Where to go, month by month

Europe in December.

Compare December weather, overnight stays and relative costs. Popular and less-visited regions are ranked separately.

Find my December What to expect

263 destinations · 35 countries
Historical patterns, not live conditions.

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Popular destinations

The 100 regions with the most annual overnight stays.

100 places

Illustration of La Geria volcanic vineyards, Lanzarote

Spain · BeachCanary IslandsTenerife · Gran Canaria · Lanzarote · FuerteventuraRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.4/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather8.7/10Very good69°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageIncludes regional rates 2

Illustration of Cap de Creus coastal landscape, Costa Brava

Spain · CityBarcelona & CataloniaBarcelona · Costa Brava · GironaRead the December guide ↗ Overall8.1/10#5 month here · Balanced Weather7.6/10Very good59°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own year CostNear EU averageIncludes regional rates 3

Illustration of Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion above the Aegean

Greece · CityAthens & AtticaAthens · Acropolis · Cape SounionRead the December guide ↗ Overall8.0/10#6 month here · Balanced Weather7.4/10Very good59°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 4

Illustration of Terracotta rooftops above the Tagus in Lisbon; representative Alfama panorama, no church or exact lookout claimed.

Portugal · CityLisbonSintra · CascaisRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.3/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather7.4/10Very good62°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostBelow EU averageIncludes regional rates 5

Illustration of Petra tou Romiou from the western pebble beach

Cyprus · BeachCyprusPaphos · Ayia Napa · Limassol · LarnacaRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.9/10#6 month here · Balanced Weather6.8/10Good65°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 6

Illustration of Red-gold sand at Ramla Bay on Gozo

Malta · BeachMaltaValletta · Gozo · CominoRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.8/10#7 month here · Balanced Weather6.7/10Good65°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 7

Illustration of Roman Forum and Colosseum with umbrella pines

Italy · CityRome & LazioRome · Tivoli · OstiaRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.8/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather6.6/10Good57°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 8

Spain · CityMadridRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather6.6/10Good54°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostAbove EU averageIncludes regional rates 9

Illustration of Rocky coves of Cabo de las Huertas, Alicante

Spain · BeachValencia & the Costa BlancaValencia · Alicante · BenidormRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.7/10#8 month here · Balanced Weather6.4/10Good63°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageIncludes regional rates 10

Illustration of Golden sandy coast on Porto Santo, Madeira archipelago; representative beach view, no exact headland or lookout claimed.

Portugal · BeachMadeiraFunchal · Porto SantoRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.8/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather6.4/10Good66°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yearone of Europe's busiest CostBelow EU averageIncludes regional rates 11

Illustration of Golden sea cliffs, arch and turquoise cove on the central Algarve coast

Portugal · BeachThe AlgarveLagos · Albufeira · FaroRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.9/10#8 month here · Balanced Weather6.3/10Good64°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 12

Illustration of Formentor peninsula coast, Mallorca

Spain · BeachMallorca & the BalearicsMallorca · Ibiza · Menorca · FormenteraRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.9/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather6.3/10Good62°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostNear EU averageIncludes regional rates 13

Illustration of Sierra Nevada foothill landscape near Granada

Spain · BeachAndalusiaSeville · Málaga · Granada · CórdobaRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.3/10#9 month here · Balanced Weather6.0/10Good63°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageIncludes regional rates 14

Italy · CityBologna & Emilia-RomagnaBologna · Rimini · ParmaRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.0/10#7 month here · Balanced Weather6.0/10Good51°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own year CostNear EU averageNational level + season 15

Illustration of Val d’Orcia-style rolling hills, farmhouse and cypress lane

Italy · CountrysideTuscanyFlorence · Siena · Pisa · ChiantiRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.2/10#8 month here · Balanced Weather5.9/10Good54°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 16

Italy · CountrysidePiedmontTurin · LangheRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.1/10#7 month here · Balanced Weather5.9/10Good48°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 17

Illustration of Lake Como from the Bellagio shore

Italy · CityMilan, Lake Como & LombardyMilan · Lake Como · BergamoRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.8/10#8 month here · Balanced Weather5.8/10Good49°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostNear EU averageNational level + season 18

Illustration of Northern Lake Garda from the Trentino shore

Italy · MountainsTrentinoTrento · Lake Garda (north)Read the December guide ↗ Overall6.4/10#8 month here · Balanced Weather5.8/10Good47°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 19

Illustration of Pink-brick Garonne waterfront in Toulouse

France · CountrysideToulouse & the PyreneesToulouse · LourdesRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.0/10#9 month here · Balanced Weather5.7/10Good53°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 20

Illustration of Segovia Roman aqueduct at Plaza del Azoguejo

Spain · CountrysideCastile and LeónSalamanca · Segovia · LeónRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.1/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather5.6/10Good51°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 21

Illustration of La Concha Bay from Monte Igueldo, San Sebastian

Spain · CityBasque CountrySan Sebastián · BilbaoRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.6/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather5.6/10Good57°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostBelow EU averageIncludes regional rates 22

Illustration of Mount Etna upper volcanic landscape

Italy · BeachSicilyPalermo · Taormina · Syracuse · Mount EtnaRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.1/10#9 month here · Balanced Weather5.5/10Good61°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 23

Illustration of Old Sozopol across Central Beach from the New Town

Bulgaria · CountrysideBurgas & the southern Black Sea coastSunny Beach · Nessebar · Sozopol · BurgasRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.5/10Good49°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 24

Illustration of Val Gardena Dolomite meadow landscape

Italy · MountainsSouth Tyrol & the DolomitesBolzano · Val Gardena · MeranoRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.1/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather5.3/10Good43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 25

Illustration of Dunes and Atlantic shore on Île de Ré

France · CountrysidePoitou-CharentesLa Rochelle · Île de RéRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.3/10Good52°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 26

Illustration of Balos Lagoon from the high footpath viewpoint

Greece · BeachCreteChania · HeraklionRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.8/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather5.3/10Good62°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 27

Illustration of Sarakiniko volcanic coast on Milos

Greece · BeachSantorini, Mykonos & the Greek islandsSantorini · Mykonos · Rhodes · KosRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather5.2/10Good63°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedbusier than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 28

Illustration of Graz from Schlossberg beside the Uhrturm toward the Mur valley

Austria · MountainsStyriaGrazRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.9/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather5.0/10Good42°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 29

Illustration of Bled Island and Church of the Mother of God viewed across the lake from a western/southwestern lakeshore viewpoint

