I have a big birthday in January. I know it’s last minute but I’d love to go somewhere in Europe that isn’t terribly cold. We love exploring and train travel. Any “must see” places that are mild temps in Jan that you love?

Nice. Maybe Lisbon.

Malaga, Cordoba, Seville, Granada. Palermo, Ortigia. The canaries. Marocco (not Europe but close by and lovely.

Great Spain suggestions from Bilboburger. I did a Seville visit in January a little ways back, with a daytrip to Cordoba, and mornings were cold, but since it was sunny it spiked up near 60 fahrenheit mid-day, and was very enjoyable. To get it any warmer the Canaries can have temps approaching the '70's, and there are plenty daytrip (and swimming) options there (or consider Marrakech/Fez with temps into the 70's).

That means what to you? Cold just like heat is subjective. Somebody from the midwest is going to have a different cold tolerance than somebody from LA or Miami.

Truth is I wouldn't really call much of Europe cold. There are January's here in Rome that people are on the beach. It's not sweltering but it's not what I would call cold either.

Canaries are popular with Europeans for winter breaks, but I doubt you will find any train travel there. Southern Spain seems the best bet for mild winter weather.

Southern Spain can be cold and wet during the winter. Warm sun is not to be guaranteed.
https://english.elpais.com/spanish_n...-in-spain.html

True, and that applies to just about everywhere in Europe, but who wants to travel from overseas (I assume) just to visit the Canaries, especially when you love train travel? If it’s warm weather you want, there are places much closer to home for most overseas visitors.

Last minute? It's October, you have plenty of time to plan the trip. Intra-European travel doesn't need to be booked several months in advance.

I don't know what you mean by "terribly cold" or "mild temperatures", but Sicily should be the warmest place that you can really explore by train, and it's definitely a worthwhile destination. The weather might be sunny with blue skies, or overcast and rainy, it's hard to say in advance, but it won't be cold, unless you go up in the mountains.

Mediterranean Spain is another good option, although the part with a railway along the coast (in the east) doesn't have guaranteed warm, sunny weather in January, and the part with almost guaranteed nice weather (the coast of Andalusia in the south) has no railways along the coast, necessitating a trip inland or a bus/car, if you want to explore. Still, Andalusia sounds good.

The Canaries and Cyprus probably have the best chance of sunny weather in January in the EU, on top of being fairly warm, but they're hardly in Europe geographically and have no railways.

Crete and the Greek islands in general have no railways and a similar weather to Sicily. Mainland Greece can get relatively cool in the winter, if I'm not mistaken.

Antalya

Why not embrace the cold and visit places that are normally packed in the summer? Or head to Scandinavia for some spectacular winter train trips. Ditto Switzerland.

Won't it be cold there without natural gas for heating? (the Russkies having blown holes in their own pipelines)

Given that Stockholm gets less than seven hours of daylight in January, to enjoy the winter scenery, it would have to be a short train ride.

Based on my visit in 1980, I would agree.

However, it in Asia Minor and I have heard that the obnoxious German tourists have been replaced by Russian tourists.

"tourists" ;-)

You can get from Stockholm to Oslo in 6 hours and from Oslo to Bergen in 6 and half hours. The most scenic parts would be in daylight.
Head up country in Sweden for Northern Lights.

Or choose to go to an over touristed summer place and enjoy a more relaxed vibe, Venice for instance. Travel by train through Italy.
There is nowhere in continental Europe that can guarantee reasonable weather in January, not even southern Spain or Portugal.

You want Europe and warm weather then St Maarten/Curacao/Bonaire/Guadalope/Martinique/Mayotte/Reunion...
All technically parts of Europe just as the Canaries are. No trains though.