January or February Europe travel
 

If we do not go to Panama for our two week vacation, which needs to be in February or January, we are thinking of Europe.

I've seen several countries and cities, but certainly not all.

At that time of year, where would you go if you didn't want to freeze or be windblown?

We like villages, cities, interesting architecture, ruins, street food, bakeries.

I'm thinking about south of France including Carcassonne to Nice. What I'm wondering is would the South of France be too dreary in Winter?

If anyone is interested, I'm open to all kinds of suggestions.

Or we may bag it and go snorkling, bird watching and surfing in Panama. However, Europe certainly has a strong draw for both of us.

Bump. I thought this a pretty, pretty interesting query. Really, all you in-the-knows, have you no answer? Your favorite places for Winter in Europe?

Maybe one person?

C'mon Europe board, tell me about the South of France in the Winter of the weak dollar? I love France.

Palmero? Crete?

Patience, cymbeline!

A holiday based around Lisbon should tick most of the boxes. And it's one of the better-value-for-money destinations in Europe.

Crete is mostly a seasonal destination and some places close for the winter. We visited the last week of October and were told that the few restaurants that were open would be closed the following week.

I'd suggest Rome. Cities are less dreary in winter.

BTW, Many Europe board fodorite's are European and it's after midnight in Europe so you might have to wait a while longer for replies.

We went to Lisbon last year. Sorry. I forgot your "Fodorites" in the UK and Europe rule over here.

<<Sorry. I forgot your "Fodorites" in the UK and Europe rule over here.>>

I certainly don't know what that means. There are certainly plenty of Americans on this forum.

In any event, I would go to Rome. I should point out that it's my favorite place, but I was there the third week in February, and the weather was a little colder than usual at the beginning of the week, but then warmed up. It certainly has architecture, ruins, and bakeries. Not so much street food, but lots of places where you can pick up pizza to go.

SusanP,
Rome is a city I have been avoiding for a long time. I've been to Venice and The Lakes. However, Rome seems so noisy, chaotic, carbon dioxide poisoned by cars...I have enjoyed London and Paris immensely, but London has parks and Paris has pedestrian areas.

Also, the two of us are not so keen on religious art.

I always do wonder if I would love Rome or hate it. I think you are right, in the Winter, a city would be the place to go.

Do you go to a place not knowing if you will love it or hate it? We are not really keen on religious art. I will have to think about it. A smaller place in Italy may not be right in Winter. One week in Rome, one in Florence? Or will my husband even say yes to Rome, he has never liked the idea before: the traffic, the religous part.

>>>Rome seems so noisy, chaotic, carbon dioxide poisoned by cars<<<

And then you tell us you prefer London?

If you can stand London you won't have problems with Rome. However, be prepared that even in Rome it will be pretty cold in Jan/Feb.

There will be winter everywhere in Europe. For some milder climate, the Mediterranean islands (Mallorca) or the Andalucian coastal regions might be an option.

We Europeans spend this time of year either right in the snow or we fly to the Canaries or Egypt.

You mention surfing. Why not ski in Europe? A week in Austria and a week in France! Poland and Slovakia are two other choices.

I'm not sure I can really recommend a trip that time of year to Europe. Sure, there may be some "least worst" options, such as Rome, but January and February are the low-low season for a reason.

Pretty much everywhere is relatively cold. Most of the northern cities (Paris, Berlin, London, Scandinavia, Amsterdam) will have relatively little daylight.

If you did go, I would suggest embracing the cold and dark whole-heartedly. Head to Scandinvia and go north to catch the northern lights (January). Or head to Switzerland or France and go skiing.

We regularly travel to Europe in the second week in January. That allows us to take advantage of low air fares and academic schedules.

We found Paris to be too cold to comfortably walk around the city, a favorite occupation there. We have confined ourselves to Southern Europe since that trip.

We generally find the places cool, with frequent rain, but not uncomfortable. Rome alternated between cool and damp, and clear and in the 60's.

Southern Spain, Majorca, and Southern France all had similar periods of rain and sun.

The arc of the French Mediterranean coast from Montpelier to Perpingan has the reputation for the best winter weather. Beziers and, on a much smaller scale, Collure, are charming and have many pleasant hotels. You would have the ability to go into the Pyrenees as well, but you can expect snow from 1000 meters up.

If you go to Carcassone, consider staying about 7 kilometers East of the Cite at the Chateau du Floure. The rooms are very nice and the food is exceptional.

How about Sicily or Croatia? Sicily is a remarkable place with fascinating history, superb food, lovely villages, stunning scenery, intriguing culture.

