I stepped out of my hotel in Hamburg one December morning to find snow on everything: the streets, the cars, the bicycles. I hadn’t checked the forecast and I hadn’t expected it at all. That’s the thing about snow in Europe in December: you never know what you’ll get. Here’s where your chances are good, and where to go when the city doesn’t deliver.
In short: December snow is only close to reliable up north or up in the mountains, so pick a city you’ll love anyway and treat snow as the bonus.
The consensus: Most guides promise guaranteed snow somewhere in Europe every December.
My take: My best snow luck was in Hamburg, which barely makes these lists, while Dresden in December, where I’d braced for bitter cold, turned out sunny and mild.
Where Does it Snow in December?
Obviously, it’s hard to say what will happen; every December is different, but these 10 destinations have great potential for winter snow.
Snow in the cities themselves is a lottery, and January and February give you much better odds than December. So for each one, I’ve added nearby options if the city doesn’t deliver.
1. Munich
The Bavarian capital is one of Germany’s most popular travel destinations, but it offers even more in winter. Munich’s main Christmas market is in Marienplatz, the extravagant main square, but there are many smaller markets too, like the medieval market at Wittelsbacherplatz. Alternative markets like the Pink Christmas Market and Tollwood Winter Festival are other fun options.
When the temperature drops too low for comfort, head to the museum quarter to experience old, new and modern art at the Pinakotheken (Alte, Neue und Moderne). Follow that with some of the best shopping in Europe and a touristy dinner at the famous Hofbräuhaus beer hall, including live cheesy Bavarian music.
Snow in Munich itself is far less likely than further north in Germany. If the city stays grey, do what the locals do and head to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, about an hour and a half south by train.
I’d never heard of it until a friend who lived in Munich told me it was the place to go. She went every other weekend, and on the day we went, I’m pretty sure we were the only foreign visitors. The hike starts at the foot of the old Olympic ski jump and ends, conveniently, at restaurants serving very heavy Bavarian food.
In winter, the Zugspitze, Germany’s highest mountain, looms over the town and is about as close to guaranteed snow as Germany gets.
Read my guide to visiting Munich in December.
Stay at one of these boutique hotels in Munich.
2. Ohrid
The last time I wrote about Ohrid, I gushed about how it was the most peaceful destination in the Balkans. Watching the sunset from the church, the gentle sounds of water lapping on the lake edge, a small fishing boat puttering by. It was paradise. I honestly believe it’s true, at least in winter.
Then I visited in the summer. Quite a different experience. Music was blaring all night long. Every single cafe was filled with smoking customers. Not to mention the party boats. Oof. The beautiful, quiet lake was tarnished by drunk tourists screaming and partying on crowded boats circling the shore. I’m clearly showing my age here, but honestly, that was not a great experience.
The moral of the story is to visit Ohrid in the off-season if you want a peaceful winter experience. Does it snow in Ohrid? Yes, it can! I wasn’t lucky enough to see snow on my visits, but it’s definitely possible.
For snow nearby, Galičica National Park rises between Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa, and its higher slopes are where any snow settles first.
Here’s what to expect in winter in Ohrid.
Book one of my recommended lakeside hotels in Ohrid.
3. Amsterdam
I was shocked and a little scared the first time I visited Amsterdam for New Year’s Eve. Fireworks were going off in every direction on every street, over the canals and out the windows. It was way too much for me at the time.
You rarely see individuals set off fireworks in Australia, and I wasn’t expecting this to be a thing elsewhere. But I later learned this is how they do fireworks in Amsterdam and much of Europe. Now that I know what to expect, I’m much more chilled about the whole experience and even though I still get nervous, I can now appreciate the craziness of New Year’s in Europe.
If you visit Amsterdam late in December, you can visit the Christmas markets, all the fantastic museums, restaurants and bars, experience the New Year celebrations, and maybe even see some snow along the canals, like I did.
Discover the best time to visit the Netherlands.
4. Ghent
Sometimes you just want an easy-to-visit destination. Somewhere that’s easy to get to, with sights within walking distance and food that’s simple yet delicious. That’s how I see Ghent in the Flemish region of Belgium.
Ghent in December is a stress-free weekend destination that requires little planning and won’t cost a fortune. You don’t need to plan much because you’ll naturally come across most sights as you wander around. Given that Ghent is a smaller city, you won’t have to spend all day rushing around to see the sights; you can sleep late or have a leisurely lunch, do a little window shopping or visit a museum.
