Discover 8 of the Best Places To Visit in Europe in January

For many living in the northern hemisphere, January often feels like the most uninspiring month of the year, leaving you stranded in the depths of winter as an anticlimactic afterthought to December’s sparkling excitement. The antidote? Brighten up the beginning of the new year with a spontaneous European adventure.

For those in need of a little winter sun, the warmer temperatures of the southern Mediterranean beckon. Reliable snowfall transforms mountain regions into a playground for snowsports enthusiasts, while cultural capitals that can be crowded and expensive in peak summer are the opposite in mid-winter. Whether you’re planning a romantic break or a family weekend away, these are the best places to visit in Europe in January.

Although true heat is hard to find in Europe in January, destinations in the southern Mediterranean offer a mild climate with daytime temperatures in the mid- to high teens, more sunshine and longer daylight hours than their northern European counterparts.

Spain’s Costa del Sol is, as its name suggests, one of the sunseeker's best places to visit in Europe in January. Expect daytime highs of up to 19°C and around six hours of sunshine per day — perfect weather for golfing on the region’s many spectacular courses or for hiking the dramatic karst landscapes of inland nature reserves such as El Torcal de Antequera. Art lovers also flock to Málaga for the Picasso Museum, the Centre Pompidou and the Museum of Málaga. In the far south, Fairmont La Hacienda Costa del Sol offers a golf course, spa and heated outdoor pool, all overlooking magnificent views of Gibraltar.

• Average temperature in January: 15 to 17°C
• Average daily sunshine hours in January: 6
• Airports: Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport (AGP) or Joshua Hassan Gibraltar International Airport (GIB)

In January, the nightclubs for which St. Julian’s is famous in summer go quiet, making way for you to experience its original fishing village charm in peace. Mild temperatures in the mid teens make for pleasant exploration of the surrounding beaches and coastal paths, while drysuit divers can expect some of the best visibility of the year on Malta’s famous wrecks.

January also welcomes the annual Valletta Baroque Festival, with concerts and operas performed just 20 minutes away at historic venues across the picturesque Maltese capital. Planning a romantic retreat? Adults-only boutique hotel Number 11 St Julian’s Malta - Handwritten Collection is the perfect choice with a heated rooftop pool and Central American-themed dining.

• Average temperature in January: 14 to 16°C

• Average daily sunshine hours in January: 5

• Airport: Malta International Airport (MLA)

Ski resorts across the continent typically see their most consistent snowfall at the beginning of the year, while magical winter scenes await above the Arctic Circle. These are the best places to visit in Europe in January for those hoping to embrace the season in all its frozen glory.

Popular with families searching for Santa in December, the village of Luosto in Finnish Lapland is significantly quieter and cheaper come January. It’s the ultimate destination for dramatic winter landscapes with subzero temperatures, snow-laden pines and short daylight hours defined by pastel-hued Arctic light. The village has a ski resort with 10 slopes and a network of cross-country trails, while neighbouring Pyhä-Luosto National Park can be explored by snowmobile, dog sled or reindeer sleigh. Local lodges offer fireside lounges and saunas in which to unwind after sunset (as early as 1:30pm at the start of the month), while Luosto’s Arctic Circle location makes it one of Europe’s best places for seeing the Northern Lights in January.

• Average temperature in January: -15 to -7°C
• Average daily sunshine hours in January: 4
• Airport: Rovaniemi Airport (RVN)

Budgeting for a ski trip at the start of the new year can feel daunting directly after Christmas, but Slovakia is one of the best places to visit in Europe in January for affordable skiing. Set on Mount Chopok in the Low Tatras mountains, Jasná is the country’s largest resort, offering reliable snow conditions and over 50 kilometres of expertly maintained pistes.

The infrastructure is modern and the après ski varied, while Swissôtel Damian Jasna offers superb accommodation for couples and families alike. Expect direct slope access, a bowling alley and cinema, and a two-level spa with indoor and outdoor swimming pools. The latter is heated for year-round swimming with a side of snow-capped mountain scenery.

