Winter holidays

Where should you go in Europe in winter?

Chase the sun, the snow or the northern lights. Six destinations compared with 30 years of weather data, official crowd and price statistics, and 2026/27 dates.

By the Time to Travel teamUpdated 15 October 20264 min read

The short version

For winter sun, the Canary Islands are the warmest choice: Santa Cruz de Tenerife averages a January high of about 20 °C, Funchal on Madeira 18 °C and Valletta on Malta 15 °C. For a classic winter city, Vienna's main Christmas market on Rathausplatz runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026. For skiing with a city base, Innsbruck's SKI plus CITY Pass covers 12 ski areas from 9 October 2026 to 25 April 2027, from €223 for three days. For the northern lights, Tromsø's season runs from September to April, with the sun below the horizon from late November to mid-January.

Who is this guide for?

Anyone planning a trip between December and February who wants to choose by what winter actually feels like in each place. We compare six destinations on average January weather over 1996 to 2025, how much of each country's tourism falls in winter, and restaurant and hotel prices, with dates for the 2026/27 season.

How warm is it in January?

Santa Cruz de Tenerife19.8 °C
Funchal, Madeira18.4 °C
Valletta, Malta15.2 °C
Innsbruck, Austria4.3 °C
Vienna, Austria3.2 °C

Average daily high in January; orange bars are winter-sun destinations above 15 °C. Source: our calculation from ERA5 reanalysis data via the Open-Meteo historical weather API, 1996 to 2025, retrieved 15 October 2026. Grid values can differ from a city weather station by a few degrees, most in mountains and fjords, which is why Tromsø is not shown.

The three islands are mild rather than hot. Their January nights stay well above freezing, around 16 °C in Tenerife, 15 °C on Madeira and 12 °C on Malta, but sea swimming is for the hardy. Tenerife is also the driest, with about 6 rainy days in January, against 9 to 10 on Madeira and Malta.

Inland, the picture flips. Vienna and Innsbruck average January lows of about −3 °C and −5 °C. Innsbruck sits at about 580 m in the valley; the ski areas above it are higher and colder. In Tromsø, the 1991 to 2020 station averages put the January high at about −1 °C, according to NOAA data summarised by Extreme Weather Watch.

What are the key dates for winter 2026/27?

Vienna: the Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz is open daily from 13 November to 26 December 2026, 10:00 to 22:00, closing at 18:30 on 24 December, according to Vienna's tourist board.
Innsbruck: the SKI plus CITY Pass Stubai Innsbruck for 2026/27 is valid from 9 October 2026 to 25 April 2027. Adult prices are €162 for 2 days, €223 for 3 days and €386 for 6 days, and it covers 12 ski areas plus city sights and museums.
Tromsø: Visit Tromsø describes autumn and winter as running from September to April, and the polar night, when the sun stays below the horizon, from late November to mid-January.

How do the six compare?

Eurostat's monthly accommodation data shows how much of each country's tourism falls in December, January and February. Price levels compare restaurant and hotel prices with the EU average of 100.

Six winter destinations compared: weather 1996 to 2025, crowds 2025, prices 2024
Destination	Jan high / low	Dec to Feb share of nights	Prices (EU = 100)	Best for	Downsides
Tenerife, Canary Islands	19.8 / 16.3 °C	14.4% (all of Spain)	84	Warmest winter sun, hiking	Mild rather than hot; a long flight from most of Europe
Madeira, Portugal	18.4 / 14.9 °C	14.4%	76	Levada walks, gardens, mild climate	Wetter than Tenerife; hilly
Malta	15.2 / 12.1 °C	17.3%	89	History and short breaks, English widely spoken	Coolest of the three sun options
Vienna, Austria	3.2 / −2.8 °C	28.9%	110	Christmas markets, concerts, coffee houses	Cold; the main market closes on 26 December
Innsbruck, Austria	4.3 / −5.2 °C	28.9%	110	Skiing with a city base	Peak-season prices; the ski pass adds up
Tromsø, Norway	about −1 °C high (station)	15.5%	140	Northern lights, Arctic winter	Few daylight hours; expensive; aurora never guaranteed

Austria is the outlier: 28.9% of its tourist nights in 2025 fell in December, January and February, almost as many as in summer, because of skiing. Spain and Portugal took about 14% each, so winter there is the quiet season nationally. Island regions such as the Canaries and Madeira may follow a different pattern, because these Eurostat figures are national, not regional.

Who should pick which destination?

Warmth above all: Tenerife, then Madeira. Bring layers for the evenings.
Christmas atmosphere: Vienna from mid-November to Christmas, with more than one market to choose from.
Skiers who also want culture: Innsbruck with the SKI plus CITY Pass.
Once-in-a-lifetime trip: Tromsø for the northern lights, with a budget for Norway's high prices and a few nights to allow for cloud.
A cheap, mild short break: Malta or Madeira.

Getting to the Alps by rail is often easier than flying. See our guides to night trains in Europe and driving rules in Europe, which covers winter tyre rules, if you plan to take a car into the mountains.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the warmest place in Europe in winter?

Of the destinations compared here, the Canary Islands are the warmest: Santa Cruz de Tenerife averaged a January high of 19.8 °C over 1996 to 2025, ahead of Funchal on Madeira at 18.4 °C and Valletta on Malta at 15.2 °C.

When does the Vienna Christmas market open in 2026?

The Wiener Christkindlmarkt on Rathausplatz runs from 13 November to 26 December 2026, daily from 10:00 to 22:00, with early closing at 18:30 on 24 December.

When is the best time to see the northern lights in Tromsø?

Visit Tromsø describes the autumn and winter season as September to April. The darkest period is the polar night, from late November to mid-January, though clear skies matter as much as darkness.

How much is the Innsbruck ski pass for 2026/27?

The SKI plus CITY Pass Stubai Innsbruck costs €162 for 2 days, €223 for 3 days and €386 for 6 days for adults, valid from 9 October 2026 to 25 April 2027.

Where the figures come from

Checked on 15 October 2026. Weather averages are our own calculation from the data sources below unless stated.