How unusual to spend winter in Europe

There are short and cold days ahead of us. However, not everyone is in love with skiing or snowboarding. Some people long for spring or look for it in warmer parts of the world. Fortunately, we can choose not only expensive trips to Bali, Seychelles or Rio de Janeiro. We can also find warmer places in Europe.

Winter in southern Europe has nothing to do with ours. Since we are not afraid of the temperature in the vicinity of 15-17 degrees on the picnic, we will certainly be able to withstand and 20;). So where to go? We didn't get there in summer due to financial reasons, heat or crowds of tourists. Winter is a great option both for people who want to go sightseeing in peace and for people who are looking for a rest away from the hustle and bustle.

Majorca

The season ends in October, but you can relax on the beach until mid-November. Winter temperatures range from 12 to 23 degrees . The lowest ones are in January. In February, it often rains and blows strong winds. It is so in the case of rain that, while we do not experience it at all in the summer months, it likes to make up for it in the winter. However, there is reportedly no week when it rains every day. Often it is just a matter of one or two hours of showers. And when the sun comes out, the weather is May.

You can get to Majorca from Barcelona , where ferries depart daily. So you can easily go on such a trip in your own or rented motorhome (we will also find Polish companies on the spot). In turn, airline tickets to Barcelona after the season are cheap and you can really find a very attractive offer. A motorhome also has one major advantage - heating - an advantage that is missing even in many homes in southern Europe.

It is worth going to the beaches, because although bathing is a feat for the brave, the sun pampers you. At this time of year, you can always find an empty one and have a picnic there. Two are especially beautiful: Formentor and Portal Vells. Remember, there is where to put the blanket!

For what other natural circumstances to visit Majorca? For the mountains! Although they are max. 1,400 m high, counting from the level of the island (0), the difference is significant. We will find there beautiful hiking and climbing routes . And these views ... We won't get to the top of Puig Maior - the highest hill - there is a military base there. However, we have so many routes to choose from that it will not be a great loss.

January is perfect for exploring the capital of the Balearic Islands. In addition to the obligatory point - la Seu cathedral , you can get lost in small streets, hiding pearls of architecture, charming shops, restaurants that somehow reduce prices strangely compared to the summer season. Sooner or later we'll go out to Placa Major, Placa d'Espanya or some other famous place.

Car rentals also drop prices off-season, so if the motorhome is too big for you, you can easily rent something smaller and drive around the island. Along the roads, there are special parking lots and viewpoints with wonderful views of the mountains, sea, rocks, coves and ports. You can admire the city that ceases to be touristic for a moment and lives its own unique island life.

Sardinia

If not Spain, then maybe Sardinia? In the off-season, the emerald island becomes a quiet, peaceful place where contact with nature is guaranteed. Winter is the perfect time to go for two. Romantic walks on the beach, spring atmosphere, which we can only dream of in Poland, will make our stay remain in our memory for a long time.

Sardinia will satisfy both architecture and wildlife lovers. Be sure to see Cagliari , you will be amazed by the Old Town, the Cathedral and the port. Go to Poets' Beach and the botanical garden, and try local delicacies at Market Sant Benedetto .

Also worth seeing is the second largest city of Sardinia, Alghero and its magnificent ramparts. On the Sinis Peninsula , we have wonderful beaches with fine, quartz sand, an abundance of fish and birds. It is worth taking a walk along the Su Gorroppu Gorge , one of the deepest in Europe, and see if the devil really lives there.

Even in winter, the island remains warm. The weather has a cloudless aura with the accompanying clear and transparent sky (despite the fact that it is the so-called rainy season). The temperatures during this time range between 13 and 18 degrees Celsius and remain at this amplitude until February. It happens that on the warmest days they exceed 20 degrees in the shade.