• Average temperature in January: -2 to 0°C
• Average daily sunshine hours in January: 3
• Airport: Poprad-Tatry Airport (TAT)

If you want to explore the continent’s most iconic capitals but can’t stand the thought of competing with a crowd, January is a great time to travel. These cities have special attractions that make them a contender for one of the best places to visit in Europe in January.

According to the EU, Rome is the continent’s busiest capital in terms of annual overnight tourist stays. However, visitor numbers drop dramatically in January which means that sights that require hours of queuing in summer, such as the Colosseum and the Vatican, are far less crowded. Temperatures are pleasant for joining city walking tours while prices for accommodation plummet, making once-in-a-lifetime stays at luxury hotels such as Orient Express La Minerva more attainable. And if the weather turns wet or chilly? It’s the perfect excuse to linger a while over hearty local cuisine in a cosy Trastevere trattoria.

• Average temperature in January: 12 to 15°C
• Average daily sunshine hours in January: 5
• Airports: Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and Giovan Battista Pastine–Ciampino Airport (CIA)

Although escaping summer crowds isn’t as much of a concern in Budapest, the city’s famous thermal bath culture makes it one of the best places to visit in Europe in January. At the Rudas Thermal Baths, six thermal baths as well as a selection of steam rooms, saunas and hydrotherapy pools provide the perfect setting for post-Christmas relaxation, while the open-air rooftop pool overlooks panoramic Danube views. Mercure Budapest City Center Hotel is a 10-minute walk away.

In between soaking sessions, Budapest is as beautiful in January as it is at any other time of the year, with landmarks like the neo-Gothic Parliament Building, the Fisherman’s Bastion and Buda Castle worth braving the winter cold for.

• Average temperature in January: 1 to 3°C
• Average daily sunshine hours in January: 2.5
• Airport: Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport (BUD)

Many of the best places to visit in Europe in January listed above are lovely in winter, but that’s not to say they aren’t fantastic in every other season too. But what if there were destinations with January celebrations or events that make that month specifically a great time to travel?

The Scottish capital, with its grand Scots Baronial architecture and ever-present castle views, is a breathtaking destination whose atmospheric grandeur is often enhanced by January’s grey skies. Many people travel there for the December Christmas markets and New Year festivities (known locally as Hogmanay), but it’s also worth travelling later in the month to experience Burns Night. Held annually on 25 January, it’s a celebration of Scottish poet Robert Burns marked by a formal supper with piping, poetry, Scottish dancing and of course, haggis. Ceilidh parties are held all over the city and The Hoxton, Edinburgh is a short walk from many popular venues.

• Average temperature in January: 6 to 7°C
• Average daily sunshine hours in January: 1.5
• Airport: Edinburgh Airport (EDI)

Every year from late November to mid-January, the Amsterdam Light Festival sees 20 illuminated artworks installed across the central canal district. January is the best time for admiring the beauty of the lights reflected in the winter-dark canals in peace. It’s also the quietest time of year to visit major attractions such as the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum, while the third Saturday of the month sees the Museumplein transformed into a pick-your-own garden featuring over 200,000 free tulips for National Tulip Day. Feeling a little chilly? Pop into a brown café for hearty winter fare or stay at a luxury hotel like Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam for cosy fine dining and restorative spa treatments.

• Average temperature in January: 4 to 6°C
• Average daily sunshine hours in January: 2
• Airport: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS)

Ultimately, the answer to whether January is a good time to visit Europe is unequivocally yes. There are a slew of different experiences on offer, whether you’re a young family with preschool kids wanting to enjoy some winter sunshine without the crowds, or a couple looking for a romantic city break at a fraction of the peak season price. If you’re willing to wait until the last minute, many airlines offer sales in early January, while accommodation is unlikely to book up in advance at this time of year. Have fun!