Off-Peak Pleasures in Europe
Sparse crowds, reduced prices and an array of unexpected pleasures are just some of Europe's distinct delights in the off-season.
Europe is magnificent at any time of year, but distinct delights await those who venture to the Old World in the off-season. In the weeks less traveled—from December to mid-April—visitors are rewarded with sparse crowds, lower prices and a tempting array of seasonal pleasures, from therapeutic spa waters to fragrant flower gardens in full bloom. Explore just a few of the grand and glorious highlights of Europe’s off-season.
The Netherlands
Enjoy: Keukenhof, the world’s second-largest flower garden, on a dreamy castle estate, dazzles from mid-March to mid-May—when its 7 million tulips and other bulbs are at their showy finest.
The Netherlands
Shop: Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam’s floating flower market, is distinctly Dutch, a multi-colored explosion of blooms, bulbs, seeds, even flower-bedecked clogs. (Taking bulbs home? Make sure they bear a customs-cleared stamp.)
The Netherlands
See: Dutchman Vincent van Gogh painted flowers throughout his career, and many of his originals—including works from his iconic Sunflowers series—hang at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam or the Kroller-Muller Museum in Otterlo.
The Netherlands
Ride: Gliding in a glass-topped boat along Amsterdam’s centuries-old canals—lined with stately, gabled homes from the Dutch Golden Age—is a magical way to explore the city.
Spain
Explore: From the stone-clad alleyways of the Gothic Quarter to Antoni Gaudi’s extraordinary Sagrada Familia church, Barcelona offers a visual feast.
Spain
Enjoy: Seville is a hotbed for Flamenco, often performed in restaurants or tablaos—clubs dedicated to the genre.
Portugal
See: Azulejos (colorful ceramic tiles) are an ancient art form, and Lisbon offers a dazzling display—from the 16th-century geometric tiles in the Sintra National Palace to those that adorn houses and restaurants.
Portugal
Sip: The Portuguese are proud of their Port wine, and ground zero is the medieval city of Porto, at the mouth of the Douro River—where 40 different producers make the typically sweet, red wine.
Italy
Explore: The stunning views of olive groves and vineyards from the village of San Gimignano are sure to delight, but perhaps most enchanting are its towers. Families in the 1100s likely built the towers to showcase their wealth, and about 12 of the original 72 structures still stand.
Vatican City
Gaze: Located in Vatican City, the Sistine Chapel is capped by Michelangelo’s sublime, painted ceiling—a commission whose scale so intimidated the artist, he nearly declined. We’re glad he didn’t: The glorious frescoes are considered the pinnacle of Renaissance art.
Italy
Shop: Venice’s glass-making tradition dates to the 1200s, and artisans on Murano Island still use the old techniques to make exquisite vases, jewelry and more.
Italy
Walk: For all its art and architectural glories, Florence is compact, making the winding streets of its centro storico, or historic center, a joy to meander, both for celebrated sights—like the Ponte Vecchio and Duomo—and quiet piazzas.
Switzerland
Enjoy: Relax in a hydrojet bath while gazing at the Swiss Alps in St. Moritz, or soak in a saltwater grotto. Travelers have enjoyed the therapeutic waters of this mountain town since the Middle Ages, and you can, too: Just book a day pass offered by many chic spas.
Switzerland
Try: The traditional recipe for a classic winter fondue melts Emmental and Gruyere cheese with white wine. Custom says losing a chunk of bread in the cheese means buying a round of drinks.
Switzerland
Explore: Horses pull sleighs through Zermatt, a car-free hamlet of ancient, sun-browned barns and traditional chalets, all encircled by a famous ring of mountains rising overhead.
Switzerland
Ride: Panoramic viewing cars frame ice-capped Alps, rushing streams and stone-built mountain villages on the Glacier Express, a seven-hour train journey from Davos or St. Moritz to Zermatt.
Germany
See: Beethoven and Byron loved the romantic landscapes of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, a scenic region that continues to inspire today, with majestic castles and storybook towns ’round every bend.
Germany
Explore: Pass through the ancient walls of Rothenburg ob der Tauber and meander the cobblestone streets of this medieval, fairytale city on the Tauber River.
Germany
Enjoy: An Old-World holdover from pre-supermarket days, open-air markets offer meat, flowers and more—and in December, the famous Christmas markets are festive gatherings, such as Nuremberg’s 400-year-old Christkindlesmarkt.
Germany
Sip: Evening strollers and apres-skiers warm up with glühwein, a cold-weather staple—it’s red wine mulled with sugar and spices, served steaming hot by street vendors and in restaurants.