14 December 2019 | Updated 2 January 20257 min read
Berlin January is one of the cheapest months to visit the German capital.
Poor January has it hard. Not only does it have a tough act to follow, but it’s usually cold, dreary and forever associated with the blues. But write the start of the year off at your peril – there are travel bargains to be had.
We crunched the numbers at TravelSupermarket HQ and can reveal that January is actually one of the cheapest times of the year for a city break in Europe. It might be cold, but the prices are low and the crowds thinner.
To inspire you to swap the January blues for a dose of culture, here are ten cities with bargain prices and lots going on.
If you’re chasing snow in January, Krakow is as good a bet as any. Average highs can reach zero but the temperature often plummets to -3C.
It’s ideal weather for discovering the city’s quirkier indoor attractions. The interactive Arcade and Pinball museums, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Krakow (MOCAK) and the Manggha Museum of Japanese Art are top picks.
Outdoors, get active with a skate around an ice rink, which Krakow has several well into January, and stay warm with mulled wine or hearty street food like grilled kiełbasa sausages and kumpir stuffed baked potatoes.
Albufeira’s milder winter temperatures aren’t the only draw of this popular Algarve city in January. A popular pick for a cheap beach break in summer, it gets even more affordable this time of year, with cheaper flights and low, off-season room rates available at many hotels.
It’s the perfect month to get to know the city’s more traditional side without the crowds. Take your time exploring the cobbled streets of the old town, admire the Sant'Anna Church and spend lazy afternoons lunching on fresh seafood at one of the restaurants lining the marina.
January is also prime time to get stuck into outdoor activities. World-class golf, dolphin watching boat tours and quad biking safaris are just some of the thrills on offer.
Thanks to its sheltered position on Spain’s south coast, you can expect temperatures reaching 15C on a January city break to Benidorm.
Yes, it may not be sea-swimming weather, but the beaches that are normally jam-packed with sunbathers are now delightfully calmer and you can take your pick of restaurants and bars along the Strip.
Make the most of the peace and quiet by exploring the old town, where you’ll find a maze of cobbled streets, local tapas bars and shops. Don’t miss the blue-domed church of San Jaime, watching over the old town from Canfali hill.
Keen explorers can head to the Serra Gelada Natural Park – January’s cooler temperatures make hiking its craggy hills far more enjoyable.
Dublin’s rainy reputation holds true over winter, so its excellent indoor attractions are where you’ll want to look.
For a hit of history, check out the Kilmainham Gaol or the Chester Beatty museum, where you’ll find an impressive collection of rare books and manuscripts from around the world. Brew buffs, meanwhile, can find out if the black stuff really does taste better in Ireland at the Guinness Storehouse.
Also in January is the five-day Tradfest, a celebration of traditional and folk Irish music. The festival is held in some of the city’s most iconic spaces, including City Hall and Kilmainham Gaol. It runs from 22 to 26 January in 2025.
The start of January doesn’t mean the end of festivities in Berlin. The Christmas market on Breitscheidplatz sticks around until 5 January while the city’s concert halls offer various musical performances throughout the month to welcome in the new year. The New Year's Concert at Charlottenburg Palace on 25 January is one for your books.
Over in Messe Nord, International Green Week kicks off on 17 January – a ten-day exhibition extravaganza celebrating all things agriculture, from food produce and flowers to animal demonstrations.
If the weather takes a turn for the worst, the city’s museums are all yours to explore. Must-visits include the Natural History Museum, the Topography of Terror and the Jewish Museum Berlin.
Budapest is icy during January, but the weather makes some of its best attractions shine.
Counter the cold with a dip in one of the city’s famous thermal spas – the sprawling Széchenyi and Art Nouveau Gellért thermal baths are favourites for a reason – or warm your belly with a brew in a ruin bar. Szimpla Kert is a must for first-time visitors.
Hungary’s warming fare is ideal for winter, too. Foodies will be in their element between the rich goulashes (gulyás) packed with beef and veg and chicken paprikash (csirke paprikás) served with dumplings.
It might not be too hot in January, but Barcelona’s fiery fiestas bring more than enough heat to the Catalan city.
The two major parties are Cavalcada de Reis (5 January), a huge Epiphany parade that winds up on the iconic La Rambla, and Festa dels Tres Tombs (17 January), a week-long celebration of music, feasting and pageantry in honour of patron saint, Antoni.
Barcelona’s main attractions are likely to be much quieter in January so it’s a good month to visit the Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Museu Picasso and the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya.
January promises to be an exciting month to visit Italy’s Eternal City as it’s the year of Rome’s Jubilee, a Catholic celebration held every 25 years. Starting last December, a jam-packed schedule of events marks the opening few weeks including special concerts, masses and pilgrimages.
Events centre around the four papal churches (St Peter's in the Vatican, St John Lateran's, Saint Mary Major's and St Paul's Outside the Walls), so if you’re looking for a quieter stay in Rome, focus your sightseeing attention elsewhere. Visiting top attractions such as the Colosseum and Roman Forum and the Galleria Borghese are brilliant distractions from chilly daytime temperatures.
Don’t miss the celebration of Sant'Antonio Abate – known as the ‘Blessing of Animals’ – on 17 January. Farmers bring their animals and locals their pets to be blessed by the cardinal, and there’s even a mounted police procession.
Prague seems made for wintertime wandering – its fairytale streets take on a magical air, especially at dusk, and stallholders can be found hawking warming Czech fare on every corner.
It’s a pleasant change from the city’s usual tourist bustle, but even in January you’ll still find plenty to do.
Christmas celebrations are still in full swing early on in the month. The Procession of the Three Kings parades through the city on 3 January, festive markets run until 6 January and outdoor ice rinks stick around until the end of February.
The city’s main attractions are all yours to explore and when you want to warm up, there are plenty of interesting things to do indoors. The Prague National Gallery and the National Museum are quieter this time of year, or just cosy up in one of the city’s pubs and tuck into a traditional feast.
Paris isn’t exactly known for being a cheap city break, but thanks to a tourism lull post New Year celebrations, January is prime time to pick up a bargain break.
Not only are holiday prices cheaper, the crowds are thinner too. That means unhurried wanders along the Champs-Élysées, quick queues at the Louvre and peaceful cruise rides down the Seine.
The odd snow flurry isn’t uncommon in the depths of winter so you’ll want to wrap up warm, but it’s nothing a steaming cup of chocolat chaud (or vin chaud, if you’re so inclined) can’t help with.
Please note: All prices correct as of 2 January 2025. Research compared median prices of 2- and 3-night package holidays departing in January 2025, across all star ratings, board bases and departure airports.
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