Through analysing our data, KAYAK reveals three lists of European destinations that you want to check out for your 2018 travel to escape the Australian winter. Here, you will find the 10 Trending & Popular European Destinations For Your 2018 Winter Holiday, Wallet-friendly Europe Destinations and also learn about where Europeans themselves are travelling to.
Just in case you needed another excuse for a fabulous winter break, here we’ve uncovered the top 10 cheapest winter holiday destinations in Europe for Aussies along with some essential travel information.
Top 10 Cheapest Winter Holiday Destinations In Europe
10. Düsseldorf, Germany
Düsseldorf is a center for commerce and the arts, with a striking collection of avant-garde buildings. It’s also home to the “longest bar in the world” – a string of over 260 bars, lounges, and nightclubs in the Altstadt. Düsseldorf welcomes visitors with a hospitable flair and a lot to offer.
9. Budapest, Hungary
Hungary’s capital city is one of Eastern Europe’s most attractive destinations. It has a beautiful setting on the Danube River, stately palaces, castles and museums to visit, and a youthful population who love to hit the town’s bars and clubs. Budapest’s golden age came under the Habsburgs in the 18th and 19th centuries, and when you visit, you’ll be astonished by the beauty that remains. You can see ballet in the Drechsler Palace, climb to the citadel on Gellért Hill, or see how the Imperial royal family lived at Buda Castle. After the sightseeing’s all done, relax in thermal baths like Széchenyi, wind through the city’s nightlife districts, or spend the evening sampling the gourmet cuisine at restaurants like Borbiróság. At the end of it all, you’ll have fallen in love with this friendly, gorgeous European capital.
8. Warsaw, Poland
When you walk around Warsaw, you are walking through a city that has seen it all. Dominated by foreign powers, decimated by World War II, reshaped under Communism, then reborn as one of the powerhouses of modern Eastern Europe, the Polish capital has seen it all. The city’s eventful past also means that tourists will never be bored. You can tour the site of the infamous Warsaw Ghetto, trace the fortunes of the uprising, and visit the Museum of Communism to find out about everyday post-war life. But there’s a lighter side to Warsaw too. When you’ve had your fill of history, explore some of Europe’s cheapest gourmet restaurants, take the Warsaw Craft Beer Tour, or enjoy a summer beer beside the lazy Wisla (Vistula) River. When you do, you’ll realize that Warsaw is a city on the up, a welcoming city, and one that is easy to adore.
7. Bucharest, Romania
Romania’s capital is full of surprises. Parts of the city feel like they could have been lifted from 19th-century Paris (as you’d expect in the “Paris of the Balkans”), others remain rooted in the Communist era, while most of this pulsating city is focused squarely on the here and now. Bucharest offers a rare collision of a fascinating past and an optimistic future. You can tour the picturesque churches of Lipscani, catch a cut-price feast of high culture at the Bucharest National Opera and wonder at the megalomania that went into the enormous Palace of the Parliament – but that’s not the whole story. Fun, relaxation, and sheer hedonism await as well. Few destinations in Eastern Europe have the verve and energy of Bucharest. From the wave of gourmet food sweeping the city to the underground energy of the city’s nightclubs, Bucharest is full of life and that’s why so many people fall in love with this inviting city.
6. Berlin, Germany
Berlin buzzes with an energy unmatched anywhere else in the world. It is a sophisticated metropolis offering chic art galleries, an innovative dining scene, and iconic cultural institutions like the Berlin State Opera. Berlin is also an edgy center for avant-garde work in music, the visual and performing arts, where nightclubs like the legendary techno dance hall Berghain are packed with partygoers until dawn. The past is never far from sight and monuments like the Holocaust Memorial and Berlin Wall Memorial dot throughout the city. It is also a city that rebuilt itself with glittering modern architecture like the striking modernist Berliner Philharmonie concert hall with its swooping roof lined in shimmering gold. Shaped by a turbulent past, Berlin never takes itself for granted, and visitors will find a relaxed, fun-loving spirit.
5. Sarejevo, Herzegovina
Sarajevo will capture your heart with its beauty, history and a sense of old-world European charm, convalescing in a modern city. Start at the Yellow Fortress to take in sweeping, panoramic views of the city before you head down for a viewing of the Olympic Bobsled. Tour the city’s old mosques and cathedral’s and finish the evening at Zlatna Ribica.
4. Krakow, Poland
According to the stories, Krakow was founded by defeating a dragon and today’s city reflects something of that dramatic birth. Also one of the more unlikely trending winter holiday destinations, this is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and, largely undamaged in World War II, it has one of the best-preserved city centers. Indeed, the ancient architecture is one of the main attractions. The Old Town features many soaring church spires and fascinating museums, along with the largest market square in Europe, Rynek Glowny. Kazimierz is the atmospheric Jewish Quarter, soaked in history and bustling with bars and restaurants. The city also buzzes with bars and nightlife and the diversity of a university town. It’s also an easily walkable city with plenty of charming backstreets and alleyways in which to get pleasantly lost.
3. Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
Skopje is the capital of the Republic of Macedonia, the City that lies in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, at the crossroad of important communications, a city with a 2000 years old tradition. Skopje is a modern city with population of almost one million and presents Macedonia’s major political, economical, educational and cultural center. It continues to be a focus for new residents, economic development, construction and refurbishment. Skopje urban area extends across the Skopje valley for approximately 30 kilometers in width and comprises 10 municipalities. Skopje also is a very attractive tourist destination with its fortress, cultural and historical monuments, archaeological sites, sport halls, caves in the canyon of the River Treska and Lake Matka and a health spa in the eastern part of the city.
2. Istanbul, Turkey
History buffs, foodies, adventurers: Istanbul could be your dream destination. This huge city lies at the crossroads between East and West, and the influences of its geographic location can be felt everywhere. From the spectacular Topkapi Palace of the Ottoman Sultan to the sublime domes and towers of the Hagia Sophia and the ruins of Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman cites, the past is everywhere in Istanbul – and it’s fascinating. Beyond sightseeing, Istanbul offers much more to adore. From the color and energy of the Grand Bazaar to the exquisite fabrics at boutiques like Haremlique, Istanbul is a great place to shop. The taste and aroma of a traditional Turkish kebab from restaurants like Asitane and the option of dancing the night away at the bars in Galata make clear: Istanbul has it all.
1. Minsk, Belarus
Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is a modern city with elements of its Soviet-era history on display throughout. Much of the country has been rebuilt since World War II, and its architecture is a monument to its turbulent past, while its thriving businesses are a badge of its prosperous present. Don’t miss visiting this Eastern European jewel!
*Note: These rates are based on search queries made on KAYAK.com.au on 2 May, 2018. The prices are quoted in AUD. Flight prices are based on results for a return economy flight search. Hotel prices are for double occupancy and include taxes and fees. Prices are subject to change, may vary, or no longer be available.
