Dec-Venice, Berlin, Copenhagen or ?

[Redtartanshoes]

Just that really. Haven’t been to any of them. Have also thought about. Lisbon and Seville but fancy them more in the spring when I can sit outside and drink ~wine~ coffee.

Any thoughts or other suggestions? Had also thought about Belfast but maybe too similar to home (Glasgow)

Would be between Xmas and new year

Thanks

Berlin and Copenhagen will be absolutely freezing in December.

I love Venice and it won’t be as crowded in December. You can fly to Verona from Edinburgh all year round. Verona is beautiful so you could do a night there then get the train to Venice (takes about an hour and very cheap if booked in advance).

Belfast has quite a different feel to Glasgow IMO (I’m from NI but now live in Glasgow). A couple of days there would be plenty. Could do Dublin either? Or fly into Belfast, train to Dublin then fly home from there. Ryanair have multiple daily flights to/from Dublin.

That’s really handy thanks!

Tbh I’m leaning towards Italy, it’s a birthday so want something special. Can grab a quick flight to Belfast anytime. Have been to Belfast and Dublin with work-much prefer Belfast

Might leave Berlin til the spring too also

Copenhagen was about 5 degrees and bright blue skies when we went in December, and it was lovely. They had a few small Christmas markets and blankets on all the seats outside the bars which was just lovely.

Tivoli Gardens was all decorated and it was beautiful. I think December or summer would be best for Copenhagen.

Berlin is amazing in December if you like Christmas - so many of our UK Christmas traditions come from Germany. Twinkly lights, Christmas markets, the scent of gluwein wafting through the air and if you are lucky frozen lakes and the first snowfall - it is like stepping into a Christmas card. Used to live there and totally loved December.

((((Books them all))))

Rome or Venice are both great for city breaks.

Long-time Berliner here: just don't come to Berlin between Xmas and New Year, it's not a Great time to be a tourist here. It's not usually cold enough for snow and frozen lakes (that's more Feb weather), and everything feels a bit flat after Christmas but before Silvester (New Year) kicks off and everyone goes utterly batshit crazy. Most of the best Christmas markets closed before Christmas itself (I think a few stay open until end of Dec, including the one at Potsdamer Platz), and it's traditionally a period known as 'between the years' where people reflect on the past and future. The last thing I'd want to be doing at that time of year in Berlin is sightseeing. Venice might be better - but doesn't it traditionally get high water around then? Or is that later in spring?

Best time for Berlin is May or this time of year.

Just noticed the between Xmas and New Year bit in the OP - in that case I agree with Montounasc, cross Berlin off the list. I remember a very sad and sorry stroll with the kids on our first Christmas Eve finding everything shut and all the markets packed up (New Year's Eve is AMAZING though).

'Aqua alta' is most likely to afflict Venice in November/December, I'm not sure how likely but info here:

www.walksofitaly.com/blog/venice/flooding-acqua-alta-tips

(We went in feb, that was fine and not too crowded.)

Would break be ruined by aqua alta?

From what we'd read, not necessarily but something to be aware of as a possibility. I think I'd go but take wellies to be on the safe side!

I agree with pp who said Copenhagen would be a fabulous place to visit in winter. Do be prepared for the fact that the Little Mermaid is ...er ...quite... little... though!

Watching with interest, just booked for Copenhagen 28th Dec-1st Jan. Spent the same time last year in amazing Iceland so being cold doesn't faze us.

Venice is also very cold in winter.

Check that you can actually fly there at that time of year. DP and I had planned to go to Rome for Christmas but just looked and found that our local airport doesn't fly there at all in December, despite regular flights the rest of the year.

Helsinki?

It's a fantastic place in the winter and there's a new underground art gallery just opened. If you're feeling brave there's and outdoor swimming pool in the harbour!

You could do Christmas markets in some of the colder places? Vienna? Salzburg? Munich?

We were in Berlin last year between Christmas and New Year and it was wonderful. Same sort of temperatures as here, with bright blue skies. Some of the markets were still open and the museums were substantially quieter than in the summer. We also went out to the lakes (although not for swimming!).

Venice is cold and damp in December.

Berlin last December.

You were really lucky last year, @RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie, we've had some shockers at that time of year. True that the museums will be quieter because most people have buggered off (tourists left before Xmas, locals away on holiday), but it's more likely to be a dull kind of cold and overcast. One time it had snowed the week before then melted and the city was full of slush - we had friends visiting who were totally unprepared with the clothes they brought and got soaking feet. Berliners need very sturdy shoes and boots in winter.

I bought snow boots especially, and was a bit disappointed it was so clear!

How very German of you to be so well prepared!

It's true the weather has been fairly bonkers unpredictable in the last 18 months. Last summer was horribly rainy, then a mild winter (hence your sunny December experience), then it was much colder very late - I remember walking over a frozen lake at the end of March. This summer hasn't been that much hotter than normal, but very very dry, which made it feel so much hotter. The upshot is that nobody knows how it will look at the end of the year - but that's probably the case all over Europe.

We had v warm last summer too (just one very quick storm, and we hid in the Bode museum) - I think we just timed it right!

And v warm this summer too. And now I have to stay away from your wonderful city for a while, and visit other places!