Holiday markets and twinkling lights are calling you to these European destinations.
It will be cold, so travelers should bundle up (heated accessories, anyone?)
Specialty cookie cutters and punch blends from theWurzelsepptea shop are Nuremberg exclusives.
Snow covering Circus Lane, in Stockbridge, Edinburgh.Credit:George Clerk/Getty Images
Costumes aren’t necessary, but they’ll definitely make it more fun!
Valletta, Malta
merc67/Getty Images
Snow-capped mountains and excursions requiring multiple layers arent for everyone.
Thankfully, Europe has other options one of which is Valletta, Malta.
A traditional Christmas market in Nuremberg, Germany.romrodinka/Getty Images
Malta boasts a mild Mediterranean climate, even in winter.
There are even mini snowmobiles for kids ages 4 to 13.
Snow sports in the mountains may likely be very possible.
Fireworks light up the sky over Edinburgh, Scotland on New Year’s Eve.Sunnybeach/Getty Images
Plan a day tour on one of the Swiss scenic trains across the winter wonderland, says Boehnstedt.
This annual event illuminates the city with creative light installations and dynamic shows all over the old town.
The weather tends to be gloomier in the winter, but it rarely gets below freezing.
Sunrise over the Valletta, Malta harbor.merc67/Getty Images
The baths also host aNew Year’s Eve bashwith a candlelit meal and dancing in the elegant ballroom.
As fall transitions into the colder months, the City of Light becomes extra cozy and even more romantic.
And, of course, the lower hotel prices cant be beat this time of year.
Santa Claus Village, an attraction in the Finnish town of Rovaniemi.maydays/Getty Images
Your trip may also fall during theDubrovnik Winter Festival, featuring concerts, festive lights, and markets.
We think pasta and pizza sound like the perfect way to warm up from a chilly walk.
Strolling and exploring are more pleasant; restaurants are less crowded, she says.
Mount Pilatus in Lucerne, Switzerland.LuismiX/Getty Images
Outdoor swimming may be a no-go, but travelers can still bask in the rays along the oceanfront promenade.
This event is rare and becoming increasingly so but there are other sides of Amsterdam to explore as well.
If you’re in town for New Year’s, head to the beach for fireworks over the bay.
Istanbul’s skyline.Christopher Larson/Travel + Leisure
During the holidays, you’ll find Christmas festivities like the market on Piazza Sant Croce.
Book tickets in advance for a performance at theSpanish Riding Schoolor perhaps catch an opera at the iconicStaatsoper.
A Christmas tree in London, England.Karl Hendon/Getty Images
Crowds at the Christmas Market in Bath, a city known for its ancient Roman Baths.Allan Baxter/Getty Images
A rare snowy day in Paris' Luxembourg Garden.encrier/Getty Images
A view of Dubrovnik’s old town.loeskieboom/Getty Images
Christmas lights and crowds in Málaga, Spain.Getty Images
Winter at Hallgrimskirkja Church, in Reykjavik, Iceland.Getty Images
A winter sunet at the Palatine Hill in Rome.Getty Images
A plaza in Lisbon on a winter day.Gautier Houba/Travel + Leisure
Dawn in Barcelona, Spain.iStockphoto/Getty Images
Confetti over the Grand Canal in Venice during Carnival.GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP via Getty Images
A frozen canal in Amsterdam.iStockphoto/Getty Images
Winter in Nice, France.iStockphoto/Getty Images
Florence’s Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral.OscarCatt/iStockphoto/Getty Images
Guests at the State Opera Ball in Vienna.Paul Bauer/Courtesy of Vienna Tourism