Slovenia · MountainsLjubljana, Lake Bled & western SloveniaLjubljana · Lake Bled · Piran · Julian AlpsRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.8/10#8 month here · Balanced Weather4.9/10Fair46°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 30

Illustration of Alberobello trulli quarter

Italy · BeachPugliaBari · Lecce · Alberobello · Polignano a MareRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.5/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.9/10Fair58°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedquieter than most of Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 31

Illustration of Costa Smeralda granite shoreline

Italy · BeachSardiniaCosta Smeralda · Cagliari · AlgheroRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.4/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.9/10Fair60°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 32

Illustration of Château de Chenonceau over the River Cher

France · CountrysideLoire Valley & CentreLoire châteaux · Tours · OrléansRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.8/10Fair50°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 33

Illustration of Wörthersee toward the Maria Wörth peninsula and Karawanks from a Pyramidenkogel-style outlook

Austria · MountainsCarinthiaWörthersee · KlagenfurtRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#8 month here · Balanced Weather4.8/10Fair42°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 34

Illustration of Karlskirche across its reflecting pool in Resselpark

Austria · CityViennaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.4/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.8/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 35

Illustration of Mont-Blanc massif above the Chamonix valley

France · CityLyon & the French AlpsLyon · Chamonix · Annecy · CourchevelRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.7/10Fair48°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 36

Illustration of Hungarian Parliament across the Danube

Hungary · CityBudapestRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.7/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostBelow EU averageIncludes regional rates 37

Illustration of Charles Bridge from the Kampa riverbank at dawn

Czechia · CityPragueRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.6/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.6/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 38

Illustration of Paris from an elevated Montmartre-style viewpoint, Eiffel Tower beyond zinc rooftops

France · CityParis & aroundParis · Versailles · Disneyland ParisRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.4/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.6/10Fair49°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 39

Illustration of Canal and half-timbered houses in Colmar

France · CountrysideAlsaceStrasbourg · ColmarRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.9/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.5/10Fair46°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 40

Illustration of St Bartholomä and the Watzmann from Königssee

Germany · CountrysideMunich & Upper BavariaMunich · Garmisch-Partenkirchen · BerchtesgadenRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.8/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 41

Illustration of Wrocław Rynek ornate townhouses

Poland · CountrysideWrocław & Lower SilesiaWrocławRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.6/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair41°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 42

Illustration of Spring flowerbeds in Keukenhof

Netherlands · CityRotterdam, The Hague & South HollandRotterdam · The Hague · Delft · KeukenhofRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.4/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair48°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 43

Illustration of Industrial heritage at Strijp-S in Eindhoven

Netherlands · CityNorth BrabantEindhoven · EftelingRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.4/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair47°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 44

Illustration of Sand drifts and Scots pines in Hoge Veluwe

Netherlands · CountrysideGelderlandHoge Veluwe · ArnhemRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair47°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 45

Illustration of Water-level canal in Lehde, Spreewald

Germany · CountrysideBrandenburgPotsdam · SpreewaldRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.1/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 46

Illustration of A cobbled lane in Maastricht's Jeker quarter

Netherlands · CountrysideMaastricht & LimburgMaastrichtRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair47°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 47

Illustration of Representative Polish High Tatra lake landscape near Zakopane

Poland · CountrysideKraków & Lesser PolandKraków · Zakopane · WieliczkaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.6/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair40°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yearbusier than most of Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 48

Illustration of Gabled houses along an Amsterdam canal

Netherlands · CityAmsterdam & North HollandAmsterdam · Haarlem · Zaanse Schans · TexelRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair48°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 49

Illustration of Tempelhofer Feld runway and meadow toward the Berlin skyline

Germany · CityBerlinRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 50

Illustration of Porto Timoni double beach below Afionas, Corfu

Greece · BeachCorfu & the Ionian IslandsCorfu · Zakynthos · Kefalonia · LefkadaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.3/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair61°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 51

Illustration of Heidelberg Old Bridge, Old Town and castle from the north bank

Germany · CityHeidelberg & KarlsruheHeidelberg · Baden-BadenRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 52

Illustration of Innsbruck old town and Inn valley beneath the Nordkette

Austria · MountainsTyrolInnsbruck · Kitzbühel · St. Anton · MayrhofenRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.1/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair40°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 53

Illustration of Tübingen Neckarfront with a traditional Stocherkahn

Germany · CountrysideTübingen & Upper SwabiaTübingen · UlmRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.1/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 54

Illustration of Allgäu dairy pastures and Alpine foothills near Füssen

Germany · CountrysideSwabia & the AllgäuNeuschwanstein · Augsburg · FüssenRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 55

Illustration of Traditional Black Forest farmhouse in a meadow near Schauinsland

Germany · MountainsFreiburg & the southern Black ForestFreiburg · KonstanzRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.8/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 56

Illustration of Frankfurt skyline from the Lohrberg vineyard

Germany · CityFrankfurt & southern HesseFrankfurt · Darmstadt · WiesbadenRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 57

Illustration of Grabkapelle above the Rotenberg vineyards

Germany · CountrysideStuttgartRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 58

Illustration of Bonifacio clifftop old town and limestone coast

France · BeachCorsicaAjaccio · BonifacioRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.9/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair58°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 59

Illustration of Landwasser Viaduct near Filisur from the forested hillside viewpoint

Switzerland · MountainsEastern Switzerland & GraubündenSt. Moritz · Davos · St. GallenRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.6/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair42°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 60

Illustration of East Frisian dune trail opening onto a broad North Sea beach

Germany · CountrysideWeser-Ems & the North Sea coastEast Frisian Islands · OldenburgRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.1/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 61

Illustration of Lusen summit Blockmeer in the Bavarian Forest

Germany · CountrysideLower BavariaPassau · Bavarian ForestRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.9/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair42°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 62

Illustration of Hohensalzburg Fortress from a Kapuzinerberg outlook across the Salzach

Austria · MountainsSalzburgZell am See · KaprunRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.1/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair42°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 63

Illustration of Nyhavn canal at a quiet early-summer morning

Denmark · CityCopenhagenRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.1/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 64

Illustration of Totengrund bowl in the Lüneburg Heath

Germany · CountrysideLüneburgLüneburg HeathRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 65

Illustration of Lauterbrunnen Valley and Staubbach Falls from an elevated Wengen meadow

Switzerland · MountainsBern & the Bernese OberlandInterlaken · Grindelwald · Jungfrau · BernRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.2/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 66

