The 7 Best European Countries to Visit This Winter for Truly Unique Travel Experiences

From the light-streaked night skies in the north to the sun-kissed Mediterranean Coast in the south, winter in Europe is filled with an array of experiences catering to all sorts of travelers. There are plenty of ways to celebrate the continent’s chilliest season, but we’ve put together a list of Europe’s best options for a truly unique winter travel experience.

1. Slovakia

Forgo the slopes of jet-setter ski destinations in the Alps and head for the unpretentious pistes of the Tatra Mountains along the border of Poland and Slovakia. Start in Bratislava, the country’s capital and home to charming cafes, museums like the Slovak National Gallery, and a pedestrian-friendly Old Town.

From there, make your way northeast to the mountains. Hit the slopes at Jasná Nizke Tatry: the country’s premier ski resort in the Low Tatras, just three hours from the capital. The resort’s ski slopes run on the 6,640-foot Mount Chopok, offering options suitable for a range of skill levels from beginners to pros. Jasná is also a budget-friendly choice for travelers unable to shell out for Europe’s ritziest resorts. Even the après ski indulgences are wallet-friendly!

2. Denmark

If you’re convinced that winter is for embracing the cold, book a flight to Copenhagen to delight in the icy winter chill and bunker down in Denmark’s trendy capital. Embrace the Danish notion of hygge, the art of cozying up with family and friends. Preferably involving a fireplace and/or hot drink, it’s a delightful way to cope with the country’s frigid and virtually sunless winters. Just be sure to leave the hearth long enough to explore Copenhagen’s amazing and inventive eateries, like Noma, heralded as one of the world’s best restaurants.

Beyond gastronomic delights, the city has plenty of other attractions, like the antiquity-rich National Museum, the Dutch Renaissance Rosenborg Castle, and Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen’s ornate 19th-century amusement park, which is festively decorated for the winter season.

3. Iceland

For adventure-loving winter aficionados, there’s no substitute for Iceland. In recent years, the far-flung Nordic nation has emerged as one of Europe’s tourism powerhouses, thanks to its unearthly natural wonders and a chicly cosmopolitan capital.

Spread along the head of Iceland’s lengthiest fjord, the laidback town of Akureyri is the island’s second largest city and a great base camp for day trips to explore geological marvels like Lake Mývatn, a tarn ringed by lava fields and pseudo-craters. Cap off your day with a visit to the Myvatn Nature Baths for the chance to spend the evening gazing up at the Northern Lights. (The best time to catch a glimpse of aurora borealis is between September and April when nights are dark and frigid.)

4. Portugal

From mountain meadows to medieval villages to magnificent stretches of coastline, Portugal has a little something for everyone. Head for the Alentejo region in the southwest to spend time among Roman ruins, white-washed villages, groves of oak trees, picturesque vineyards, and one of Europe’s most spectacular stretches of coastline. Covering nearly a third of the country, the sparsely populated region is largely off the radar of international tourists and free of hotel chains.

A pristine 62-mile section of the coast is preserved as part of the Southwest Alentejo and Vicentine Coast Natural Park, and one of the best ways to see the region’s ruggedly stunning landscape is on the 46-mile Fisherman’s Trail, an ocean-hugging offshoot of the nearly 280-mile Rota Vicentina long-distance trail. The region’s capital, Evora, is a medieval city surrounded by a wall and adorned with a 13th-century cathedral and ancient Roman baths. The best part? Winter temperatures in the area hover around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

5. Sweden

Scratch that Arctic itch with a winter trip to Sweden. For the ultimate polar expedition, leave sophisticated Stockholm behind and head to the wilds of Swedish Lapland for the chance to catch a glimpse of the Arctic equivalent of Africa’s "Big Five" – moose, lynx, wolverines, musk oxen, wolves, and brown bears.

The train-accessible Abisko serves as a strategic base camp for all sorts of Arctic adventures, including delving into the culture of the indigenous Sami people and exploring Abisko National Park by ski, snowshoe, or husky-hauled sled. The national park is also among the best places on earth to glimpse the Northern Lights—especially in the dead of winter.

About 70 miles from Abisko, Jukkasjärvi is home to one of Sweden’s most singular accommodations, the Icehotel. Artfully crafted with ice from the Torne River, the hotel features both cold and warm suites and offers public tours and stays year round.

6. Czech Republic

One of the highlights of winter in Europe is the smorgasbord of seasonal markets that crop up in every corner of the continent. For travelers hoping to revel in the seasonal ambiance, Prague is home to a couple of Europe’s best winter markets and the Czech capital’s Gothic and baroque buildings look even more mythical when topped with a dusting of snow. Peruse the handmade wares on display at the markets located in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square while nibbling on a sweet trdelník and sipping on svařák, a local mulled wine.

After a wintery stroll, warm up with traditional fare and world-renowned Czech beer at U Flecků. The combination eatery and brewery is located in a building dating back to 1499, and the place has been brewing beer for more than 500 years. Then take advantage of the lack of tourists during the low winter season and tour Prague’s other architectural wonders like the 9th century Prague Castle, the world’s largest ancient palace.

7. Ireland

Ireland’s iconic pubs are the perfect place to stave off the frigid winter weather, but the Emerald Isle is also the ideal place to hone those culinary chops. Just outside the city of Cork, famed for its sprawling bazaar of artisanal foods dubbed the English Market, lies one of the country’s most distinguished culinary institutions: the Ballymaloe Cookery School.

Nestled in the midst of a 100-acre organic farm with vast greenhouses, edible and ornamental gardens, and wildflower-flecked meadows, the down-to-earth cooking school champions sustainable food practices and humane handling of livestock. Courses cater to everyone from recovering microwave-cooking addicts to seasoned home chefs, offering classes in everything from crafting the perfect pizza to rolling sushi.

No matter where you decide to go, traveling during the winter is a magical experience. So bundle up, get your camera ready, and get going on the trip of a lifetime!

Originally written by RootsRated for Craghoppers.

Featured image provided by William Murphy