Lofoten, Norway
Although not as famous as destinations such as Tromso, Troindheim, Olso, the Lofoten Islands in Norway, located north of the Arctic Circle, attract tourists thanks to the fresh climate and simple yet majestic natural scenery. The first inhabitants of the archipelago many centuries ago named one of the islands (today known as Vestvågøya) Lofoten, which in Norwegian means “the footprint of the lynx”. Another island (today known as Flakstadøya) is “the footprint of the wolf” to refer to the geographical shape of the islands that is quite similar to the footprint of animals.
Today, the archipelago collectively known as Lofoten forms a district in Norway's Nordland county, famous for its natural beauty - peaceful islands, a mountain range stretching across the middle of the island, green carpets of flowers and leaves, clear skies and spreading sunlight that make visitors feel like they have just stepped into a science fiction novel; especially in the silence of winter, with towering mountains on both sides of the inlet, small, lonely fishing villages on the water's edge and long, quiet white sand beaches...
Vik, Iceland
Vík village is located about 180 km east of Iceland's capital Reykjavik on the main road around Iceland. It has a sparse population of about 300 people, but this is one of the places not to be missed when traveling to Iceland.
In 1991, the American travel magazine Islands Magazine named Vík's coastline one of the 10 most beautiful coastlines in the world. Due to the humid climate, many seabirds roost on the western cliffs of Vík, one of the famous birds that is also loved by the residents here is the Puffins.
Not far from the village of Vík is the Dyrhólaey promontory, which is the remains of an ancient volcano, which has survived the ravages of earthquakes, time and erosion by the waves to this day. From here, on winter days, you can take beautiful photos that capture the full beauty of Icelandic nature: bare, lonely, arid but still standing firm in the waves.
Tallinn, Estonia
With its beautiful natural landscape and unique medieval architectural works, the ancient city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is an interesting and attractive destination in Northern Europe. The city has an area of about 159 km2, located in northern Estonia, on the Gulf of Finland. Tallinn has developed since the Middle Ages and to this day, although it has become the capital of Estonia, the city still retains its ancient moss-covered features, surrounded by solid walls, winding cobblestone streets and many ancient buildings.
Especially in winter, when it snows, the city becomes a fairyland. Here, visitors can visit more than 20 fairy towers and the Song Festival Grounds. Besides, from mid-November to early January, visitors can explore the Christmas market at Town Hall Square.
Vienna, Austria
As the capital and largest city of Austria, Vienna is located in the northeast, at the foot of the Alps, on the gently flowing Danube River. For centuries, this place has been an ideal place to inspire countless artists; it is also the economic, cultural and political center of Austria. In 2001, this historic city was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Currently, Vienna scored 99.1/100 points in the Economist Intelligence Unit's assessment and won the position of the most livable city in the world in 2019.
Especially in winter, Vienna nights become sparkling under the colorful lights of the shops decorating the streets, the fragrant, hot street food and the warmth of the people spreading in the hustle and bustle of a bustling city. This is also where snow globes were invented in the 1900s.
Chamonix, France
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, also known by its shorter name, Chamonix, is a town located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, right at the junction of France, Switzerland and Italy. A collection of 16 small villages, stretching from North to South, the city is located at a record altitude in France, from 995 m to 4,809 m above sea level, famous for skiing, mountain climbing, skydiving... Especially famous for Mont Blanc peak (the roof of Europe), 4,810 m high, snow-covered all year round, attracting many tourists and mountain climbers from all over the world.
Not only is Chamonix the capital of the skiing world, it is also famous for its cable car system that holds the world record for the highest cable car system. The cable car starts from the center of Chamonix town at an altitude of 1,035 m to the peak of Midi at 3,842 m in just 20 minutes. In addition, Chamonix also has a cogwheel train system that goes all the way to the top of Mer de Glace, allowing visitors to admire the majestic scenery of the second largest glacier in the Alps.