Illustration of Wasserschloss at the Speicherstadt canal junction

Germany · CityHamburgRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 67

Illustration of Pine-fringed smooth granite and sandy shoreline on Sandön near Sandhamn, outer Stockholm archipelago

Sweden · CityStockholmStockholm archipelagoRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair37°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostWell above EU averageIncludes regional rates 68

Illustration of Cologne Cathedral and Hohenzollern Bridge from the Deutz Rhine bank

Germany · CityCologne & BonnCologne · Bonn · AachenRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair46°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 69

Illustration of Rheinturm and MedienHafen across the yacht basin

Germany · CityDüsseldorfRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair46°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 70

Illustration of Warsaw Old Town plaster-house lane

Poland · CityWarsawRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair39°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostNear EU averageNational level + season 71

Illustration of Lavaux vineyard terraces near Rivaz overlooking Lake Geneva

Switzerland · MountainsLake Geneva & ValaisGeneva · Lausanne · Montreux · ZermattRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.4/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 72

Illustration of Baie des Anges and Nice waterfront

France · BeachFrench Riviera & ProvenceNice · Marseille · Cannes · AvignonRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.8/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.8/10Fair56°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 73

Italy · BeachAmalfi Coast & NaplesAmalfi Coast · Naples · Capri · PompeiiRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather3.7/10Fair58°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 74

Illustration of Representative historic timber street in Gothenburg’s Haga district

Sweden · CityGothenburg & West SwedenGothenburgRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.7/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.7/10Fair40°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own year CostAbove EU averageIncludes regional rates 75

Illustration of Urbino Renaissance skyline

Italy · BeachMarcheUrbino · AnconaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.4/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather3.4/10Fair55°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 76

Illustration of Porte Narbonnaise at Carcassonne

France · BeachLanguedoc-RoussillonMontpellier · Carcassonne · NîmesRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.4/10Fair55°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 77

Illustration of Representative Bygdøy Oslofjord shore

Norway · CityOslo & aroundOsloRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.4/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather3.4/10Fair33°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostWell above EU averageIncludes regional rates 78

Illustration of Thessaloniki White Tower and Thermaic Gulf promenade

Greece · BeachThessaloniki & HalkidikiThessaloniki · HalkidikiRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.8/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather2.8/10Poor54°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 79

Italy · BeachLiguria & the Cinque TerreCinque Terre · Genoa · PortofinoRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.8/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather2.8/10Poor55°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 80

Illustration of Skógafoss waterfall, mossy cliffs and river foreground

Iceland · CountrysideIcelandReykjavík · Golden Circle · Blue Lagoon · VíkRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.8/10#6 month here · Balanced Weather2.8/10Poor33°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 81

Illustration of Terraced vineyards above the Douro River, northern Portugal; representative valley view, no exact estate or river bend claimed.

Portugal · BeachPorto & northern PortugalPorto · Douro Valley · BragaRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.7/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather2.7/10Poor58°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 82

Illustration of Dune du Pilat near Arcachon

France · BeachBordeaux & the Atlantic coastBordeaux · Biarritz · ArcachonRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather2.2/10Poor55°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 83

Illustration of Tower of Hercules coastal headland, A Coruña

Spain · BeachGaliciaSantiago de Compostela · A CoruñaRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.1/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather2.1/10Poor57°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 84

Illustration of Dubrovnik old town and Adriatic coast

Croatia · BeachCroatia's coastDubrovnik · Split · Hvar · IstriaRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.9/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather2.1/10Poor53°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 85

Illustration of Grand Canal toward Santa Maria della Salute from an Accademia-style viewpoint

Italy · BeachVenice & the VenetoVenice · Verona · Cortina d'Ampezzo · Lake Garda (east)Read the December guide ↗ Overall4.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather2.0/10Poor50°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 86

Illustration of Trieste City Hall across Piazza Unità

Italy · BeachFriuli Venezia GiuliaTriesteRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.8/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather1.8/10Poor50°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 87

Illustration of Geirangerfjord-style elevated view with village, ferry and waterfalls

Norway · MountainsWestern Norway & the fjordsBergen · Geirangerfjord · Flåm · StavangerRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.8/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.8/10Poor40°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell above EU averageIncludes regional rates 88

Illustration of Château des ducs de Bretagne in Nantes

France · BeachNantes & Pays de la LoireNantesRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.1/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather1.1/10Poor51°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 89

Illustration of Westerheversand lighthouse across the salt marsh

Germany · BeachSchleswig-HolsteinSylt · Lübeck · KielRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor44°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 90

Illustration of Königsstuhl chalk coast on Rügen

Germany · BeachMecklenburg-VorpommernRügen · Usedom · RostockRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor43°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 91

Illustration of Saint-Malo ramparts above the tidal beach

France · BeachBrittanySaint-Malo · RennesRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor52°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 92

Illustration of Wolin wooded Baltic cliff coast near Międzyzdroje

Poland · BeachWest PomeraniaSzczecin · MiędzyzdrojeRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor42°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 93

Illustration of Derrynane coast on the Ring of Kerry

Ireland · BeachThe south of IrelandCork · Kerry · Ring of Kerry · Cliffs of MoherRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor50°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 94

Illustration of Upper Lake at Glendalough in Wicklow

Ireland · BeachDublin & the eastDublin · WicklowRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor48°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 95

Illustration of Dunes above the Zeeland coast

Netherlands · BeachZeelandRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor48°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostNear EU averageNational level + season 96

Illustration of Connemara mountain and blanket-bog landscape

Ireland · BeachThe west of IrelandGalway · Connemara · DonegalRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor48°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 97

Illustration of De Haan beach from the dunes with bathing cabins and the North Sea

Belgium · BeachBruges & the Belgian coastBruges · Ostend · KnokkeRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor48°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 98

Illustration of Mont-Saint-Michel and its tidal bay

France · BeachWestern NormandyMont-Saint-Michel · D-Day beaches · CaenRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor50°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 99

Illustration of Representative Sopot Baltic beach

Poland · BeachGdańsk & PomeraniaGdańsk · Sopot · MalborkRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor40°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 100

Illustration of Historic Odense quarter after light summer rain

Denmark · BeachSouthern DenmarkLegoland Billund · OdenseRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor44°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell above EU averageNational level + season

Less visited places

The other 163 regions. Fewer annual overnight stays does not guarantee quiet sights.

163 places

Illustration of Melilla la Vieja seaside fortifications

Spain · BeachMelillaRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.6/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather7.8/10Very good67°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 2

Illustration of Whitewashed old-town streets in Évora, Alentejo; representative streetscape, no exact street or facade claimed.