Europe in January or February is great - so much nicer and warmer than home. I do not find them cold at all. In fact, my husband and I always just wear a light spring jacket and are astonished at people who are wearing actual winter gear! All relative, though. Regardless I would rather be in Europe in the winter than where we live, that is for sure...:)

Thanks for the ideas and facts, I certainly appreciate it. Sorry I was impatient last night.

I am going to read about The South of France and Sicily here in the Fodors old posts and in guidebooks. Also will be looking up temp info for Croatia, but I'm thinking it is too cold.

If I were travelling to Europe in the Winter, I'd head to Greece. I figure if it's hot and humid there in the Summer, then it must be nice in the Winter.

It can snow in Greece!

Then I'd be horribly unprepared for the weather! lol

<i>I figure if it's hot and humid there in the Summer, then it must be nice in the Winter.</i>

Minnesota is hot and humid in the summer too. Greece can get cold...

Hi we went to eurpoe last feb 07 for 2 weeks we went to Rome ,spain andalucia area , and amsterdam. I thought it was a great time to go I live in Ohio so it was warmer than here. Rome was around low 60 and spain was higher 60's low 70 ,amsterdam was chilly . I wore a sweater must days touring and was not cold. We did not have the crowds and the prices were cheaper.Go for it.

You might like to try Malta, or Puglia area in Italy, both meet all your requirements except street food- I haven't seen any..

I spent New Year's Eve in Greece and while the weather is nice, there were far too many closures in the islands. Despite that we managed some good sightseeing in Rhodes, but Kos was a ghost town. The good news is most everything was open in Athens. About a year later in went on a Med cruise in November which made stops on some Greek islands. November was even better in terms of closures and weather, but next time I'll go in another season.

<i>disclaimer</i> I was not a Fodorite when I took the New Year's Eve trip, that's why I was so ill-informed about Greek winter closures. :-[

I have also been to Lisbon on New Year's Eve and that I do recommend. It was a little chilly but quite bearable, and Portugal is a lovely country at any time of year.

cymbeline, I just want to add that when I said it warmed up later in the week (3rd week in February), I didn't even need a jacket in the afternoon. Of course, it cooled down a lot at night.

Yes, I would certainly go someplace even if I didn't know whether I would love it or hate it. After all, if you've never been somewhere, how can you know that?

Yes, Rome can be noisy and chaotic (although I've never thought of it as carbon dioxide poisoned!), but it has quiet areas as well. A tip for crossing the street in Rome: Start across, look the drivers right in the eye, and keep going. You know that old saying about he who hesitates is lost? That applies to crossing the street in Rome! But it's just part of the city. Rome has its own energy. I feel it as soon as I arrive!

And yes, Rome certainly has a lot of religious art, but that's not all that is there. There's all that ancient history as well.

If you want to read my reports, which include the less-crowded, more peaceful parts of Rome, here they are:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34687434

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34780400

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34922204

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35034084

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35111784

Enjoy! :-d

January 2007 we spent a fabulous week renting an apt in Rome. The weather was wonderful and our self-imposed walking tours of the highest elevations around the city gave us wonderful vistas in which to appreciate the city even more.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...localeid=en_US

I spent this past January in Portugal and I would highly recommend it. The north--Porto, Braga, etc was chilly, but the weather in Lisbon, Evora, Coimbra, and further south was lovely. Cool but not freezing nights and daytime highs in the 60's.

Portugal is packed with historical sights, old churches, beautiful villages, and fabulous Roman ruins. Lisbon is a fabulous capital city and there are many daytrips that you can take from there including Sintra and Cacais. I travelled solo and found the people everywhere to be welcoming and kind.

Another place to consider is Seville, Spain and the surrounding area including Cordoba. I spent time there in late February and the weather was very temperate. It is a fascinating place with great food, flamenco, and a unique blend of cultures.
Michele

I wouldn't suggest Greece for this time of year unless you go to the mountains and NOT the islands.
Greece has a mediterranean climate and that means ALL countries in that region have approximately the same climate. (Italy, south Spain, south of france etc...).
It's not tropical so it's not 'HUMID'!

The climate is characterized by hot, DRY summers and cool, wet winters.

In my opinion Januray and February are two miserable months and the best thing is to go to a tropical island or go skiing!

For Europe i love London every time of year but give Rome a chance. It's a wonderful, fascinating city full of history and it certainly has much more to offer than religious art!

Of course, there are no guarantees when talking about the weather !

In my area, it is probably a little cooler than Cote d'Azur in winter. It is also more rural, and cheaper !

A nice day in January can be up to 20C (68F).

So, some info :

Weather stats : http://the-languedoc-page.com/langue...er-history.htm

Winter photos :
http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/ph...-photo-067.htm
http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/ph...-photo-022.htm
http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/ph...-photo-117.htm
http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/ph...-photo-395.htm

Peter