Experience the magic of winter in Zakopane, Poland, where you can enjoy sleigh rides, a 220-meter illuminated toboggan run, and an ice-carved maze at Snowland theme park. Combine a snowy stroll through Chochołowska Valley with a relaxing visit to Chochołowskie thermal baths, featuring outdoor pools, saunas, balneotherapy, and massages. Stay at Hotel Aries, which blends Alpine style with local Zakopane flair—savor regional wines and traditional dishes at Halka restaurant, and admire furniture and rugs crafted by local artisans. Don’t miss Snowlandia’s world’s largest snow maze and the Palace of the Snow Queen, with chambers sculpted from snow and ice by local artists.
Hotel Aries offers doubles from £165 including breakfast. Zakopane is about two hours by bus from Krakow, and the hotel is a 1km taxi ride from the station.
For a winter adventure in Montenegro, head to Durmitor National Park, where you can snowmobile through the Sinjajevina and Bjelasica mountains, go white-water rafting, or explore snowshoeing trails. Use Žabljak as your base—the highest small town in the Balkans, surrounded by frozen glacial lakes. Black Lake, just 3km away, is a prime spot for stargazing under the park’s night sky. Cozy up at Hotel Soa, which boasts a wellness center with a hammam and Finnish sauna, plus a lounge with a fireplace and stunning mountain views.
Hotel Soa has doubles from €98 including breakfast. Žabljak is two and a half hours by bus from the capital, Podgorica.
Discover a different side of the Alps on a four-night Slovenian getaway, blending a night in lively Ljubljana with exploration of Triglav National Park, Lake Bled, and the Logar Valley. Highlights include a scenic train ride through the Julian Alps from Bohinj to Most na Soči, perched above the Soča and Idrica rivers, and a visit to Kranjska Gora, where fairy-lit chalets and snow-dusted pines evoke the Austrian Tirol. After your adventures, unwind for two nights in the tranquil Logar Valley, crisscrossed with hiking trails, and indulge in thermal spa treatments at Hotel Plesik.
This four-night break from Untravelled Paths starts at £974 per person, including breakfast, all transfers, and excursions.
In St. Moritz, Switzerland, you don’t need a fortune to enjoy the stunning Upper Engadine landscapes. Randolins, located above the resort on Suvretta hillside, is a snow sports hotel offering cross-country skiing, horse-drawn carriage rides, and snowy hikes right from the door. It also features a comprehensive wellness center with an 80°C Finnish sauna and two restaurants. Use it as a base to experience the region’s mountain railways, including the Glacier and Bernina Express, which climbs to 2,250 meters and stops at St. Moritz station—book in advance for both.
Doubles at Randolins start from £174 including breakfast. Direct trains from Zurich to St. Moritz take about four hours.
For snowy landscapes, Austria is hard to beat, especially in the Lechtal region, where you can explore Tirolean countryside away from crowded ski resorts. A week of guided walking is customized to take advantage of the best trail conditions each day, with snowshoes allowing access to pristine areas unreachable on foot.Lace up your boots for a week of guided walking in the Austrian Alps. You’ll enjoy lunches at traditional mountain huts, perhaps savoring cheesy Käsespätzle with crispy onions or a bowl of Gulasch. Your base is the charming Hotel Grüner Baum in the high Alpine village of Bach im Lechtal. The highlight is a torchlit evening walk, complete with plenty of warming Glühwein.
This week-long guided walking holiday with Ramble Worldwide departs in January 2026, starting from £1,189 per person for half-board, including transfers, equipment, and a tour leader.
Cheese Caves and Chateaux in Annecy, France
Annecy is a frozen, protected wonderland, perfect for a slow adventure in the less-visited French Alps. Surrounded by dramatic peaks and with a direct four-hour train connection from Paris, it’s a rare lake town that shines in winter as much as in summer. Boat trips operate year-round, and the voie verte greenway offers easy cycling and walking along the western lakeshore. Take a bus to the Aravis mountains to see reblochon cheese made and matured in caves at Manigod, where guided tours are available. Don’t miss the spectacular Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard, with its 1,000-year-old turrets rising from the forest. Stay at the newly opened La Cour du 6 in the old town, featuring elegant rooms with a sleek art deco style.
Doubles at La Cour du 6 start from €100.
