What are Europeans’ favorite winter vacation spots?

This article was originally published in English

Looking for the perfect winter vacation? From festive lighting to powder pistes, Europe has no shortage of enticing options.

But when the temperatures drop, these are the cities to go to. This is the conclusion of the online travel agency Trip.comwhich analyzed the popular winter stays of German, Spanish, French, Italian and British travelers.

Looking at data from late November to early March 2022 – and planned travel for the same period in 2023 – it found a clear preference for urban centers in Europe, London, Barcelona and Paris are the most popular destinations overall.

Here are winter travel preferences by country.

Where do Germans like to go in winter?

With its charming villages and Christmas markets a must see, Germany is a winter wonderland. So there is nothing to be surprised about its citizens prefer to stay close to home during the end-of-year holidays.

in 2022 Berlin was the most popular destination for Germans in winter, followed by Frankfurt and Munich. This year, the capital city remains popular only in second place, with Frankfurt taking first place and Düsseldorf sneaking into third place ahead of Munich and Hamburg. Cologne and Stuttgart are also in the top 10.

Outside Germany, Barcelona, ​​London and Madrid are popular destinations for Germansshowing that they prefer larger cities known for their festive celebrations.

What is the most popular winter destination for Spaniards?

At Christmas, the Spanish also like to stay with their family, The most popular destinations are Madrid and Barcelona.

Spain is not just popular with residents: in 2022 it was the most visited destination in the EU by international touristswith 271 million nights spent in tourism accommodation, according to data recently published by the European Commission.

London and Paris have also become popular winter destinations among Spanish tourists in 2023, followed by Malaga, Rome, Bilbao, Valencia, Mallorca and Seville.

Where do the French like to travel in winter?

For travelers French, Paris is the top destination in winter, followed by London, Lyon and Rome.

The appeal of the capital city British is not limited to Christmas: the French also go there for New Year’s celebrations and winter sales.

Nice, Barcelona, ​​​​Madrid, Marseille, Lisbon and Milan also appear in the top 10.

in 2022 more than three-quarters of the French population traveled for tourismaccording to Eurostat data.

What is the favorite city of Italians in winter?

Italians still prefer Milan and Rome in winterbut they are increasingly interested in Paris, Barcelona and London.

Catania, Naples, Bari and Venice Also in the top 10, as are Barcelona in Spain and Amsterdam in the Netherlands.

In 2022 according to Eurostat data Italy is ranked second only to Spain in terms of popularity with international tourists.

Where do Brits like to go in winter?

For UK travelers, London and Manchester are still the most popular destinations. Birmingham, with its Christmas market and huge shopping centre, is also popular in winter, as are Edinburgh and Leeds.

Abroad, Barcelona and Paris are the two main winter destinations.

For winter 2023, AmsterdamRome and Athens also gained popularity among the British.