Portugal · CountrysideAlentejoÉvora · ComportaRead the December guide ↗ Overall8.4/10#7 month here · Balanced Weather7.6/10Very good61°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 3

Illustration of Historic stone streets of Cáceres

Spain · CountrysideExtremaduraCáceres · MéridaRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.8/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather7.1/10Very good59°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 4

Illustration of Ordesa Valley landscape in the Aragonese Pyrenees

Spain · CityAragonZaragoza · Spanish Pyrenees (part)Read the December guide ↗ Overall8.0/10#9 month here · Balanced Weather7.0/10Very good56°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 5

Illustration of Toledo skyline and the Tagus river bend

Spain · CountrysideCastilla-La ManchaToledo · CuencaRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.4/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather6.7/10Good55°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 6

Illustration of Mar Menor shore near Los Alcázares

Spain · BeachMurciaCartagena · Mar MenorRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.9/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather6.6/10Good64°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 7

Illustration of Et'hem Bey Mosque and the Clock Tower beside Skanderbeg Square in Tirana

Albania · CountrysideTirana & central AlbaniaTirana · ElbasanRead the December guide ↗ Overall8.0/10#8 month here · Balanced Weather6.3/10Good56°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 8

Illustration of Ceuta Royal Walls and tidal moat

Spain · BeachCeutaRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.9/10#9 month here · Balanced Weather6.3/10Good64°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 9

Illustration of Vineyards near Logroño, La Rioja

Spain · MountainsLa RiojaLogroñoRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.4/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather6.2/10Good54°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 10

Illustration of Representative olive-growing slopes around Assisi, facing the Umbrian valley

Italy · CountrysideUmbriaPerugia · Assisi · OrvietoRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.9/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather6.0/10Good53°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 11

Illustration of Plaza del Castillo, Pamplona

Spain · CountrysideNavarrePamplonaRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.8/10Good53°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 12

Illustration of Theth Church and Theth Valley beneath the Albanian Alps

Albania · CountrysideNorthern AlbaniaShkodër · Theth · Valbona · DurrësRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.9/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather5.7/10Good54°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 13

Illustration of Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis overlooking Plovdiv

Bulgaria · CountrysidePlovdiv & south-central BulgariaPlovdiv · PamporovoRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.8/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.7/10Good49°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 14

Illustration of Castelgrande above Piazza del Sole in Bellinzona

Switzerland · MountainsTicinoLugano · LocarnoRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#5 month here · Balanced Weather5.7/10Good47°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 15

Illustration of Vikos Gorge from the Oxya viewpoint

Greece · MountainsEpirusIoannina · Zagori · PargaRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.2/10#8 month here · Balanced Weather5.6/10Good54°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 16

Illustration of Kastoria waterfront on Lake Orestiada

Greece · MountainsWestern MacedoniaKastoriaRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.4/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather5.6/10Good49°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 17

Illustration of Church of St John at Kaneo above Lake Ohrid

North Macedonia · CountrysideNorth MacedoniaOhrid · SkopjeRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.5/10#9 month here · Balanced Weather5.5/10Good48°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 18

Illustration of Wooded hills, pale sand and clear sea on the Arrábida coast, Setúbal Peninsula; representative cove, no exact shoreline geometry claimed.

Portugal · BeachSetúbal PeninsulaArrábida · SetúbalRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.4/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather5.4/10Good62°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 19

Illustration of Baba Vida fortress entrance across its dry moat in Vidin

Bulgaria · CountrysideNorthwest BulgariaVidinRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.4/10Good46°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 20

Illustration of Rila Monastery courtyard toward the Church of the Nativity and Hrelyo Tower

Bulgaria · MountainsSofia & the southwestSofia · Bansko · Rila MonasteryRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.7/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.4/10Good46°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 21

Illustration of Tsarevets Hill across the Yantra valley from the western overlook

Bulgaria · CountrysideVeliko Tarnovo & north-central BulgariaVeliko Tarnovo · RuseRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.1/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.3/10Good46°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 22

Illustration of Representative traditional cafe street architecture in Niš

Serbia · CountrysideSouthern & eastern SerbiaNišRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.2/10#9 month here · Balanced Weather5.2/10Good46°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 23

Illustration of Representative Zlatibor rolling meadows and pine groves

Serbia · CountrysideŠumadija & western SerbiaZlatiborRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.1/10#9 month here · Balanced Weather5.1/10Good46°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 24

Illustration of Representative autumn lake landscape in Craiova's Nicolae Romanescu Park

Romania · CountrysideOlteniaCraiovaRead the December guide ↗ Overall7.1/10#9 month here · Balanced Weather5.1/10Good45°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 25

Illustration of Representative Petrovaradin fortress riverside panorama at Novi Sad

Serbia · CountrysideNovi Sad & VojvodinaNovi SadRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.8/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.1/10Good45°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 26

Illustration of Representative wooded mountain panorama above Sinaia and the Prahova Valley

Romania · CountrysideSouthern MunteniaSinaia (Prahova Valley)Read the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.1/10Good44°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 27

Illustration of Representative Belgrade river panorama from Kalemegdan's elevated riverside setting

Serbia · CityBelgradeRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.1/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.1/10Good46°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 28

Illustration of Representative reed-lined water channel in the Romanian Danube Delta

Romania · CountrysideRomania's Black Sea coast & Danube DeltaConstanța · Mamaia · Danube DeltaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.9/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.1/10Good45°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 29

Illustration of Mountain shores of the Bay of Kotor

Montenegro · CountrysideMontenegroKotor · Budva · DurmitorRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.9/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.1/10Good51°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 30

Illustration of Maribor Water Tower / Vodni stolp beside the Drava on Lent, viewed obliquely from a nearby riverside viewpoint

Slovenia · CountrysideEastern SloveniaMariborRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.9/10#9 month here · Balanced Weather5.0/10Good44°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 31

Illustration of Baroque streets in Osijek Tvrđa

Croatia · CountrysideSlavonia & eastern CroatiaOsijekRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.7/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.0/10Good46°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 32

Illustration of Podersdorf lighthouse on the eastern shore of Lake Neusiedl

Austria · CountrysideBurgenlandLake NeusiedlRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.6/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather5.0/10Good43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 33

Illustration of Historic architecture along a cobbled street in Bucharest Old Town; representative Lipscani district, no exact building claimed.

