There’s nothing better than a city break to quickly get us out of the big winter slump – but why wait until spring? European cities do not sleep during the winter months; They’re enjoying a tourist-free normality, with rows of museums, reservation-free dinners, and the chance to experience some of the world’s most famous attractions without being overwhelmed by cruise ship crowds.
Many are also exposed to warm sunshine in February and early March (March 20 is the first day of spring this year). It is true that the chance of rain may be higher; But even humid days can be romantic if you’re in the right place. One of my favorite recent travel memories was sitting under the shade of a restaurant at Campo de’ Fiori in Rome., They ate pizza and drank Moretti as the rain pounded the pavement, watching delivery drivers scurry back and forth and market vendors congregating at their stalls.
Best of all, hotel prices this time of year are about half of what they are in April. Here are seven places to kick off the city break season early.
Seville, Spain
With the average maximum temperature in February being 18C and five or six hours of sunshine a day, you’ll need t-shirts and sunscreen to explore Seville’s remarkable Moorish heritage. The big hitters (Giralda, Cathedral and Real Alcázar) will be less crowded, and it’ll be much easier to find a stall at some of the city’s best-loved tapas bars.
Try El Rincocillo (Calle Gerona 40), the oldest in the city, or La Brunilda (Calle Galera 5; 00 34 954 22 04 81); but even in February it’s still a good idea to make a reservation. Flamenco performances are held regularly, even in the middle of winter, and tickets are usually available; Dating back to the 15th century, the Casa de la Memoria cultural center hosts nightly performances that are some of the best in the city.
Vueling flies to Seville from Gatwick from £62 return. Stay at Hospes las Casa del Dey de Baeza, with double occupancy from £130 (00 34 914 363 478; hospes.com)
Lisbon, Portugal
Riding the city’s favorite tram, Tram 28, which dates back to the 1930s and covers all of Lisbon’s most charming neighborhoods, can be fraught with stress in high season: long queues, people squeezed in, tempers frayed in the heat. . There is rarely a queue at any stall in the winter; Get off at Alfama for lunch at O Cartaxeiro before heading to Castelo de São Jorge for a spectacular view of the city. Hop into the crowd-free Calouste Gulbenkian gallery to see the three R’s (Rembrandt, Rubens and Renoir) and browse the bargains at Feria de Ladra, the city’s 800-year-old market (Tuesday-Saturday).
Ryanair flies to Lisbon for £34, departing from London Stansted. Stay at the Emerald House, with double occupancy from £114 (00 351 21 150 6110; hilton.com)
Rome, Italy
By April, Rome is already teeming with visitors, but in February and early March, when there are far fewer people around, it’s still possible to see major attractions such as the Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, and the Pantheon. Book tickets to the Vatican museums late in the day (most people think early is the best time, which means it’s always busiest) and pop into the Doria Pamphilj museum for a glimpse into the glamor of life in Rome. Foodies should visit the Testaccio neighborhood, home to the city’s favorite food market, with more than 100 stalls and street food vendors.
Wizzair flies to Rome for £68, departing from Gatwick. Stay at the newly opened citizenM, which is offering a 30 percent discount on room rates until March 31; this means double stays start from £95 for room only (00 39 06 8587 1180; Citizen.com)
Athens, Greece
If you’re going to Athens in late February or early March, bring your party shoes; Apokries, the Greek equivalent of Carnival, sees the capital explode with three weeks of parties, restaurants and bars hosting special events, with the Plaka neighborhood at the center of the evening celebrations. If the weather is nice, walk or take a taxi up Lycabettus Hill for lunch or dinner at Orizontes, with its stunning views of the Acropolis. If the weather is cold, the Acropolis Museum introduces visitors to the artifacts, sculptures and culture of ancient Greece without the summer crowds. Keen skiers can even spend a day on the slopes; Parnassos Ski Center is approximately 2.5 hours away.
Easyjet flies to Athens from four UK airports for £80 return. Stay at the Gatsby, with double rooms from £182 including breakfast (00 30 21 0321 6001; gatsbyathens.com)
Nice, France
Last year, at the beginning of March, I started getting sunburned while having lunch at the Cours de Saleya in Nice; All the outdoor restaurant tables were full, the whole city was merrily soaking up the sun. Nice has undergone significant renovation in recent years; The Promenade des Anglais offers dreamy, sun-kissed walks, while the old town is a great place to wander in and out of factories and perfumeries in the afternoon; For traditional gifts, don’t miss Tresors Publics (11 Rue de Pont Vieux) or Nicolas Alziari (11 Rue de Pont Vieux). 14 rue Saint Francois de Paule) – Home of the best olive oil in the city since 1932. Head to the rooftop bar seen by Olivier for a rose-scented lunch in one of the city’s most beautiful Belle Époque buildings, now home to the Anantara hotel.
Easyjet flies to Nice from seven UK airports for £46 return. Stay at Anantara Plaza Nice, with offers for doubles from £162 (00 33 4 93 16 75 75; anantara.com)
Madrid, Spain
Sitting lakeside in El Retiro Park, the vast, elegant green heart of Madrid, with hot chocolate nearby and busking alongside a saxophonist, was one of my favorite moments from my December visit. Blue skies in February are equally possible; On cooler days, dive into the city’s extraordinary food markets – skip the touristy Mercado de San Miguel and instead settle for empanadas and a cana (a small 200ml pint) at the Mercado san Fernando in the Lavapies district or the Mercado de la Paz in the leafy Salamanca ‘in. There may still be queues for the Prado, but in December I walked straight into the Thyssen-Bornemisza, one of the world’s most extraordinary private collections; The Sorolla museum, the original home and studio of artist Joaquín Sorolla, is one of these museums. The most beautiful spots of the city.
British Airways flies to Madrid for £94 return, departing from Heathrow or Gatwick. Stay at Ocean Drive, which offers double occupancy from £120 (00 34 910 88 28 04; od-hotels.com)
Istanbul Türkiye
Exploring Istanbul is much easier in winter: the roads are less congested, the ferries are less crowded, everything is a little less hectic. Explore the city’s newest museums, Istanbul Modern and the Hagia Sophia History Museum, and discover the rich history of the baths at the 500-year-old Çinili Hammam, which recently reopened after 13 years of restoration. To combine culture with culinary adventures, head to Çiya in Kadıköy (the Asian side of the city) for amazing appetizers prepared from traditional Anatolian recipes; Kıyı in Tarabya, one of the best fish restaurants in the city for 60 years; or join the popular crowd at the Michelin-starred Arkestra for pre-dinner cocktails in the stylish Listening Room bar upstairs.
British Airways flies to Istanbul from Heathrow for £128 round trip. Stay at Stay Bosphorus, which offers double occupancy from £177 (00 90 212 970 7830; thestay.com.tr)