Evenings are much cooler, so a sweater and a warm jacket must be in your luggage. The sea temperature drops between 14 and 16 degrees Celsius in winter, so bathing is for the enduring ones. However, this applies to the capital and the coastal areas. The mountainous region can be cooler, and there are even snowfall and icy roads.

Lisbon

In the Portuguese capital, the temperature rarely drops below 15 degrees . So it can be said that the inhabitants of winter do not know. There is, however, a small but… Rain.

It's not that it rains all the time. As we write these words, the weather is beautiful and it promises to last for many days. However, in winter, and especially in February, you have to take into account that the rainfall can last up to several days without a break . It would be best to check the weather forecast and then start exploring Portugal.

Lisbon is full of monuments, and as it is situated on seven hills , it is better not to visit it in summer, when the temperature reaches 40 degrees Celsius. If you don't like classic guides, we recommend one of the Saramago or Pessoa books instead. You will see that Portugal can be more interesting in the rain than in the heat. Besides, its inhabitants will tell about the country with their own language and feelings.

It is worth seeing the Estufa Fria winter garden - there are plants there for which Portugal is too warm. The garden is covered and very beautiful. You must also visit cafes , after all, Lisbon and coffee are the same concepts. In winter, you will mainly meet locals who love to spend their free time in cafes. We order thick, black and sweet coffee, and with it, for example, pao de deus (bun with coconut) or pastel de nata (pudding muffins) and we enjoy life.

Be sure to see Baixa (in case of rain it is worth visiting its underground) and Alfama - the oldest, former fishing district of Lisbon. Also, do not miss the fado museum or the Azulej o museum, full of beautiful, hand-painted ceramic tiles - Lisbon's showpiece.

Athens

If you want to save on sightseeing, Athens is a bull's eye off the season! The prices of Tourist attractions drop by 50% compared to the summer season. The winter season is from 01/11. until 31.03. The temperature then fluctuates around 13-20 degrees (in March it can be even warmer). The nights, however, are cool .

Admission to the Acropolis costs 10 euros and includes the Theater of Dionysus, Odeon of Herod Atticus, Parthenon, Propylaea and the Erechtheion. We have a chance to enter without crowds of tourists (which does not mean that there will be no one - it's Athens after all) and not die of heat. This is a big plus.

It is worth visiting the National Gardens of Athens, and from there you can get to Hellenic Parlament. It is located in Syntagma Square , which is a landmark place for demonstrating and celebrating important events, both social and political. There is a good chance that you will find yourself on a strike. Besides, it is a favorite place for the evening meetings of the Athenians.

When visiting the Hadrian's Library or the Agora, it is worth delving into the Monastiraki district. It's full of pubs, markets and shops. It is also worth eating in a local tavern. The prices are much lower than in the high season. In addition, you must visit the vicinity of Athens, including the famous Piraeus.

French Riviera

Do you dream of traveling around the cities of the French Riviera, atmospheric cafes, delicious food, breathtaking views? Winter is the perfect time to visit the south of France.

The Cote d'Azur has become fashionable thanks to winter - the one in Northern, Eastern and Central Europe. The aristocrats and the bourgeoisie fled from frost, snow and cloudy skies to the south of France. In the summer, when it was hot everywhere, no one thought of going to even hotter regions, and why? ;)

Not only Nice is tempting, but also smaller cities such as Villefranche-sur-Mer, Eze, Cannes, Antibes, Menton , or the city-state of Monaco . After the season you don't have to squeeze like canned sardines, the weather is nice, and even if it rains, it usually doesn't last long.

Tourists, although still present, will not make the restaurant no longer available. The beaches are yours. You can also see what the ordinary life of the inhabitants of tourist towns looks like. And this breeze of luxury ... Fortunately, it is luxury at prices more affordable than in summer. It is worth visiting museums such as Mattis or Chagal, the Maeght Foundation, or simply wandering around the nearby towns and relaxing.

If you are looking for ideas for organized holidays, you will find many offers on ITAKA's website www.itaka.pl/ferie-zimowe