Budapest, Stockholm or somewhere else for romantic weekend in late January?

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Just that really. Looking to book a romantic weekend away, just the two of us, in late January. 2 nights Fri-Sun or Sat-Mon. Flying from northwest, preferably flights under 3 hours.
We like the idea of cold, crisp, possibly snowy or potentially mild/warm and sunny. We enjoy sightseeing, interesting anrchitecture, art, good food & drink. Ideally would like to visit somewhere new to us which rules out some of the more popular choices e.g. Paris, Amsterdam, Rome, Barcelona, Seville, Madrid, Lisbon, Berlin, Florence & Prague.
Where have you been & enjoyed at this time of year and conversely where would you not recommend?

I liked Copenhagen for a frosty weekend. I really enjoy Funchal for a slightly warmer one.

I go to Stockholm a lot to visit family, so I’m a bit blasé about it, but it’s really quite nice when I think about it!

We’ve just come back from Athens and had a lovely time. Not the snowy experience you’re perhaps after though….

Prague is lovely in the winter.

Thanks @NormasArse. We’ve been to Copenhagen before and loved it. I did look at Madeira for some sunshine and walking but the flights don’t work unfortunately. Any particular recommendations for nice areas, restaurants, bars etc in Stockholm?

Was hoping someone would have said Budapest as this is on my list for next year.

Haven’t actually been myself but I’d be tempted by Munich or Cracow, both of which I want to go to. Someone once wrote about Munich in the winter and made it sound very attractive.

Or Palermo?

Ooh no not Palermo that month. I have been to Naples in the first week of Feb and my God it was rainy, Palermo sounds too similar.

I went to Budapest last December and loved it. Also went to Venice early March and loved that too. Venice was a nice sunny pleasant temperature and not horrendously busy like I’d imagine summer would be. Would be even less busy in January.

I went to Stockholm this year and it was beautiful! Go to a bar called Gemma in Östermalm we loved it

Ok I’ll say it - Budapest!

For romance there are outdoor thermal pools open all year and the after dark cruise on the Danube is unbelievably special

Another vote for Budapest. The architecture is stunning (right up there with Paris and Rome in my opinion), great art galleries and museums and a wonderful bathing culture with the thermal baths.

Budapest was our favourite city break and we’ve done a lot of the typical ones - Krakow, Prague, Amsterdam, Gdansk etc.

We did Budapest in December and it rained the entire time. However, the food was all amazing and we went to indoor thermal baths, museums etc so it didn't hold us back.

We also loved Bucharest and Brasov. Both also had great food and the weather was lovely and crisp. Our last night in Bucharest we found an amazing pizza restaurant with a massive deli counter so we had a fantastic cheese and meat board followed by fresh pizza paired with Romanian wine and it was gorgeous. We still talk about it often years on.

budapest was not on my list but we visited in June and I have to say it’s probably been my most favourite European city break so far. Beautiful city with tons to do.

Berlin was really interesting and very walkable. I liked Tallin if that’s available to you, great food, enough to see without it being overwhelming, very pretty, and there’ll be no cruise ships then.

We went to Krakow mid January and it was snowy and beautiful. The Christmas decorations were still up in the square. Quite a compact city and easy to get around. We stayed in a fabulous little hotel in the centre- The Wentzl.

we also had a wonderful weekend in Helsinki. Stunning city with a great cafe culture beside the water. Stunning museums.

I loved Budapest and would like something me more ideas too op. Another city with a thermal bath culture would be especially appealing

Preferred Budapest to Stockholm and it was much cheaper

@KilliMonjaro Baden Baden in Bavaria is nice

Hopping onto the thread, but has anyone been to Bruges in February? Was the weather rainy or cold and crisp?

Thank you ☺️

I’ve had both - belting rain and a crisp frost - like the UK it’s not at all consistent

Ok. Thanks. It’s what I guessed. Perhaps Aix is a better bet. 🤔

For just a weekend, look at Bergamo. It's a town about an hour from Milan with Ryanair flights from everywhere (they call it "Milan Bergamo"). People complain that it's too far from Milan but Bergamo itself is just brilliant. Everything you like about Italy in one cute package.

Other ideas:

• Strasbourg, if you can get a direct flight
• Palma - Barcelona's little sister
• Utrecht - a bit like Amsterdam but with actual Dutch people

Baden-Baden is a good suggestion too - Ryanair flies to "Karlsruhe-Baden" which is not too far by bus from BB.

Ooh, strongly disliked Baden Baden, found it dull! Did enjoy other bits of Bavaria though, some nice scenery, salad bars and swimming pools!