5 Magical spots for a Winter Holiday (with Casey!)
There is something about a winter holiday that just exudes a magic all its own, and particularly in Europe, this time of year is great to travel and take it all in. This time of year is filled with sparkling lights, snow covered streets and that feeling that you just want to spend your days next to a warm fire with someone you love. It can also be a fantastic time of year to travel and there are so many places that are even more magical than normal this time of year. So pack your boots, heavy coats and ear muffs and escape to one of these five magical spots in Europe for a winter holiday!
The UK capital is fantastic year round but it’s perhaps best around Christmas and the New Year when the streets are lit up with hanging lights and store windows put their best foot forward with gorgeous displays that London really shines. And is there anything better than spending long afternoons having tea and wandering Hyde Park in the chilly crisp air?
Favorite Spot to Stay: The Bloomsbury Hotel
Don’t Miss: Oxford Street lit up for the holidays.
This Scottish city seems built for the Winter: stone buildings, cobblestone streets, warm and fulfilling food, it’s the perfect spot for a Winter getaway. Edinburgh also does the holidays well, and despite the chill that will have you bundling yourself up, it’s a fantastic city to wander in the crisp Winter air, taking in the Christmas markets and the tiny roads that seem straight out of Harry Potter books.
Favorite Spot to Stay: Hotel Missoni
Don’t Miss: Finishing every meal with Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Looking for a snowy wonderland, complete with gorgeous scenery? Iceland has all of the above: incredible open land covered in snow, waterfalls frozen over and sunrises that start at 10am and paint an incredible color across the sky. Though the days are short in Iceland this time of year, it’s the perfect spot to cozy up and relax after a day out exploring the insanely beautiful countryside.
Don’t Miss: Thingvelir at sunrise.
There is something magical about Ireland in general, but when you head North, Belfast holds a fantastic Christmas market filled with magical holiday treats. If you head out of the city as well, the countryside, while chilly, can be wonderful to drive through at a leisurely pace, taking in the green fields filled with sheep and rocky cliff lines.
Favorite Spot to Eat: The Bushmills Inn
Don’t Miss: The Giant’s Causeway about an hour outside of Belfast.
Dublin has an energy this time of year that is unlike any other place I’ve been, an electricity that fills the crisp air, musicians play music on the street as the stone facades take on a life of their own. Spend hours wandering the quays on the River Liffey or grab a loaf of Irish soda bread on your way back to your cozy hotel to spend the afternoon drinking tea and enjoying local treats.
Favorite Spot to Stay: The Westbury Hotel
Don’t Miss: Grafton Street and Trinity College