Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam thrives in winter. Fairy lights shimmer on canals, bicycles crunch over frosted bridges and locals drift between glowing cafés. The Amsterdam Light Festival runs into January, illuminating waterways with artistic installations, while the Winter Paradise at the RAI convention centre, which kicks off on 17th December, brings snow slides, ice‑skating and après‑ski bars indoors.
Where to stay: Pulitzer Amsterdam links 25 canal houses with modern art and a hidden garden. Pillows Maurits at the Park offers refined calm by Oosterpark. The Hoxton on the Herengracht is lively and well placed. Traditional canal house apartments are a lovely self-catered option, and yes, they are as pretty as they look.
Where to eat: Restaurant De Kas grows and cooks its own produce in a greenhouse setting. Bar Pif draws a stylish crowd for modern bistro plates and natural wines. Café Restaurant Amsterdam, in a former pumping station, is a classic for steak frites.
What to do: Browse the Nine Streets, visit the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh without the crush, take a candlelight canal cruise, and if the weather turns cold enough, join locals skating on the canals. For a special evening, dine on Vuurtoreneiland, a private island with a glass-walled dining room.
Reykjavik, Iceland
In Reykjavík, winter fosters cosy camaraderie whilst also being the perfect time to enjoy the city’s quirky aesthetic. Corrugated houses glow with colour, geothermal pools steam into the cold air and design shops beckon on Laugavegur. Kolaportið flea market has vintage finds, and the town pond often freezes for skating. On New Year’s Eve, fireworks are set off by residents, a spectacular, chaotic tradition.
Where to stay: Hotel Borg is Art Deco with a spa. Kvosin Hotel offers spacious, Scandinavian-style rooms in a 19th-century building. Tower Suites Reykjavík sits high above the skyline with eight panoramic suites. Beyond the city, mirrored micro homes at ÖÖD Hekla Horizon come with hot tubs and northern lights watching.
Where to eat: Eiriksson Brasserie is set in a former bank and has a serious wine vault. Apotek mixes Icelandic ingredients with brasserie flair. Sumac adds Middle Eastern warmth. Perlan’s revolving glass dome is a fun setting for fish and chips or herring on rye.
What to do: Bathe in Sky Lagoon or day trip to the Blue Lagoon, see Hallgrímskirkja and Harpa, try a hot dog from Baejarins Beztu, pick up vinyl at 12 Tónar and sample rye bread baked in geothermal steam.
