Where would you suggest for 10 days in early January?
 

Hello - we are looking at a 10 day trip to Europe - leaving on 1/1. I'd like to get some ideas from those who've been there at that time of year on what are good locations? We've been to Paris/Normandy, Amsterdam/Brussels,Brugge, Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, most of Germany over three trips and several trips to Italy (3 weeks Rome, 1 week Florence, 2 weeks Venice, 1 week Milan, 1 week Tuscany). While the days will be short and the temps in the 30's (f)...I'm considering Prague and surrounding areas, Portugal or Dalmatian Coast. Budget (excluding air) is around 6k.
Thanks!

How about London and southern England - weather will not be really cold and London is great in any weather at anytime? Base in London and do day trips to Bath, York, Oxford or Cambridge, etc.

10 days is a bit too much for me for Prague and that area in winter but if twinned with Vienna.

Portugal should be neat too - not cold and not hot and there is a lot to see and do in a compact country. Start in Lisbon - work your way up to Porto.

I agree with Palenq, I can't see 10 days in Prague in January. I haven't been there then, though, but I know London is about 10 degrees warmer than Prague in January, and since you've never been to the UK, I'd do that. Budget without air should be more than enough for anywhere ($600 a day). But sure, Portugal would work, I've just never been there but know it's warmer also, and sunnier in January than Prague (6% chance of sunny day in January in Prague).

Thanks for the ideas so far. If we did Prague, it would include Karlovy Vary and Cesky Krumlov as well. agree...8 days on the ground in Prague could be a bit much.

Weather will be cold and nasty everywhere in Europe. Although England might be a little warmer than Eastern Europe it will be more humid so it will feel colder than the dry coldness in the East.

If you go in January you shold plan these kinds of activities:

- Visiting museums and other indoor attractions.
- Warming up in spas and thermal baths.
- Enjoying cozy hotels.
- Making the best from the coldness by enjoying the snow in some mountain region.

Hope that helps making your decision.

I've enjoyed being in Rome for 8 days in January, with generally nice weather, likewise a week in Palermo, Sicily, which was very mild and full of fascination, and while I was in Napoli in December for 8 days, I woudn't hesitate to go in January.

I am also fine with some cities in Northern Italy in January -- Florence, Bologna, Venice, although they are colder than the south.

My least favorite January destinations have been Amsterdam, Belgium, Paris and London.

"Weather will be cold and nasty everywhere in Europe."

Absolutely false.

I wanted to mention that while I was in Portugal in September, I wouldn't hesitate to go in January. I am not sure it is as dry as Palermo and other parts of Sicily, where we walked around on sunny afternoons, spending most of the days outdoors, just wearing jackets, but Portugal has loads to do and generally mild winter weather (cross your fingers no rainy storms).

In Napoli and Rome, we also spent more than half our time visiting outdoor sights, wearing a good coat. We packed turtlenecks, etc, but the weather was very comfortable for places like Pompei or the outdoor sights of Rome. In these places, many of the bars and restaurants have heaters for outdoor seating.

Although we had already been to the Amalfi coast, had we wanted to go for lunch from Napoli, there were plenty of days when the weather was sunny and clear and the views would have been as spectacular as ever. No swimming, but great weather for hikes up hills for views. And very few tourists.

One downside of Rome is that low-post holiday prices do not kick in until after Jan 6. You might find this is some other southerly/Catholic places.

Dalmatian coast - i.e., Hvar, used to have a sign in the harbor promising reimbursement of hotel bills if there were more than 1 cloudy day during your stay, or something like that. Worth checking out, although I might choose to try some train travel along the coast rather than taking a boat for anything other than access to the island.

My husband was in Rome in January when it was cold and snowy. I'd go with Portugal or better still Morocco - Marrakech. Lots of cheap flights into there.

Based on all of the places that the OP has already been I would be on the UK bandwagon. Granted it's winter but real cold is unlikely as is heavy snow (both very possible in Prague - which I love but not in Jan).

London had an incredible number of things to see/do as well as some nice day trips on the days you do get good weather.