Top winter destinations 2025: Snow and Christmas market highlights in Europe!

Top winter destinations 2025: Snow and Christmas market highlights in Europe!

The winter season is in full swing, and Europe's beautiful winter destinations boast snow-covered landscapes and festive Christmas markets. The classic cities with their distinctive atmosphere are particularly popular. Loud In Franconia Vienna is one of the top 10 winter destinations, right behind the impressive backdrops of Hallstatt and Salzburg.

Hallstatt, the insider tip that is very close to nature, has an incredible 890 mm of snowfall and a high number of Christmas market hashtags. The mountain village is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but also a popular destination among tourists. Salzburg follows in second place and remains a winter must-see with its cultural splendor. Vienna takes fourth place, proud of its charming Christmas markets and magnificent historic architecture.

Top winter destinations in detail

• 1. Hallstatt, Österreich: 890 mm Schneefall, 100 Weihnachtsmarkt-Hashtags, viel Natur.
• 2. Salzburg, Österreich: 88,9 mm Schneefall, 1.000 Hashtags, reich an Geschichte.
• 3. Sibiu, Rumänien: 63,5 mm Schneefall, beeindruckende Altstadt.
• 4. Luzern, Schweiz: 78,74 mm Schneefall, malerische See-Berge.
• 4. Wien, Österreich: 63,5 mm Schneefall, 26.900 Hashtags, historische Schönheit.

In addition, the extraordinary Christmas market in Vienna on Rathausplatz will provide a festive atmosphere from November 14th to December 26th, 2025. With delicious mulled wine, festive lighting and numerous stalls, Vienna is not only a city of music, but also of enjoyment. The large selection of market stalls and the festively decorated city offer a true experience. Travel reporter highlights that Christmas markets in cities such as Graz and Innsbruck are also becoming more popular.

But the Christmas highlights are not only sprouting in Austria. Cities like Krakow in Poland and Rovaniemi in Finland are popular destinations for snow fans. Rovaniemi, the home of Santa Claus, offers diverse activities from reindeer sleigh rides to children's workshops.

Insider tips and insider tips

Winter in Europe has so much to offer. Anyone looking for ski trips and exciting winter adventures will also find what they are looking for in popular ski areas such as Zermatt or a stay in Budapest. The best times to enjoy the festive atmosphere in Budapest are the first two weeks of December. There, delicate lights and atmospheric music are omnipresent. The Christmas markets in Prague, open from late November to early January, also attract large numbers of visitors and should definitely be on the list if you want to combine the winter wonderland with Viennese charm. Europe tips has summarized some useful information about these goals.

Whether the enchanting Christmas markets, the snowy landscapes or the culture – Europe has so much to offer in winter that it is difficult to choose just one place. It's best to visit several cities at once and immerse yourself in the festive winter atmosphere that enchants every year.