Romania · CityBucharestRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather5.0/10Good44°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 34

Illustration of Water lilies at Lake Hévíz

Hungary · CountrysideWestern TransdanubiaHévíz · GyőrRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.9/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.9/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 35

Illustration of Pasha Qasim former mosque in Pécs

Hungary · CountrysideSouthern TransdanubiaPécs · Lake Balaton (south shore)Read the December guide ↗ Overall6.9/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.9/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 36

Illustration of Old Town castle in Varaždin

Croatia · CountrysideNorthern CroatiaVaraždinRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.4/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.9/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 37

Illustration of Music pavilion in Zagreb Zrinjevac park

Croatia · CityZagrebRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.3/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.9/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 38

Illustration of White houses and terracotta rooftops in Óbidos; representative medieval town fabric, no exact castle or church claimed.

Portugal · BeachÓbidos, Nazaré & the Tagus ValleyÓbidos · Nazaré · TomarRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.8/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.8/10Fair61°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 39

Illustration of Representative Bucovina painted monastery church exterior, informed by Humor's towerless form

Romania · CountrysideBucovina & northeast RomaniaPainted monasteries · IașiRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.8/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.8/10Fair41°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 40

Hungary · CountrysideSouthern Great PlainSzegedRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.8/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.8/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 41

Illustration of Representative pastel Habsburg-era square architecture in Timișoara

Romania · CountrysideTimișoara & western RomaniaTimișoaraRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.8/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.8/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 42

Illustration of Volcanic hills of the Chaîne des Puys near Clermont-Ferrand

France · MountainsAuvergneClermont-FerrandRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.6/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.8/10Fair48°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 43

Illustration of Vineyard path above Dürnstein in the Wachau with the Danube bend

Austria · CountrysideLower AustriaWachau · MelkRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.8/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 44

Illustration of Lake Balaton from the north-shore uplands

Hungary · CountrysideCentral TransdanubiaLake Balaton (north shore)Read the December guide ↗ Overall6.7/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.7/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 45

Illustration of Danube Bend near Visegrád

Hungary · CountrysideAround BudapestSzentendre · Danube BendRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.6/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.7/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 46

Illustration of Pastel houses along a cobbled street in Sibiu, central Transylvania; representative Lower Town streetscape, no exact street claimed.

Romania · MountainsBrașov, Sibiu & central TransylvaniaBrașov · Sibiu · Sighișoara · Bran CastleRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.5/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.7/10Fair41°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 47

Illustration of Tokaj-Hegyalja vineyards

Hungary · CountrysideNorthern HungaryEger · TokajRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.6/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.6/10Fair41°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 48

Illustration of Autumn Vienne riverbank in Limoges

France · CountrysideLimousinLimogesRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.5/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.6/10Fair49°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 49

Illustration of Graslei waterfront viewed across the Leie from Korenlei

Belgium · CityGhent & East FlandersGhentRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.6/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.6/10Fair48°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 50

Illustration of Bratislava Castle above the Danube from the opposite riverbank

Slovakia · CityBratislavaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.6/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.6/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own year CostAbove EU averageIncludes regional rates 51

Illustration of Trenčín Castle on its rocky wooded hill above the town

Slovakia · CountrysideWestern SlovakiaTrenčínRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.5/10Fair42°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageIncludes regional rates 52

Illustration of Karlštejn Castle from the Budňany village approach

Czechia · CountrysideCentral BohemiaKutná Hora · KarlštejnRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.5/10Fair42°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 53

Illustration of Hortobágy puszta grassland

Hungary · CountrysideNorthern Great PlainDebrecen · HortobágyRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.5/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.5/10Fair42°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 54

Illustration of Representative Młynówka waterfront in Opole

Poland · CountrysideOpoleRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.4/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.5/10Fair41°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 55

Illustration of Saint-Leu canals in Amiens

France · CountrysidePicardyAmiensRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.5/10Fair48°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 56

Illustration of Cobbled lane and historic brick houses in Leuven's Groot Begijnhof

Belgium · CountrysideLeuven & Flemish BrabantLeuvenRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.6/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.5/10Fair48°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 57

Illustration of Antwerp's historic waterfront and Cathedral of Our Lady from across the Scheldt

Belgium · CityAntwerpRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.5/10Fair48°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 58

Illustration of Mont des Arts garden axis toward Brussels Town Hall

Belgium · CityBrusselsRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.1/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.5/10Fair47°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 59

Italy · BeachCalabriaTropeaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.0/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.5/10Fair58°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedquieter than most of Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 60

Illustration of Representative Maramureș hay meadows and wooded rolling valleys

Romania · CountrysideCluj & northwest RomaniaCluj-Napoca · MaramureșRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.4/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair41°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 61

Illustration of Low basalt-walled vineyards on Pico, Azores; representative vineyard landscape, no exact parcel or windmill claimed.

Portugal · BeachAzoresSão Miguel · Ponta Delgada · PicoRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.4/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair65°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 62

Illustration of Autumn vineyards in the Côte de Beaune

France · CountrysideBurgundyDijon · BeauneRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair48°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 63

Illustration of Magdeburg Water Bridge over the Elbe

Germany · CountrysideSaxony-AnhaltMagdeburg · QuedlinburgRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.8/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 64

Illustration of Representative early-summer Val Ferret meadow and granite massif scenery near Courmayeur

Italy · MountainsAosta ValleyCourmayeur · CerviniaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.6/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair39°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 65

Illustration of Château de Beloeil across its long reflecting basin

Belgium · CountrysideHainautMons · CharleroiRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.6/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair47°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 66

Illustration of Buntgarnwerke textile mills on the Weiße Elster

Germany · CityLeipzigRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.4/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 67

Illustration of Wharf cellars along Utrecht's Oudegracht

Netherlands · CityUtrechtRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.4/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair47°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 68

Illustration of The Lion's Mound at Waterloo from the lower battlefield

Belgium · CountrysideWalloon BrabantWaterlooRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.1/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.4/10Fair47°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yearquieter than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 69

Illustration of Český Krumlov from the Seminární zahrada terrace

Czechia · CountrysideSouth Bohemia & PlzeňČeský Krumlov · PlzeňRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair41°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 70

Illustration of Vineyard track below Děvičky Castle ruins near Pavlov

Czechia · CountrysideBrno & South MoraviaBrnoRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair40°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 71

Illustration of Poznań Old Market merchant-house arcades

Poland · CountrysidePoznań & Greater PolandPoznańRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair41°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 72

Illustration of Reed-fringed wetland in Flevoland

Netherlands · CountrysideFlevolandRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair47°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 73