Ghent is a great day trip from Brussels.
5. Venice
One of my most special travel experiences was watching the sunrise over St. Mark’s Square in Venice with gondolas bobbing on the lagoon in the distance. It was a foggy, misty morning, creating a mysterious atmosphere and beautiful scenes. It was just stunning.
Even though Venice is known for being overcrowded and over-touristed, I shared this experience with few others. There were hardly any other people out and about. This is the benefit of visiting Venice in December, or any other highly popular destination for that matter. Fewer people bother to venture out when it’s cold and foggy. If you can get out of your warm bed while it’s still dark and minus outside, you’ll be rewarded with empty squares, calm canals and tourist-free photos.
As the climate warms, snow is becoming less common in Venice, but you’ll likely still experience a foggy morning, a classic, eerie Venetian experience. Get there before rising waters and environmental degradation do further damage to this fragile ecosystem and historic city. Please limit negative tourism impacts by avoiding cruise ships.
If snow is the goal, the Dolomites are your best bet from Venice. Cortina d’Ampezzo is a couple of hours north by bus, and the ski season there is usually running by December.
Read my guide to spending 24 hours in Venice.
6. Transylvania
The destination of medieval kingdoms, eastern invasions and legends of violent impalement. Transylvania has a wicked history that goes far deeper than Dracula. The region has a recent mix of Hungarian, Germanic and Romanian influences, with much more going back.
If you’re looking for a more affordable European holiday in December, Transylvania is hard to beat, with incredible cities and castles. Consider Timisoara for its bold secessionist architecture, Sibiu for its Saxon history, Brasov for access to Bran Castle (Dracula’s Castle), or Sighisoara for the most beautiful medieval town in Romania (pictured above).
I visited Transylvania in November and didn’t see a single flake, so I wouldn’t bank on snow in the towns. Your better bet is Poiana Brașov, the ski resort on the mountain just above Brașov, a short bus ride up from the city.
If you fancy driving in winter, read my complete Romania road trip guide.
7. Zurich
If your budget isn’t a major issue or you’d prefer a luxury destination, Zurich in December is amazing. The Old Town feels cosy and is great for shopping, drinking Swiss hot chocolate, or visiting the Zurich Christmas markets.
Zurich is especially great if you love travelling for food. There are so many options when eating out, but look for classic dishes like rosti and fondue, as well as modern vegetarian restaurants and hipster cafes. You can get takeaway meals or picnic supplies at the fantastic Markthalle im Viaduct, or at one of many delicious bakeries and chocolate shops like John Baker and Vollenweider Chocolatier. But yeah, just to reiterate, Zurich is not for the budget-conscious.
I first saw the Zurich Christmas markets back in the 90s. What stuck with me was the walking: one long street of lights, chalets and very expensive shops, with everyone bundled into big coats and woolly hats, shopping bags under their arms.
My regret is not getting out of the city. Switzerland is at its most beautiful in nature, not in Zurich, and the snow, mountain restaurants and après ski are close by. Engelberg, at the foot of Mount Titlis, is under two hours away by train.
What to expect on a weekend in Zurich.
My guide to where to stay in Zurich, covering all budgets.
8. Hamburg
I got extremely lucky in Hamburg. A huge storm covered the city in powdery snow the day I arrived. Then the clouds parted, and we had clear blue skies for the rest of the trip. The city looked so beautiful from every angle. I’m sure the locals weren’t quite so happy, but I love snow!
Hamburg is one of the coolest cities in all of Europe. It’s full of hipster cafes and vegetarian and vegan restaurants mixed in with classic Hamburg hamburgers. If, like me, you get to visit Hamburg in December and the snow is falling, take heart in the fact that the city has some incredible indoor attractions, including the city’s famous thermal spas, the quirky Miniatur Wunderland, countless museums, and, if you feel like you can handle the cold, ice skating is a must.
Hamburg isn’t an obvious snow pick, partly because it’s so underrated. But if snow is what you’re after, I think your chances here are better than in southern cities like Munich or even Cologne. When I woke to that snow, I went straight to the Rathaus and down to the waterfront, then out into the neighbourhoods, which is where Hamburg really comes alive anyway.
Read my top things to do in Hamburg in winter.
9. Stockholm
The great thing about visiting Sweden in winter, or anywhere in northern Europe, is that they are geared up for it. It’s not like other places when there’s a light dusting of snow and the entire city grinds to a halt (hello London!).
