll be facing each day, ETIAS will give them this information. This will greatly enhance and expedite the travel process.
Will ETIAS Make European Travel More Difficult?
For many travelers, ETIAS adds a step that was not previously there. That said, ETIAS is a painless process that few will find burdensome. First, ETIAS approval is nearly instant, usually taking one minute for approval.
Upon approval, ETIAS authorization digitally attaches to the traveler’s passport. This means they will not have to carry any extra forms.
The process of ETIAS varies greatly from that of the Schengen Visa, which requires a significant amount of documents, an in-person interview, and long wait times. Additionally, ETIAS aims to improve the European travel experience.
Not only does ETIAS make Europe safer, which benefits travelers and citizens alike, but it also will lessen the wait times at airports. ETIAS improves the quality and speed of the identity verification process at EU borders. Travelers won’t have to wait for so long in customs lines, making day trips much smoother and more enjoyable.
What To Do Next
Europe is an excellent place to travel in December. Not only are crowds fewer and prices cheaper, but several countries offer unique cultural experiences, thrilling snow sports, and stunning winter wonderlands. Even travelers looking for sun can find it during European winter.
Those planning to visit Europe should look into ETIAS and how it applies to them. ETIAS will be required for non-EU citizens in 2025, changing how many people travel to Europe.
Sources:
The Most Visited Cities In Europe A Guide To The Most Popular European Cities | The Savvy Backpacker
Christmas Markets in Austria | Austria