Illustration of Dolní Vítkovice industrial heritage complex in Ostrava

Czechia · CountrysideMoravian-Silesian RegionOstravaRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair40°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 74

Illustration of Representative Warta-mouth wet meadow landscape in Lubusz

Poland · CountrysideLubuszRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair42°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 75

Illustration of Hallstatt and Hallstätter See from the classic north-of-village lakeside outlook

Austria · CountrysideUpper Austria & HallstattHallstatt · Linz · Salzkammergut (part)Read the December guide ↗ Overall6.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 76

Illustration of Representative Vaduz vineyard landscape, facing away from castle and river

Liechtenstein · MountainsLiechtensteinVaduzRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.2/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNo comparisonComparable prices unavailable 77

Illustration of Dense Vathia tower settlement in the Inner Mani

Greece · BeachPeloponneseNafplio · Mani · MonemvasiaRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.0/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair59°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 78

Illustration of Vineyard lane near Deidesheim beneath the Haardt

Germany · CountrysideMainz & the PalatinateMainz · SpeyerRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.9/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 79

Illustration of The sunken Cycling Through Water path at Bokrijk

Belgium · CountrysideLimburg (Belgium)HasseltRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.8/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair47°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 80

Illustration of Pfänder summit above Bregenz looking across the shoreline and Lake Constance

Austria · MountainsVorarlbergLech · BregenzRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.3/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 81

Illustration of Schrammsteine from a sandstone ledge near Carolafelsen

Germany · CountrysideDresden & Saxon SwitzerlandDresdenRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.2/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 82

Illustration of Grossmünster and Zürich old town across the Limmat from Lindenhof

Switzerland · MountainsZurichRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.3/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yeartypical for Europe CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 83

Illustration of Thatched cottages beside a Giethoorn canal

Netherlands · CountrysideOverijsselGiethoornRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair46°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 84

Illustration of Purple heathland in Drenthe

Netherlands · CountrysideDrentheRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair46°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 85

Illustration of Pravčická brána and Falcon's Nest in Bohemian Switzerland

Czechia · CountrysideKarlovy Vary & northwest BohemiaKarlovy Vary · Bohemian SwitzerlandRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair41°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 86

Illustration of Horní náměstí after rain with Holy Trinity Column and Town Hall

Czechia · CountrysideOlomouc & central MoraviaOlomoucRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair40°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 87

Illustration of Champagne vineyard hills near Épernay

France · CountrysideChampagneReims · ÉpernayRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair47°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 88

Illustration of Katowice Nikiszowiec brick workers’ quarter

Poland · CountrysideSilesiaKatowiceRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair40°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 89

Illustration of Łódź Księży Młyn textile-mill heritage

Poland · CountrysideŁódźRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair40°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 90

Illustration of Mittlere Brücke and Basel Münster from the Kleinbasel Rhine promenade

Switzerland · CountrysideBasel & northwest SwitzerlandBaselRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.4/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.2/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yeartypical for Europe CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 91

Illustration of The Baroque Holy Trinity column on sloping Trinity Square in Banská Štiavnica

Slovakia · MountainsCentral SlovakiaBanská ŠtiavnicaRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.1/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair39°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostBelow EU averageIncludes regional rates 92

Illustration of Representative alpine lake and spruce forest beneath the High Tatras

Slovakia · CountrysideEastern Slovakia & the High TatrasHigh Tatras · KošiceRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.1/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair38°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageIncludes regional rates 93

Illustration of Place Stanislas in Nancy

France · CountrysideLorraineNancy · MetzRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.9/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 94

Illustration of Herrenhausen Great Garden on the central fountain axis

Germany · CountrysideHanoverRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.9/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 95

Illustration of Erfurt Cathedral Hill and the Domstufen

Germany · CountrysideThuringiaWeimar · ErfurtRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair42°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 96

Illustration of Dinant from across the Meuse toward the Collegiate Church and citadel

Belgium · CountrysideNamurDinantRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair46°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 97

Illustration of Toruń Old Town brick granary street

Poland · CountrysideToruń & Kuyavia-PomeraniaToruńRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair40°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yeartypical for Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 98

Illustration of Representative Łysogóry gołoborze landscape

Poland · CountrysideHoly CrossRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair39°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 99

Illustration of Goetheweg boardwalk across Torfhausmoor toward the Brocken

Germany · CountrysideBraunschweig & the Harz (west)Braunschweig · GoslarRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 100

Illustration of Prinzipalmarkt toward St Lamberti

Germany · CountrysideMünsterRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair46°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yearquieter than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 101

Illustration of Molyvos on Lesvos viewed across an olive grove

Greece · BeachNorth Aegean islandsLesbos · Chios · Samos · LemnosRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.2/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair59°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 102

Illustration of Chapel Bridge and Water Tower from the south bank of the Reuss

Switzerland · MountainsLucerne & central SwitzerlandLucerne · Engelberg · Mount Titlis · Mount PilatusRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.1/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 103

Illustration of Mühle am Wall from across the Wallanlagen moat

Germany · CityBremenRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.1/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.1/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 104

Illustration of Úpské rašeliniště boardwalk toward Sněžka in the Krkonoše

Czechia · CountrysideNortheast BohemiaKrkonošeRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.0/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair40°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 105

Illustration of Historic Doubs waterfront in Besançon

France · MountainsFranche-Comté & the JuraBesançonRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair46°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 106

Illustration of Bieszczady połonina grassland ridge

Poland · CountrysideSubcarpathiaBieszczadyRead the December guide ↗ Overall6.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair39°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 107

Illustration of Deutsches Eck at the Rhine–Moselle confluence from Ehrenbreitstein

Germany · CountrysideKoblenz & the Middle RhineRhine Valley · KoblenzRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.9/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 108

Illustration of Walhalla above the Danube near Donaustauf

Germany · CountrysideRegensburg & the Upper PalatinateRegensburgRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.8/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair41°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 109

Illustration of Lower Franconian vineyard landscape above the Main River near Würzburg and Volkach

Germany · CountrysideWürzburg & Lower FranconiaWürzburgRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 110

Illustration of Externsteine across the Wiembecke pond

Germany · CountrysideDetmold & East WestphaliaBielefeldRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 111

Illustration of Representative Kampinos inland dune and pine woodland in Masovia

Poland · CountrysideMasoviaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair39°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 112

Illustration of Middle Franconian medieval old-town streetscape in Rothenburg

Germany · CountrysideNuremberg & Middle FranconiaNuremberg · Rothenburg ob der TauberRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.3/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 113

