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We get it, European summers are truly unparalleled.
There’s nothing like taking a bite of a creamy pistachio gelato as you wander the cobbled streets of an ancient Italian town whose origins have been lost to time, or laze all day on a pebble beach by the turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia, but have you noticed? That record-breaking heat recently?
Temperatures on the Old Continent are rising to new highs every year, so much so some tourists actively avoid it in the summer, opting instead for the colder months, when you can be outside without risking heatstroke.
Plus, not all European destinations are best experienced in summer:
If you’re crossing the pond for some sightseeing and culture, you won’t want to explore the maze-like Old Town where there is hardly any wind in mid-June. This applies to 4 beautiful cities those are actually the same bigger in the quiet season:
Budapest, Hungary
Budapest is the stateliest of the European capitals on the Danube River, with a monumental red-domed parliament reflecting on the rushing waters of the historic river, and a plethora of architectural wonders to call its own.
As nice as Budapest is in the summer, believe it or not, its numerous belfries, Habsburg-era facades and ornate bridges are actually at their peak. most beautiful when covered with snowonly dimly lit by the romantic lampposts along the wide boulevards crisscrossed with trams.
Budapest winters are perfect for winter ice skating Ice skating rink in the city park––imagine floating on ice with a fairytale Vaydahunyad Castle for a view and from just $5.52!––and explore the city’s vast spa offerings and thermal springs.
Whether it is the outdoor pools of Széchenyi or the indoor, palatial bathhouse Gellért, where you can swim in naturally heated water when it’s over 100 degrees outside it’s not fun, but on a crisp winter morning, if you dive right in, it feels like a warm hug, aaaah… that’s heaven right there.
Prague, Czech Republic
In the Czech Republic, Prague is another one of those European gems that are a great destination for sightseeing regardless of the season, but if we talk about magic escape in a medieval dreamland, there is simply no better winter:
Imagine a partially frozen Vltava River, a hundred spiers covered in snow, an imposing Prague Castle – the largest castle complex in the world – shrouded in thick mist, and atmospheric cobbled streets flanked by Baroque churches.
Don’t get us started on that cozy Christmas markets: they may not be as world famous as the German, but nowhere else will you find Nutella filled Trdelnik (their delicious chimney cake), or spiced mulled wine, as delicious as in a festive Prager dining room.
Oh, and by the way, December in Prague means… far fewer crowds – try to walk across the Charles Bridge in August without meeting strangers – and cheaper hotels, starting from a surprisingly cheap at $43 on Expedia.com.
Rome, Italy
Then there’s the Eternal City, the ancient capital of the world and birthplace of Western culture, but recently it has become a magnet for tour groups and Instagrammers who gather around landmarks as early as 5 a.m. to try to get the ‘perfect’ photo to make .
No, thank you: between the seasonal nuisance and the scorching heat, we choose to visit Rome in winter, when there fewer annoying tourists on the roadand lines for historic sites are effectively halved.
There’s no better tourist destination than Rome, and now that I think about it, you don’t necessarily need warm temperatures to fully enjoy it when it comes to art galleries and archaeological sites like the Colosseum and the Vatican Museums.
In all honesty, it is the high temperatures that make Rome very unpleasant for the odd, heat-intolerant person. The monuments will look no less magnificent. pizza al taglio won’t taste any less fresh, and the sliver-filled Trastevere will remain a fun night out simply because it is 60°F.
Lisbon, Portugal
If you’ve ever been to Lisbon in the summer and your feet are still recovering from the 8,000 steps you walked, mostly uphill, as you rushed to check all the major sights off your list in a ruthless heat, then you know why it is on this list.
Listen, winters in Portugal are quite mildwith daytime temperatures rarely dropping below 50°F across the country, so you see there’s just no need to suffer through an intense sweat session when you should be having a relaxing vacation?
Whether you stroll through the colorful Alfama, explore the hidden corners of the Moorish fortress atop Lisbon’s highest hill, or simply enjoy pastéis de nata As you people watch at Praça do Comércio, you definitely don’t need the sun shining at its brightest to fall in love with the Portuguese capital.
Oh, did we mention Lisbon is too much cheaper to visit in low seasonwhen the cruise crowds are gone and local accommodation prices drop significantly? If you book a hotel in the city center, expect to pay from $83 on Expedia.com.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
