Are you relocating to Europe in the next couple of months? Then, you might be willing to discover the continent. And what a better season to do this than winter, when the big cities are less crowded, the south has pleasant temperatures and the snow covers the northern and highest areas of Europe?
Here, three of the best –and less well-known- destinations to be visited during the next winter months:
South Spain (Sevilla)
If the cold weather is not for you, then it might be a good idea to travel to a warm destination, such as Seville, the fourth largest city in Spain and the hottest metropolitan area in Western Europe.
Located in the south of Spain, it has been highly influenced by Arabic culture, as it was ruled by the Moors during more than 500 years. The Arabic style architecture can be seen all over the city, including in old city -the third largest one in Europe after Venice and Genova- which has three UNESCO World Heritage sites: the Alcazar palace, the cathedral (including “la Giralda”) and the General Achieve of the Indies.
Innsbruck, Austria
The capital of the Austrian region of Tyrol is a small and enchanting village surrounded by the impressive Alps peaks. In winter, it will be very rare that you don’t find it covered by a layer of snow and this is one of the reasons why it is an excellent location if you are planning to go skiing.
Home of the Winter Olympic Games in 1964 and 1976, Innsbruck is a place to be visited not only for the sport-lovers, but also for the cultural enthusiasts. Its captivating old-town, with the Imperial Hofburg, can be easily visited without the need of public transport. You can also enjoy the Tyrolean cuisine and if you like jewellery, you should not miss a visit to the Swarovski Crystal Worlds museum. And the best, Innsbruck is in the middle of Europe, so it is really easy to travel there!
Abisko, Sweden
If you are ready for freezing temperatures – and when we say freezing we are talking about around - 5°C-, then a trip to northern Scandinavia should be in your list. Abisko is a small village in Sweden with only 85 inhabitants but a unique landscape. It is located within the Article Circle, which means the aurora borealis –the polar lights- can be seen during the winter period, and in summer, one can experience the midnight sun.
If you are an expatriate in Europe, visiting Abisko in winter is an exceptional opportunity to experience the winter at its most!