A Farmstay in Trentino, Italy
Pimont Alpine Chalet offers just three bedrooms in a gloriously tranquil traditional farmstead, surrounded by the rugged peaks of the Adamello Brenta nature park. Days begin with an organic, locally sourced breakfast—including homemade bread, cakes, and jam—in the cozy stube, which transforms into a firelit lounge in the evening. The focus here is on slow-paced exploration, with the owners, who are mountain guides, available to accompany guests on hikes or advise on the best trails. Nearby, the ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio offers ice-skating on the frozen Conca Verde lake and dog-sledding through the forest.
Doubles at Pimont Alpine Chalet start from €180 B&B. The nearest station is Trento, a 90-minute drive away.
Sleigh Rides in Sweden
Gammelgården is a picture-perfect cluster of restored log buildings, some dating back to the 1600s, that even Snow White would adore. Nestled high in the Sälen mountains in the unspoiled Dalarna region, 250 miles northwest of Stockholm, it’s the kind of place where you can cozy up by the fire and relax for days. Activities include reindeer walks, dog-sledding, sleigh rides, and snowmobile excursions. Be sure to visit the 400-year-old waffle cabin on site. The evening menu focuses on local game, such as reindeer tataki or venison sirloin, with fish and vegetarian options also available.
Doubles at Gammelgården start from £110 B&B. The nearest train station is Mora, with direct bus connections to Sälen (two hours).
Hiking and Hearty Mountain Food in Germany
The Elbe Sandstone Mountains in eastern Germany boast sandstone cliffs, dramatic gorges, and flat-topped mesas, yet remain surprisingly under the radar. This self-guided walking tour through “Saxon Switzerland” takes you through quiet villages with timber-framed cottages and dense pine forests, leading up to sandstone spires. The trip begins in the spa town of Bad Schandau, home to the spectacular 11-meter-high Kuhstall rock gate and the beautiful Lichtenhain waterfall. Along the way, enjoy hearty lunches of Spätzle, sausage and lentil soup, and marzipan cakes at traditional mountain inns.Discover the charm of France’s Vercors region with a winter getaway that focuses on relaxation and fine dining. The Hotel du Golf, a beautifully converted farmhouse in the village of Correncon, reopens for the season on December 12. Nestled within the Vercors National Park, it offers stylish wood-panelled rooms, a Michelin-starred restaurant called Asterales, and cozy amenities like a hot tub, pool, and sauna to warm up after outdoor adventures.
Food lovers won’t want to miss Palégrié, where dishes are prepared over an open fire, or Le Clariant, a secluded, self-sufficient restaurant hidden in the Vercors forest.
Stay at the Hotel du Golf from €156 per night for bed and breakfast. Correncon is just a 40-minute drive south of Grenoble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful and clear FAQs about winter getaways in Europe focusing on sleigh rides spas and snowshoeing
General Trip Planning
1 What are the best European countries for a winter getaway
Popular choices include Austria Switzerland France Italy Germany and Finland They offer a great mix of snowy landscapes charming towns and the activities youre looking for
2 When is the best time to go for a snowy trip
The peak season for reliable snow is typically from midDecember through March January and February are usually the snowiest months
3 Im not a skier Are these trips still for me
Absolutely Winter getaways are about more than just skiing You can enjoy sleigh rides spa visits snowshoeing winter hiking and simply soaking in the cozy atmosphere of alpine villages
4 What should I pack for a trip like this
Essentials include a waterproof winter coat insulated boots thermal layers gloves a warm hat a scarf and sunglasses Dont forget swimwear for the spas
Sleigh Rides
5 What exactly is a sleigh ride
Its a scenic ride in a horsedrawn sleigh through snowy landscapes often wrapped in warm blankets
6 Are sleigh rides romantic or familyfriendly
They can be both A private ride for two at dusk is very romantic Larger sleighs are perfect for families and groups
7 How do I book a sleigh ride
You can often book through your hotel a local tourist office or directly with stables in the area Its a good idea to book in advance during peak season
8 What if its too cold during the ride
Operators provide heavy blankets and the sleighs often have heated foot warmers Dressing in your warmest layers is the key to comfort
Relaxing Spas
9 What kind of spas are common in European winter destinations
Youll find everything from luxurious hotel spas with indoor pools to rustic alpine wellness centers and famous outdoor thermal baths heated by natural hot springs
10 Whats the benefit of an outdoor heated pool in winter
Its a