Illustration of Schloss Augustusburg above the Zschopau valley

Germany · CountrysideChemnitz & the Ore MountainsChemnitzRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.1/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather4.0/10Fair41°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 114

Illustration of Bergpark Wilhelmshöhe cascades and Hercules Monument

Germany · CountrysideKassel & northern HesseKasselRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.9/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.9/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 115

Illustration of Representative Lublin Old Town lane

Poland · CountrysideLublinRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.9/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.9/10Fair38°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 116

Illustration of Marburg Oberstadt from the southeast hillside overlook

Germany · CountrysideCentral HesseMarburg · GießenRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.8/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.9/10Fair43°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 117

Illustration of Montagne de Bueren staircase from the foot of the climb

Belgium · CountrysideLiègeSpaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.5/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather3.9/10Fair46°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 118

Illustration of Reed-fringed Masurian lake by Pisz Forest

Poland · CountrysideWarmia-MasuriaMasurian LakesRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.8/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.8/10Fair38°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 119

Illustration of Saarschleife from the Cloef viewpoint

Germany · CountrysideSaarlandRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.8/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 120

Illustration of Riverside houses in Luxembourg’s Grund quarter

Luxembourg · CountrysideLuxembourgRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.6/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather3.8/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 121

Illustration of Zeche Zollern II/IV from the axial forecourt

Germany · CityDortmund & the SauerlandDortmundRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.8/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.8/10Fair45°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 122

Illustration of Traditional timber village on the slope above Lake Siljan in Tällberg

Sweden · CountrysideDalarna & North Middle SwedenDalarnaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.7/10Fair34°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostNear EU averageIncludes regional rates 123

Illustration of Steep Moselle vineyards above a river village

Germany · CountrysideTrier & the MoselleTrier · Moselle ValleyRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.7/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 124

Illustration of Michaelsberg vineyard overlook across Bamberg's UNESCO old town

Germany · CountrysideBamberg & Upper FranconiaBamberg · BayreuthRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.7/10Fair41°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 125

Illustration of Białowieża old-growth deciduous forest, Podlaskie

Poland · CountrysidePodlaskieBiałowieża ForestRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.7/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.7/10Fair37°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 126

Illustration of Weathered limestone sea stacks on the shore of Fårö, Gotland

Sweden · CountrysideSmåland & the islandsGotland · ÖlandRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.8/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather3.7/10Fair38°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostNear EU averageIncludes regional rates 127

Illustration of Messolonghi salt pans and lagoon at twilight

Greece · BeachWestern GreecePatras · OlympiaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.6/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.6/10Fair59°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 128

Illustration of Tombeau du Géant from the Botassart lookout above the Semois meander

Belgium · CountrysideThe Belgian ArdennesDurbuy · BouillonRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.6/10Fair44°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 129

Illustration of A canal and traditional moliceiro boats in Aveiro, Central Portugal; representative waterfront, no exact facade claimed.

Portugal · BeachCentral PortugalCoimbra · AveiroRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.5/10Fair59°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 130

Illustration of Curonian Spit lagoon-side dunes

Lithuania · CountrysideCentral & western LithuaniaKaunas · Klaipėda · Curonian SpitRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.5/10Fair37°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 131

Illustration of Geography-first Delphi sanctuary panorama on Mount Parnassus

Greece · BeachCentral Greece & EviaDelphi · EviaRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.4/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.4/10Fair57°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 132

Illustration of Campo Imperatore plateau

Italy · BeachAbruzzoRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.3/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather3.3/10Fair54°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 133

Illustration of Tammerkoski industrial waterfront in Tampere

Finland · CountrysideWestern FinlandTampereRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.3/10Fair32°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageIncludes regional rates 134

Illustration of Representative Posebyen street in Kristiansand

Norway · CountrysideSouthern NorwayKristiansandRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.6/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather3.3/10Fair39°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostWell above EU averageIncludes regional rates 135

Illustration of Trakai Island Castle across Lake Galvė

Lithuania · CityVilnius regionVilnius · TrakaiRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.3/10Fair35°F afternoons Visitor seasonBusy seasonvs its own year CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 136

Illustration of Mountain lake in eastern Jotunheimen

Norway · MountainsInnlandetLillehammer · JotunheimenRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.2/10Fair28°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostWell above EU averageIncludes regional rates 137

Italy · BeachBasilicataMateraRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.2/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather3.2/10Fair54°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 138

Illustration of Red riverside warehouses in Old Porvoo

Finland · CityHelsinkiPorvooRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.2/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.2/10Fair34°F afternoons Visitor seasonSteady all yearsimilar all year CostAbove EU averageIncludes regional rates 139

Illustration of Gjipe Beach from the elevated approach trail, where Gjipe Canyon meets the Ionian Sea

Albania · BeachAlbanian Riviera & the southSarandë · Ksamil · Himarë · VlorëRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.1/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather3.1/10Fair55°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 140

Illustration of Geology-dominant Meteora panorama above Kastraki

Greece · BeachMeteora, Pelion & the SporadesMeteora · Pelion · Skiathos · SkopelosRead the December guide ↗ Overall5.0/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather3.0/10Fair55°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 141

Illustration of Representative Nidelva warehouse waterfront in Trondheim

Norway · CountrysideTrondheim & TrøndelagTrondheimRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.8/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather2.8/10Poor32°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell above EU averageIncludes regional rates 142

Illustration of El Sardinero shoreline, Santander

Spain · BeachCantabriaSantanderRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.6/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather2.6/10Poor58°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 143

Illustration of Molise agricultural hills

Italy · BeachMoliseRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.6/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather2.6/10Poor53°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 144

Illustration of Covadonga Lakes landscape in the Picos de Europa

Spain · BeachAsturiasPicos de Europa · OviedoRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.5/10#10 month here · Balanced Weather2.5/10Poor58°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageIncludes regional rates 145

Illustration of Red fishing cabins on the Lofoten coast

Norway · MountainsNorthern NorwayTromsø · Lofoten · North Cape · SenjaRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.3/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather2.4/10Poor27°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostWell above EU averageIncludes regional rates 146

Illustration of Nestos River meanders from the Galani and Toxotes high viewpoint

Greece · BeachEastern Macedonia & ThraceKavala · ThassosRead the December guide ↗ Overall4.3/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather2.3/10Poor53°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 147

Illustration of Queen Marie's Quiet Nest Palace from the Balchik seaside promenade