Stockholm is beautiful in winter; they know what they’re doing, and there are loads of indoor activities to keep you busy. This includes countless outdoor activities, such as ice skating, drinking mulled wine, and even skiing. I prefer activities of the eating variety, and if you’re with me on that, you need to educate yourself on all things fika.
Stockholm has a fair chance of snow in December, but if you want it close to guaranteed, keep going north into Swedish Lapland, around Kiruna and Abisko.
My experience spending a weekend in Stockholm.
10. Tirana
As mentioned in my updated guide to things to do in Tirana in winter, the Albanian capital is a city that never sleeps, and it’s an interesting off-the-beaten-path winter destination.
Albania’s most popular national holiday is New Year’s. That means you can find fireworks across the country and street parties in Tirana. Start your winter visit in Skanderbeg Square, the heart of the city, where you’ll find many events, including the Christmas market and New Year celebrations. From Tirana, the port city of Durres is only a 30-minute drive away, or you can visit the mountain village Kruja or take the cable car up to Mount Dajti.
Mount Dajti is my pick for snow near Tirana. It’s an easy half-day trip, and there’s a very good chance of snow up top in winter. I haven’t been up in winter myself, but I’d go for the views over the city alone, and the restaurant at the top is worth the trip for coffee or dessert.
Be ready to wait. The last time I went, we were told the cable car was holding off for a break in the wild weather, which didn’t exactly fill me with confidence. Once the clouds cleared, though, we could see all the way to Durrës on the Adriatic.
Read my complete list of recommended day trips from Tirana.
Find out where to stay in Tirana and which neighbourhoods are worth exploring.
Countries With Snow in December
If snow is the whole point of the trip, go north or go up. The cities above can surprise you, but your odds improve in the Baltics, the Alps and the far north of Scandinavia, and they’re even better in January and February.
Living in Budapest taught me that. I expected bitterly cold, snowy winters and it barely snowed. The one time it properly stuck for a few days was amazing, but that was late winter, not December.
Of the Baltic capitals, start with Tallinn, then Riga, then Vilnius. That’s the order of your snow odds, and it’s also the order I’d visit them in anyway.
Tallinn
Tallinn is by far the most beautiful of the three, and I adored it from the moment I arrived. Winter is when I’d go. The cruise day trippers who swamp the old town in summer are mostly gone, and even with the crowds at the Christmas market, it’s far calmer.
Start at Town Hall Square, then pick one of the narrow streets that spin off it and wander. I never got to see the square under snow, and I’d love to. As the main thoroughfare, it’s cleared quickly, so you won’t be wading through it.
The Baltic wind is bitter, so dress for it and know when to duck inside. The Museum of Occupations, the KGB Museum and Patarei Prison each tell a different part of Estonia’s Soviet story, and I spent hours in the first one alone.
Riga
I was too harsh on Riga the first time. I arrived on a high from Tallinn expecting a mini version of it, and it’s nothing like it. On its own terms, it’s compact, lively and historic, with architecture that beats the other two.
I thought Budapest was the home of Art Nouveau until I went to Riga. My regret is only passing through those neighbourhoods around Alberta iela. Rug up properly and give them real time, eyes up, because the detail on those facades is incredible.
Vilnius
Vilnius is more spread out than Riga, so expect more walking between the sights. Start at Cathedral Square, where the contemporary Christmas tree draws people from all over, then keep walking through the decorated streets and squares.
Honestly, I’m not sure Vilnius has the beauty or the history of Tallinn and Riga. It’s nice, but it’s the poorer sister of the three. Sorry, Vilnius.
Planning a Trip?
Planning around the Christmas markets? Start with my Dresden Christmas markets, the best Christmas markets in Europe, or string a few together on a Christmas road trip or a longer winter road trip.
Don’t be put off by the cold weather or by places that get snow. Snow is one of the reasons to go!
Sustainable Travel Tips
- Take the Nightjet: ÖBB’s Nightjet sleepers run overnight between Hamburg and Zurich and between Munich and Venice, so you can link several of these snow picks without flying. Check the current timetable before you plan around it.
- Eat at Tollwood: The food at Munich’s Tollwood Winter Festival on the Theresienwiese is certified organic, which is rare for an event this size and a good reason to pick it over another round of market bratwurst.
- Head north by sleeper: SJ’s night train from Stockholm to Narvik runs up through Swedish Lapland, where December snow is close to certain, and saves you the domestic flight.
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Recommendations are independently chosen based on personal travel experiences and extensive research.
