Christmas might be over for the year but at least you can still indulge in a post-festive getaway as travel guru Emma recently revealed.
Sharing her favourite holiday spots via TikTok, she compiled a list of her top three European city breaks for those seeking some winter sun. Having experienced all three destinations in January before, she feels well-equipped to advise on what each location offers as we approach 2025.
“Here are three European city destinations coming from someone who has visited all three in January,” Emma began in a video.
Stockholm, Sweden
“I actually went here this January [2024] and I was very sceptical at first,” Emma confessed. “It is so cold – I’m talking minus numbers with an average daytime temperature of -1C to -5C and it was a lot colder than that even at the time.”
She advised packing thermals before praising the city as “beautiful” in the winter sun. “There was a lovely thick layer of snow when we went,” she said. “The water was beautiful too with a crystal clear layer of ice.”
Emma also suggested travellers take a boat trip while there and explained the city’s weather felt like it “extended” Christmas. “It was just so cosy in all of the cafes and restaurants,” she enthused. “There are also plenty of indoor activities to keep you busy – it has some amazing museums.”
Wrapping up, Emma particularly recommended taking in the Vasa Museum and Nobel Museum. “I wish I had time to do the ABBA Museum too, but sadly did not,” she expressed.
Reykjavík, Iceland
Next on Emma’s list is Reykjavík. “I went here quite a few years ago,” she disclosed. “I absolutely loved it – one advantage of visiting in the winter months is the long nights and really dark skies provide a fantastic opportunity to see the Northern Lights.”
She added she experienced this spectacle during a city tour, but admitted if she had the chance to visit again, she’d hire a car and venture out to see the Northern Lights independently.
“Another aspect about visiting Iceland in January is that the snow and ice truly enhance the natural landscape,” she continued. “It’s just so beautiful – I did the Golden Circle tour, and the waterfalls looked absolutely stunning.” However, she cautioned that visitors can expect to be “very, very cold”.
Munich, Germany
Rounding off Emma’s list is Munich. “This is by far, the cheapest of my destinations,” she enthused before revealing you can anticipate a January temperature of somewhere between freezing and 7C. “It’s the off-season, so you’ll definitely find fewer tourists at this time of year.”
Emma proceeded to highlight her trip to the city’s beer halls and listening to the music on offer as one of the most enjoyable parts of her stay, describing them as a “great place to go to relax”.
“Winter is also a good time to enjoy the more hearty Bavarian foods,” she added, highlighting delights such as pretzels, bratwurst, and schnitzels. Emma concluded: “Munich is quite close to Neuschwanstein Castle, which is the very famous Disney castle and it’s worth a January trip.”
