Top 3 can't miss winter festivals in Europe
Winter brings colder days and longer nights, which can make for a bleak time of year for those in Northern latitudes. Europeans have been dealing with the seasonal changes for eons and they celebrate a number of lively festivals to combat the winter doldrums – making winter a great time to visit Europe for a family vacation!
Here are three of our favorite European winter festivals:
World Snow Festival
January 13 – 18, 2025 | Grindlewald, Switzerland
Artists from around the World will design beautiful figures and sculptures out of one-meter blocks of snow -judged by a panel of experts according to topicality, originality, and skill. Festival attendees are free to wander the 14 displays (keeping warm with a traditional mulled wine) both as they are being crafted and when they are completed and bathed in colorful lights.
Beyond the festival, few scenes are as evocative of winter landscapes than Switzerland’s towering mountains and snow-covered valleys. Whether hitting the ski slopes or cozying up to a warm fire with a hot chocolate, Switzerland has much to offer a winter traveler!
Venice Carnival
February 22 – March 4, 2025 | Venice, Italy
Few cities have the charm & allure of Venice, and few times of year have the revelry & fun of a pre-Lenten carnival! Dating back to the 8th Century, carnival festivities blend together long-held traditions and the best that current Venetian culture has to offer. In an effort to pack-in gluttonous debauchery before the start of Lent, celebrations take over the canaled city with tons of delectable food, colorful costume parades, traditional masked balls, and more!
Venice is a traveler’s paradise any time of year. Wandering the car-less streets, crossing magnificent arched bridges, and getting lost among the maze of piazzas and avenues is a uniquely Venetian activity.
Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Festival
March 15-17, 2025 | Dublin, Ireland
St. Patrick’s Day is a cultural touchstone – around the World and especially in Ireland! Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Festival aims to celebrate the talents and achievements of the Irish people. The Greening of the City sees prominent buildings adorned in green lights nightly and on March 15th (St. Patrick’s Day) floats, dancers, music, and celebrations weave through Dublin’s main streets.
Throughout the celebration, the City’s iconic bars and restaurants dole-out ample pints and full plates of hearty Irish fare to fuel the festivities.
Ireland is a relatively small country but has much to offer in terms of sights and activities. Driving from a castle to castle in the south of the country is a notable excursion, and the lush green hills of the Irish countryside will set you on-pace to welcome the coming Spring in your own part of the world.
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Here are some “extras” I can help you with to make your travel experience seamless:
Want to arrange for a special anniversary dinner, bespoke champagne tasting, day trip, or a private, pre-opening museum tour? You got it.
Private, luxury transfers: relax and enjoy your vacation without worrying about driving in a foreign destination after a long transatlantic flight. We can arrange for a luxury car with drivers that have knowledge of each destination.
Unmatched culinary experiences: Looking for a reservation at a specific Michelin-star restaurant or a private walking food tour, wine tasting, or whiskey experience? We can help.
A digital itinerary on an app that’s available even when your phone is offline. The app includes all activities, vouchers, and confirmations. You never have to worry about losing your printed travel documents again.