Beat The January Blues With These Top European Destinations

A winter getaway to Amsterdam

 With fascinating museums, a vibrant party scene and a happy, relaxed culture, quaint Netherlands capital Amsterdam is definitely a contender for the best place to visit in January. During the day, ride a bike along the winding canals, take a wintry stroll around the Vondelpark, or check out one of the many exhibitions. The Van Gogh museum is currently showing an exhibition on French painter Jean-François Millet until 20th Jan 2020, which explores how he influenced other great artists, including Van Gogh himself. What’s more, the stunning Amsterdam Light Festival is on until January 19th, so plan your stay at Generator Amsterdam and feel the January Blues melt away...

 

Wrap up warm in Berlin

If you don’t mind the cold, take a trip to the beautiful city of Berlin this January. With lots of activities on offer, from walking through winter parks and taking in Berlin’s winter festivals, to relaxing at one of the saunas or spas, and checking off all the top tourist spots, this city could be your new favourite European destination. For a culture fix, the spectacular contemporary dance festival Days of Dance is on from 8th-18th January, offering new artists and choreographers a chance to shine, and for family fun, if you go early enough you can catch a truly dazzling light festival at the zoo in Tierpark until January 5th. Book your accommodation today, pack your warmest, snuggliest winter coat for sipping glühwein and get ready to jet off to a winter wonderland.

 

Food and theatre in Paris

Take advantage of the reduced tourist numbers and cheaper flight prices, and plan a trip to Paris in the New Year. The city of love is a perfect peaceful getaway - dine at amazing restaurants, go ice skating, and take in some world-class art galleries and museums, or simply drink chocolat chaud in a café and watch the world go by. For foodies, the European Pastry Cup is being held in Paris for the first time on 12th-13th January, while for theatre-goers, the Opéra de Paris will be showing plenty of opera and ballet productions throughout the month, including Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Have a look at the amazing Generator Paris accommodation and start planning your trip. 

Fabulous festivals in Barcelona

Although January is the coldest month to visit Barcelona, the variety of things to do and see makes the chill worth it. Every year on January 6th, Barcelona celebrates the Three Kings, which involves a 3-hour parade through the city - a great chance for you to participate in the festivities, as well as drink in the gorgeous architecture. A week later, the city bursts into life for a second time to celebrate La Festa de Sant Antoni. Expect to see castells (human towers), gegants (giant costumed figures), huge bonfires, and the exhilarating correfoc, or ‘fire run.’ Although the beach may be out of bounds, there’s plenty else to keep you occupied. We’d advise booking your accommodation in Barcelona in advance.

 

Medieval marches in Rome

Another great European destination to visit in January is Italian capital Rome, where you’ll find fewer tourist numbers and smaller crowds at the attractions. There are also lots of exciting festivals on in January, including Capodanno on New Year’s Day, and The Epiphany, a medieval-style march that takes place in the Vatican City. For a dose of culture, the much-loved musical Notre Dame de Paris is showing at the Palazzo dello Sport. You can book accommodation at Generator Rome, conveniently located just a short walk from the Colosseum.