Strasbourg, France
As the capital of the Alsace region, located in the Northeast of France, more than 2 hours by high-speed train (TGV) from Paris, Strasbourg possesses poetic streets, ancient architectural works of high historical value, Christmas markets and extremely unique traditional festivals.
Partly characterized by medieval villages and partly by modern European factories, Strasbourg is both simple and peaceful, yet modern, bustling and prosperous. This is where you can enjoy the simplest joys of everyday life in a small village, stroll around the street food stalls that spring up close together along the cobblestone streets of the village, or freely explore the many streets full of skyscrapers, the most modern architecture in Europe, the splendor no less than the capital of France.
In winter, Strasbourg is one of the coldest places in France, with snow covering the roads, paths and bare tree branches, creating a rustic yet dreamy scene.
Hallstatt, Austria
The romantic ancient town of Hallstatt lies on the west side of the Hallstatter See lake, surrounded by endless green hills. In winter, the village is covered in snow, creating a beautiful fairy-tale scene with ancient colorful houses leaning against the shadow of the mountains, facing the charming lake. No more red tiled roofs, yellow walls, and vast blue water, instead it is all endless white.
With a long history dating back to more than 5,000 years BC, this place is considered the first salt mine in the world. In addition to the magnificent natural scenery, the most prominent and unmissable in Hallstatt are the medieval castles, with a charming European style. Visitors can stroll along the pretty little cobblestone streets that are more than 7,000 years old, enjoying the ancient colors through each pebble and street corner tinged with time.
South Tyrol, Italy
With its castles, historic churches, and numerous archaeological and art museums, the northern Italian province of Alto Adige – better known by its German name, South Tyrol – has captivated many hearts. South Tyrol, located in the far north of Italy, is a picture-perfect picture of snow-capped mountains and Mediterranean landscapes. The jagged snow-capped Dolomites dominate the landscape, and winter is the perfect time to ski or snowboard down the slopes. The area is also a great destination for a variety of outdoor activities, including mountain biking, hiking, horse riding, golfing, and fishing.
In addition, the rivers and valleys that cut across the mountainous terrain here also create many other beautiful natural landscapes of lakes, rivers and streams for South Tyrol. This place is also one of the famous wine production locations in the world, so visitors have many opportunities to visit, learn about the production process and enjoy excellent and warm wines in the cold winter.
Krakow, Poland
Located on the poetic Vistula River, at the foot of Wawel Hill, the more than 1,000-year-old city of Kraków is one of the largest ancient capitals of Poland, about 250 km from the capital Warsaw and is one of the leading centers of science, culture and art in Poland. This is also a city with a strong identity and rich cultural traditions of Central Europe with impressive Gothic and Renaissance-style churches, museums and beautiful urban landscapes.
When winter comes, the dreamy city is immersed in white snow. Not too noisy, Kraków is an extremely peaceful destination for romantic travelers who love history as well as ancient European architecture.
Zermatt, Switzerland
Located at the foot of the legendary Matterhorn, Zermatt is one of the ski resorts that anyone would wish to visit. Coming here, you will be attracted by the lovely roads with countless wooden villas and fresh air. Located at an altitude of more than 1,600 m, Zemartt has all the unique characteristics of the Alps, nestled between the towering valleys and majestic white snow mountains. There are no motor vehicles here, only the jingling bells of flocks of sheep and goats leisurely strolling through the streets. At night, Zemartt is sparkling and magical like the scene often seen in fairy tales.
At the height of winter, tiny Zermatt can accommodate over 20,000 people. In the summer, visitors also come here to experience the feeling of summer skiing at an altitude of about 3,000 m. Zermatt has many different routes for ski enthusiasts, from basic to advanced to thrill. For professional climbers and outdoor sports enthusiasts, Zermatt is famous for its famous Matterhorn ski run, rich ecosystem and flora and fauna, as well as many beautiful hiking routes.
