Winter means festival time including the likes of the famous film festival, Berlinale, and Transmediale, the festival of art. Not to mention the beautiful Christmas markets where you can feast on glühwein and hearty sausages.

The civilised crowds and the off peak prices make it a good time to visit Venice in the Winter. It means a quiet tour of St Mark’s Basilica and a seat at the window of the long running Caffe Florian, without the Summer time queues.

Dress in your (warm) chicest best, head outdoors and take in the glowing lights along the Champs-Elysee. Admire the beautifully decorated storefronts and if you’re in Paris in January, make the most of the serious sales.

It may be cold but the skies are blue and the sun’s out to play. You can enjoy the sights without the crowds at Sagrada Familia and Park Guell, plus there’s a temporary ice rink set up each winter at Placa de Catalunya.

Budapest is famous for its thermal baths and coffee houses so a Winter visit means you can truly indulge. The art nouveau Gellért Thermal Baths have the most beautiful indoor swimming pools and are definitely worth a visit.