Bulgaria · BeachVarna & the northern Black Sea coastVarna · Golden Sands · BalchikRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.5/10#11 month here · Balanced Weather1.5/10Poor47°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedquieter than most of Europe CostWell below EU averageNational level + season 148

Illustration of Cobbled streets and Flemish facades in Vieux-Lille

France · BeachLille & the north coastLilleRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor48°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 149

Illustration of Representative half-timbered old-town architecture in Malmö

Sweden · BeachSkåne & southern SwedenMalmöRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor42°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageIncludes regional rates 150

Illustration of Wadden tidal flats beside Terschelling

Netherlands · BeachFrieslandWadden Islands (part)Read the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor46°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 151

Illustration of Tallinn Old Town panorama from an elevated wall-side viewpoint

Estonia · BeachEstoniaTallinnRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor35°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 152

Illustration of Uppsala Cathedral above the Fyris River

Sweden · BeachEast Middle SwedenUppsalaRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor36°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageIncludes regional rates 153

Illustration of The Infinite Bridge at Ballehage Beach on Aarhus Bay

Denmark · BeachAarhus & central JutlandAarhusRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor43°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 154

Illustration of Porte d’Aval arch and needle at Étretat

France · BeachEastern NormandyRouen · Étretat · GivernyRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor49°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 155

Illustration of Grenen sand spit at Skagen where opposing wave trains meet

Denmark · BeachNorth JutlandSkagen · AalborgRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor43°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 156

Illustration of Pine-backed beach at Jūrmala

Latvia · BeachLatviaRiga · JūrmalaRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor36°F afternoons Visitor seasonModerate seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostBelow EU averageNational level + season 157

Illustration of Lapporten / Čuonjávággi mountain silhouette viewed southeast from the Abisko area above golden mountain birch woodland

Sweden · BeachSwedish LaplandKiruna · Abisko · LuleåRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor28°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostAbove EU averageIncludes regional rates 158

Illustration of Roskilde Fjord viewed toward distant cathedral spires

Denmark · BeachZealandRoskildeRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor43°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearquieter than most of Europe CostWell above EU averageNational level + season 159

Illustration of Leafy Aura River waterfront in Turku

Finland · BeachSouthern FinlandTurkuRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor33°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageIncludes regional rates 160

Illustration of Forested hills and sheltered Baltic inlets on Sweden’s High Coast

Sweden · BeachCentral NorrlandÅre · High CoastRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor30°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yearbusier than most of Europe CostNear EU averageIncludes regional rates 161

Illustration of Historic canal-side warehouses in Groningen

Netherlands · BeachGroningenRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor46°F afternoons Visitor seasonLow seasonvs its own yeartypical for Europe CostAbove EU averageNational level + season 162

Illustration of Red-granite shoreline of the Åland archipelago

Finland · BeachÅlandRead the December guide ↗ Overall3.0/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor40°F afternoons Visitor seasonOff seasonmany places closedtypical for Europe CostNear EU averageNational level + season 163

Illustration of Lake Inari-style pine shoreline, low fells and a small red cabin

Finland · BeachFinnish Lapland & the eastRovaniemi · Saariselkä · Levi · OuluRead the December guide ↗ Overall2.1/10#12 month here · Balanced Weather1.0/10Poor28°F afternoons Visitor seasonPeak seasonvs its own yearone of Europe's busiest CostWell above EU averageIncludes regional rates

Cost compares estimated price levels with the EU average. National prices and seasonal patterns stand in where regional rates are unavailable; these are not room quotes. How to read the comparison.

Before you go

A little December context.

Historical patterns and dated calendars describe different parts of your trip.

The visitor season

Quiet is relative.

Across all 263 regions, 1 is in peak season and 118 are in low season. Each is compared with its own busiest month.

A place below its annual peak can still be busy. Off-season places may have fewer services open.

Weather through the year

A month makes a difference.

They fall in Crete, Santorini, Mykonos & the Greek islands, Cyprus.

These are historical conditions, not a forecast for your dates.

School calendars

Check your travel dates.

The calendars flag December 2026 breaks in parts of 16 countries with substantial coverage. Local dates and the length of the break vary.

See the dated details below before booking around a school holiday.

Events, school calendars & coverage Check the year against your trip

What’s on in December

Christmas markets (Austria), typically 13 November – 26 December 2026. Official calendar Christmas market (Vörösmarty tér) (Budapest), typically 13 November – 31 December 2026. Official calendar Christmas markets (Germany), typically 20 November – 23 December 2026. Official calendar Strasbourg Christmas market (Alsace), typically 26 November – 24 December 2026. Official calendar Christmas markets (Prague), typically 27 November 2026 – 6 January 2027. Official calendar Christmas market (Kraków & Lesser Poland), typically 27 November 2026 – 6 January 2027. Official calendar

Where school breaks overlap December

Share of the population living in areas on school break on a typical day; this is not the share of schoolchildren. Countries appear here when that share is at least 5%, ordered by the number of people represented.

December 2026 · population-weighted school-break coverage
Country	Population share
France	39%
Germany	29%
Italy	35%
Spain	32%
Netherlands	42%
Portugal	52%
Belgium	34%
Czechia	29%
Greece	26%
Austria	26%
Switzerland	24%
Slovakia	29%
Lithuania	29%
Estonia	29%
Luxembourg	42%
Liechtenstein	26%

School holidays: OpenHolidays (ODbL), and official calendars for Spain, Italy and Greece.

Coverage gaps include: Romania, Sweden, Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria, Denmark. No published calendar for this month is available in our dataset for these countries.

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A closer look at December.

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How to read the comparison Sources, scores & limitations

Overall combines Weather, the visitor season and Cost. Static scores use the Balanced 50/30/20 mix, with a weather cap. The default order ranks Weather first, then Overall for ties, within each group. Other priorities order the same groups by your Overall mix, then Weather for ties. You can also order by an individual component under More filters. Missing values are excluded from the mix; missing weather prevents an Overall score.

Visitor season compares each place with its own year. Peak season means at least 85% of the busiest month; low season means below 35%. The Europe-wide visitor note compares overnight stays per resident; it does not measure queues or include day-trippers. It is withheld for cities where that comparison is misleading.

Cost uses a historical model of restaurants-and-hotels price levels against the EU average. Regional accommodation rates contribute where publishable data exists; otherwise national price levels and seasonal signals stand in. A favourable Cost score cannot establish the price of a particular room or trip.

Weather uses ERA5, station-corrected for 2011–2025. Regional averages can mask differences between coast, city and mountain areas. Full methodology · Open data.